Before and After

I've always been a sucker for a makeover. Those before and after shots get me every time!

As I surveyed my pigsty of a home this morning, I realized I needed an extreme makeover: home edition

Adrian Monk would be proud of this sink cleaning job, don't you think?

Ugh. Laundry. The piles triple in size over the winter.

That's the first time I've seen that counter top in a long while.

My bedroom hamper threw up a few days ago.

All better!

Trash is a "blue" job at my house.

But, I couldn't wait any longer for my boys to get home.

An unmade bed gives you permission to crawl back in later.

This bed only permits freshly showered patrons after 10:30 pm. 

I lead a glamorous life, no?

Hello, Goodbye.

Hello, 2011. You seem quite promising so far. I expect you'll bring some changes – you just have that look about you. So far, you've motivated me to purge some of the contents of my basement storage, welcome a new addition to the family, and turn my attention back to places hot and dry.

The Purging
Not long after Christmas, I got an itch to reclaim the storage room in our basement. The season had created a space that was no longer maneuverable. As I started shuffling boxes, I realized that I could free up vast amounts of space by whittling down my teaching stuff. I casually mentioned my thoughts to Rick, but he didn't push me. He respected my attachment to file folder games and phonogram cards. He probably thought I wouldn't go through with it.
First, I focused on the dozens of file crates containing lesson plans, work samples, and laminated "cutesifications". The task was overwhelming and emotional. So much effort had gone into this stuff, but it was silly to keep something I didn't expect to use again. Besides, I still had all my computer files and access to the Internet if I developed a need for fact family worksheets. I kept anything I might possibly use for a church calling, and recycled or donated the rest.
Then, there were the books. I'm sure I had hundreds of them, maybe thousands, all carefully filed by subject. I created a pile that covered ¼ of my basement floor. The kids found it entertaining to get Shelby to jump over the mounds. I found it enjoyable picking 200 or so favorites and lining my shelves with them. I'll have grandkids someday, right?
The part of this process that actually felt good was passing on the books, games, activities, etc. to sisters in my ward. I sent out a mass e-mail and a dozen or so families came to take it away. It eased the pain of parting with the stuff knowing that it was going to be used (and maybe even loved) by someone else.
A New Addition
No, I'm not pregnant. My youngest child turns eleven in two days. A new baby would be insane! We are, however, getting a golden retriever tomorrow through Assistance Dogs of America. We've been thinking about fostering a dog for a couple of years, and it's finally coming together. Now if it would stop snowing long enough for me to go pick her up…
Ariel is our foster dog's name. She's about a year old and already knows some basic commands. We'll provide her with love, exercise, socialization, and some more training. I will have to work with her every day, taking her on outings and helping her understand the difference between "work" time and "play" time. We're so excited and hopeful that this will be a good experience. Pictures to come soon…
Hello AZ, Goodbye OH?
We've lived in Ohio for 2 ½ years. I am just now getting homesick for Arizona.
Don't get me wrong. Perrysburg is great! I love my neighborhood, my ward, and my friends at the Y. The changing seasons are fun too. Fall and spring are gorgeous here! Living in a smaller city has a lot of great advantages too like no traffic, strong family values, and low crime.
Despite all the good, I really miss my family out west. I also miss mountains, sunshine, and the "dry heat". Everything has changed so much since we left though; I'm not sure where we'd go. Everyone in my immediate family has moved. Most of Rick's family has moved as well. Where do we belong?
I assumed Jacob and Emma would be so firmly entrenched in Perrysburg that they wouldn't want to move once Rick's residency ends in 2012. I was wrong. Even with their great friends and school opportunities here in P-town, they STILL want to go back to AZ. Rick too. I'm the only one on the fence about it.
Stay tuned to hear more about our ever-changing plans…