Beach House

Mario's been dreaming of retiring in Venice, Florida for several years now.  When he's having a bad day at work, he likes to picture himself retired in Florida by the beach.  That mental picture helps him get through the rough days.  Well, now he no longer has to imagine that home.  He knows exactly what it looks like and exactly where it is located-2 miles from Manasota Beach.

We are now in the middle of purchasing our second home.  We've only bought once before and that was in O'Fallon, IL when we were stationed at Scott.  We had the home less than two years because Mario was accepted into Naval Post Graduate School and we were forced to move.  Buying and selling within two years wasn't a lot of fun and we decided that unless forced to (due to bad rental market, etc) we wouldn't buy again until Mario retired from the Air Force.  That all changed when we went to Florida for Christmas (and spent our first winter in cold Nebraska.)  Home prices are on the rise in Florida again.  So we (mostly Mario) decided that we need to put our conservative, no risk ways behind us and jump into the real estate market.  That's easy for so many people, especially my own parents and siblings.  Between them, they've owned too many houses to count.  Mario and I are nothing like them and we like NO risk. But after fasting and praying, I came on board.  I did a lot of the home research and found one that I thought we would love, even if it was tens of thousands of dollars more than I wanted to spend on my retirement home.  I learned that you really do have to pay for the location.  Location, location, location...That's what I always hear realtors talk about on television.  So, we are giving up the larger home a half hour from the beach for a smaller home that is within running distance of the beach.  I think we'll be happy with the trade off.

There are many things to love about the home...By the way, have I mentioned that Mario and I haven't physically seen the house yet?  The last house we bought, we had my parents house hunt for us because we lived in Hawaii.  This time I found the house online so I asked my sister (a realtor) and my parents to go check it out for us.  People think we are crazy for relying on others to house hunt for us.  But I trust them and they did a great job last time, even if my dad wanted to go $40,000 over my budget.  Glad we made him stick to it then.  Hope we don't regret not sticking with a tighter budget this time around.

Anyway, about the things to love about the home.  It is in a deed restricted neighborhood so all the lawns look nice.  It has a pool with a nice cage and deck area.  Many Florida homes have great rooms.  I am not a big fan of those.  I really like the separate living room and family room.  This home has the rooms separated.  Hooray!  The master bathroom is much nicer than my bathroom here in Omaha since it has the separate bath and shower.  Did I mention it's only 2 miles to a really nice beach?!  Now to the things, not to love...the kitchen.  It's not big!  When I dreamt about my dream house, it was going to have a large kitchen with two ovens and lots of counter space.  Nope, this house doesn't have any of it. But, I guess I can't have it all and still be within a couple miles of the beach.

Our plan is to rent it out until we retire, in 5-7 years.  Mario really wants to do 20 and get out.  But I tell him not to close any doors.  He may change his mind down the road.  So hopefully we can have the home paid off by time he does retire from the Air Force so we don't have any debt hanging over our head.  I guess that's why I am so nervous about buying.  I hate debt!  I had never planned on borrowing another cent my whole life.  But I guess it's better to buy now while houses are still affordable and have a renter pay our mortgage each month.

Nice landscaping

Small kitchen

I like the breakfast area

So excited to have a pool!

Nathan's Dragon Story

Zach's 100 Book

For the 100th day of school, Zach had to fill in his own answers to a 100's book.  Unfortunately Nate was at a Hal Seminar that day so he didn't get to fill one out.  Darn, I always love his answers too.  Here's some of my favorite excerpts from Zach's book:

"If I had 100 Jolly Ranchers, I would eat them all up before my brother gets them."
"If I had 100 legs, I would run in the olympics and win a gold medal."
"If I had 100 friends, I would invite all of them to my birthday and get 100 presents."
"If I could have 100 of anything, I would have 100 thousand bills because they are so useful."

It's Cold Today

I was crying from laughing so hard at this coat. Apparently a retired guy at Mario's work handed it down to him.

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Have I Done Any Good?

I am trying harder than ever to concentrate during the Sacrament.  I usually will read some of my favorite Sacrament hymns during this time to help me feel the Spirit.  Today, as I was flipping to one of my favorites, Lord I Would Follow Thee, I came across, Have I Done Any Good?  I had the impression that I need to teach my family this song and then sing it as part of our daily scripture study.  I love the words...

Have I done any good in the world today?  Have I helped anyone in need?  Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?  If not, I have failed indeed.  Has anyone's burdens been lighter today because I was willing to share?  Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?  When they needed my help was I there?  Then wake up and do something more than dream of your mansion above.  Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, a blessing of duty and love.

The talks during Sacrament meeting were excellent again today.  I really love my ward.  The first speaker talked about being active in the gospel not just active in the church.  He told a story about when he was a Bishop in another state, he sent a missionary off to the MTC.  He returned home after just 2 weeks and went inactive a short time later.  He often wondered what happened to cause this boy to not finish his mission.  He had checked all the boxes, attended church, seminary, etc.  But during this time he must not have been doing the things necessary to build his own testimony.  The second speaker talked about the need for unity and reaching out to those struggling.  That made me feel good that I had just received that prompting earlier to teach my children that song.  

Have I mentioned before that I love the new curriculum?!  It is wonderful when your 15 year-old comes home and tells you about great lessons in Sunday School and Priesthood.  He had previously invited a friend to come to church with him.  Her parents think we are a cult.  So she invited him to go to church with her family.  Mario told him that he could go check out her church.  Eric texted her and again asked her to come with him and he would go with her.  She told him all the things she had heard about Mormons.  Eric corrected her and she said attending our church would just confuse her.  He stated that attending her church wouldn't confuse him because he knew that ours was true.  I am thankful that he is bearing his testimony.  I know he has a long way to go in developing his testimony but I am so grateful for his church leaders who are working so hard to make this new curriculum work.  Erin seems to be enjoying it also.  She loves her YW leaders.  I have noticed that even the primary teachers are doing more with the kids this year.  So it is so nice to see the twins get assignments to take home also.  It gives us more of an opportunity to discuss the gospel in our home.

The Bishop read a letter from the Stake Presidency today.  We are having a special meeting for all members of the Stake next Sunday.  They wouldn't tell us why and asked us not to speculate on the reason.  My family without trying to speculate too much, thinks that the wards will be realigned (we had a realignment 3 times in the 3 years we were in Tucson.)  So I can't wait until next Sunday.  I sure hope I keep my nursery calling.  I can't believe I am saying that.  I would have never thought I would like the calling so much.  It helps to have Tessie Snow in there with me.  She grew up in Utah and everyone tried converting her thru high school.  Only one friend didn't give up on her and she converted just before leaving for college.  She has such a strong testimony.  I love working with her and all the little children.

YMCA

My family has become addicted to basketball. Well, not me and Nathan, but the rest of them. Mario, Eric, and Erin play church ball and the twins play for the city league. Nate doesn't love it but he plays, reluctantly. All the others want to do is play basketball everyday. Neither Mario or I have callings at church that would allow us to have keys (I think nursery leader really should have keys). So we can't go up to church to practice whenever we want. So we finally joined the local YMCA this past weekend. We are so excited to have a big gym, pool, and workout equipment to use again.

Joining the Y brings me back to fond memories when we lived in O'Fallon, IL. I remember a friend suggesting that I get a membership when I first moved in. I replied that I had a treadmill so I really didn't need a gym membership. That's when she told me something that saved my sanity. Free childcare for up to two hours a day. Well with twin one year-olds, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. I took full advantage of that Y and got into great shape that two years. Plus I made some really good friends that two years.

Now I don't have the same incentive. My kids are all in school but I do have to drive them to school every other week so I'm going out in the cold anyway. I may as well head to the gym after taking them.

I love it that Mario is enjoying basketball so much. He plays Wednesday nights from 9-11 pm so I do complain that he keeps me up late. But I guess it is worth the sacrifice. He loves it so much. The men play Saturday games. It's such a good way for Mario to make some good friends. I love going to his games and cheering him on. It is probably a little embarrassing for him but I guess that gets him back for waking me up late Wednesday nights when he gets home.

So for at least the next couple months, our life will revolve around basketball.

New Curriculum

The church has recently started a new curriculum for the youth. The youth are expected to be more involved in the lessons by having more discussions and then the teacher assigns them some simple homework like discussing a principle with the family or looking up some scriptures at home. This month the topic is the Godhead. My first thought was wow, this is so basic. But as I listened to 3 talks in Sacrament meeting today on the Godhead, I felt the Spirit strongly. I am grateful for inspired leaders who know what the youth (and even us adults) need at this time. It is sad to look around and see so many people who do not believe in God. I am grateful for my testimony and to know that God does exist and I am a child of God and He loves me. I hope that my children will gain strong testimonies that will help them weather the storms they will face through this life. We sing "The Wiseman Built His House Upon a Rock" each Sunday in nursery. What a simple but powerful song when you really concentrate on the lyrics. I love the gospel and I'm so grateful for the love Heavenly Father has for each of us. He truly does know and love each of us.