Fireproof!

We just got back from seeing the movie "Fireproof". If you have not seen this movie yet, if you have any problems in your marriage or relationship, go see this movie!! I witnessed so many people crying and not just women. I have never seen so many men moved by a movie in my life!!

If you want to see a trailer of the movie go to.... www.fireproof.com or www.fireproofmymarriage.com I believe you will not regret watching this movie and neither will your partner. Let me know when you see it what your reaction is!

Packing part 2

Update...we got so much done this weekend! Not only did we get the storage unit re-packed to put more in but we got quite a bit packed at the apartment and moved to storage.

After Church yesterday, we had a nice lunch as it was the annual Thanksgiving potluck for all. Then we came home to hit it hard for a few hours before having to return to Aurora so Ben could be in school today. Beth and I had started working when David and James arrived with news that our friends, Burt and Lorna, were right behind them to help. Once they arrived things just went fast and furious.

We got the china hutch completely emptyied and moved to storage, the cabinet in the bathroom, the video cabinet packed and moved, and quite a bit of the kitchen stuff that won't be needed for a while. We got so many boxes packed and moved that the apartment is looking quite bare. What a feeling of accomplishment! Thanks so much to Burt and Lorna, if they had not been there with their vehicle we wouldn't have moved as much as we did.

It is back to Aurora for two weeks now to continue the job search, then on December 5th or 6th we will be going back down to pack and move more. We are giving our notice to our landlord on December 1st so we will have to be out in 30 days. Things are looking up, Ben is very happy at school and is happy to be out of all the drama at THS. Of course he misses his friends and would love to be able to graduate with them but he is tried of the history that follows him. A fresh start for him and for us is looking like a good thing. Brother Dave said yesterday that I looked more rested than I had in several months. I really appreciated that.

More later until then God Bless Everyone!

Packing part 1

After two weeks in Aurora getting settled in the fifth wheel, sending out a few resumes, and getting Ben in school, we drove back to Trinidad yesterday to start the packing process.

We have had most of our household in a storage unit for three years now due to the fact we moved into a small three bedroom apartment. In order to get the current furniture and other miscellaneous item from the apartment into the storage unit, it had to be cleaned out and re-packed. We started the process at 8:30 this morning and did not finish until 5:00 pm. We got rid of so much stuff between taking it to the dump or to the used furniture place here in town. I think we made five trips to the dumpsters or the dump and four to the 2nd hand store. There is now about 1/4 of the stuff in the storage unit that there was originally.

It feels so good to know that we will now be able to put our furniture, kitchen and miscellaneous stuff in there until we find a place to live in Aurora or some city around the metro area. First, we have to find jobs and make sure we have the deposits we will need to rent a house or apartment.

I started the packing process here at the apartment tonight. Didn't get very far due to the sore back, legs and arms from earlier today. I did get my china hutch packed for the most part. We plan on coming back in two weeks with Mom and maybe Dad in tow to help with packing things that David and James will not need for the last few weeks they are here. That will give them the room to clean a little bit each day so that there won't be so much to clean as we move the last bit of stuff out.

Well it is well past midnight and if I plan on getting to church tomorrow, I need to sleep. I don't think Brother Dave will appreciate me falling asleep in church. Then it will be time to pack the car with the rest of the stuff to go back to Aurora for the next two weeks.

Take care all and God Bless Everyone!!

Finally Registered!

Yesterday, I was finally able to register Ben for school at Hinkley. We had a tour of the school, got his schedule, ID, books, and parking permit. He is excited about the block scheduling that will allow him more time for homework and extra help from the teachers if he needs it. Block scheduling is set so that you go to your even number classes on one day and the odd the next day, alternating everyday for the entire school year. He has six classes but only will attend 3 in any one day. Also he does not have a first or second period so he does not go to class until 9:30 in the morning. This is a good thing for him as he is not a morning person. We met his band teacher and one of James' friends that he was in JROTC with when he was attending Hinkley, this gives him a friend in band. He also made friends with the boy who took us on the tour, so he is adjusting fast. I think one of the things he likes best is, he got to drive his grandfather's truck to school today. I can't wait for him to come home and see how the day went.

More later...God Bless you all!

School Registration

I took Ben to the central registration office yesterday to get him into school here in Aurora. I was able to verify that we are living with my parents with Mom's help so we know that he will attend Hinkley High. They copied all the information from his shot records and I filled out lots of forms. Then I was told we have to finish registration with the school itself, so I called like I should to make an appointment. The school only registers students on Mondays and Wednesdays, so with much disdain for the system, I set the appointment with the special education counselor for Monday at 10:30.

Next, I had to contact THS to see about an unoffical transcript and any information on his special education plan. I got told that the new school must request this information. I countered that according to the registration sheet I was given that I need this information at my appointment to finish registration and to get his schedule. They again said the school must request, I asked how will they do that when they won't have anything to know about him until the appointment time and that's when I have to have it to show them. We went round and round for about 10 minutes until the counselor at THS finally asked who I was going to see and what the phone number is. She then said "I will contact them to get this settled." I left it in her hands, but if there is no information on Monday and I have further problems with this process, I am going to blow a gasket...LOL!

This too shall pass! God Bless you all!!

Here in Aurora

Ben and I have made our move to Aurora. We arrived yesterday afternoon. Last night we took some time to relax and unpack. We also watched my sisters bowl and played with Emma.

Today, I tried to register Ben in school. We arrived at the central registration office for Aurora Public Schools at 12pm only to find they were closed. Get this, for a large school district with one central registration office they are only open from 7:30 to 11 am each weekday. How lame is that! You have to register at this office, not at the schools. Things sure have changed from when I was in school and from the way things are done in Trinidad.

I looked at the Sunday classifieds that my Mom saved for me. I found a few jobs that I will call on or send resume's too. But I can tell you I AM SCARED! I have not face to face interviewed in over 10 years. I have not worked outside my home in an office or store or whatever in over 10 years. I have been an online Customer Service Rep for the last 3 years, so facing people again and trying to sell myself is frightening!!

It does not help the situation that I am here with only one of my three kids. I love Ben dearly and I am glad I am not here alone, but leaving Beth, James and David has been hard. Yes, David will be here in about 5 weeks but James has not decided what he will do. He may stay in Trinidad to finish his year at TSJC. Beth, of course, is staying there to graduate in May, seems like such a long time to be away from her. Whether we are fighting or not, I love her and wish we were in the same city.

Mom says, "stay busy you will get through" I know she is right but it is hard to do when you feel paralyzed with fear. I am praying many times during the day for God to show me the way and keep me strong. I know I can get through, just needed to vent.

God Bless everyone!

We are Moving

Our family has made the decision to leave Trinidad and move back to Aurora. We believe that God has finished his work with us here and this is why David has been unable to find a job here. We will be moving in stages. Ben and I are leaving in the next few days to see if I can find a job and maybe an apartment or house to rent. Then when the semester at Trinidad State is finished before Christmas, David and possibly James will move up with us. James may stay here and finish the year at college but he hasn't made up his mind. Beth will be staying here with her boyfriend and his parents to finish her senior year at Trinidad High.

We hate that we have to do this but we all believe this is for the best and what God has planned for us. We will keep you all posted by on myspace or here.

We will miss our Church Family, Band Family and all our friends here but we will return as often as we can to visit. We take all of you in our hearts wherever we go. Thank you for 14 1/2 years of memories and friendships.

Halloween Trinidad Style

Since we don't have little ones to trick or treat with anymore we don't do a lot on Halloween most years. This year, Mr. Curro the band director, decided since the kids had to play for the football game on Halloween, instead of wearing their uniforms they could wear costumes. It was such a fun night. Everyone dressed up in some fashion and Mr. Curro's dad got into the act by dressing up as ghoul and moving in among the band while they were playing. He did his best to distract them, some of them were so distracted they couldn't play they were laughing so hard. Molly, one of the Drum Majors, almost fell off the stand cause she was laughing so hard. What a great way to close out their football season, cause the team wasn't all that great, they lost, I think the score was 38 to 7.

Oh well, we had a great time, hope you will enjoy some of the photos of the night. God Bless you all!!

I VOTED!

I voted today and I feel great about my decisions. I can't wait for all the election hoopla to be over. I was just reading my cousin's blog about her voting experience and I am sure glad I live in a small community. (see my link to the Garner Family to read her's) I had no problems getting in and out in about 20 minutes, this included voting on a paper ballot. I had my cheat sheet for all the initiatives and knew who I wanted to vote for and just got in there and did my business.

I hope each person who is eligible, got out to vote.

God Bless Everyone!