Maddie's conversion to Hindu

She thinks it's fun. I say, You go!  Be a hindu and throw chalk at strangers!  Whatever makes you happy, Maddie.  

But if you do convert, you will do your own laundry!!

MIRACLE

I am typing this post with a humbled heart and tearfilled-eyes.

Miracles do occur! 

What I am saying is that we will not be living on the street.  Nor will we be living under a bridge. Not a viaduct or a van down by the river.  

We will be living in a home.  A beautiful home.  That has ASHBY written all over it.

Crap, I have said that before haven't I.

But, did you know that there are MIRACLES happening, each and every day.

Did you know that our loving and kind Father in Heaven is just waiting to give us a miracle?  I KNOW that this is true and for those of you who have followed this blog, you will soon know that a miracle has occurred in my life as I explain.

As you know, we found a beautiful house, which we loved, and we were sure that it was our house.  What we now know to be true is that we had to go thru that drama to find the true ASHBY house.  

A couple of days ago, I found a house in South Jordan in a FABULOUS neighborhood.  I had actually seen it before (months ago) but we didn't even look at it because it already had offers on it and so why waste our time looking at it.  Anyway, the buyer backed out recently and so they put it back on the market.  So we saw it and had our agent call.  He said that they were not going to be showing it again until March 30th and that they already had several offers on it. Because of our desperation, we decided to put an offer on this house WITHOUT EVEN SEEING IT (we did see a few pictures online).  We put an offer on it this morning (Tuesday) and then received a call that they had decided to show it today one last time.  So, after work, I meet my family at this new house and .....

HOLY CRAP! EVERYONE IN LOVE! PERFECT FOR US! CRAP! CRAP! CRAP! 

DON'T GET EXCITED! IT PROBABLY WILL NOT WORK OUT BECAUSE I DON'T DESERVE THIS PERFECT ANSWER TO MY DESPERATE PRAYER!!

Kids love it. I love it.  A million other people love it.  There were probably 5 other parties there looking at it. 

We have a discussion with the listing agent.  We have a bonding session with her.  She shares with us that our offer is strong, but there are other strong offers.  And by other strong offers, I mean to say, they offered MORE than us.  HOWEVER!!!!  We had something going for us.  We could close within 2 weeks and no one else could.  We could close within 2 weeks because we had gotten so close to closing on the Draper house that it is going to be merely a matter of a week to get paperwork transferred to the new SoJo house.  The listing agent seemed to be pulling for us and so she said she would call the owner as soon as we left the house (7:30 p.m.) She said that she would call our agent in the morning if she had any news.  I drove home with the 2 toddlers.  Luke said, "I think that Dad should say a prayer that we can buy that house."  I agreed, a very good idea.

So, we came home.  I didn't even want to think about it, nor talk about how much I loved it because I didn't want to get my hopes up.  At 7:45 p.m. Todd's phone rang.  It was our agent saying..

THEY ACCEPTED YOUR OFFER!!

It is a miracle and I know it is.  I know that I have been taught a lesson on faith and patience and our Heavenly Father's goodness.

It is more than I expected or deserve.  

Yes, it is just a house.  But, I will always think of it as a MIRACLE and I am stronger for having gone thru this craziness.  

So... when facing a dilemma or a drama or a crazy person or a perplexing situation or a possibility of having to live on the streets... trust that Heavenly Father is aware of your needs and will bless you if you are faithful and trusting and PRAY your guts out!

Now, I GO TO PRAY MY GUTS OUT (GRATITUDE AND "PLEASE HELP US TO SIGN PAPERS SOON SO I DON'T LOSE MY MIND!)

Chuck E Cheese with our dance friends

Sadie has been asking to go to Chuck E Cheese for her 4th Birthday. I have not wanted to commit, due to our present living conditions and stress levels (have you heard? i live in hell!). So- I was thrilled when we were invited to lunch after dance class last wednesday and the dance moms decided to go to Chuck E's (the church is true).

Sadie had so much fun with her little dance friends. I jokingly said to the other moms that I should just pretend that this was her birthday party. (Don't forget the mote in your eye, or is it a beam?). Luckily I had my camera (a must at a birthday party) and there were presents (whatever her tickets could buy) and there were cute little girl friends, eating and laughing and having fun. It was a birthday party, I swear!

Remember, Sadie is my 4th child. She is lucky I remember her birthday, especially since the fires of hell have been lapping at my cankles for about 3 months now. I hope someday she is not in therapy because of this year's friend party.

HOUSE UPDATE:

I know that many are wondering.. WHAT THE HECK? I will tell you that right now, we still don't really know where we will be living in May. We can stay in our house until the end of April and then we must be out. The Draper house that we love is still being tied up in the court system and could be for 2-6 months. We are not hopeful at this point because of some news we heard a few days ago. It is quite certain that in the next week or so, the bank that owns the home will have to cancel the contract with us so they can clear the title. Once they get rid of "crazy clint" (the former owner), then they will put it back on the market. I had a moment today, for the first time, of tears and fear... Todd talked me down from my ledge and I am going to have faith because he has faith that everything is going to work out. We don't know how, but we believe that things will be OK. We may not get the Draper house that we love, but if we don't, it just wasn't meant to be and that will be just fine. As long as we are together, we are home. My curb is my family's curb, my viaduct is their viaduct.

Junior Prom

Three Gorgeous Girls

She had to coordinate her dress color with her dad's crutches..

I blinked and my daughter grew up. Sad.

St Paddy's Day

Breakfast: Lucky Charms

Dinner: Green Pasta with Green Beans and Parmesan Butter Sauce, served with Lime Green Jello

I know, I know.  I am lame.

I love her (don't let the cake fool you)!

Sadie got a store-bought cake this year.

Sad, but true.

To make up for my lameness.. it is an ICE CREAM cake.

Ice cream makes everything better.

Poor little fourth child with a horrific mother.

Grannies came over to make it all better.

These 2 angels take each of the grandkids out to eat and shopping on their birthday.

What a treat!

Sadie had a blast and came home with another barbie.

Thanks to my wonderful in-laws who show their love in so many ways! 

I think they may have made up for the store-bought cake.

Sophie and the Green-Eyed Monster

Sophie is meeting her competition for the first time.

Sophie, meet Cupid.

Cupid, this is Sophie.

You are both beautiful.

Sophie's choice?

Cupid.. oven roasted and thinly sliced.

Cupid has behaved like a dream. 

Sophie, on the other hand,

 is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 since meeting "that uppity _____" (Sophie's words, not mine!).  

She has experienced some unusual weight gain

and seems to be sleeping too much (how weird is that?).

I think she may need to be medicated if we are to keep Cupid around.