Joshua Says...
Evalie stopped blogging right before we moved to Minnesota. She told me she would not post again until I wrote "the Shiner post" and shared with everyone the story of us getting rid of Shiner.
We gave Shiner away to friends because we couldn't have her at any of the rental places we were looking at and we ran out of time. That's all I really want to talk about it. We miss her dearly, more and more each day.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sold
Evalie Says...
![]()
With this being said, our lives have turned into busy lives with getting everything organized for the move. I will more than likely not post again until after we have settled into our new home and our new adventure in Minnesota, but who knows I have some pictures of summer to update.
Much Love,
Evalie
We got an offer on the house at the end of June for our lovely home making things fall into place even more for our move. Our close date on our home will be the 22nd of July. The scary part is that we haven't found a place as of yet to make our home. So, we will be moving in with my sister's for a few weeks. Our move date is Saturday July 16th in order to move out of the house in time for closing. We will place our pocessions in storage until we find a place. Kate and I will remain in the cities after the 16th, and Josh will remain in the empty house until the 22nd.
Much Love,
Evalie
Monday, June 13, 2011
Bucket List Item Number One
Evalie Says...
The number one item on my bucket list is close to being completed. This item...drum roll please....is a move to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. I think the reasons are pretty obvious on why it is my number one item...
The weekend before Easter, we put our lovely home on the market in hopes to sell. Things began to get very crazy for us. We were doing projects, applying for jobs, and trying to stay focuses on our jobs here and managing stress!
It wasn't until the end of May that we heard our first piece of good news. Josh was offered a position within the company that begins in January where he will be able to work from home or have his office where he wants (as long as it is close to Wisconsin). They even offered for him to begin working early if we needed to move before January. The company didn't want to lose Josh to the move, and it was such a wonderful blessing!
Then the big news for me came the second week of June. I was offered a teaching position in a wonderful district teaching multi-level grades five and sixth. This will be a new adventure for me since I have never been in an elementary school, but I am so excited to begin the new adventure. I'm very excited about the district and the possibility of moving forward with my leadership degree as the years go along. I'm also super excited to be at a great school in which Kate can hopefully attend. Plus the district is SUPER close to both of my sisters' suburbs (and my father-in-law).
The last major obstacle on this crazy journey is selling our home in CR. I might do a cartwheel on the day that the sign has a SOLD on top of it. I'm getting tired of living in a "staged" house, and every weekend since the beginning of May has been an open house weekend. We pray that the right buyer comes along. But in all reality, I really hate leaving this house because I love it so much. Josh and I began a family in this house...
The hardest part of this move is the mixed emotions that we each have. We love so many things about living here in Cedar Rapids. It is hard to leave behind all the amazing people who have left deep footprints in our hearts the past eight years. It has been very hard cleaning out my classroom and knowing this chapter is slowly coming to an end. We look forward to the new adventure, but really hate to say goodbye.
The number one item on my bucket list is close to being completed. This item...drum roll please....is a move to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. I think the reasons are pretty obvious on why it is my number one item...
- After being diagnosed with a rare heart disease, I realized that life is too short to not be spending it near those whom are the most important to you. I love my sisters beyond what words can explain. Josh thinks we have a very abnormally close relationship, and I couldn't imagine my life any other way. You see without them, I don't really know who I would be. With life being uncertain, I don't want to spend any more time being almost five hours from them.
- When Dr. Johnson told me that having children with my heart condition puts great risk to my health and advised against it, my heart was broken. I remember telling Josh when we were dating that I wanted five children. It broke my heart when she uttered those words because I couldn't imagine my life as a mother of one. After many prayers and tears, I come to the realization that I have been blessed by God with having Kate before I got ill and had not received those words before having Kate. The only sadness I have now is that Kate will never have the opportunity to share the amazing experiences and love I have with my sisters and had with my brothers before they passed. I have decided that since adoption is not financially affordable for us at this stage in our lives (someday, right Josh?), the next best thing to siblings is cousins. I want her to be able to have her cousins be her best friends who she confides in, plays with, gets in trouble with, and grows up with. A move near my sisters would allow this. Hmm...perhaps this is why Josh agreed to a move since it is less than adoption.
- Amazing doctors. I have been truly blessed with the doctors at Iowa (they are amazing), but to be able to be seen with the two same talented cardiologists as my sister, Kristin, helps our cause and the study of our rare disease.
- The bonus of Grandpa Loren. I really wanted to move up to the cities years ago even before my father-in-law moved there, but having him there now really makes the move more appealing to us. I think he might be more excited than us for the possible of a move.
The weekend before Easter, we put our lovely home on the market in hopes to sell. Things began to get very crazy for us. We were doing projects, applying for jobs, and trying to stay focuses on our jobs here and managing stress!
It wasn't until the end of May that we heard our first piece of good news. Josh was offered a position within the company that begins in January where he will be able to work from home or have his office where he wants (as long as it is close to Wisconsin). They even offered for him to begin working early if we needed to move before January. The company didn't want to lose Josh to the move, and it was such a wonderful blessing!
Then the big news for me came the second week of June. I was offered a teaching position in a wonderful district teaching multi-level grades five and sixth. This will be a new adventure for me since I have never been in an elementary school, but I am so excited to begin the new adventure. I'm very excited about the district and the possibility of moving forward with my leadership degree as the years go along. I'm also super excited to be at a great school in which Kate can hopefully attend. Plus the district is SUPER close to both of my sisters' suburbs (and my father-in-law).
The last major obstacle on this crazy journey is selling our home in CR. I might do a cartwheel on the day that the sign has a SOLD on top of it. I'm getting tired of living in a "staged" house, and every weekend since the beginning of May has been an open house weekend. We pray that the right buyer comes along. But in all reality, I really hate leaving this house because I love it so much. Josh and I began a family in this house...
The hardest part of this move is the mixed emotions that we each have. We love so many things about living here in Cedar Rapids. It is hard to leave behind all the amazing people who have left deep footprints in our hearts the past eight years. It has been very hard cleaning out my classroom and knowing this chapter is slowly coming to an end. We look forward to the new adventure, but really hate to say goodbye.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Jodee and Blake
Evalie Says...
Molly's, my cousin, best friend Jodee got married this past weekend. Jodee has been like a little sister to me being Molly's BFF for so many years and having her parents so close to Aunt Annie and Uncle Paul. She was absolutely gorgeous, and the wedding was beautiful.
The best part of the event was that I got to spend time with Molly and Ben, two of my favorite people in this world. I miss them already.
Molly's, my cousin, best friend Jodee got married this past weekend. Jodee has been like a little sister to me being Molly's BFF for so many years and having her parents so close to Aunt Annie and Uncle Paul. She was absolutely gorgeous, and the wedding was beautiful.
The best part of the event was that I got to spend time with Molly and Ben, two of my favorite people in this world. I miss them already.
Uncle Paul the wedding singer!
How cute are these Tennesseans!
My best picture of the bride (how sad right?)
Uncle Paul and I
Fred and I
Paul and I again...
I love this girl...
Molly and Paul dancing...
Memorial Day Weekend - Part Four the Flooding
Evalie Says...
The big of Missouri River has creeping out of its banks as we speak. From what I understand Montana and the Dakotas had a lot of snow this winter and a very rainy spring. This means that all that extra water needs to make its way downstream to the Mississippi River in Missouri. There are quite a few dams in the Missouri to help regulate this extra water, but it is just not enough this year.
My father and step-mom built their dream home in Dakota Dunes, SD last year. Since they are close to the Missouri River (500 year flood) they are in risk of losing their home. While we were at the zoo, we got the call from dad and Sandie that they were being voluntarily evacuated. We quickly exited the zoo and headed up to Sioux City to assist.
We ended up staying to help dad and Sandie until Tuesday night. We were able to clear the basement completely. We even hired a company to come and take out the furnace and other heating and cooling appliances. We took up carpet, removed doors, plugged drains, removed and plugged toilets and put in a sump pump in the basement. Upstairs we removed all appliances and everything waist down. We didn't take out the carpet and flooring, and we hope that it never gets to the main level. The community of Dakota Dunes have created two levees around their community trying to save it. If the levees work, my dad and Sandie should only get ground seepage in their basement. A blessing and an answered prayer if this is only what happens.
On Thursday after Memorial Day, my dad and Sandie had to be comptetely evacuated from their home. They are living in an apartment for the time being with another friend who lives also in the community. They are told that the extra water will be released from the dams for the next few weeks into months. They were told to be prepared to be out of their houses until the water goes down and the threat of the levee not breaking and rushing the community with water. It is a very sad and emotionally draining experience for dad and Sandie. We pray for best!
A few pictures of the craziness commotion from the Dunes while we were there.
The big of Missouri River has creeping out of its banks as we speak. From what I understand Montana and the Dakotas had a lot of snow this winter and a very rainy spring. This means that all that extra water needs to make its way downstream to the Mississippi River in Missouri. There are quite a few dams in the Missouri to help regulate this extra water, but it is just not enough this year.
My father and step-mom built their dream home in Dakota Dunes, SD last year. Since they are close to the Missouri River (500 year flood) they are in risk of losing their home. While we were at the zoo, we got the call from dad and Sandie that they were being voluntarily evacuated. We quickly exited the zoo and headed up to Sioux City to assist.
We ended up staying to help dad and Sandie until Tuesday night. We were able to clear the basement completely. We even hired a company to come and take out the furnace and other heating and cooling appliances. We took up carpet, removed doors, plugged drains, removed and plugged toilets and put in a sump pump in the basement. Upstairs we removed all appliances and everything waist down. We didn't take out the carpet and flooring, and we hope that it never gets to the main level. The community of Dakota Dunes have created two levees around their community trying to save it. If the levees work, my dad and Sandie should only get ground seepage in their basement. A blessing and an answered prayer if this is only what happens.
On Thursday after Memorial Day, my dad and Sandie had to be comptetely evacuated from their home. They are living in an apartment for the time being with another friend who lives also in the community. They are told that the extra water will be released from the dams for the next few weeks into months. They were told to be prepared to be out of their houses until the water goes down and the threat of the levee not breaking and rushing the community with water. It is a very sad and emotionally draining experience for dad and Sandie. We pray for best!
A few pictures of the craziness commotion from the Dunes while we were there.
Breakfast without furniture!
The two trucks and snowmobile trailers we used to clean out the house.
People parked on empty lots to help
The cul-de-sac next to dad's build a levee with sand once they got a massive mountain of it.
The empty trailers back the next morning to fill up again!
Trying to show the view of the massive traffic.
There is only one way into the Dakota Dunes,
so this made things very tricky!
Downstairs bathroom all cleaned out
Downstairs before we tore up the carpet to try to save it.
It looks so bare!
We places vases and other items up high upstairs!
This is one of the trucks that was bringing dirt down to the river for the levee.
One would be going by as one was going in.
It was incredible.
Storing lamps up on top of the cabinets in the kitchen
Kate napping in the middle of all the commotion
All the kitchen appliances are out...
More traffic
Dad's traffic on his cul-de-sac.
The empty lot next door become parking for everyone.
Many people used semi trucks for the move out.
We wished we would have thought of it because it is cheap storage.
My brother, Chad's
Now my niece, Jessica's
The perfect owner!
We started with these sandbags,
but on the day after we left they
build a 3 foot wall around the whole house.
Basement without carpet
Toilets plugged!
Packing up a few last things
Leaving the Dunes...Won't be back until it is time to move back in!
One entrance
Please pray for everyone suffering from the Big Mo!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend - Part Three the Zoo
Evalie Says...
As I have mentioned before, if you haven't been to this zoo you need to! We didn't make it until later, so we didn't get to see everything but still had an amazing time. Since I have been there so many times, I didn't take any animal pictures. You will just have to gaze at my beautiful daughter and my lovely nieces and nephew!
As I have mentioned before, if you haven't been to this zoo you need to! We didn't make it until later, so we didn't get to see everything but still had an amazing time. Since I have been there so many times, I didn't take any animal pictures. You will just have to gaze at my beautiful daughter and my lovely nieces and nephew!
Kate is sitting out in the observation bubble and as you can tell a little
nervous to be sitting out over the ground.
What a face!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)