God's Plan Part 2

So as it would turn out things really were not in our hands. Funny thing is we are now under contract for the house I wrote about in our last entry, the one we never arranged a showing for but just stumbled upon. Well after we temporarily walked about from the table on that house we were looking around trying to find other houses that we liked. We found two, well one on the same street just smaller and the other was close to my parent's house and a great price. We were getting ready to put an offer on the first of the two options and come to find out they needed to go ahead with their recent plans to rent it so took it off the market. Guess that was closed door number one (though I am sure that was not the first... just through my limited vision) and the thing is I said that if I lived there and found out the one down the street had reduced I would feel regret, so to speak. Then option number two was a great upgrade with a huge backyard and close to my parents. Well as things would go in order to apply for the house the loan type we would use would not allow us to go under contract for 90 days... which a house at that price and in that area would already be gone by then and no one wants to wait for their profit that long if they are flipping a house. So as you can tell we went back to our first option, saw it one more time and decided that it really was our house. And as God would have it they accepted our offer right away. We have already started the inspection and are moving on to the next stages of the game. Thank God for having all things in control.

God's Plan

We are in the midst of a house search and it is more complicated than I ever imagined and more frustrating at times. We found a house we really liked and put the offer but they apparently think the house is worth no less than what they are selling it for even when a similar model minus a small addition recently appraised for 30,000 less than it is on sale for. Needless to say we walked away and are still looking. There is a house on the same street we like it is just smaller, but cheaper. God will show the way. It is funny because I thought that was the house for us because we never arranged for a showing, just happened to be on the same street of a home we liked and they had an open house the same day. Then when we went back and there was another open house and so I thought this has to be for us. But I forget how all these decisions are ultimately not ordained or made by me... that is if I choose to listen to what God guides us towards. There was a lady in my church who reminded me of this when I told I was bad at making decision and she responded saying that is because I don't make them.

Cat Scratch Fever

No I am not talking neither the song nor the disease, but rather my luck with the feline species. Yesterday was the second time in less than a year that I have been severely scratched up by cats. The first time was when Michael and I were looking for a cat and were hitting up all the Petsmarts in the area. Michael was looking at the wild and crazy looking scaredy cat and I was looking at the nice calm short haired female cat. Well she apparently got a little scared when I went to put her back in the cage (go figure) and she latched onto my skin. Needless to say I was bleeding from my hand, arm and stomach with tears in my eyes after all was said and done. I thought to myself that day, that at least any cat of mine has never done that... that was of course until yesterday. We were staying at my parents house when I wanted to get going (I was in a funky mood) so I snatched up the cats and was going to put them in their carrying kennel. As I was walking down the stairs my dad turned on the electric sander on the other set of stairs. Well Teddy got the left side of me and Dali stuck around to get my right shoulder and arm and then climbed over my head. I guess I do not have the best of luck with cats, but hopefully that was the last time.

Sister Knows Best

I always looked up to my sister and would do whatever she said. With that said she told me I needed to post something new, so here is our first blog of the year. I am one year older, as of 12:30pm (more or less... only mothers remember the exact time a child is born) on January 12th. I guess 27 is not that bad, just another year older... though it does bring me another year closer to 30. My friends would tell me how 25, 26 or 27 were hard years for them making them think they were now closer to 30 than 20. However, I fell that what is the point of worrying about another year... instead just enjoy every year and to be in fact each day. I guess what is harder for me is knowing that I am only 27 once and not able to spend it with all the people I would like to... like my sister. And I know too well what she must fell with holidays coming and going while living in Nicaragua. Of course you would never trade the experience and opportunity to live amongst some very amazing people, but it is hard to be away from those you love. I went through it for my 23rd and 24th birthday, and now it has been once again on the 26th and 27th, just that I am not the one getting woken up at 5am by the kids and sung "Las Mananitas" at the top of their lungs, but rather the one on the other end reading the exciting reports. All I know is that time with loved ones is to be cherished whether it is a homemade meal with parents, a husband, and brother, sister-in-law and nephew or getting to talk to your sister via Skype on your special day.

Time of Thanks

It is the infamous black Friday, though it is not as dismal at the name eludes to. In fact there are so many wonderful things to be thankful for. Family is a big thing that I am thankful for this year along with every year. Within the past few years our family has grown and I am sure will continue to do so. I am thankful for every new member to this family, whether it was the brother and sister in laws or of course my own husband... and who can forget the little guys that are now part of the family. And with the addition of each new member of the family the old ones have always done an amazing job embracing the newbies. I am especially appreciative of this when I see how well Michael gets along with everyone in the family. It is fun to see how Brian and him cab play games for hours or how all Connor can talk about is that he plays soccer with Michael or when Andy helped make a traditional Cuban meal or how my dad and him spend hours talking computer and trading ideas or how he talks with Sarah all the way down in Nicaragua or even how my mom says he is the sweetest man thinking he can do no wrong... little does she know hehehe. It is a true blessing to be able to incorporate him into the family I knew growing up, one that changed with time (to include people I love like my own family) and to know that some day I will get to experience the same with his family in Cuba. So this holiday season it is family I am most thankful for and I think that is how it will always be.

Happy Anniversary!

We have now been married a little over a year and like many things this day and age it went by quite fast. It has been a fabulous year for us, of course with the ups and downs... but I look at all that as learning more about the other person and us as a couple. For our anniversary we went to a city not far south from Denver called Colorado Springs. We stayed in a cute little motel that has been fixed up quite nicely. On Saturday we wen to Cave of the Winds and took the famous "lantern tour" where the guide told us ghost stories and all we had to guide us were modern day lanterns. It was a lot of fun and kind of creepy at one point because we had to blow out the lanterns and then were silent for a few seconds to get the experience of complete darkness and silence. It was dizzying for me, but luckily it did not last too long. The next day we were planning on going to Seven Falls, but never made it there as our hostess at the hotel recommended we see Helen Hunt Falls in a state park, which was a pleasant surprise and free, so it was double the fun. And of course on our getaway weekend we enjoyed some good eats while in the Springs area and overall had a great time and some good laughs as well.

New Life

Being present for the birth of my newest nephew was really a joyous experience. I had always been a bit nervous to actually see it, my sister-in-law saying that it is a great form of birth control. And while it of course looks extremely painful to say the least, it is quite amazing to see how a little one comes into this world. Granted we could not fully experience the birth since it was by cesarean section, but it was still powerful non the less. And for how many people can you say I was there the day of your birth. I don't know about anyone else, but for me that seems like a pretty big deal and something really special. To be able to say to someone else (that is not your own child- though that is even more special and something we have yet to experience... give us some time) I was there on the day you were born is quite unique. Most of you who are reading this might be thinking this seems obvious or something you may have realized years ago, but for a first time birth observer I wanted to share my thoughts with you all.