People are continually asking how things are coming. Here is a brief update. We sold the brown couch and brought the green couch into the family room. I think we have now sold the green couch, so we may have to bring in lawn chairs to watch TV this week.
I think we have the house rented. Finally. This has been my greatest worry. AND we will more than likely need to be out by the 1st of March. One week from today.
We will probably move out the last of our furniture on Thursday so we can clean on Friday.
We are taking the cat to Faith's on Tuesday. We are taking my car to my mom's house on Tuesday as well. Packing the last of the dishes on Monday and cleaning out the cupboards. From then on, it will be paper plates and take out food.
Here is a list of things that were suggested we bring: linens, blankets, towels, food, household supplies (clock, tool box, slow cooker, dishes, pans, knives, iron, mixer, etc.) computer, CD player, printer, television, cell phones, clothing. Well, not sure how much will fit in the car, but we'll do our best.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Getting Ready to Leave
When you go on a mission as a youth, you say goodbye to your family and off you go. But as senior couples, it becomes more complicated. What do you do with your house? your furnishings? your cars? your pets? your bills?
We've decided to try and rent our house. Sounds easy? We tried to rent it furnished. No takers. We hired a property management firm. On the day she told us we would have to totally empty out the house and garage, I wanted to burst into tears. It seemed an insurmountable task. Now the house is all but empty. And still no renters. We are still hoping.
We have four cars. The restored Chevy is tucked safely away in a storage shed in wine country with fabric softener sheets in every nook and cranny to keep the mice from eating the hoses. The truck is going to our neighbor who will look after the three properties that Craig manages. My car will go on my mom's extra driveway. Cars: done.
Our cat is going to Craig's granddaughter's. Everyone seems happy with that arrangement. The cat has yet to be consulted.
I finally wrote out a list of about 15 things that must be done: Craig taking his driver's license test, turning off the utilities, taking the rest of the furniture to storage, going to the school district to have my insurance switched over,...... stuff like that. We have about 17 days to do it in. Oh yeah, if we have to be out by the first of March, make that 13 days. Yikes!
We've decided to try and rent our house. Sounds easy? We tried to rent it furnished. No takers. We hired a property management firm. On the day she told us we would have to totally empty out the house and garage, I wanted to burst into tears. It seemed an insurmountable task. Now the house is all but empty. And still no renters. We are still hoping.
We have four cars. The restored Chevy is tucked safely away in a storage shed in wine country with fabric softener sheets in every nook and cranny to keep the mice from eating the hoses. The truck is going to our neighbor who will look after the three properties that Craig manages. My car will go on my mom's extra driveway. Cars: done.
Our cat is going to Craig's granddaughter's. Everyone seems happy with that arrangement. The cat has yet to be consulted.
I finally wrote out a list of about 15 things that must be done: Craig taking his driver's license test, turning off the utilities, taking the rest of the furniture to storage, going to the school district to have my insurance switched over,...... stuff like that. We have about 17 days to do it in. Oh yeah, if we have to be out by the first of March, make that 13 days. Yikes!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Getting used to the idea
It's no secret to anyone who knows us well that Chicago is about the last place we would have chosen to serve. We had been assured and reassured by our Stake President and the President of the Palmyra Mission that we would get to serve in Rochester, New York. Then when we opened the call, we were stunned. We didn't speak for several minutes.
Our granddaughter, who was there, said, "You guys don't look very happy." That was the understatement of the year. Not happy? How about very, very upset? Not only that, but it was going to cost the maximum amount we had said we could afford, PLUS about $200 for a monthly storage shed for our furniture, PLUS my Kaiser insurance would not be good in Illinois and they wanted me to spend another $180 a month for insurance that had a $2000 deductible. We decided on Sunday to call the Stake President and ask for a change of assignment, due to financial restraints. We were told this was acceptable. Our Stake President was shocked. Chicago? No, that's wrong. You are to go to New York. The are waiting for you in New York.
The next day we received a text that said something to the effect: I talked to President Francis in Palmyra. He said he did everything in his power to get you assigned to his mission. But an Apostle of the Lord said you are needed in Chicago. How do you argue with that?
Things began to work out. I called my school district and they said it would be no problem to switch over my insurance. I called the housing sister in Illinois and she was so nice and said over and over how excited they were that we were coming. People we knew told us how much they love Chicago.
I will admit that the only thing I know about Chicago is what I've seen in movies and on TV - none of it very nice. Then again, I know what I've seen about Los Angeles on TV and I know that the drama, crime and danger is just a very small percentage of what happens here. Of course, it didn't help to know that the chapel in Chicago is surrounded by wrought iron gates that have to be locked at night and the windows are made of bullet-proof glass. Sheesh.
After spending the day in the temple on Wednesday, we began to feel much better about our assignment. There are two comments I have thought a lot about.
My brother, Michael: So happy for you. Somewhere in Illinois, a Stake President is praying for the Lord to send him some strong leaders to help him direct the saints in his stake. You will be an answer to many prayers as you "go to the rescue" to help members, especially prospective Elers, become active and help build the church. Hurrah for Israel?
At church yesterday, "There are many, many talented people in Palmyra and Nauvoo. You are not needed there."
Meanwhile, we are packing, packing and praying that we will be able to rent out our house to help defray our mission expenses. Fingers crossed.
Our granddaughter, who was there, said, "You guys don't look very happy." That was the understatement of the year. Not happy? How about very, very upset? Not only that, but it was going to cost the maximum amount we had said we could afford, PLUS about $200 for a monthly storage shed for our furniture, PLUS my Kaiser insurance would not be good in Illinois and they wanted me to spend another $180 a month for insurance that had a $2000 deductible. We decided on Sunday to call the Stake President and ask for a change of assignment, due to financial restraints. We were told this was acceptable. Our Stake President was shocked. Chicago? No, that's wrong. You are to go to New York. The are waiting for you in New York.
The next day we received a text that said something to the effect: I talked to President Francis in Palmyra. He said he did everything in his power to get you assigned to his mission. But an Apostle of the Lord said you are needed in Chicago. How do you argue with that?
Things began to work out. I called my school district and they said it would be no problem to switch over my insurance. I called the housing sister in Illinois and she was so nice and said over and over how excited they were that we were coming. People we knew told us how much they love Chicago.
I will admit that the only thing I know about Chicago is what I've seen in movies and on TV - none of it very nice. Then again, I know what I've seen about Los Angeles on TV and I know that the drama, crime and danger is just a very small percentage of what happens here. Of course, it didn't help to know that the chapel in Chicago is surrounded by wrought iron gates that have to be locked at night and the windows are made of bullet-proof glass. Sheesh.
After spending the day in the temple on Wednesday, we began to feel much better about our assignment. There are two comments I have thought a lot about.
My brother, Michael: So happy for you. Somewhere in Illinois, a Stake President is praying for the Lord to send him some strong leaders to help him direct the saints in his stake. You will be an answer to many prayers as you "go to the rescue" to help members, especially prospective Elers, become active and help build the church. Hurrah for Israel?
At church yesterday, "There are many, many talented people in Palmyra and Nauvoo. You are not needed there."
Meanwhile, we are packing, packing and praying that we will be able to rent out our house to help defray our mission expenses. Fingers crossed.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
A Mission Call
We got our mission call yesterday. We have been called to labor in the Illinois Chicago Mission. We report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on March 10. I have to admit we were a little disappointed that we did not get sent to Palmyra. But the idea is growing on us and we hope that we were meant to be in Chicago and will find experiences there that will suit our skills and that will help our testimonies grow.
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