Is it getting warm in here?

For the first time since we have moved into our house I sit surrounded by insulation. The insulators came today and filled our walls with expanding foam insulation.

They got the WHOLE house done in 6 hours.

When they were about halfway through the kids and I stopped home to grab a couple things, check on the progress, and grab some lunch. We came home to the door wide open (that is how they got the hose inside), windows still open, with the men working hard.

One of my wonderful, home schooled children looked at me and said, "It's starting to work already mom. It's already warmer in the house!"

I personally think the heat had something to do with the fact that it was hot and muggy today.

At least they are looking for positive signs!

Spring break no more

Spring break is over. We took last week off of school and spent the time going through the house. Each room got cleaned up and I spent the majority of my time in the classroom. I did this for a couple reasons.

This winter the classroom has been used as a catch all. It was unorganized and cluttered. This is where the computers are in our house and therefore we spend a lot of time in this room. With six people living in the house this can be a big indicator of what rooms are the messiest.

Also I am ordering next years curriculum this week. In fact, tomorrow I am getting 5 boxes of stuff and I should have all or nearly all of it by the end of next week. Since I need to be ready to receive, organize, and make available these items, I needed to make sure the classroom was clean.

It's better than Christmas to me. All the new materials, the new ways to get my kids thinking for themselves. I LOVE getting new school supplies! And it's even better when I will be reimbursed for it.

Remodel update

Somehow I missed the fact that I have not put an update on the remodel project we were going to do. But as people have asked about it, I am guessing I need to post about it.

We are not going to do it.

Yes it is as simple as that.

I was really hoping it would come in at or under budget.

It didn't.

Not even close enough to push through.

It came in about $15,ooo more than what we really could justify spending.

We live in a very old house. We have a certain amount invested in the house. Actually it is more than what we could sell our house for.

If we did the remodel it would increase the value of the house. But not enough to pay for itself.

So now we are thinking of just insulating the house.

Or driving a semi through it.

*sigh* Oh well. It fits our family. That is what matters, right?

Even Though....

Even though...

...there are dishes in the sink...

...there is laundry ALWAYS waiting to be done...

...the kids rooms are not as clean as I would like...

...there is always paperwork to do or file...

...someone could make a dust castle in my house...

...my windows go unwashed...

...my kids may fight at times...

...there is constant noise, and I prefer quiet...

...convenience is traded for health in many meals...

...we have the rules posted, they do not get followed at times...

...we have the chores posted, they do not get done at times...

...I live in a state that stays below freezing WAY too long...

...this is still just another day in paradise.

Fresh Starts

As the new year has started, there is a feeling of a fresh start here at home. We went back to our schedule today...school, work, chores. You know, life.

Are you thinking "Why start a new year off working?"

Are you kidding?

Knight has been barely working since the 23rd. We have had nearly 10 days off schedule. Church services have been limited since they have canceled Sunday evening and Wednesday services.

I feel as if I have been floating aimlessly.

Not a good feeling for me.

So today, J-bell looks at me and says "I can't remember where we are supposed to be in math."

I tell her to look at where she left off.

She then informs me that she has not been keeping up with my schedule.

Then I look at Desti's. She's behind too.

Same with Rara.

J-bird is the only one caught up.

So for now, we are buckling down, getting caught up on school and chores. Therefore, I am shutting off the house phone. Cell is on for emergencies. Call if you must. I am happy to be there for you in an emergency. Otherwise, please give us a week.

On another note, did you notice the change in the sidebar?

I now have all the family able to contribute to the blog. I am hoping to get the kids writing more, and Knight at times has something to share. If it doesn't "sound" like me talking, take note of who the post is by.

Happy 2008. Here's to another fresh start

Have you ever noticed that the things that happen to make you realize you take things for granted are never a positive experience? It's not like you wake up one bright sunny day, the temp is perfect inside and outside, your house is clean, your kids are behaved, everything is perfect and you get slapped with the realization..."I am so thankful that my furnace works!"

I don't know, maybe you do. I am not saying that I am not aware of how blessed I am. I feel that I lived a charmed life, really. But sometimes the Lord just has to take the time to let me know, specifically, what it would be like to live without our luxuries.

This past week or so, I have been very aware that there is great blessing being able to reach over, turn a little handle and get hot water. I honestly have no memory of a hot water heater in one of my houses ever going out. Ever. Not as a kid, not as an adult. I have been aware that they do go out, but I have never experienced it. Until last week.

It all started Wednesday with J-Bell going to switch laundry over and coming up saying that there is water all over the floor in the basement. I go down and realize that the water is dripping from the copper pipe connected to the pressure relief valve. Remember, I have not lived through this. Not only was it new to me that there was a pressure relief valve, but I didn't realize that there was a pipe in the back of the heater. I knew about the draining faucet things at the bottom, the water intake, but not this pipe. I shut the water off to the heater.

I call Knight. He doesn't even know who I can call. And he is an hour away with work to finish up. I'm on my own. So I do the sensible thing. I call my friend and ask her, not really expecting an answer, but just in case. She doesn't even have the pipe I'm talking about. So she calls her hubby, who diagnoses my problem as the pressure relief valve by talking to her. Then he tells her who I need to call. It's a mutual friend/acquaintance. I call and they can come in a couple hours.

I call Knight, who is talking to someone and they have an experiment to try to figure out if it's the thermostat or the valve. They want me to turn the water on, but turn the power off with the theory that if it's the valve, it will keep leaking and if it's the thermostat it will stop leaking once the water cools down. I try that and it stops leaking.

The repair guy comes, sees that the thermostat isn't in correctly anyway and blames that (it's worked the almost 7 years we've been here but whatever!) puts it in right, turns the power on and tells me to watch it. Thanks. It starts leaking 4 hours later. I call the next day and tell him it's still leaking. He's busy (four wheeling) and will come the next day (Friday).

He comes, changes the valve. It's not leaking by this point. Go figure. But I don't like to play these games. Let's just get it fixed and then I don't have to watch and see if I have water in my basement. (thankfully there is a drain in the floor close to the heater so it doesn't go everywhere) Knight and I think it's the thermostat but what do we know. It fixes it. At least that's what we thought.

Monday we get the bill. $85 bucks. For a valve.

Tuesday I go to wash my hands and burn myself on the tap water. Great! Our heater is turned down enough where a two year old couldn't get burned and now it spikes on it's own. Another call to the guy. He's out of state. He'll call when he's back in town.

Knock on the door on wed morning has him here, with a thermostat. He changes it and just charges for the part. An even $100. But now the thermostat and the valve is changed.

Thursday night I go to take a shower and there is no hot water. I head down and look at the heater. The thermostat has a reset button that has popped. I hit it and the thing starts working again. I get to take a luke warm shower at 10pm, but at least I get to take one.

Friday, J-bell lets me know that when she went to take a shower there was no hot water. I go down and hit the stupid button again. I have hot water today (so far).

I am very reminded of the blessing of hot water. "Yes, Lord. I hear you. I am thankful for the simple things, like hot water. I get it. Now, can you keep my hot water heater working??"

I truly do live a charmed life here in paradise. I still have not had to live a day without hot water. It might not have been ready every time I wanted it, but I have been able to shower daily. Will my adventure with my hot water heater continue? Wait and see....