Zoom Zoom

Meet our new car. It is a 2004 Mazda 3. It was not one of our top choices of cars until we test drove it. We got it from the Church at a really great price and I feel so much better driving than when I drove the Jeep. The Jeep is as old as Matthew, and just makes me nervous depending solely on that one vehicle. Next time you are needing a car, if you are in this area, look up what the church is selling prior to going to any dealership or even a different private party.

It is sporty and so fun to drive. I like that it has cruise control, a working air conditioning system (in time for winter), and keyless entry. I could go on, but many of the items are standard in these newer models, so you guys probably already have everything I am excited about! This just tells you how old our Jeep really is, that's all. It gets great gas mileage too, just in time for the gas prices to drop to somewhat more affordable prices. Never underestimate Corey's and my timing. Perfect (ha ha).

As for other news, Corey is still looking for work, I am still working, and the house is really coming along. With so much extra time, I come home to projects that hadn't been started prior to my work day, half finished or done. It's great. Yesterday, he framed in our closets in the master bedroom and today he is going to put drywall on them. Currently, we sleep upstairs in the loft (to get away from Bo and to get some sleep) and our clothes are stored in the guest room. It is cold in the guest room since they never installed a heating vent, so we don't like to go in there much, but we need clothes, so we have to go in. We don't like to get dressed in those cold clothes, so we are trying to hurriedly get our master closets in working order, even before the rest of the master bedroom is done. You do what you gotta do!

Last year for Christmas, we received a couch cover which we finally put on our couch. It really helps to finish off the room. We are now on the prowl for a beautiful colored couch blanket that will add a punch to the different shades of brown in the room, and be warm and cuddly. The window coverings have been put on hold, but until then, Corey has hung the blinds. We went for months without any window coverings anywhere in the front of the house, so it feels great to not feel like we are putting our lives on show! I need to take pictures sometime soon, but I also need to dust, sweep, and potentially mop the floors first. I know, you are all dying, but you have lived so far without, go a little longer and you'll be surprised how long you can last!

What a Week! (of happenings and emotions)

Oh boy, has this been a week. It started out great, with getting that awesome deal on our kitchen cabinets (Knotty maple cabinets, granite countertops, white Kohler double sink and Moen faucet for $250. They have been going for more than $1000 for just the cabinets!) on Monday. We were thrilled about that.

We have been trying to find a screaming deal on a newer car for us prior to our 18 year old jeep totally quitting on us, so there was this really good deal from BYU on a 2004 Toyota Camry that we were bidding on. We bid on Wednesday, would find out on Friday morning whether we got it or not.

On Thursday was our introductory adoption meeting at LDS Family Services to start adoption procedures through them. Meanwhile, we have done initial testing to find out why we can't seem to get pregnant on our own, and we are still going through it. Fun stuff.

After the adoption meeting on Thursday, I was at home figuring our finances when Corey called me to tell me that he had just been laid off. This started the bitter downward spiral of my weekend. Yes, he gets a severance package, he got his final paycheck that day, and we no longer have to deal with the incompetent individuals that somehow have managed to ruin every employees' life who works there. Needless to say, Thursday was a day to forget, yet, how could I? This started a whole lot of other problems, many of which might seem like nothing to be concerned about, but to me is the end of the line, discussed later on. Because I am desperate to get my house done, extremely tired of not enjoying life there because of the constant remodeling, I had found kitchen appliances (a black wall oven/microwave combo and gas cooktop with a hood for $200) at a killer deal, so we went and purchased them that night. What a way to finish the day!

Friday morning, we found out that we did not get the car, maybe a blessing, we'll see.

Saturday morning we met Jerry (Corey's dad) and went and picked up our new cabinets, granite counter tops, sink, and faucet. We unloaded them, and then watched and/or listened to conference while cleaning and working on the house.

Sunday, we continued working on the house while paying attention to conference in the background. Tons of good talks, most of which I thought focused on us just being better people towards others and for ourselves. Great words to live by, still bitter about life to totally get it for myself yet. Maybe when I read the hard copies in November.

So, you may ask, why am I so dang upset about it? Well, in order to adopt a child, you actually need to prove you are financially responsible. Corey, being the guy, I feel should be the one to work out of the home, while allowing me, the girl, to be a stay at home mom, money permitting (I am not opposed to working part-time or working out of my home if necessary, just don't want to be the main one bringing in the dough.). Because Corey has been applying at numerous jobs, getting phone interviews only with nothing else, it makes me nervous that he will be able to resume his role as the money guy anytime soon. It probably will change the fact that we can/can't afford to adopt, and there went the stability of finishing the house prior to the Christmas holidays (or around there anyway, which was our goal), getting out of debt, and my chance to stay at home with a little child immediately.

Still some of you may wonder what I am so bothered with? For those of you lucky enough to get pregnant without help, you do not understand the pain of waiting month after month for the telltale signs of pregnancy or not, being told to 'just don't worry about it and it will happen'. I have endured many years of this, while watching others get pregnant without really trying or wanting to be, and then I still am not. It does not cost those of you who easily get pregnant on your own nearly as much as it does to get infertility help or to adopt. Once you "horribly" fertile people get pregnant, you only have to pay for baby supplies and needs. I am so lucky that I get to pay for the infertility treatments, the pregnancy, the miscarriages, and then on the chance that I do stay pregnant, the constant worry of losing it, topped with the baby supplies and needs. For me and those others who suffer from this horrible problem, it never stops. The longing for one of your own is just so strong sometimes. Add this to the fact that I have already had a healthy baby, but now I cannot. It's just one of life's horrible, cruel, and sad ironies that I get handed.

This is not made any harder being around other people's children. Corey and I sit faithfully every week at church with a sister in the ward whose husband sits on the stand, and she has a 2 year old and a 1 year old, with another on the way. We could not be happier for them. I always gravitate towards the children and babies in a group because they are just so precious. I don't have a problem being around them, just want one of my own to add to the fun mix of those cute kids already out there. I don't love my own nieces or nephews any less because I don't have one of my own, instead, I look forward to spoiling them with so much love and material things.

This week is looking up. Corey applied for unemployment, is considering changing careers altogether (thank you goes to the Children's Museum. Slightly sarcastic, slightly honest.), and we nearly got one entire room re-painted and trim put up. We got so much done this weekend that my coat closet actually has coats hanging from the rod, our church bags are on the floor in the closet where they belong, and two different, brightly colored bins (Corey's box is lime green, mine is hot pinkish.) in which our winter hats and gloves will be stored are on the shelf. We nearly got the windows ready to cover for winter (old house, lots of cracks near window openings). Our immediate goal for the upcoming week is to finish the living room prior to my Wednesday evening presidency meeting. It should be easier since there is not a closet in there! So, because Corey no longer has to go to work at the worst place to work at, he has lots of time to finish our house quicker.

We still are looking for a dishwasher, will need to find more base cabinets in order to have our kitchen how I want to, but they will be far cheaper to add to what we have than start fresh, and need to decide what to have our countertops made out of (corian, granite, laminate cheap stuff from Lowe's/Home Depot), and then install everything. Still lots of work, made cheaper by our good scavenging skills.

Culture Anyone?

Can I just say how nice it is to come home from work, with no homework waiting in the wings, looming over me to finish? Since neither of us is in school, it is nice to plan events in the evenings. We are not used to this, since our entire married lives up until this fall, at least one of us has been in school.

On September 11, the Utah Symphony and Chorus get together (not the full company, but members of each) and sing Mozart's Requeim. It is free, and one of the members is in my ward, so we went to support him, plus I had never heard it myself. It was so good! I am going next year as well.

Corey got free tickets for a Tuesday night performance of the musical Cats at the Capital Theater, so we went there one night. Great music, loved the costumes and set, no plot, and neither of us would pay to go again. Free maybe, but no other way.

That Friday night, we also had tickets to go see the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music performance. It was called American Songbook, held at the Conference Center, and was marvelous. I loved it, and would go again if it was possible. We went three years ago to the O.C. Tanner concert, and it was a celtic celebration. Corey liked that one better, but I liked this one better. We went with my friend and his wife, so it was even more enjoyable.

On Saturday night, we went to see Body Worlds at The Leonardo. Hated it, only because there were too many people for the price we had to pay, and I couldn't take my time really looking and studying all the bodies and organs. It was also hot, and some of the body organs were even sweating in their glass cases. I loved seeing many of the body systems displayed in such unique ways, but not being rushed through by the masses of people. In order to get anything out of it, Corey and I decided to pay an additional $5 each to get these listening devices. It would tell you more information than was on the cards near each display, helpful when you couldn't see the cards in the first place.

We were gone so much in the evenings, that I joked with Corey that Bo would fire us from being his 'parents.' He did fine most of the time, but was still needy on the long days alone! Things have calmed down some, so he's forgiven us completely. Such a trusting, good boy.

That's our bit of culture. We are really trying.

House Update

We have been finding more and more time to work on our house remodel. We attribute it to blessings from my new calling, as well as learning to manage our time better. Depending on the project, we don't get much done in the evenings, but the overall work has been great. I don't have any new pictures yet, as we are not done with any of the rooms yet, but they won't be long!

First off, we had painted the walls of the front three rooms a light natural color, and the trim is very dark (think dark chocolate). When we got the trim completely painted, the walls looked white. I went and got a slightly darker paint, and painted only the parlor and coat closet on Saturday while Corey and his dad re-wired the phone, cable, and some other electrical lines. I only got the primer and the first coat done, but boy do I love it. I hope to paint again on Saturday and finish the second coat. Then we will install the rest of the trim around the windows, floorboards, and closet to call the room done, when we will take pictures and post the before (again to refresh your memories) and the new after.

We have also been planning on starting and finishing the kitchen prior to the end of the year. In order to do this, we have been searching endlessly for used kitchen cabinets. KSL classifieds and craigslist have been great resources, yet also frustrating. Right as I would find ones we could afford that looked nice and had plenty to choose from, I would call and they would be sold already. I had this happen to me so many times, I thought I would never get some! I didn't have a set price range, it more depended on what was being sold as to how much I was willing to pay. On Monday morning, Corey happened to look at the KSL classifieds and found some Knotty Maple kitchen cabinets that were advertised for $250 and were only 4 years old. We called on them, they were still available, no picture was posted, so while there was a power outage at work (unknown reason), I drove out there to have a look. I liked them, liked the price, and knew that if we needed more (even though there was a lot), they had been purchased locally. He told me that not only were the kitchen cabinets going, but he was letting us take the countertops (granite-like), the kitchen sink and the faucet. There are problems with the faucet, so we might eventually replace it, but it was such a great deal, I didn't dare pass it up! He kept saying he was just going to take everything to the dump, that he didn't realize people would buy things like that, so I didn't tell him that he could have made so much more money selling everything separate. I just gloried in my good luck.

Can I just say that we are blessed? I have been waiting for more than a year for a good working kitchen, and it feels so much more real now. No, we aren't going to start it until we are done with the parlor and living room, but just knowing we are able to find things that will go in it, at such a good price, is exciting! We will continue to support KSL classifieds, and be patient, knowing that it definitely pays off!!!!

Sorry that my last few posts have had no pictures. I guess we just aren't photogenic people. Soon, I promise.