winding down

It's been a whirlwind. Last week: packing and organizing. Who knew how much stuff we had..and we have only been collecting for 3 years...in an apartment!!

Giant sale on Saturday was a hit! Lots of people tried to buy early--even using bribery, haha-- but we stayed firm. By 8.45, there was a line at the door. Thanks to Michael's quick thinking, we gave everyone a pen and told them to write their initials on the items they wanted so they wouldn't have to worry about carrying bookshelves and tv's around while they shopped. It worked beautifully. (Minus the confusion between the 3 people with the same initials.) In 3ish hours, we sold 80% of our stuff! These people weren't playin around! Perhaps it helped that we had everything priced at least 75% off--old or new. (That was Michael's idea. It was tough for me to do!) It was a little crazy, but a giant success.

Since then, we've been giving the rest of the little, random stuff away for free to anyone who has come by. I now sit in a 98% empty apartment--yet still on our couches. Funny story. Our couches have been talked about by many people for months. Soo many people wanted them. Not a single person followed through. They've now been on craigslist for a day and we only had 1 looker. For real? Do people not like to sit anymore? What's the deal? Just funny how they were so wanted..and now they're not. And we've dropped the price $100. Oh well. We'll rid of them somehow!

Timeline: (not that you care..but this helps me organize in my head :)
Tuesday: deliver a few items to people; random errands
Wednesday: move out of the apt and into our friend's home
Thursday: clean up apt and go to church going away party
Friday: final cleaning and turn in keys!
Saturday: hang out with both sides of fam; buy last-minute items
Sunday: last church; more fam time
Monday: fly to Co!!!

Oh yes, if you have a ridiculous amount of free time and care to look at 200+ fam pics that were taken a few weeks ago, by all means....take a gander: pics

come and go

Where is June going? This month has been a slow/fast kind. The first weekend of June seems like eons ago, yet the weeks have flown by.

In the past few weeks, we have:

- Held a fundraiser dinner that resembled planning a wedding reception. Lots o' work, but He came through--as always.
- Officially paid off all debt. It's been "paid" for a while. But now it's official. PTL!
- Been to 4 docs. Nothing like cramming them in before we're cut off from insurance. :)
- Went to a schmancy dinner with the Chicago Chinese consulate and his posse. Lesson learned: we need business cards. I think we collected about 10 from the night. That's what they like to do...exchange cards.
- Went to Hotlanta for 4 days. Just Josiah and myself. He did fine on the plane rides--thankful for the kiddos around us that entertained him. While there, he was cranky due to missed naps, stranger danger, 2 teeth coming in, and getting sick. Other than that, he was great. ;) It was so fun seeing dear friends.
- Worked my last shifts in the church cafe. I was sad to leave it. I truly love making coffee drinks. Maybe I can open up shop in China.

And in the next few weeks:

- Visit Branson one last time/attend a friend's wedding.
- Michaael's last day of work.
- Go to Michael's family reunion in Louisiana. It could be hot.
- A few going away parties.
- Pack, pack, pack; sell, sell, sell!!!
- Fly away, fly away, fly away.

Not gonna post any pics; they're all on facebook. I'm pretty sure everyone who looks at this also has FB.

4.5 weeks. WOWZERS.

catchin' up

Um, where did May go?

Josiah's b-day party was a blast. About 50 friends/fam showed up to a toasty, humid, windy bbq. It was fun to see everyone and celebrate Josiah's 1st year! Can't believe how fast it went. Yes, cliche, but true. Here are some of my fave pics of the day...

He ate about 3 licks of icing, then smashed the rest.

Great cake made by LauraLee!

Mr. Monkey mommy & daddy picked out. He still hugs it like this every time he sees it. So sweet.

He's an early reader.

Then we moved onto planning a fundraiser dinner. It was fun, but was definitely a lot like planning our wedding reception. Lots 'o work. But, it paid off. We were blessed beyond our imagination--again. We raised almost triple what we were asking for. All glory to Him for working out the details. And through the process, we made some amazing connections. Our speaker was a former KU basketball player and I'm pretty sure we're going to be life-long friends with him and his family. It was that deep of a connection.

Next up, 3 trips. Hotlanta with the girls (and Josh and Josiah..haha). Branson one last time. Lousiana for Michael's family reunion.

Then we're off! Starting to count weeks now.................

si, estoy aqui.

I'm still here. But just too busy to post anything of significance. Fun b-day party for Josiah last weekend, big fundraising dinner next weekend. Lots to do.

On a fun note, we found out our placement. :) You should contact me personally if you want to know...not sure I'll post it for the world to see.

green light, go!

We just got the green light to buy our one-way tiks to Colorado! (for training, then straight to China) Whoa, talk about reality check! Only 10.5 weeks left. AND we should find out what city we're going to any day now! Ahhh! Bout time!


Fortunately, Josiah will get a practice run on an airplane when we go to Hotlanta for an ahem reunion! He can't wait to see Aunts Erin, Holly, and Miranda and cuz Renae!! But he probably can wait on the loads of kisses he's going to endure. ;)


I think I might start going through stuff in the basement and start selling. Sure don't want to wait until July to do it all! Can't wait to have the apartment-wide sale. It will feel great to get rid of all of this!

bi-polar blogger

Yes, it keeps changing. I'm pretty sure I like how it looks now, but don't be surprised if it keeps changing. :) I don't really like to make drastic things about myself (clothes, hair color, etc.) so why not live vicariously through my blog? haha.

party planner

Less than 3 months til we depart. WHOA.

Less than 1 month that Josiah won't be my little baby anymore. Guess it's time to have another one! ;)

Speaking of Josiah, I'm planning a party for him. At first, Michael was highly against throwing our 1-year-old a birthday party. But then he remembered we're leaving the country and this may be one of the few birthdays he gets to celebrate with friends and fam for a while. (just so you know, I would've fought my way through it had he not agreed...with love, of course!) We're going to grill out at a park. Should be a blast. I'm also going to make him his own cake. I haven't given him many sugary foods up to this point, so why would I throw his body into overdrive by letting him eat as much sugar as he wants just because he's reaching a milestone? Not gonna have it. It'll be sweet..but made with fruit or something. I'll have to find a way to make some sort of icing, though. Maybe out of cool whip or something. Still want to see him smash it all over his face, of course!

We're also planning a benefit dinner (for ourselves..haha..ok, lots of other people are helping plan as well) for early June. Pretty excited about that one. Former KU b-ball player will speak, good food, and a silent auction. Still LOTS of planning to do, though!