Homeowners!

It feels good to say that word! Yes, Jeremiah and I signed a contract to officially purchase our first home. We will be moving into our brand new condo sometime late fall. It hasn't even been built yet--construction begins mid-summer. It has been fun to be able to pick out pretty much exactly what will be in the home, and has made the whole process personal and a lot of fun! We have been considering homeownership for several months, as we have decided that we think Virginia will suit us well for the next 3-5 years at least. This whole condo thing came about kind of quickly, but it truly was a blessing that we found it when we did. While considering that a condo might be the best choice for us right now financially, we learned that a lot of FHA standards were changing just days after we had looked. After lot of praying and agonizing and second-guessing everything, we decided to get in the game while the time was right. If we were to wait until after the FHA standards change, we would not have been able to buy a home at all for quite awhile.

So, we're excited! Since it's not built yet, we don't have pictures of the actual place yet. There are pictures online if you search around. Our neighborhood is called Westwood Village, in Midlothian, VA. Here's a sneak peak of the entrance, ha!

The Next Cake Boss

Anyone familiar with the hit TLC series, The Cake Boss? If you are, you know who I'm talking about when I refer to Buddy. If you aren't, I'll let you know that Buddy is the head honcho at his bakery, and he comes off rather fierce on TV. And like I said, I could be the next "cake boss." Wondering why? I'll tell ya.

Over spring break this past week, Jeremiah and I ventured north to visit family. During part of our stay, I traveled even further north to Poughkeepsie, New York with my mom and sister. For sixteen hours over two days, we were taught how to make gum paste flowers by Betty VanNorstrand. Betty taught the cake boss, Buddy, all that he knows only a mere six years ago. And in case you're wondering, Betty claims that the aggressive, commanding Buddy we see on TV is really just an act. Apparently, he's nothing like that in real life. She would know.

This 81 year old lady is no joke. She travels all over the place teaching classes, lives minutes away from The Culinary Institute of America (where she teaches), has invented crazy tools to help the world of wedding cakes, and has apprenticed a number of pastry big wigs. 

And there I was, sitting in her wretchedly out-of-date basement, never having touched or seen gum paste in the flesh (had only heard of it from Ace of Cakes) and getting the same lessons as the cake boss. I predicted Betty would have had it with me by lunchtime on the first day; but alas, it took her til mid-afternoon on the second day to tell me to quit complaining. And I will say I was a tad insulted by that comment, being that this stuff is nearly impossible and I am a pretty impatient perfectionist. She's a sweet lady on the whole, though, so I got over it. 

I'll let you be the judge. I think I ended up doing pretty well. That's from scratch people. 

My sister was hoping my mom and I could learn so that we would be able to help her as she tries to start up her own cake business from home. I'll just say this... Andria makes crazy amazing cakes without flowers. Order those.

...

I need to update. I know.

In the meantime, contemplate this:

It was pitch black this morning when I left at 6:40am. Not a hint of daylight. Could barely find the navy blue car in the parking lot. And although the clock said 5:30 when I got up, it was actually like getting up at 4:30. Awesome.

Dig It!

This past Tuesday night was my second graders' performance of Dig It!, a play about Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. We had been practicing tirelessly for over a month to get ready for the big show. They did a really good job, even after missing a lot of practice due to the snow days. Jeremiah came out to support me, and I'm sure if you ask him he would go on and on about what a great time he had. Ha! 

Here are a couple pictures from the play. Don't be fooled by the number of kids on the stage, there are also two sets of risers on either side jam-packed with kids that you can't see. 125 in all. Below that you see our mummy dancers. Classic.

Greg and Elise

Yesterday, Jeremiah and I were fortunate enough to be able to visit our dear friends, Greg and Elise Boros. As most of you know, Greg is Jeremiah's best friend who is awaiting a heart transplant. Greg, Elise, and I all graduated together from Penn State. I want to encourage you to read the post Greg just wrote on their blog. I'd also encourage you to go back and read through the whole process. It's a real perspective-changer. The link to the blog is to the right of this post.

It was great to see them and to share in their reality. Jeremiah and I are thankful we are only a short two hours away and are able to make a day trip to visit, especially during such a tough time. We belly-laughed as always and we learned about the immensely detailed, completely altered lifestyle they now live. These are two amazing, amazing people. 

Floored

Jeremiah and I were feeling pretty defeated from the past two weeks. A couple Mondays ago Shaniqua died, and then that Saturday we filed our taxes and found out we owe $1,500. After stressing about the car, but planning on getting money from taxes, it felt like a kick in the face to find out how much we owe. I was especially bummed because we would love to be able to buy a house as the end of our lease approaches this summer. *Note: We still haven't officially decided to stay in Virginia, but really feel like that might be our best choice right now (which kills me to say when I think about being far away from family!).*

So although Jeremiah has kept his cool pretty well, I have been feeling almost crushed by the whole ordeal. I've been trying to remind myself of truth and that my hope has to be in God and not in my circumstances. That's a hard lesson to learn. I've also been feeling a bit guilty since we owe money for taxes based on my job. I must have screwed something up when I originally filled out my paperwork. And my job pays low as it is, so I feel like I am contributing next to nothing to our endeavors. I'm currently trying to find another job, in an effort to offset our expenses and hopefully be able to buy a home and start having kids. I'm also looking so that hopefully I am able to find something that is better suited for me, something I feel I am purposed to do.

With all that being said, I must share with you why I entitled this post 'floored.' This past Friday when I got home from work I checked the mail. In the stack was what looked like a card, with a bright yellow and orange envelope, but no return address. I was wondering what it might be for, and figured maybe it was a thank you from Ruby. Had no idea.

Well, it wasn't a thank you. It was a card that said. "When things seem unclear, God is near." It also had a hand-written message that said "God calls us to plant seed and we believe you two are good ground. You are God's best!" And it also had $500 cash in it.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! I immediately called Jeremiah, in total shock of the gift we had just received. We were floored. Some friends of our sent us an anonymous gift of $500 with such a fitting message. God really does provide for his children. And he also really does care for his children, too. He has reminded me through this of where my trust belongs and that He is faithful. He has reminded me through this that He loves me, and that although I'm totally confused and at times feel alone, not only is He here, but so are others. It is so crazy that these people are so faithful to God that they were willing to send such a humble gift. We cannot personally thank them, because we really don't know who it is. But if you're reading, WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. This is huge in so many ways. Thank you!

R.I.P. Shaniqua

About a week ago, Jeremiah said his final goodbyes to his dearly beloved powder-blue 1998 Ford Taurus, affectionately known as Shaniqua. 

Two Mondays ago, Jeremiah was off to Dave's house to enjoy one of our many snow days. Unfortunately, he never made it to Dave's. Instead, Shaniqua decided to completely die right past an intersection on a four-way highway. Dead, and no lights to protect itself. Thankfully, a car noticed Jeremiah was stuck and decided to stop behind him and put her flashers on. Then, two more cars stopped behind that car. How decent of them? But then, a fourth car rammed into the third car, totaling both. Soon the highway was filled with EMS, fire, and four police vehicles. Shaniqua was towed to a nearby Good Year, and we were soon later informed that the damage would run us around $600 at least. Jeremiah figures the brakes are going to go soon, not to mention the air conditioning has been shot and the doors take a certain finesse to close properly. So, after a long deliberation, we decided to let her go. Although we don't have the money to buy a new car or add a monthly payment, we figured we could suffer through a one-car lifestyle for at least a little while. Luckily, Jeremiah's Aunt Patti has allowed us to borrow her car until she needs it. That's a huge help right now, since only having one car becomes highly complicated.

We had planned to just donate Shaniqua, to avoid having to pay more towing costs; however, one of the mechanics at Good Year had a brother who needs any kind of transportation he can get his hands on. God provided $400 for us from that guy, which we're so so thankful for.

Here she is, awaiting her fate in the Good Year parking lot.