Life Goes On

I began writing several posts at the beginning of the year, intending to post them as my thoughts became more cohesive. And then, I deleted them. All 5 of them. There was simply too much to update everyone about. Not that deleting the posts changes that, however it was still too much for me to keep straight as I was attempting to write. So, several months later, I'm starting over; free writing about the time that's passed between learning we would be relocating to the East coast, and now. Which, as many are aware (or not), Paul and I are in different states, stuck where we are because of this worldwide fear mongering that could be easily handled if more people had common sense. But ya know, majority of the world lacks it, therefore, here we are!

Anyway, between November to March, I spent majority of my time packing our house. Paul had work as usual, thankfully not having to leave me for multiple days or weeks at a time. He was close by to help. We still attended regular MMA classes 4+ days a week, church on Sundays, and AWANA on Wednesdays. Classwork was entirely put on hold. So, we are currently behind in our studies. However, because I intend to school year around instead of the general 9 months per year, being "behind" isn't a huge deal at this point.
The elder man cubs and I did our final belt test with the Anointed Fighters on February 28th. Isaac and I earned our gold belts. And Nolan earned his orange belt. Ethan was there in full uniform for the photo opp. That same week, we began living with my inlaws because everything was packed in our house that would allow us to eat real food.

The week following that, we listed our house for sale, and hosted our "See You Later Sendoff." I'm not one to attend a party that feels like a funeral. Therefore, I took the reigns on this one to ensure we enjoyed ourselves, and were surrounded by the people we love, who support us in our endeavors. Or at least, most of those people support us in our endeavors, but I digress...Call me a control freak in this instance, but I've attended enough parties with people I don't know from Adam, who know nothing more about me than who I'm married to. That's no fun. It's soul sucking

In the two weeks we all stayed with my inlaws, the state began shutting down. The kids and I didn't get to attend our church to tell everyone goodbye. That was disappointing for all of us. In fact, we intended to stay until after Paul's birthday. However, more regulations were put in place, and I decided we needed to get to Missouri. We left on a Thursday. That same night, the governor all but said "Nobody in. Nobody out." We got out before that thankfully. I wouldn't have stopped at that point anyway. It has been far less stressful being here than in California in numerous ways. At least the stress associated with the nationwide fear mongering is less of an issue here. Whereas my poor husband...I pity my husband. He had to stay behind. I was not in a position to function with people hoard buying toilet paper and pulling hair for canned goods.
Such selfishness, to make purchases that way when there are so many other people in need of food and other basic necessities...I can't say that I was never afraid during all of this, because I definitely was while we were in California. That insanity was over the top. It was purely fear driven selfishness. Quite frankly, I was embarrassed! I wasn't behaving that way. And I didn't directly know anyone behaving that way either. However, I was still embarrassed! This is what humanity has stooped too. Hoard buying toilet paper when there are perfectly good, biodegradable leaves to wipe with....Yes, I totally went there! ANYWAY, during all this, I made a point to put faith over fear. That in no way means I don't believe we will never get sick. What that means is, I ain't gonna sit around in a house going stir crazy when I could be doing anything else. I have a life to live. And I ain't gonna live it hiding out in a house because I'm afraid someone is gonna breath on me. Hear me! As long as there is sin in the world, there will be sickness. I'll say it louder for the people in the back: AS LONG AS THERE IS SIN IN THE WORLD, THERE WILL BE SICKNESS! Better get used to it. That in no way means you parade around and tempt God with your arrogant belief that you will never fall ill. You be wise about it. But don't be fearful. Faith over fear that whether you fall ill with any form of virus that there is a reason for it. You don't have to know or understand the reason. You accept it and move on. Maybe you'll understand later, maybe you won't. Life goes on!
Christians Y'ALL should be putting faith over fear. And you should be encouraging others to do so as well. When you spread the story of hope and love, you aid in the ignition of faith to those you interact with. You do so not in arrogance, but in love. And do a better job of it than I do! I'm so fed up with the lack of common sense and the crazies, my blunt switch done broke and is stuck in the "on" position.
Now, off my soap box...

The plan, when we learned we were relocating to the East coast, was for the kids and I to arrive in Missouri to help my sister with her kids before she had birthed the twins. That did not happen. Ulysses Andrew Jackson and Scarlette Mae Louise were born March 3rd, on their Great Grandma's birthday, and also the day the moving truck picked up our possessions. The irony...
In addition to that, the kids and I were to stay here until Paul was fully transferred into his new position. Plus, we listed our house for sale, so Paul had to stick around to handle that. What an annoyance all that was! I am happy to say that our property in California closed escrow the first week of May! And with a portion of our equity money, we were able to knock out a large portion of our debt. If you have debt of any kind, you can understand how it looms over you sometimes. It feels like the Pit of Despair, trying to crawl out of that hole. It smells as bad as the Bog of Eternal Stench. It is not a piece of cake.
[Name those two movies]
Anyway, the plan didn't go as we intended. Honestly, life rarely does. We should know that by now. We are still where we are because where we intend to move was shut down, until recently. We began the pre-qualification process for house buying this past week. It's moved quickly so far, with few hiccups. It's a matter of waiting for the recent debts paid in full to reflect on our credit reports.

Ulysses and Scarlette were a month old before they came home from the NICU. They are now 3 months old. Such beautiful babies! Ulysses looks like his dad. Could be his twin. And Scarlette reminds me so much of her big sister, AnnaBelle. My sons, and the twins other two brothers (my sister now has 5 kids) have loved on those babies. Auntie has too. I'm done having babies. I'll snuggle babies all day if need be. But I want to give them back. Four sons is enough.

As the man cubs have experienced a low key version of farm life with chickens, ducks, and geese, they also witnessed a fact of life recently. One of the dogs killed a gosling. Which, as traumatizing as it was, there is a lesson to be told. Which I told each of the kids in all serious: "When we die, our bodies become grass. And the antelope eat the grass. So, we are all part of the Circle of Life." Yes, I quoted Mufasa. That was the best I could come up with to follow up my first attempt of calming the kids, which was, "This is farm life. Animals die." Not so graceful, huh? No one ever said you could expect anything less from me than a blunt response in any situation. It is a blessing and a curse, to say the least.

Thanks to a family member who farms up the road from the house, and thus, owns a tractor, or two, Grandma's (now Brooke's) garden got tilled up and planted in the same week. I helped Brooke draw a blue print in the dirt for the soon to be chicken/duck/goose run next to the old corn crypt. And what fun it's been to watch all the kids play in the barn. Memories flash before my eyes watching them do the same things I did with my sisters when we were that young. Minus the cows. And minus the arrows Brooke got shot with...more than once...ANYWAY, my sister and her husband were told not to get any large animals, which apparently includes cows, horses, pigs, and goats. Not that goats are large. But goats are escape artists. So, a yard full of fowl it is!

Thankfully, we are in a comfortable spot until we are able to move forward in our next adventure. I'm grateful we've had so many perfect distractions during our stay. We needed the distractions from all the insanity outside our bubble. There's too much heartache in the world. Definitely not enough people being open about their faith in these situations. More love, less hate. More faith, less fear.

Love yous guys! I have more posts coming soon!