Dorothy's Red Shoes

Our perplexing summer has truly ended.  We’ve known since June that we were going to have to move because our landlady finally admitted that she wasn’t able to pay the mortgage and is scrambling to sell the house before it is foreclosed.

We found one house that we really liked.  It is downtown, almost 3,000 square feet, and simply beautiful.  Because it’s downtown, it’s about three blocks from where I work, which was an unexpected turn of events.  Alas, that didn’t work out, and we ended up not moving there.  Looking back, I’m glad.  There were parts of the house I didn’t love (like no bathroom in the master bedroom and only that one shower.  Again), and it would have been a huge financial undertaking for us because we were going to enter an agreement to purchase the house within two years. 

In the meantime, we have just found very little that would fit our family and our situation. There isn’t a huge rental market in Twin Falls, at least not for houses with at least three bedrooms.  And then when they ARE available, most times they refuse to rent to pet owners :(

And then our landlady tried to evict us, claiming we owed her back rent and our deposit and late fees.  This is for rent she told us not to pay and a deposit she returned voluntarily.  It took over two weeks, but the judge finally found in our favor, giving us a little breathing room as we continued looking for a place to move.

In the meantime, Jake and Lindsay have been looking for an apartment that is relatively close to where each of them works.  We’re all excited for them because they’ve never lived alone in their year and a half of marriage.

So last week I found a house that sounded like a possibility, three bedrooms, two baths, 1,500 square feet, and actually in our current ward.  I emailed the property manager, and she gave me the address.  That’s when I realized it was being listed as a furnished rental.  Darryl and I went to look at it the other day and simply fell in love.  It would be hard for the furniture NOT to be better than ours, so that’s a plus.  The home is older, but it was fully remodeled inside and is stunning.  The backyard is VERY large and very inviting.  It has a huge hot tub that is covered and has little white Christmas lights strung up on the ceiling.  The deck is huge and has a great barbecue and lawn furniture.  There’s even a garden space. Darryl is excited to put the workshop to use as a photo studio.  It is attached to the garage.  He’s always wanted such a space.  I hope that he’s able to use it and expand his photography to a viable business.

Long story short, we got the final word today that the house is ours, and hopefully we will be able to buy it in a little while.

Sunday I was called to be a Sunday School teacher to the youth.  I’ve missed that calling so much.  I’m teaching younger kids than I had before, but I am eager to get back into it.  And the idea of leaving the ward after receiving this calling made me sad, so now I don’t have to worry about that :D

Yes, what everyone has said turned out to be 200% true:  When the Lord was ready, He would provide us an opportunity that fit us perfectly.  I think we found it <3

Editor's Note (12-24-2013) - One week later, after signing the lease, and as we prepared to get the money over to the landlady, we learned that the house was sold, and we were no longer able to rent it :(

October Skies

October is a loaded month in my world.  I lost my first grandparent (my maternal grandfather) on the 1st; my mom’s birthday is the 3^rd; my brother’s is the 6^th, today; my nephew’s is the 12^th; my daughter’s is the 24^th;my stepdaughter’s is the 26^th and her daughter’s is the 25^th…or is it the other way around? my brother who died as an infant was born 50 years ago this coming October 28^th; and my aunt’s birthday is the 30^th, which is also the anniversary of my baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  All of this has led me to be contemplative, which makes me want to write; hence, the name of his blog.

My heart is especially full after watching General Conference today and yesterday as well as watching the Relief Society broadcast last weekend.  I am so spiritually fed that I wonder whether there’s enough room to hold it, and yet, I know there is.

Let me count my blessings:

October 1 - I am grateful to have had four living grandparents into my adulthood.  Three of them have now passed away, but even at my advanced age, I am blessed to be the proud granddaughter of an awesome living grandmother.

October 3 – I am so glad my mom is still alive and that she could turn 73.  She has survived a lot of sorrow in her life:  Losing her second child, her husband, and both of her parents.  She has also survived several physical ailments, including breast cancer.

October 6 – I am glad for my brother who, in partnership with his wife, keeps a safe home for our mom to live.

October 12 – I am glad for all my nieces and nephews, even though I have rarely seen them in their lives.

October 24 – I am so glad for the beautiful young woman born to me in 1993.  She was not only unexpected, but when I found out she was on her way, I was NOT happy.  Not because I didn’t want her but because I didn’t want her father anymore.  But he’s been out of my life for a long time, and I have been blessed with a loving companion, whom I've cherished for nearly 17 years already.

October 25 & 26 – I am glad that my husband’s youngest daughter (before our two kids were born) has welcomed me into her life as an extra grandma to her adorable young daughter.  My heart aches at the loss of the grandmother-grandchild relationship with my own biological grandchildren, so I am especially mindful of this choice blessing from this particular stepdaughter as well as another whose birthday is in March but who has also welcomed me into her family.

October 28-November 8 – I am glad that my little brother who only lived for ten days was a choice spirit who was allowed to return to our Father’s presence without having to traverse the difficult journey of mortal existence.  I am glad that my parents were worthy to be chosen to be his parents and to love him during his mortal life and be hungry for him enough to know the Truth when they heard it in 1976. I am glad that since that time we have spoken of my brother as if he is still our brother, because we all know that he is.  

I am glad that our dad had his son waiting for him on the other side when he passed away.  I mentioned this at my father’s funeral.  I said, “This is likely the first case of sibling rivalry through the veil, as our deceased brother finally said, ‘You’ve had him long enough, it’s my turn now!’”  I am glad to know that Daddy has the opportunity to serve a mission on the other side of the veil with our brother as his companion.  I am glad for the knowledge of the Eternal nature of our spirits and that our family will not only be together again, but we will not bear the burdens of this life that keep us from always enjoying one another’s companionship.

October 30 – I am glad to have known my aunt since she was a teenager, being able to don a beautiful dress and curls in my hair to be her flower girl.  I am glad that she and her kind husband provide a loving and safe home for my grandmother, who will be 93 this December.  I am glad that my aunt found her kind husband and that she is happy.  I have been fortunate to be in their home a couple of times, and even thinking about it makes me tear up a bit.  Well, it’s been that kind of weekend, anyway, and I’ve been weeping so much, it’s a good thing I didn’t take the time to put on makeup.

October 30 (part deux) – I am so grateful for the events in my life that led to my baptism just after my 15^th birthday.  I was embraced into a family of several million people, most of whom I would never meet (it’s up to 15 million now!) I knew it was true when I allowed myself to hear it because I was being fed preconceived notions that didn’t even make sense to me.  It was that night that I met the wonderful man who would later be my seminary teacher and one of the best I ever had (he just died at 93).  I am grateful that I am married for Eternity to my partner and lover.  I am grateful that I am aware of my heritage as a Daughter of God.  I am grateful that He often lets me know He is aware of who I am and loves me anyway.  I am grateful for the challenges He has given me.  I am grateful for the gifts He has given me.  May I ever be worthy of his choicest blessings. And may I ever look at my trials as the blessings they can be.

So I turned 52 last month, my little brother is 49 today.  I couldn't have imagined being in my 50s one day, and now I am not sure where my life will take me next, though I am extremely happy with my job and this place in my life at this moment.  I hope to have more of it all figured out before I become so old that I can’t remember what it was that I felt I needed to know.