Looking for the perfect casa

So we didn't end up getting the house from the previous post. We considered putting in an offer on the house across the street, but decided against that as well. We've talked about just renting for another year since the kind of house we're looking for is just right outside our price range but will hopefully be more doable soon.

Searching for a house is so stressful and time consuming, we look forward to the break.

House # 2? 3? 4?... we've lost count

Ah, the joys of house hunting. Since the real estate market is in disarray, it's actually been a wonderful advantage to us. It seems there are many homes on the market and not a lot of competition. Unfortunately, it's been hard to find a home that's 1. big enough 2. in good enough shape to live in and 3. in our price range. We've found three prospective houses in the past several months. We did not put an offer on the first one, but we did put an offer on the second one but did not go through with the purchase. Which brings us to house #3 (we think).

It's a newer modular home in Hendersonville right next to an apple orchard. It's in a little cal-de-sac that is still being developed and a few more homes will be added to it in the next few years. It's also elevated on a small hill, so it has one of the best views in the neighborhood. So we put in an offer on it and now we're waiting to see if the seller will accept the offer or counter. But MAYBE we'll own a house very soon. :) Yay.

Top 5 reasons we don't like driving through Alabama

We recently took a vacation to Panama City Beach, FL. For those of you who are not familiar with the area, there is no easy interstate leading straight from Asheville to Panama City. All directions lead to highways through Alabama. Here are some interesting things we saw on the way:

1. A sign that said "Historical Marker 1500 ft ahead". After driving said 1500 ft, another sign that said "Historical Marker -->" pointing to the Historical Marker.

2. A large sign saying "Boys & Girls Club -->" pointing straight to an empty field.

3. A large sign saying "National Guard Armory -->" pointing straight at a little hut selling clay vases.

4. Several signs advertising the National Peanut Festival. Apparently, it's a very big deal.

5. Large sign saying merely: "BJ's 5 miles ahead". After driving 5 miles, we saw another sign saying "BJ's - you missed us! Turn around!" Eventually we figured out that "BJ's" is a fireworks place. But that wasn't made clear in the sign.

We also heard a variety of bizarre commercials on several different radio stations but they were too obscure to try to describe. Although, we did write down a jingle that repeated "We love our biscuits, they're out of sight". I'm not sure if we ever did figure out whose biscuits were out of sight, but we were decidedly not interested.

We would definitely be in support of someone (ANYONE) petitioning to get an INTERSTATE that goes from Interstate I-85 south into Florida. Alabama highways are a bit too peculiar for us.

Too bad we didn't feel safe enough to get out and take pictures. :)

Anniversary

So we made it to year two. Hooray. :) We went out for a nice dinner and got all dressed up. We took photographic evidence for those of you who place bets on how many times a year Amber will wear a dress. This counts as #1 for the year. Sorry we didn't get the full body pic for proof - but you'll just have to take our word for it.

Love

I got a wonderful gift for Christmas this year. I mentioned to my mom that I thought it would be neat to have a quilt rack. A couple of years before I was born, my mom's mom was dying of cancer. My mom had only been married for a couple of years when my grandmother was diagnosed. My grandmother knew that she would never know her grandchildren but while she was still alive, she made a quilt for her first grandchild. She gave that quilt to my mom with a note pinned to it that said "to my grandchild -- a baby I will never get to hold or love".

I was the first grandchild to my grandmother. I was born a couple years after her death. My mom never let me use that quilt as a baby -- afraid that the gift that my grandmother so carefully put her time and love in to would be stained or ruined. I had known about it growing up, but I never had an opportunity to use it as a blanket. I finally asked my mom this past year if I could have a quilt rack and finally have the quilt.

My mom gave me the quilt along with a croched blanket my grandmother had made. I put both of them together on the quilt rack and it sits in our bedroom now in front of the window so the sun shines on it and it reminds of me of the love that my grandmother had for me before I was even conceived.

It is very humbling to think about the time she put into it. She put each piece together and sewed them and thought of a little baby she could never meet. I bet that broke her heart. It's amazing to me to look at the quilt and know that I was loved before I was even born.

It reminds me of the love God has for us. Christ died for us while we were still sinners -- He died for us so long before we were even thought of. But He knew us then and He loved us then. Before any of us even came into this world, he had prepared a gift for us -- the gift of salvation, of eternal life.

I didn't have to do anything to deserve the gift my grandmother gave me. I didn't giggle for her or smile at her. She didn't know if I would be a girl or a boy. She didn't know the type of person I would be or the mistakes I would make, but she loved me any way, and she wanted to make sure that I knew that love, even though she couldn't give it to me in this world. I think that is amazing it its own right. But what is even more amazing is that Christ knew the person I would be and the mistakes I would make. And He still thought I was worth it -- that YOU were worth it. He died on the cross to pay for my sins, for your sins. What a wonderful gift of love.


In loving memory of my grandmother - a woman of faith I never met

-Amber

Spa Treatment

It's the time of year when everyone needs a little rest and relaxation. And often times our pets get overlooked. Fortunately for Paul and Amber (and Oscar), a friend recently came across a spa kit for dogs and decided to offer it to Oscar.

The lavish kit included several colognes, facial scrub, bubble bath (with paw treatment) as well as a loofah. So today, Oscar got a spa treatment complete with a haircut. He wasn't nearly as amused as Paul and Amber.

Out with the old, in with the versa

I just wanted to send everyone a quick update to let you all know that Paul has traded in his poor, pitiful 1997 Nissan pick-up truck for a nice, new 2007 Nissan versa hatchback. This means that he will be safer in bad weather conditions; he will be able to navigate the upteen dozen speed bumps in the apartment complex with ease; and he will be riding in style. It also means that any gift you would normally receive from us for birthdays or other holidays will probably be hand-made until further notice.