Life according to me…

I miss my brother.

It was hard to say goodbye. I know that where he is going is somewhere God needs him to be right now, but we have never lived this far apart. I can’t imagine not being able to drive up to his house and visit him, Court and the puppies. It’s just weird. He left last Friday - we said goodbye on Thursday night.

We have talked a few times since he left, and it has been very nice. We goof off and everything. He said he misses me already which I thought was so very sweet. I miss him too - even though we didn’t spend lots of time together while he was here…it’s just like a part of me is now far away. Alex has always been a homebody - close to his parents and family and I hope he doesn’t get too homesick while he is away. We have always been very close and I know this will bring us even closer.

I feel for my parents, both of them had a very hard time saying goodbye. I have yet to talk to my Dad since he got back from helping Alex move. I hope he is doing okay.

Alex said that this is only temporary. Maybe God will find him a place to serve back here in Florida with his family. Maybe we will all move up to Kentucky or something. Who knows. For now, my heart is with my big-baby brother in KY. I love you Alex and I can’t wait to see you again.

Before I even get into how wonderful our new home is, I have to give some shout outs to the people who made our move possible.

Thank you to Britney for keeping the kids for us. Thanks to Kyle for coming and helping unload the truck after being with the kids all day. Thanks to Matt, Jon, Tony, Scott and Papa Coyle for helping load the truck and clean up the old place. Thank you to Danae for helping clean the entire old place and also helping load and unload, as well as helping with the decor and room arrangements. Thanks to Nana for helping pay for the movers. Thanks to Katie for helping unpack and arrange after work. Thanks to Papa Acevedo for helping with the deposit. Thank you Nana Jacquie for the boxes and helping with the kids so mommy could pack. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

We almost weren’t able to move because of the extra costs that our old complex kept adding to our move-out. The day before our move we actually talked about calling it off because of how broke we are. It cost us every penny we have to get out of that place, but finally we are out and into our new home. I love it here. It’s quieter, bigger, cleaner, roomier, has more storage space, is on a better side of town, isn’t government subsidized or low-income housing…I just love it. The layout works much better for our kids. They are able to run around and play all over the floor and stay out of trouble. There is a pond around the back of the building with ducks and a bench and everything. It is very tranquil. There are cute little families all over, not just latch key kids misbehaving everywhere. The management does the best job they can taking care of business instead of being losers like the old place. When I leave and return home to our apartment, I can’t help but smile when I walk inside. It doesn’t smell like mold, it’s clean, and it feels more like home than I have felt in over a year. I have a full size set of sinks, a sink sprayer, a pantry, a linen closet, 2 walk in closets, 2 storage closets, no ceramic tile, a door close to the parking lot, berber carpet, a bigger bedroom, more windows, bigger windows, vertical blinds which I love…this place is just the best. We even have nice neighbors who smile at us and stuff. Those little things make a big difference in how happy you are at home. I truly love being at home now - I am even ready to start doing some crafts and things to decorate. Imagine that!

We couldn’t have gotten moved without the help of our famliy and friends. I wish we could give you all something to show you how much we appreciate what you did to help us. I hope you know you are all very important to us and we love each of you very much. Thank you so much!!!

We are heading off to Steve’s World Wide Rally at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. It’s a Domino’s yearly event - everyone gets to go and have seminars and vendor shows and some fun! We are looking forward to the break in our routine. When we get back we are moving, and I will update the website after we are all settled. Thanks!

We have had some struggles with our current apartment complex lately. We have been trying to move out, and originally they would not let us leave even though we had been here a year. There were problems with getting our lease signed and such when we moved in and so they felt we should be here until whatever the made-up lease said instead of a year. They finally agreed to let us move and not charge us a penalty, just rent for the part of the month we would still be here. They then sent our rent back to us this month saying they wanted all of June’s rent instead of the partial that they originally agreed on. We paid all of June’s rent today and then they wanted a late fee too even though the manager told me to bring him the payment today. I had been back and forth with this place, writing letters, making phone calls and explaining the situation. I need to be in line with this complex when we leave because we have to turn in a notice of zero balance from here to our new complex in order to sign our lease or they won’t let us move in. It’s been very nerve wracking and stressful because they keep changing what they say and denying what they say and I can’t do anything but do whatever they keep asking so we can get out with no balance owed.

So today I was just a mess when I went to pay the rest of the rent and they asked for more money. I just said okay and left and came home in tears. Steve asked me what was wrong, and I told him, and he immediately put his shoes on and marched down to the office. He spoke with the manager and came back saying we didn’t have to pay anymore and would be able to leave with a zero balance so we can move into our new apartment.

I WAS SO VERY PROUD OF HIM!!!!!!!!!!!! Stephen doesn’t like confrontation and doesn’t usually fight people when they say something is what it is. But, he went right down and spoke to them and stood up for us. That made me so proud and happy and impressed. I always am the one talking to people and stuff, handling the business you know…but this time Steve saw that I was upset and took care of it for me. I can’t even explain how much I love this man or the feeling I got watching him run down there and take care of it. He truly is the best husband in the entire world.

Today is my brother Alex’s 26th birthday. Steve, Elisa and I went over to his house for birthday fun. On the way there, it sunk in that this could be the last time I just hop in my car and take a short drive to see my brother and his family. Alex is moving to Kentucky in 3 weeks. Our immediate family has never lived more than 20 minutes from each other and I think its going to be weird having him so far away. There was a book you could sign and leave him a message and it was hard to do that too - saying goodbye is not fun and I am not good at it. We took some family pictures of me with my brothers and dad and mom and I am going to get them framed for each of us. We don’t have any recent pictures of all of us together.

I am so excited for him - going to seminary, having a baby in December…his life is changing and God is working in awesome ways. I will miss him and Courtney and having our entire family together, but we will always be close no matter where he is living or where the rest of us may go. Saying goodbye still sucks though.