Moving on up!

So this last week we got the appraisal back on our little house in Bountiful.  We had been crossing our fingers and toes waiting to hear if it would appraise for what was offered by the seller and...bum bum bum...IT DID!  It appraised for $232,000 and we sold it for $229,900 so we couldn't be happier.  The little extra that we are making on the deal will help us pay for our trip to see my parents this coming fall in Italy and Solvenia...oh and Serbia but doesn't saying "we are going to Italy" sound so much more exciting then "we are going to Serbia"...sorry mom and dad.  But we can't wait to see them again and they get to travel with B and I so it will be a ton of fun.

Once we got the go ahead that it appraised and is moving forward we were like...let's get our crap and move already.  We called our brother's Jared for B and Ben for me and they came over more then willing to help us and we packed up the house.  We packed the truck and every available car and Mason and Tyler helped a ton as well.  I have the best family!  All we have left to pack up and move is the garage (which is full of build in cupboards that we are taking) and the shed (100 totes filled with various wardrobes to fit B no matter what size her body is or stage of pregnancy) which Rick and Chach are going to come help us with this Friday.  I also am going to dig up a few perennials and Iris to take with us to the new house.

We won't make it to our new Ward for about a month because of family obligations which is a little weird to go from spending about 30 to 40 hours a week involved with church duties to nothing.  This past week B and I split up on Sunday with her and Molly going down to Provo to see her Dad put in as a Bishop and Sophie and I going to Kaysville to the farewell of a cousin, Ashley Seelos who left today to serve in Russia.  B and Molly joined us at the house after the farewell where it was great, as it always is, to see the family all gathered together and strengthening those bonds that have been built since we were kids.

Diane (Seelos) Hansen, Kaylene and Becki and the brood.

Jerry Seelos and Rick Seelos of course talking about genealogy.

Jennifer Seelos and Heather (Ellsworth) Fothergill

Susan (mother), Emily and Ashley who is leaving to serve in Russia

We are starting to slowly settle in at Oak Hollow making it our own.  After living in empty rooms for so long our furniture looks so big and the rooms feel crowded.  We will have to see if that adjusts or if we need to make changes in our furniture.  Sophie and I managed to squeeze in a few minutes to edge the front flower bed.  Sophie is a great helper shaking the dirt off the grass and even managed to eat a little which she told me was good.  Later that night we gave the girls a bath.  It is fun to see them starting to play together and want to spend their time together.  Molly loves to tackle Sophie but also knows the drill and will crawl full speed to Sophie and then just before getting to her close her eyes and duck her head so Sophie can't hurt her.  We are blessed...what more can I say!

Letting Go!

This past week was a busy one with my Bishopric duties still in full swing.  We had the usual meeting on Tuesday night with visits on Wednesday and a Young Women Recognition Dinner on Thursday night.  The business carried over into the weekend with a funeral on Saturday of the father of some of our close friends in the ward, the Plaiziers.  I will be honest I relished every momment that I got to spend with my ward and fellow Bishopric members knowing that on Sunday I would have to say goodbye as I would be released and it would be our last week in our ward.

Saying goodbye was both easier and harder then I expected.  I thought I would be more of a mess then I was and to be honest I think I was at peace about the decision to move on which tells me that the Lord is guiding us in this move.  I got the opportunity to bear my testimony in sacrament and say my goodbyes to the people whom I have grown to know and love.  In the movie Sound of Music, Maria Von Trapp, sings about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens being among her favorite things and it got me thinking what are my favorite things and I realized that they have become the many wonderful people I have gotten to know, who have welcomed me into their homes and have shown me love and acceptance.  As I look back on my time in Bishopric it will always be the memories of sharing laughs with the youth or visiting people in their homes and getting a better view of who they really are.  It will be of watching those same members reach out to others around them lifting them up and helping them climb and overcome their personal mountains, many times with that hand being offered to my family and I.  Bottom line it was all about the people and I pray that I won't forget them and that we won't be forgotten either. 

I will eternally be grateful to the Lord and the Bishop for seeing something in me that I'm not sure I saw in myself.  I am so thankful for my beautiful wife who always supported me and lifted me up when it was a lot to take in.  I am grateful for the time I had to be in the 37th Ward and I look forward to getting to know my new ward and going in, as my mom counseled, with an open mind and a heart turned towards forgiveness.  Being released from the Bishopric has turned a page for both B and myself that we feel we are letting go and moving forward with the faith that the Lord is with us and if we listen to Him all will be well. 

Birthday Wishes

Today is my dad's birthday and with him all the way over in Serbia and us holding down the fort in Centerville, Utah I had to think what I could give my dad that would mean a lot but also show him that we haven't forgotten about him.  So I stopped by a few friends who wanted to express the same thing...Happy Birthday to my dad, best friend, hero, teacher, spiritual guide and confidant extraordinair.  You are loved, missed and setting the best example for everyone around you.

A changing weekend

This past weekend was one that to the outside world wouldn’t hold any great amount of significance but to me it was one I will remember and cherish.  I didn’t do much of anything; in fact it was a pretty standard weekend.  B and I set out to finish some projects in the yard at Oak Hollow and worked side by side with Conference playing on the radio and hearing the echo from Jeff Berthold doing the same in his yard.  I set about trimming the Apricot Tree (I don’t think I ever realized how large of a tree this was because my dad was always the one trimming it) and soon the lawn was covered with white blossoms.  B gathered a few branches to bring into the house to bring that breath of spring into the air.  

Molly helping in the yard.

We packed the truck with what seemed an endless supply of branches and pine needles cleaned out from all corners of the yard.  As I drove to the dump I felt something was missing and realized it was my dad sitting by my side.  I miss him so much on days like this that bring back the many days we worked side by side helping each other carry the load.  After working in the yard B told me she isn’t sure she wants to purchase more land as this is a lot to take care of.  I agreed.  I think we both realize that this year may be a year of maintaining and not transforming the yard but I also think we are both okay with that.  I also came to a realization this weekend that my life is CRAZY…I told B that I feel like I am always running from one thing to the next and how did our lives get so over scheduled.  BUT…working in the yard is a way for my life to hit pause…it is my chance to have my spirit take in a deep breath and I realized this is my meditation moments with myself and with my gracious Heavenly Father.  What a blessing then to have a yard to be able to do this in.

B took her sister Heather, who was visiting us for her Spring Break, and went and got spring pedicures while I watched the girls and prepared myself for Priesthood Session.  Again, I felt a significant loss as I wandered into Priesthood session all alone.  Not only was I missing my dad who was my faithful companion but I realized it would be the last time I would be attending Priesthood in my old Stake Center surrounded by so many familiar faces that I have grown to love.  As we stood to sing the congregational hymn I had to hold back the tears that were ready to flow as I knew this was my dad’s favorite part and again he wasn’t there with me to sing off key.  

We were also so privileged to hear from our modern day prophets at Spring Conference and I noticed something in that talks and the prayers that stuck out to me.  Several people prayed and asked that we put into action those things we are prompted to do by hearing these words.  Maybe I noticed it because I have been studying Elder Bednar’s book Increase in Learning where he challenges us to be agents not objects and to act on what we learn and feel rather than waiting for the world to act on us.  There are so many good talks that I look forward to studying and taking the time to see where my action should be.  

Again, not what many would consider a life changing weekend but by small and simple acts my life is changing for the better.  I spoke with Becki this weekend about different thoughts and talks and realized how much more in tune my life is with the spirit of the gospel then it has been in the past.  I hope that I can fan my flame of faith, as Elder Holland counseled, and stand fast in what I know moving forward.

Molly's First Birthday

On March 22nd we were lucky enough to celebrate our little girl Molly turning one.  We sent out the invitations for family to come and join us.

 We hosted everyone at Oak Hollow...sans furniture and all because it had more space. 

Sophie had been acting up all day and was exhausted so when Grandpa Badger came a little early to the party and asked how he could help we handed him Sophie.  Soon after all was quiet and this is what we found...

I guess both were tired and needed a rest before the real party started.  We had an ice cream bar with all different types of candy to put on top and B made a cake for Molly to have all on her own (even though B hates this tradition she is a good sport and goes along with it for my sake).

And Molly did love her cake and at one point was over excited...

She managed to only eat the sprinkles on top and didn't see much appeal for the rest of the cake so cousins Nate and Afton decided they would help.

All in all it was a great evening and kind of strange to think we moved into this house when Molly was the same age as I was when my parents moved in.  This will be the only home she knows and I can't wait for her to build her memories here as well.

What will you miss about your old house?

1.       I will miss the yard.  Not that my new home doesn’t have an amazing if not better yard but I took a boring square grass and mud square to something of beauty and something that I was proud about.  I transformed a muddy slope into a side yard escape.  I took an unused corner and made it into a cozy cottage retreat with a shed I built with my dad and raised garden beds.  I will miss not being able to see this yard grow to its maturity.

      

           More specifically, I will miss my wall of iris in bloom and being able to walk the yard seeing what is in bloom each night when I get home from work.  I will miss lounging under the Maple tree with the full view of the yard watching Sophie play in her pool or taking an afternoon nap.  I will miss sitting in the entrance to the Garden as Anna fusses with the garden planning her next canning escapade.  I won't miss mowing my lawn however, and feeling like I'm shaking apart from the unevenness of the ground.  I will miss seeing my Hosta Garden grow on the side of the house and always committing to spend more time over there but never actually doing it.

2.       The Ward.  Although I’m moving back to my “home” ward I feel like I am leaving the ward that really fit that description more for me.  I’m sure being in the Bishopric has shaped my perception and certainly my involvement in the ward but I have loved getting to know everyone and feeling their love and support in return for my family.  I have loved that people really watch out for each other and are very inclusive in the ward family with little to no cliques and that there is a good mix of economic and family dynamics.

     

            I will miss the Hatch's and being able to go to them for advice on emergency planning or on gardening.  I will miss Colleen Plaizier and her tender care of our girls in nursery and letting us bring them early (what a blessing).   I will miss the Peterson's/Stacey's always willing to help Anna out with the girls during sacrament since I am up on the stand.  I will miss the Barton's peeking their heads over the fence to visit or the Stratton's stopping by with cookies or bread from Schmidts Bakery.  

      

           I will miss the Bishopric.  I have been so blessed to have been able to be a part of the Bishopric.  I will miss not only being a part of the Ward and knowing everyone and everything that is going on but I will miss just being with this fine group of men.  I never would have picked these men as close friends yet they have become just that.  I will miss being able to go up to strangers and they are happy to talk to me because I'm in the Bishopric and have a reason to be coming to their home or have a reason to get to know them. 

3.       Bountiful City.  Is it weird to miss a city?  Especially when I am moving to the city right next door.  Growing up I will admit I always was a Centerville Snob thinking Centerville was the best but after living in Bountiful I have started singing a different tune.  I will miss Bountiful Dump with its convenience and access to great compost.  I will miss Bountiful Power.  I will really miss how good Bountiful cleans their streets during the winter…it is sad when you can tell you have crossed the border into Centerville because the streets aren’t plowed.  

4.       I will miss my little house.  This was the house I bought when I was single with all of my struggles.  I bought this house hoping that one day I would fill it with a family.  I remember getting blessings in my living room that one day I would hear the patter of little feet in the halls and would hear my name replaced by “Daddy”.  This was the home that I became a husband and carried my wife across the threshold and where I became a dad to two beautiful little girls whose whole world took place in those walls.

5.       My neighbors.  You may think this is the same as the Ward but I live on the border between wards/Stakes and my next door neighbors are not members.  I have loved living next to Steve and June Thaxton and their willingness to share with us and let us get chickens.  I also loved living across from Charlie and Lorna who became good friends and great mentors from day one.  They not only took an interest in me but my yard and my family.