Ch, ch, ch, changes....

Has it really been almost two months since I posted? Okay, don't really answer that. I am constantly humbled by my sweet friends that continue to check in on me during my periods of absence. I am filled with gratitude.

Where to begin? Oh yes, my baby went to kindergarten and I've wept like an idiot for the past month and my life has not been the same since. The end.

In all seriousness, I'm definitely in a place of transition. I wasn't really prepared for what I would experience letting go of my baby to full days of school. I guess I thought it was going to be a bed of roses, time of leisure, bon bons, you know. But the reality is that most days I feel as if I walk in circles, wondering what to do next, wondering where and when my little buddy will return. I wonder what I'm now supposed to do that I'm all grown up. I wonder if my kids miss me like I miss them. I wonder why the clocks seems to always read 10:00 am. I wonder why I never expected to feel this way.

But with each day comes a little more clarity. Each day brings a friend who checks in on me. Each day brings back my desire to get back to my routines of the past. Each day brings the sun which helps pull me outside to take a walk or ride my bike. Each day gets a little easier. Each day God whacks me upside my head to let me know what I'm really supposed to be about. Each day is a step on this journey called life. Each day is a blessing. And for all of that, I am ever grateful.

You asked. I answered.

So, here is the long awaited blog post you've all been waiting for. I wish I could report that I've been up to my elbows in excitement, but not so much. It's hard to believe it's been a month since I last posted. As always, I am ever grateful to those of you that check in on me and wonder where I've been. You know I love ya!

With the exception of a box or two of chachkey, we're pretty much all settled in to the new house. I have to say, it is growing on me. After a rough start (read my last post!) I am happy to report that we are slowly winning over our neighbors. The neighbors on both sides of us are perfectly lovely and are DELIGHTED that we are here. As we've cleaned up the yard and brightened the curb appeal with some pots of flowers and a wreath on the door, I think they've figured out we're going to be a nice addition to the neighborhood. I am slowly finding my peace here. As I manage to forget on a frequent basis, God always has a plan!

Shortly after our move, we headed North to Chicago for my brother Joe's wedding. It was lovely. It was big and fat and Greek AND Hungarian. I adore my "new" sister-in-law -- although I've pretty much loved her the entire time she and Joe have been together. Nikki has a heart like no one and she's good to my brother. And they're good for each other. It was a beautiful day.

That's my Molly down in front. She's pretty much available for hire as a Flower Girl. That girl's got it down! From the petal dropping, to the working of the camera as she comes down the aisle, she's the complete package. Just gimme a call.

I really liked this picture of me with my sisters -- Mary on the left, Liz on my right. This was from the rehearsal dinner. On a side note, did you know those crazy Greeks light cheese on fire? Well, they do and then they all yell "Opaaaaa!" -- I mean, that's one sure way to get a party started.

From Chicago we took a few days and headed to Michigan to spend time at Leo's parent's lake house. It's always nice to get away and enjoy the lake and the quiet and the fresh air. It was in the low 80's while we were there, which seemed cold to me and leads me to think my blood really is thinning. The kids always have a great time swimming, fishing, boating, tubing and playing board games. We even got a chance to take a couple of our nephews with us, which was a total blast for my kids.

Here's a Molly Sandwich -- Michael, my sweet, adorable, amazingly smart, nephew AND Godson on the left and our Maddy on the right. Thumbs up for some tube action.

This past few weeks have been a little more quiet than usual around my house. We left Patrick in Chicago with my parents and he's having a blast getting lots of attention from his Aunts and Uncles and doting on his younger cousins. He and my Mom have done some resale shopping, which he has thoroughly enjoyed (he's my frugal one!) and he's helped my sister Liz with several organizing/cleaning projects. He doesn't seem to be missing home too terribly, although I miss HIM! He plans to stay and help my Mom with a garage sale she's going to have in a couple weeks. Poor John isn't quite sure what to do without his big brother around to bug.

Maddy saved up enough money to buy a plane ticket to go back to Columbus to visit her really good friend, Sarah. She's been gone just under a week and will be gone for another two. I'm not sure what to do without my big kids, as I forget how much I rely on them for their help around the house and with the two little kids. She seems to be having a good time and will hopefully be catching up with some of her other Ohio friends. She even has an overnight camping/Cedar Point trip planned with her old church youth group. I'm glad the timing worked out well for her.

Slowly I feel like my life is falling back in to place. I'm enjoying this time with my two little ones. Yes, some days I feel like all I do is cook and referee and play "Cruise Director" but when I stop and think about how truly blessed I am, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Okay, may be the referee-ing part. I think I'd happily give up my whistle. How 'bout you? How's your summer going?

Moving Adventures. Part Tres.

So, we got the keys to our new house on Friday. Saturday morning began the process of packing up the cars and driving over a few trunk loads. The house had been for sale for five months and also vacant. Not that it wasn't a clean house, but not clean to my specifications and we all know that as the new residents we would clean differently than someone else.

Like I had stated before, the owner of the house has been amazing. We're actually working with a property management company that has also been great about allowing us what we need to get the house up to snuff. The owner was also willing to give us a substantial credit to do the work ourselves -- clean up the place top to bottom, paint a few rooms, mow the back yard, which I'll add was almost tall enough to reach Leo's hip. That sorta thing.

By mid-morning I was up to my elbows in rubber gloves and scrubbing the kitchen down when I noticed an older gentleman in the garage speaking to Leo. No introduction, no extension of his hand, simply the statement that this neighborhood doesn't "allow" renters, followed by the words "don't get too comfortable here." Something about HOA by-laws and people who got grandfathered in and him wanting to know who leased us the house, on and on. Come to find out, this guy was a "neighbor" who had gotten wind of us being renters.

Stunned, I just stood there. My head spinning, not sure if I should yell at the guy to get out of our garage or just break down and cry, as he said all this in front of three of our kids, who just stood there with blank looks on their faces, wondering what was going on.

I promptly went in to the house to call the property management company and thankfully, got our agent on the first try. The owner, a very smart man, which I had never doubted, retained a variance from the HOA the week before they listed the property for lease, getting approval for him to lease his property.

Approximately five minutes later the man returned to the front door to tell us "we were safe." In five minutes time he had phoned the president of the neighborhood HOA and our property management company, then I watched him walk over to the neighbors across the street, which I suspect was to fill them in on our situation. I mean, talk about a nice, big, warm welcome to the neighborhood. It was unreal. It still sorta leaves a nauseous feeling in my stomach.

As I type this I can almost hear my mother saying to me, don't let it take up rent in your brain, which I don't plan to do. I'm going to take the whole situation and use it for something better. May be my children are just what that neighborhood needs, a little joy. I will try and hold my tongue and be kind. I will work on thinking before I speak. I will ask the Lord for the patience and guidance I need, cause Lord knows, I think I'm gonna need it.

Moving adventures. Part Deux

Check. Check. Is this thing on? Is anybody still out there? Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

So, the move is on. To use a quote from one of my dearest friends, it's on like Donkey Kong!

Last week we found a new house.

I had found a house the week my Mom was here that I wanted and thought would be great for our family. Except the guy wouldn't rent it to me because my husband wasn't with me -- you know, he's been travelling like a maniac and happened to be in London and Berlin for ten days. Hello. 1950 called. Apparently it's looking for June Cleaver. Hey dude, guess what? I made decisions for my family for 10 months and the world didn't fall apart.

At any rate, that house didn't come together, but as God always does, he provided another house. An even better house. A better house that costs less than the house I thought I wanted. A better house because our landlord is amazing. A better house because we have a neighborhood pool four houses away. Lots of great things, and God had his hands all over it.

And don't ask me why, but surprisingly I am very calm about all of this. To me, a local move seems like a piece of cake. That said, please continue to pray for a smooth transition.

Hugs!

Cleaning and organizing and purging, oh my!

I keep meaning to get back over here and put up a quick "what's been happening in our life" post. But then life interferes and the day is over and time has managed to escape me yet again.

Our lease is up at the end of the month on our the rental property that we're living in. And since they are trying to sell the property, they are opting to not renew our lease. Without going in to the whole long story, there was talk of Leo taking a new position with his company, but in a different city. We had been putting off making a house decision until the eleventh hour until we had heard what was happening with the job.

As of now, nothing has come together on that front, so we're planning to find another rental house, assuming things move forward at some point with the new position. We'd rather deal with getting out of a lease than selling a house...again. We'll be moving at the end of the month. Um, what's that you say? Are you having a flashback to this time last year? Hey, glass half-full, people! It's another chance to re-organize and purge, right?! :)

So, my Mom is here this week and we're busy like beavers. Oh, and have I mentioned my husband has been on the road for two plus weeks for work? We're going through drawers and closets and boxes and sorting and storing and donating. Gosh, it sure feels good. This is the part of the moving process I actually enjoy. I know. I'm a weirdo.

In a nutshell, that's the story. Bear with me if I go MIA from time-to-time. It means the world to me that my bloggy friends check in on me. Thanks, sweet friends!

The adventure continues.

Trying to get back in the groove.

We made it to and from Columbus safely. Thank you Guardian Angels. It was a long drive, tough on the kids, tough on the Mom and Dad, but we got through it. The reality is that our drive was really nothing compared to the suffering Kim and Russ are going through right now.

Jonah's service was beautiful. Words cannot even describe. The outpouring of love and support for this family was just incredible. There were lots of wonderful photos, beautiful songs, as his father so candidly stated, Jonah loved his "Jesus music." At one point the congregation was given a chance to come up and share their favorite Jonah story. They were great ones, lots of memories, definitely lots of laughs. That little guy, even with all his crosses, always had a way of bringing laughter in to almost any situation.

Some of the sweetest stories were from his nurses that took care of him at the end of his time here on this earth. It's so awesome to me that our loving Father gave everyone the opportunity to know the real Jonah, even in the very end when their times with him were short. It was a true testimony of the kind of kid he was.

I ask as the days and weeks go on that you remember my dear, sweet friends in your prayers. I know there will be dark days ahead. I know there will come a time when the phone calls, meals and visitors cease. That is the time I worry the most for them. So, if you think of it, as you go about your days, when you see something beautiful, something of God's handiwork, stop and say a prayer for Jonah and his family. I know Kim and Russ would be ever grateful.

Heavy heart.

Tonight I received the phone call I had never hoped to receive. My dear friend Kim lost her son Jonah last night. He fought all he could, but our dear Lord called him home. His mother was at his bedside when he died. I wanted to share her last entry on his care pages. He was a special little boy and touched each and every person he met. My life has been forever changed knowing Jonah.

-------------------------------------------
66 Days in an ICU...
Posted 4 hours ago

A picture of my Jonah....

I would be sad and start crying and Jonah would say "It's okay mom."

I would be frustrated or upset and tell Jonah..."Mommy's grumpy today Jonah. I'm sorry." and Jonah would say "It's okay, mom."

I would kiss him goodnight on his sweet forehead three times and tell him "Mommy will see you in the morning" and Jonah would say "Okay mom, love you." Never asking me to stay. Never making me feel guilty for leaving. Who does this? My brave warrior, my beautiful baby boy. My Jonah.


He NEVER complained. He always said he was GOOD. Sometimes even awesome.

He ALWAYS did what he was told. Every therapy. Every shot. Every dressing change. Every procedure. Every walk.

He smiled when you walked in his room and always thanked you for coming.

He'd only ask you to rub his poor back or tickle his toes. If you were lucky, he tickled yours.He'd always watch the clock--waiting on his next drink--his little 30 mls of juice.

Such simple pleasures for such a simple boy. Who never asked for much. Just your company and your prayers.

My Jonah is one of a kind. Always has been. Always will be.

He's touched many people I know and love and many I've never met.

He's loved more than life--and will be missed so much it hurts like an open wound that won't heal.

He is my beautiful baby boy. My brave warrior. He is my Jonah, now with my loving Jesus.

Jonah Robert Hoser
2-15-97 to 4-7-10


On a sidenote, this is a link to an article that I just found online at the Columbus Dispatch.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/08/pickerington-youth-finally-rejects-heart.html?sid=101