These are a few of my favorite things...

• Parents who show up at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning to shuttle your children to their activities so you can pack.
• Parents who stay for the day, hauling away excess stuff to the dump, and then packing the garage into a trailer for the move on Friday.
• Parents who are willing to spend a busy week night evening helping my select a washer and dryer, and then reassuring me that I made the right choice when I agonize over the expense.
• Friends who send meals and call to see how your husband is feeling, and really want to hear the answer.
• Friends who send brownies with their meals:-)
• Friends who show up unsolicited and spend their Saturday afternoon helping you pack up your overstuffed house.
• Friends coming in the back door, just as another heads home out the front door.
• Friends bringing boxes. And more boxes.
• Friends who help your daughters with their math homework when they can see that you are clearly overwhelmed and about to blow.
• The narcotics that give your husband relief from the excruciating pain of spinal surgery, and keep him resting, while the upper two floors of his house rapidly disintegrate into a storehouse for cardboard boxes.
• Bedtime.

A Roller Coaster

There's a perfectly good reason I don't like roller coasters- the constant dread. I spend the entire ride fearing the inevitable twists and turns, climbs and sudden descents, that take my breath and make me feel as though I'm on the verge of a panic attack. My daughters, however, both love them, begging to ride the bigger and more thrilling rides; and when they do, I spend the whole time in prayer- for their safety or a change of heart that will send them out of the line and back to me. Clearly I like security.

This month has been a roller coaster of activities and emotions, and I've had to fight the same feelings of panic, calming my spirit with God's Word and reminders of His faithfulness to me in the past. So as I have had many highs and lows, the thrilling part of this "ride" has been how God has met me at each turn and held me through each free fall. The highs have outweighed the lows, and I am frantically journaling the process, because this will be at the top of those times I refer back to for reassurance of His faithfulness. Despite my feelings, I have in fact, had the constant security of knowing my Heavenly Father has great plans for me.

Here's what's been going on around here...

• Sell our house for less than we hoped, but more than the market predicted.
• Frozen pipe burst shortly before accepting contract, and the next 4 days were a flurry of carpet cleaning, plumbing, and writing of checks. UGH!
• As soon as we offered a contract for the house we've wanted since January, another offer came in and we entered into a week long bidding "war". (It's hard for me to call it a "war", though, since I was praying for the other family and trusting God that it would all work out for every one's best.)
• During the home inspection of our current house, radon was discovered in the basement, as well as the potential threat of a leak in our water main. Which is located beneath our driveway. Translation: a VERY expensive repair... on a house we wouldn't even be enjoying any longer.
• We received the news that we did, in fact, "win" (at a higher cost than hoped- noticing a trend here?) the house we have been dreaming of. Woohoo!
• After 2 plumbing companies and the county water workers inspected our lines, we were deemed leak-free. Woohoo! The buyers  want to come back for another opinion from their own plumber, so I am praying the same verdict is given today.
• Rusty had a spinal fusion last Wednesday, which is extremely painful and requires him to basically do nothing but rest and take two short daily walks for the next 5 weeks. Perfect timing ... we don't have much going on anyway, other than packing 3 stories of treasures and moving them across town.
• Spring has sprung, despite the temperatures feeling otherwise, which means field hockey joins our schedule of play practice, gymnastics, girl scouts, and youth group.

Our life has been crazy and thrilling, with lots of ups and downs this month, but I have to say that it also has been one of my favorite times. God has been more than faithful to send me a special word at the perfect moment, or a friend who offers to spend an afternoon packing or bringing dinner so I can pack and not cook. I doubt if I'll ever be a fan of amusement park roller coasters, but I have to say, the ride that is my life... I'd wait in any line to do it all over again. With God, it's a thrill a minute!

Nothing is ever simple...

Well, the sign says it all. Our house sold, and because we can never do things simply, the same day we signed the contract a frozen pipe burst and required an emergency (read expensive!) visit from the plumber and cleaning company.

Saturday was supposed to be a relaxing, unscheduled day, but those plans rarely come to fruition around here. (A friend swears our family motto is "Nothing is ever simple with the Davis' ".) As I relaxed on the sofa with a magazine and the girls played wii , Rusty burst in the house and ran back and forth to the basement shouting out on each succesive trip "leak!", " I need help", "don't know where", "I can't find the shutoff valve". Then ultimately, the words I knew were coming, "Call a plumber!". Speaking to the chaos our lives often are, our girls barely raised an eyebrow, only later coming out of their wii stupor to ask what was going on with Daddy.

After getting the water shut off, and thankful that only a minor amount of water actually made it into the house, Rusty went for the shop vac to dry out the carpet. When he immediately came back in the kitchen, cradling his hand, I knew that couldn't be a good sign. Sure enough, as he reached in the shop vac, which apparently had recently been used to suction up glass, you guessed it, he sliced his hand! So he came in the kitchen to clean up, saying he hoped it wouldn't need stitches, (which unnerves me- that means it is bad. Don't look!)only to realize he had shut the water off and would have to douse his wound with purell until I could lug the water purifier upstairs from the basement fridge. So as he stood at the sink bandaging his hand, I opted for plan #2, calling in professionals to clean the mess. Servpro was more than happy to come and clean up minor water with major equipment and price tag. So much for my planned day of shopping.

So for the past 4 days we have had 5 industrial strength fans and a dehumidifier humming along in our basement, creating a wind tunnel of carpet. Sadie, the shih tzu, has enjoyed standing in the breeze, ears billowing behind her like a model in a fashion shoot, and is sure to be sorry to see them go today, although she will be alone in her sorrow. The hum is a bitter reminder of the check we had to write to cover this little venture, ouch, and I'm ready to move on. No pun intended.

Of course, we still wait to see if we actually will be moving, because as soon as we had a contract on our house, we offered a contract on the house we have been desiring for 2 months. On the same day another offer was given for the very same house. By neighbors on an adjacent cul de sac in our current subdivision. For a house in an entirely different neighborhood. What are the odds?

Oh, for us I'd say pretty good. After all... "nothing is ever simple for the Davis' !".

Friday Joy

The day is still young, but the morning has already delivered some pure moments of joy. I love Fridays!

• My car is being serviced today, and several items are, unexpectedly, covered under warranty.
• The repair we expected to cost over $500 can be done for $250.
• The surgery for Rusty's spinal fusion that was originally declined by our insurance carrier has been approved. Praise God!
• Even better, although the original surgery date of March 18th had been given to another patient when Rusty's was declined, the office manager called and managed to get him back on the schedule for the exact date. Praise God! This means he won't miss so much of school, which is critical to this crazy principal:-)
• I am having a really good hair day.
• Sadie goes to the groomers and will soon cease to look like a tangled yak. (Although there is a very real chance she may come home looking like a hairless cat!)
• The girls have a half day of school today, and we can hang out and relax this afternoon.
• My house is being cleaned today, so I have the weekend off. Hallelujah!
• Tonight is bunco night and I get to spend the evening laughing with some precious friends.
• Whether we move or not, it's almost time to hang ferns from the front porch and that always makes me happy.
• God is so good, and I love the way he shows up each day in so many ways.

Happy Friday!