Four months later.....
WOW! Really? Four months already?! OK, so that makes six months since this new chapter began? Crazy. Here's the "Cliffs" notes version:
Our actual physical move at the end of June was chalked full of challenges. What should have taken 3-4 days ended up taking us 10. Ten days of pulling a trailer behind an oldie but good pickup, minus air conditioning (for Stu), through record temperatures. The short list is 6 tires, two belts, a specialty thingy, and one super husband that embodied the Grace of God and perseverance. I won't post all the details but there was a lot of opposition to us getting here, but alas, we made it. June 30th to be exact.
We had a brief yet lengthy stay with my parents (oxymoron intended there) for 3 weeks. Stu had to move everything out of the trailer into the garage for us to get what we needed when we first got there, then we got a storage unit so he had to move it from the garage to storage and THEN found our current rental and got to move everything we own for a third time to where is sits now. A small, magical, suburban land in Southern Arizona called Rancho Sahuarita (actual "neighborhood", in town of Sahuarita www.ranchosahuarita.com). Basically this place was designed and built with our family in mind. It's fantastic! We have a clubhouse with a great gym and fitness classes, childcare for the kids while you utilize anything at the clubhouse, a waterpark at the clubhouse, tons of parks and pool throughout the entire community and a great, growing, shopping center at the beginning of it all.
The move into our rental was only days before the school year started ; which played a part into a little more of an urgent move because I wanted to stay within whatever school district we started. There are four public and one charter/public elementary schools inside of a couple mile radius. The chances of us finding a house we wanted but not ending up in a different school area gave us better odds at hitting the lottery I think :-)
The boys started school at Anza Trail elementary a K-8 within walking distance of our new place; my goal is to stay here and have all four boys go to the same school at the same time, LOL, but really....that'd be cool right?
We have also found what looks like we will be settling in as our church home; Common Ground Church, it's also within walking distance of our home, it's held at the boys school :-). Did I mention everything is within walking distance of our new home?
Now the first four weeks of school come to an end tomorrow and I feel like maybe the dust has settled a little (only a little) and we are looking forward to all that God has planned for us. This is where I'm going to be picking up this blog shortly (no, really, SHORTLY)....I actually have a focus and a vision to blog all about that new focus. Starting with my next blog I will be introducing you to the Aden Family 2.0....healthier, happier and prospering abundantly in God's Grace.
A sneak peek involves "Holy Yoga" instructor training for Carly; a revamped passion for our families nutrition and eating habits, how a company called "juice plus +" is already changing our lives, and a love of the game turned business called "Agape Golf". I'm including some links at the end of each post so you can find out more about any of the above mentioned things as they interest you (including our great community).
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
More than a year later? Really Carly?
You are likely sick of the "it's been a ridiculous amount of time since my last blog" intro, but, it can't be ignored. No promises though, I don't know if I'll be better about it or not. I am just doing it as more of a journal for me and my family. So there. On to the good stuff.
It's been two months tomorrow since Stu lost his job of 17+ years at Tumwater Valley Golf Course. His actual unemployment was just this past Sunday though (a technical detail that embodies the grace of God in this process, he's been home with "regular" salary this whole time). It's almost as if I'm mourning a bit as I write that, a big part of our lives (and an even bigger part of his) has been taken, it wasn't our choice. It is a blessing though. I'm not even sure exactly what that blessing is yet, but I know it has to be the work of the Lord, this is big, really big. We are relying on faith, we have no other way to go, or at least that's our viewpoint. If we can listen to the still, quiet voice (that I often ask to be louder, right now especially) we will end up right in the middle of His will for our family. I won't go into all the thoughts and feelings I've had since March 1st, I'm not writing a book (yet). Suffice it to say, it's scary, exciting, nerve wracking, and somehow peaceful all at the same time.
What we did know right away was, we needed to get the house ready for sale and put it on the market. So, we did. I had this great expectation that we would sell it for top dollar in week one. Well, not the case. We are over 30 days in, 2 price reductions, a handful of showings, and no offers into this. The showings feel like they will kill me alone. I bust my bum, to put it lightly, to get things as clean and neat as they can possibly be for a house with 4 very young, active boys, and a mom that continually struggles with just the day to day tasks of "keeping a house". Just to have my hopes and prayers dashed with a phone call to the agent that reveals "not what they are looking for"....for various, stupid (my opinion of course), reasons. "I can't do this anymore" I keep telling God, and anyone else that will listen for that matter. I need to stop saying and believing that. I can and will do this, so I might as well change my attitude and get on with it. It's not helping anyone when I whine and complain that I have to work hard and this isn't happening fast enough for me. This is the Lord's timing, and I'm sure that patience and waiting are part of the work He is doing in both Stu and I through this process. We are both self-proclaimed "bad-waiters".
The plan: Start packing today (yes, literally, today), move forward with a move out date around June 1st-15th (I figure the procrastination factor in both Stu and I so high, that June 1st really means June 15th, at best), and get to Sahuarita, AZ. Just a small little dessert town, South of Tucson approximately 25 miles, and right where my parents live. We'll stay (or dare I say "live") with them until we can count on some regular income and have at least a couple month buffer of such, from Stu teaching. He has already worked out the teaching contract with a "package" of three golf courses, but it's the slow season and we're bound to get off to a slow start.
We're all excited to get to some consistently good weather. The boys are dreaming of the days they will get to swim EVERY day, ALL day. School starts mid July there, so we won't have a very long Summer. The school thing is worthy of a whole post, all its own, with Luke and his opinions of the fact that there are some pretty strict dress codes there. Let's see if I get to a second post "in a row" (aka less than a month) shall we?
It's been two months tomorrow since Stu lost his job of 17+ years at Tumwater Valley Golf Course. His actual unemployment was just this past Sunday though (a technical detail that embodies the grace of God in this process, he's been home with "regular" salary this whole time). It's almost as if I'm mourning a bit as I write that, a big part of our lives (and an even bigger part of his) has been taken, it wasn't our choice. It is a blessing though. I'm not even sure exactly what that blessing is yet, but I know it has to be the work of the Lord, this is big, really big. We are relying on faith, we have no other way to go, or at least that's our viewpoint. If we can listen to the still, quiet voice (that I often ask to be louder, right now especially) we will end up right in the middle of His will for our family. I won't go into all the thoughts and feelings I've had since March 1st, I'm not writing a book (yet). Suffice it to say, it's scary, exciting, nerve wracking, and somehow peaceful all at the same time.
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| Love our House/ property.... |
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| Dream for sale..... |
We're all excited to get to some consistently good weather. The boys are dreaming of the days they will get to swim EVERY day, ALL day. School starts mid July there, so we won't have a very long Summer. The school thing is worthy of a whole post, all its own, with Luke and his opinions of the fact that there are some pretty strict dress codes there. Let's see if I get to a second post "in a row" (aka less than a month) shall we?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Here again....
Oh boy. Seriously, I do want to record these awesome times. I am here, again, apologizing not only to myself but to anyone who cares to try to follow the Aden family story as told by the ADHD mom that has a serious problem completing what she starts. All the best intentions I guess.
Stu and I were in bed last night having a good heart to heart on my take on my role as wife and mother in a fallen world.
The jist of it being I am ill equipped for any of it. I was raised in a home of one "believer" and one "non" (or that was as simple as it was from my young perspective). We went to church on the major holiday's to show our support (minus dad though) and get a dose of "Jesus" until the next big event. Every once in a while we would make a few random services at varying churches around town but that wouldn't stick for long.
I was raised an only child, in a nice suburban middle class neighborhood where there were plenty of other kids for me to play with; and it was still safe enough for us to roam our street (it was a very long dead-end at the time).
My point: I have been blessed with four beautiful boys, and here I am with the knowledge that they can and will be great "soldiers" for the Lord, but how? Me? I'm supposed to be able to train them up? I don't have a male in my life that I grew up knowing even believed in Jesus, let alone lived a life for him. I have no siblings to have a point of reference as to how to raise a set of four on how to get along and love each other. And, of course, I'm not a boy and without so much as a brother (although I did have one that didn't survive more than his first 5 weeks on earth, RIP Jeffrey Adam), my cousins were all girls (I do have a token boy or two in there but they're either much younger or not one we saw much), I have to rely solely on my observation and research as to how this male human works....
So here I go, wish me luck. Better yet, pray for me. I know I have all I need in Jesus and his word but I have so much to learn and yet teach at the same time. This is too important not to finish though.
Stu and I were in bed last night having a good heart to heart on my take on my role as wife and mother in a fallen world.
The jist of it being I am ill equipped for any of it. I was raised in a home of one "believer" and one "non" (or that was as simple as it was from my young perspective). We went to church on the major holiday's to show our support (minus dad though) and get a dose of "Jesus" until the next big event. Every once in a while we would make a few random services at varying churches around town but that wouldn't stick for long.
I was raised an only child, in a nice suburban middle class neighborhood where there were plenty of other kids for me to play with; and it was still safe enough for us to roam our street (it was a very long dead-end at the time).
My point: I have been blessed with four beautiful boys, and here I am with the knowledge that they can and will be great "soldiers" for the Lord, but how? Me? I'm supposed to be able to train them up? I don't have a male in my life that I grew up knowing even believed in Jesus, let alone lived a life for him. I have no siblings to have a point of reference as to how to raise a set of four on how to get along and love each other. And, of course, I'm not a boy and without so much as a brother (although I did have one that didn't survive more than his first 5 weeks on earth, RIP Jeffrey Adam), my cousins were all girls (I do have a token boy or two in there but they're either much younger or not one we saw much), I have to rely solely on my observation and research as to how this male human works....
So here I go, wish me luck. Better yet, pray for me. I know I have all I need in Jesus and his word but I have so much to learn and yet teach at the same time. This is too important not to finish though.
Monday, May 17, 2010
What to say....?
So, Here it's been a while already and no new post until now...thanks Bonnie for keeping me in line and reminding me it was time :)
I've been waiting for something really grand to report I think, but then had to remeber this blog isn't about that; it's not a celebrity post about crazy parties and wonderful clothes, it's not a Bear (the outside dude) adventure post about wild encounters, it's blog about my everyday life that's no so everyday when you add in the funny little boys I share it with.
We begin a new adventure today; Soccer. Yep, we've completed our stereotype of having boys and a minivan and I am now "soccer mom" and Stu is coaching (hee, hee).
Not that it's funny he's coaching; he loves teaching kids sports (golf especially of course) and he does great with them. The funnier aspect of it all is that we are so cliche at this point :) Not that we care at all, we love it. First practice tonight and then our first match on Friday, I'll be sure to report after that on how it all went.
I'm about to wrap up my first competitive season of tennis next week (first "adult" season). I actually played on two teams at two different levels and to be expected; I did well (only lost one) on the lower level and not so good on the higher one. Although I do feel like I'm at least competitive at that level. I will be playing again on a Summer league because I've had so much fun doing it. I actually don't know what I would do without tennis, I can't even remember what life was like without it. Thankfully we've found a place we can afford down here (Tennis clubs generally have an outrageous pricetag with their monthly dues) and they have childcare and my hubby is very supportive so I get to play on :) (side note: I think I'm using the pronoun "I" too much....I need an editor)
On to the boys (the reason you all read, I'm sure)
Luke has shown some definate strides in maturity with the regular lapse to remind me he's just 5. He has twice now unloaded the dishwasher and put everything away in it's correct spot (I have to rat out daddy and say this is better than he even does). He's also made our bed (yep mine and Stu's) and done a great job. To put this in perspective; he wants more allowance cuz last time we went to Wal-Mart to spend it I told him more times than not that he didn't have enough money "for that".
Zane is as adorable as ever. Seriously the kid has some cutes. I'm growing his hair out again to try to see if we can get some curls back. I miss them. He's especailly looking forward to his upcoming role on the soccer team and ask all the time if it's time to play. He's talking better everyday and someday I'm gonna miss how cute he says everything (incorrectly) so I'm letting a lot of it slide (great mom, I know) so I can enjoy it longer. I am seeing all too quickly how it goes by so fast.
Gage is getting even bigger! I have got to get this kid walking! After I just said it goes by so fast I am actually wanting to get this baby on to the next stage; my back is killing me :)
He is so sweet. Always happy, loves to eat and sleep and really loves his brothers! His face just lights up at the sound of their voices. He wants to be walking too cuz then he'll get to do what they do, he's sure of it.
I'll wrap up with a short report on the date we got to go on Saturday night; it was a blast! Got to wear high heels :) and a dress, go to Bellevue and have some wine and a funny comedian that had me laughing for a good hour, all escorted by my super handsome hubby that once again prooved that there are no heels high enough for me to be taller than him :) Love that we have a couple of great babysitters close by we can trust to have a late night out far from home.
I've been waiting for something really grand to report I think, but then had to remeber this blog isn't about that; it's not a celebrity post about crazy parties and wonderful clothes, it's not a Bear (the outside dude) adventure post about wild encounters, it's blog about my everyday life that's no so everyday when you add in the funny little boys I share it with.
We begin a new adventure today; Soccer. Yep, we've completed our stereotype of having boys and a minivan and I am now "soccer mom" and Stu is coaching (hee, hee).
Not that it's funny he's coaching; he loves teaching kids sports (golf especially of course) and he does great with them. The funnier aspect of it all is that we are so cliche at this point :) Not that we care at all, we love it. First practice tonight and then our first match on Friday, I'll be sure to report after that on how it all went.
I'm about to wrap up my first competitive season of tennis next week (first "adult" season). I actually played on two teams at two different levels and to be expected; I did well (only lost one) on the lower level and not so good on the higher one. Although I do feel like I'm at least competitive at that level. I will be playing again on a Summer league because I've had so much fun doing it. I actually don't know what I would do without tennis, I can't even remember what life was like without it. Thankfully we've found a place we can afford down here (Tennis clubs generally have an outrageous pricetag with their monthly dues) and they have childcare and my hubby is very supportive so I get to play on :) (side note: I think I'm using the pronoun "I" too much....I need an editor)
On to the boys (the reason you all read, I'm sure)
Luke has shown some definate strides in maturity with the regular lapse to remind me he's just 5. He has twice now unloaded the dishwasher and put everything away in it's correct spot (I have to rat out daddy and say this is better than he even does). He's also made our bed (yep mine and Stu's) and done a great job. To put this in perspective; he wants more allowance cuz last time we went to Wal-Mart to spend it I told him more times than not that he didn't have enough money "for that".
Zane is as adorable as ever. Seriously the kid has some cutes. I'm growing his hair out again to try to see if we can get some curls back. I miss them. He's especailly looking forward to his upcoming role on the soccer team and ask all the time if it's time to play. He's talking better everyday and someday I'm gonna miss how cute he says everything (incorrectly) so I'm letting a lot of it slide (great mom, I know) so I can enjoy it longer. I am seeing all too quickly how it goes by so fast.
Gage is getting even bigger! I have got to get this kid walking! After I just said it goes by so fast I am actually wanting to get this baby on to the next stage; my back is killing me :)
He is so sweet. Always happy, loves to eat and sleep and really loves his brothers! His face just lights up at the sound of their voices. He wants to be walking too cuz then he'll get to do what they do, he's sure of it.
I'll wrap up with a short report on the date we got to go on Saturday night; it was a blast! Got to wear high heels :) and a dress, go to Bellevue and have some wine and a funny comedian that had me laughing for a good hour, all escorted by my super handsome hubby that once again prooved that there are no heels high enough for me to be taller than him :) Love that we have a couple of great babysitters close by we can trust to have a late night out far from home.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Seriously, I need to be better about this
I don't keep a journal and I have a horrible memory; I've tried keeping a general blog before and then burnt out on keeping it up and then later started a blog about loosing my post pregnancy weight. Well, I got pregnant in the middle of that blog (more on that later) and let it go. So, I want to do this because I want a record of all the funny (and not so funny) things that go on in our daily lives that make up the Aden family. Here goes another try....
News:
Many of you who may read this already know about the "surprise" fourth pregnancy that threw us off a bit. Well just as we were getting used to the idea we got thrown off even more: Carly miscarried. It has been an interesting emotional journey. We were supposed to be 10 weeks along but from the ultrasounds it looks like it stopped growing at about 8.5 weeks (I did not miscarry "naturally" the fetus stopped growing and I had to have a medical procedure called a D and C to actually "clean" my body out). Now I know why people wait to announce their pregnancy until after the first trimester; I have to admit I was feeling a bit immune to a miscarriage as I had 3 pregnancies and 3 healthy boys, lesson learned. No news yet as to if we'll try again, I thought I was done but have new emotions about a fourth now...we'll see when things settle down again. I'm feeling okay, hormonal and emotional but oh so thankful for the health of my family.
Okay, enough of that, I've been dreading the announcement but had to do it; so there it is in my first blog post on the new "family blog" I promise future post will be aimed more towards humor and reveling in the minds of my young children but ya never know what life will bring you. Trusting in God and his plan to get us through anything.
I'll leave you with this...I am laying down with the two youngest boys asleep for nap time and Luke by my side needing to sleep but fighting it with all he has in him (daily routine with him...I mostly just want to get some rest myself and make sure he doesn't wake anybody else up). He comes up with a bright idea "let's see who can stay up the longest" yeah, Luke I'm gonna go for that. :)
News:
Many of you who may read this already know about the "surprise" fourth pregnancy that threw us off a bit. Well just as we were getting used to the idea we got thrown off even more: Carly miscarried. It has been an interesting emotional journey. We were supposed to be 10 weeks along but from the ultrasounds it looks like it stopped growing at about 8.5 weeks (I did not miscarry "naturally" the fetus stopped growing and I had to have a medical procedure called a D and C to actually "clean" my body out). Now I know why people wait to announce their pregnancy until after the first trimester; I have to admit I was feeling a bit immune to a miscarriage as I had 3 pregnancies and 3 healthy boys, lesson learned. No news yet as to if we'll try again, I thought I was done but have new emotions about a fourth now...we'll see when things settle down again. I'm feeling okay, hormonal and emotional but oh so thankful for the health of my family.
Okay, enough of that, I've been dreading the announcement but had to do it; so there it is in my first blog post on the new "family blog" I promise future post will be aimed more towards humor and reveling in the minds of my young children but ya never know what life will bring you. Trusting in God and his plan to get us through anything.
I'll leave you with this...I am laying down with the two youngest boys asleep for nap time and Luke by my side needing to sleep but fighting it with all he has in him (daily routine with him...I mostly just want to get some rest myself and make sure he doesn't wake anybody else up). He comes up with a bright idea "let's see who can stay up the longest" yeah, Luke I'm gonna go for that. :)
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