School days are here

Occasionally I remember that I began this blog as a way to document my "30 in my 30s" list. My life is so different now from when I turned 30 four years ago. I haven't looked at the list in a while, and I'm sure there are a few items I'd want to change now. However, I have not forgotten my list and I've recently marked off two major items. One is finding a new home for our family, which on the list is referred to as something like "a family home to live in for many years." This home probably isn't that, but we do love this little place and are having so much fun fixing it up and making it our own. Our new roof was completed today. The house immediately felt cooler and less humid. Here's hoping we'll see a change in our outrageous energy bills next month. I'm anxious to start posting some "after" photos, but honestly, nothing is to the point yet where I'm ready to call it done!

I have plenty of "during" photos! Every project in this house takes on a life of its own. I simply wanted to paint the front door. It resulted in Ben spending 3+ days stripping about 9 old layers of paint off!

Another item on my list was to give Bennett (who was 18 months old when I wrote it) the best possible start in her education, starting with kindergarten. For several years, we wrestled with the options and what we would do. We prayed about it a lot. It wasn't an easy process or an easy decision. I've shed more than a few tears along the way, especially when it came time to actually let her go off to school.

How dare she do this to me?!

Might as well be walking down the aisle

Excuse me. Weren't you just born? 

The educational climate has changed so much since Ben and I were kids. When we were growing up, homeschooling had a stigma of being different and weird. Now, it is so much more mainstream, and I am constantly amazed at the awesome and creative ways people to come up with to homeschool their kids. I admire it wholeheartedly. It has actually been a little difficult for me to admit that it's just not right for our family, at least not at this time. In Christian circles, if you let yourself be over-sensitive (which I probably am about this subject because education is so important to me), you can almost start to feel as if you're failing as a mom if you don't/can't homeschool your kids. I've had feelings of panic that I should be doing it, that I should be figuring out a way to make it work.

For the past couple of weeks, I've really been working on letting that go. Reminding myself that we prayed just as hard about this decision as other parents who ultimately decide to homeschool or put their kids in Christian school. God has a purpose for us here, in this neighborhood, and in this school. We're completely confident that we are right where we're supposed to be, that Bennett is in the school she's supposed to be in, that she has the teacher God wanted her to have. It comforted me when her class assignment was switched a few days before school, and the principal called me three times to make sure he could answer my questions and reassure me about the change. Our confidence grew even more when a school board member stopped by our house to personally welcome us to the district. And, it gives my heart joy each morning when Bennett bounds down the stairs excited for another day at school. She's eating up every single second of it, especially interacting with so many new friends. We've already had several conversations about how she might be able to help a girl in her class who is having trouble adjusting to school. I'm so proud of her. She will have so many opportunities to be "salt and light" here.

I'm planning to go back through my list soon and see how I'm doing. For now, I'm just thrilled that these two big dreams have come true.

Finally home

It's been a while. The past 8.5 months have been an interesting ride, but we are finally in our new home and hoping life will settle down a bit. Moving in with my parents came at the perfect time. My mom started chemo almost immediately after we moved in, and the girls and I were able to shuttle her back and forth to keep my dad from having to take off work so often. We thought chemo would last 2-3 months...it's still going. The changes have been harsh. While thankfully she hasn't lost her hair or spent her days throwing up, she has gotten very weak and tired. Her blood counts have been very low. She's now on full-time oxygen. And, most frustrating of all, for a long time, the chemo didn't seem to be making any difference in fighting her cancer. Thankfully, things now seem to be heading in the right direction. The hope is that she will be a candidate for a stem cell transplant sooner than later. She's dreading it. I'm dreading it. It won't be the first stem cell go-round for Ben and me, and my hope and prayer is that she'll experience the lasting remission that my mother-in-law is currently enjoying. Appointment at Ohio State later this week.

Living back in Cedarville was fun. The girls enjoyed the free and unlimited access to Nana and Papa, enjoyed going for walks in the country and on campus. Ben and I both enjoyed cooking with my dad and being able to leave the girls home sometimes when we needed to run errands. And, we certainly enjoyed the cost savings! I was blessed to spend even more time with my precious grandma who was living at the nursing home in Xenia. She passed away on June 23, and I already miss her so much. She meant the world to me, and I can't wait to see her again one day.

God was so good in leading us to the perfect house back here in Columbus. And when I say "perfect," I mean "perfect for us" because this house is a bit of a trainwreck. It's 65 years old and has been a rental for the past 10 years. It needs a lot of TLC, but we love it. We love the town, the fact that it's urban with a small-community feel, and its great school system (Bennett will be starting kindergarten next month!). We love the brick street we live on and all the character in this old house. We love having a big backyard full of shade (my dad is really trying to sell me on bringing the chicken coop up here). We have already made so much progress on this house, but still have a long way to go. I thought I'd post some "before" pictures. These are the original listing photos for the house. I will try my best to update with "during" and "after" photos as I can.

Exterior of the house. It's a 1950s cottage/modified Cape-style home. Not a lot of curb appeal but Ben and his dad spent hours clearing weeds and trimming trees so it's already perking up a bit (photos to come). I have dreams of having this house painted Colonial red. First priority is a new roof, however.

The living room. This was the main part of the original house and included the kitchen. I can't imagine how small it must have felt. We've already repainted and replaced the carpet (photos to come). It's actually kind of an awkward space now. I'm dying to get a piano since, for the first time ever, I finally have space for one. 

View of the living room looking back toward the front door. The renters' furniture was somewhat hideous. 

This is a pretty good view of the addition on the back of the house. Not sure what year it was added, but we think it's pretty old. The hardwood under this carpeting was basically disintegrating. All this carpet has been ripped out and replaced with new hardwood (photos to come). We believe the brick was the original exterior of the house. Not quite sure what to do with all that hearth space; it seems wasted. Having this much openness in an old home in this part of town is rare, and I don't take it for granted! 

 The entire back of the house is floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the morning light. Ben always wanted a sunken family room; I always wanted a fireplace in the dining area. Even though we were kind of "taking what we could get" in Bexley, we got both of those things! I have a lot of work ahead of me trying to shine up that copper fireplace hood. Another item on the list- replace that light fixture and move it to where it's- oh, you know- actually above the table area. 

View of the addition from the kitchen

This kitchen. What can I say. Great, functional layout and those giant windows look right out to the swingset in the backyard. For the first time ever, I can tell my kids to go outside and play- without me! But the finishes- yikes! I'm happy to say the floor is gone and the cabinets have been professionally refinished (photos to come).  

The laminate flooring! I found an extra box in the attic and couldn't even give it away. Oh, and that light fixture cover has been ripped down as well. I hated it with the fire of a thousand suns.  

Looking into the backyard. These counters also have to go, but that's more of a "phase two" project. "Phase two" is code for "when we're no longer hemorrhaging cash from phase one."

The half bath. Part of the original kitchen apparently. Border has been removed but weird stenciling is still intact, waiting to be painted over. 

The basement bedroom which has become our playroom. This room has already made a big transformation. Can't wait to post the photos!

The master bedroom. The renters had a cat in here named Lola who couldn't be let out of the room for fear she would kill their other cat. So basically this room is haunted by a demon cat. Notice the shiny ceiling. A lot of the ceilings in this house were inexplicably painted with high-gloss paint. It took a lot of flat white to calm things down. 

The one and only full bath. Probably the biggest sacrifice we're making to live here, next to lack of closet and storage space. This bathroom is actually pretty big and since the girls are so little, sharing isn't too difficult, but if I'm being honest, yes, I very much miss having my own master bath. 

The girls' room, formerly the home of the cat who might get killed if the other cat got out. This sweet little cape-style room is on a floor of its own. We were able to rip out this carpet and restore the original hardwood underneath. And of course, it's been painted pink (photos to come). 

Not the best photos of the backyard, but we are thrilled to have such a big one in an area where space is at a premium. We have a double lot and a ton of space for the kids to play. I am desperately seeking a big playhouse for this yard but have yet to find one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to move! The grass was probably two feet tall back here by the time we moved in and things were in pretty bad shape. Ben has put a lot of work into cleaning it up, and we are looking forward to landscaping it and spending a lot of days and nights enjoying it!

Having a hard time keeping my eyes open right now- rare for me! I will post progress pictures as soon as possible!