Renovations

Today is the 90 day mark from our move date!

We are finally starting to make decisions for the renovations!  The contractor will likely start in about 2 weeks, and has us choosing the shower and door this week.  We only have space for a stand up shower, which is fine...and have decided on a sliding door as well...for the sake of space.  Decisions, decisions!
I also enrolled the kids in school last week, and reserved a moving truck.  Things are really becoming real...a little scary to be honest.  But we are still excited!

Tony started a new job on Feb 2 with Sherwin Williams, and has already been asked to make a position change.  He was hired as a delivery driver, but when the district and city manger met him and his amazing personality, they told the store manager that "this guy needs to be in the store helping customers!"  So they created a posting for him to apply, and that just happened late last week...so it's in process.  God is so good in providing our every need.  This location is the commercial store, so they are closed on Sundays, and only have abbreviated hours on Saturdays.  Working weekends was the main downfall of working in the store, but he felt like he'd honestly like the work a lot better.  Hopefully, he will be able to make a transfer to a Sherwin Williams near our new home in Roselle, IL.  He has regular hours and great insurance...and much less stress!

Please continue to pray for us as we make this transition.  My health has continued to be decent, so that's a good thing!

New Year!

Wow, it's been SO long since I've written! We are moving right along with plans for the big move.  It keeps getting closer and closer...only 3 1/2 more months!

We've chosen an official move date of May 29.  The kids last day of school is Friday, May 27, and it's only to pick up their report cards, not a "real" school day.  We will take that day and the next to pack and load our U-Haul, and then leave out Sunday morning.  My sister Meri will be sharing the U-Haul with us, so we'll coordinate getting her things packed on Saturday as well.

It's kind of overwhelming to think of all that will happen between now and then!  First, the home improvements/renovations.  We were officially approved in late December for a line of credit that will cover the cost of upgrading the basement to add 2 bedrooms and a bathroom.  Yay!  We will also start the process of widening the driveway, as well as purchase a larger, tankless water heater to accomodate the number of people living in one home.  Mom is calling this week to get the ball rolling on those things.
In approximately 90 days, Meri will graduate with her Masters in Social Work on May 6!!  We are SO proud of her!  Her internship is proving to be an incredible resource, and the company that owns the hospital she's working for also owns hospitals in the Chicagoland area.  Her supervisor has already contacted the HR rep there and will be giving a great reference so that she may land a position before we even move!!  Wouldn't that be awesome??  Tony officially closed his business, Cann-Do Interior Painting, after 3 successful years, on 12/31/15.  It just made sense to do then rather that adding that to our to-do list before we move.  He easily landed a full-time job as a delivery driver for Sherwin Williams, delivering paint.  That gives him consistent income with benefits for our family, which is a good thing right now.  He doesn't love the job, and this probably won't be what he continues once we move, but it's for a season, and has a purpose right now.  Please keep him in your prayers, and anyone who may have connections for job opportunities in the Roselle area, let us know!  Lastly, Mom will retire officially at the beginning of June when school ends!  Exciting stuff.

We are all looking forward to the next few months, and can't wait to celebrate all these positive changes!