Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Spent 2 hours this morning sitting at NTB while my van was being worked on. I still need to go back on Monday. Apparently they don't have access to a computer on the weekends. Note to self - DO NOT GO ON WEEKENDS!!!

Then it was off to church. I was glad to make church as I thought I would miss it due to the car situation. So, I guess it was okay that they couldn't do it all as I would have missed church. And church was great. Our pastor is teaching from Matthew. Today we were in chapter 26. It is were Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet anointing him with her years worth of perfume. The message from today is where do you sit? and do you stink? The where do you sit makes sense - we should be at Jesus' feet daily learning and listening. The do you stink is in regards to not sitting at Jesus' feet. You see when we sit there we have the aroma of Jesus Christ on us as we go about our dailys. But if we don't we tend to stink with smells of anger, bitterness, jealousy,... you get the idea.

So may this year find you sitting at Jesus' feet. (I know that is where I will be!)

Ohhhh!

Van trouble. Boy everything just breaks down all at the same time. Body and van parts. The van is only 7 years old and it has been very good to us. Taking us back and forth from Ohio and PA, NJ, and NY. Plus our trips to Florida and Georgia.

Since we are making the journey back to Ohio, I like to make sure the oil is current and fresh. So as I went to NTB to have said stuff done, I also asked them to check into a noise coming from the rear. I figured it was the shocks and yes, I was correct! But that was not the only problem they found. A bigger problem is with the brakes. The brakes themselves A-OK, the disc that has the brake fluid flowing through to the brake pads is shot! And the one they had on hand was defective! They ordered the part and say it will be in in the morning. Here's hoping that it doesn't delay our departure too late otherwise we leave a day later!!!

We are eager and excited to go back and see our friends! But need to trust the Lord knows what is best for us!

What was I thinking!?!

I consider myself to be a fairly organized individual. So when I was packing up the house there were some things I felt I "had to have" at the apartment (and yes I was without for a year. I figured they would fit. Well let me just say that I thought my van had expandable walls. (Carla had asked me if my van had an extended back.) And I was certain the apartment did! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! It doesn't fit! Well at least not they way I thought it would. Still a work in progress. I think I will be rearranging until school begins as I need to get everything in order so we have no delays for the start of school. Most of the books have arrived. I still need to get Stephen's science ordered.

I will be back to Ohio in about 1-2 months to pick up the next van load. And let me just say what another load it will be. The kids were smushed. Stephen had to ride in the front. The young ones had stuff packed all around, behind, and underneath them. I must say how very shocked I was that it went as well as it did. We left about 2 hours later than I originally planned. Which meant we got home about 11:00 pm. I was very concerned about resting/sleeping. As I know it is never a good thing when they cannot get comfortable they whinge constantly. This momma doesn't do that!!! I lose my patience very quickly when that sound erupts.

This the view of the van from the front seat.

This was the laundry room in Ohio during loading.

If I could only remember to take the pictures in stages you would really get a better appreciation of all that really happened. Suzanne is amazing. She spent most of Friday afternoon and evening with me going through things! She has moved waaaay too many times but fortunately I had a better experience thanks to her woes.

I think after this month I could definitely become a professional organizer for people. I have switched around, reorganized spaces, and decluttered more than I can count. And as I said before there will be more of that happening here. I am a fanatic about things in their places!