Liam Murphy

For those of you who have wondered, worried and possibly even prayed for my sweet Liam...a little update. He had a great week at school. I have already been in close contact with his teacher, it helps that she was Sams teacher too. I adore her. We have been emailing daily about how he is fitting in and handling his repeat. She said he immediately clicked with the other kids and has seemed lighter and happier this year. She was one of his teachers last year as well, but only a secondary teacher then. This year he will spend most of his day with her. I have to agree with her. After worrying and praying all day Wednesday about how he would handle his first day in the 3rd grade the 2nd time around, he came home in an incredibly good mood. In fact, I don't believe he has ever come home in such a good mood before in the previous 4 years of schooling! He has been hanging out with boys from his baseball team. And it was a relief, let me tell you. He was so nervous Wednesday morning, he felt sick. Which in turn made Jon and I feel sick as well. He came off that bus all smiles that afternoon though and has not made a single protest to school since. So, I am hopeful...and prayerful...that this is the year things turn around for my boy with the big heart. Love you all!

Status Update

Jon had an interview today with Huntington Bank, here in Central Ohio. The interview went very well. Very well, meaning he is extremely likely to get an offer. Fairly quickly. However, and to us it’s a BIG HOWEVER, it is NOT a job he would enjoy in the least. From what he told me, it would be a lot of testing, a lot of no real schedule, working at the mercy of his job year round. A lot of 12-15 hour days. Any of you who know my husband know he would HATE that. It is a good PAYING job…but I’m not so sure that convinces us this job is a good thing.

Meanwhile, we are supposed to hear something one way or another from First Citizens (Raleigh job) tomorrow. Please, pray they make us a reasonable offer. At this point, a lot of money won’t sway us. Jon would like his job at First Citizens…and he’s pretty sure he would be unhappy in the one here. Which makes our decision pretty easy, if you ask me. If First Citizens offers us enough that we think we can afford the move and make it once we’re there, loss or not, we are going. Jon will only take the job at Huntington if he has too. They already told him that if FC makes an offer, they want an opportunity to counter offer…but I don’t really think it matters how much they offer…unless FC just really doesn’t come through. I don’t want him to take a job he would hate, unless it’s the only job, obviously. Then I suppose we will just bide our time.

So, I should have more news tomorrow…and while you’re waiting,

O-H !!!!!!!

Gorgeous, I Tell You!

That is what the weather has been like here the last two days. Absolutely beautiful! I can feel fall coming. I had no intention, originally, of getting my fall decorations out. Seeing as how I've been packing things away, unpacking seems kind of counter productive. Today, I've made a monumental decision though. Today, when I get home from work, I'm getting them out! I am TIRED of waiting. Tired of living on hold. Tired of holding my breath. Today, I am going to go ahead with my life. I'm getting out the fall stuff, because darnit, I enjoy it!! If Jon gets the job and we have to sell the house, it will just have to sell decorated for my favorite season.
NOTE: I said my favorite season. Not to be confused with my favorite holiday. I will be fighting the urge to get Christmas decorations out soon enough!
Mags and Liam and I harvested the apples off our Gala apple tree this week and have made 2 batches of apple butter already. We have enough apples for one more batch, Liam however spoke up this morning and interjected that they would be better suited, he's sure, to a pie. So, possibly, I will be trying my hand at apple pie this weekend.
Despite all the anticipation and stress, I have been feeling incredibly blessed this week. Blessed with the bounty of apples we got this year. Blessed with family. Immediate and extended. Blessed with friends. I am a lucky girl! 
Two special thank you's this week...Dad, thanks so much for offering to buy some school stuff for the kids. You and I both know that the portion you took care of for me was a COSTLY one and it really took a load off my mind. The kids are very excited about there new shoes coming. And Julie...only you would stay up until 2:30am because I was craving Zuppa Toscano. Thank you so much. It was delish-ioso!!
Love you all!

Patience Young Padawan

For those of you who are wondering…waiting…twiddling your thumbs in anticipation…

we still haven’t heard anything. The last 4 days (since Jon’s interview Friday) have been the longest of my life!! Well, except for the last 4 days before each of the kids were born. Actually, I think those last pregnant days were longer for poor Jon than they were for me. Come to think of it the last 4 have probably been longer for him too. It’s a sad state of affairs, being married to me.

I’m trying really hard to wait patiently. Not doing a very good job though. What can I say? Patience is not my strong suit. Organization is my strong suit. When in doubt, I’m doing what I do best. I’m getting things organized. In an uncharacteristically optimistic move, I have started packing. Certainly not daily items. I have started packing the clutter that I am not willing to part with. Clearing space. Making the house look bigger before we have to sell it. De-personalizing it. There are no pictures of us left out now. Maude’s crystal is lovingly packed away in a glass moving box. Many knick-knacks have been wrapped and boxed and moved to the basement. The minute he gets an offer, assuming of course that he WILL get an offer, I want to slap a for sale sign on this house. Please pray for us not only that Jon’s offer is for enough money that we can afford to move, but also that we are able to sell the house quickly. Oh shoot, just pray that God blesses this whole crazy adventure we’re on.

I’ll let you know something as soon as I do! Love you all!!

Feelin’ A Bit Restless

Things here are still up in the air. And I am still disgruntled about it. The start of the new school year is fast approaching and we still don’t know if we will be here or not. Jon has had 2 interviews with First Citizens Bank out of Raleigh. We are supposed to hear early this week about a third (in person) interview. Raleigh wasn’t my “ideal”. Not my plan. But maybe the Lords plan. In the meantime, in a hissy fit Friday, I went online and ordered some “specialty” boxes from U-Haul. I am going crazy doing nothing but waiting. I feel the need to be proactive.

Been doing a whole lot of praying and pondering about Liam as well. At this point we don’t know if we will be here or in Raleigh for this school year. I am seriously considering enrolling him in the Ohio Virtual Academy for this school year( if we are still here that is). It is still considered “public school” in Ohio. Works the same way basically, but he does it all at home with me and a teacher online. I think a year of individual attention may be just what he needs to get over the hump. I am not considering home schooling him ongoing. I don’t think I could handle that. But I do think he’s worth a year of special attention, especially if it catches him up. I don’t know. I wish we could just have all this done and move to a school district where I could count on the system to help him. Here, in this school system, they just don’t have the resources. Or the time. 

Please pray for us…I’m going nuts in the midst of all this uncertainty.

I love you all.