imminent domain

I've written before about how much I love our house...how much work we've put into it...how it feels perfect for our family right now. But we had the rug pulled out from under us last Friday and now we're staring and these walls and wondering what our future will look like...

The purchasing director from Spokane School District came for a drop in visit on Friday evening to inform us that there are plans to demolish our home and the two next to us to make room for staff parking lots. Parking lots. Legally, they have every right to purchase our home for market value and we don't really have a say in the matter. They actually have the right to condemn the property, however she says that this is something they try to avoid.

We have so many questions and hardly any answers. We have no idea this was even a possibility. Never crossed our mind. We're oblivious to the time-line...to how the negotiations work. All we know is that we've been reminded that this place really never belonged to us anyway. I think I may have been holding on too tight. Maybe to attached to something that is just a building?

We're sad. I feel a bit violated to be honest, even though I know these things are legal. Even though we weren't likely going to stay in this house forever, I had hoped that someone else could enjoy this home like we have and that our renovations would pay off for resale. It will be so sad to drive by here and see a parking lot instead of our first house...the place we started our family.

But I know that we will be taken care of...that God will clear my head and continue to give peace. I trust that God knows my concerns and that we will continue to be blessed beyond what we can imagine. I know how God works...He does that sort of thing.

It has been a messy day. We're fine. Nothing is really wrong. Here is the very short story....roto rooter to the rescue. And the culprit? A little boy who likes to use half a roll of toilet paper--each time he goes #1. :)

Enough with that. Let's have a do-over...

****************

The day was actually very good. Let's see...

flowers from Tara's yard, juice boxes for lunch, super cute flash cards from Auntie Vicky

An autumn walk on the way to B's school.

We take the scenic route so we can get some exercise and see the chickens/ducks/bunnies. What cute little backsides, don't you think?

Yes. It was a very good day.

before and after

Can't believe the difference a few months makes!

Decisions, decisions...

The simplest decisions are sometimes so hard for me....like what brand of raisin bran to buy. A very strange condition. Picking paint colors seemed impossible for me but I finally came to a final decision and the painting process starts today!!

Here they are...

From top to bottom...our bedroom, bathroom, play area/hall, and boy's bedroom.

I can't wait to see the finished product!

pretty colors

The kids are sick and grumpy. We're going on two weeks now. Mom might be a little bit grumpy too. No running water today...plumber is here to put in the bathroom. Dust and grime everywhere from the jack-hammer work downstairs. Oh, and kids who desperately needed naps but the noise was too scary.

It has been a tiring day...

However, I'm really trying not to complain because we will have some brand new space in just a little while. I won't even remember this chaos. I've been thinking of paint colors, bathroom fixtures...and our pretty new bedroom coming to our home very soon! Through all of the grit and grime under my feet, I am dreaming of all the memories to be made in this lovely new part of our home.

Counting the days...and dreaming of pretty colors.

p.s. thinking of that cellini gold for the bathroom with white bead board trim and vanity.

progress

We're snowed in here! Sorta fun...sorta annoying me a bit! I had the car warmed up, boys strapped in, Starbucks card in hand (for a flyby)and ready to head to my grandparent's house for the morning--and THEN realized that I wasn't going anywhere because we were stuck. So...we're watching CARS for the millionth time, eating a few bags of popcorn together, and drinking a pot of coffee (just me on that last part). So actually, life isn't all that bed:)

I have lots I want to write about, but I've got a stir-crazy boy ready to play. So for now...some remodel pictures:

Before:


Now:
The two windows weren't even there before. That part was LOUD!

sweatpants and HGTV

I could think of no other title for this random, slightly uninteresting post!

So Parker has entered the stage of caring about what he wears. I knew that girls start this sort of thing earlier, but I really didn't think Parker would ever get to that. He always wants to wear his soccer shirts or guitar shirt...or his plain white t-shirts that look just like Daddy's. But now he just wants to wear sweatpants all of the time. Sweatpants?! He's very adamant that he doesn't want to wear his pajama pants--he wants his sweats! Okey dokey. He only had one pair that fit him so we went out this morning and stopped at Children's Place. If he has to wear sweats, I want them to be cool:) They were having a super-duper sale and got a couple really cheap. I especially like the camo.

We're hooked!! We're fairly new to satellite/cable TV and we literally just discovered HGTV. I'm not really sure how it happened, but Joel and I end up watching this stuff after the kids go to bed quite often! We're so close to starting construction on our unfinished basement and I guess we're just in that mode of thinking. I am so excited to have the opportunity to design it just how we want it to be for our family. And even more, I'm really looking forward to having twice the living space. We just need to get it done so we can stop watching all of this HGTV:)