Wisdom from my walk

Another funny thing about the appointment, she put him on his belly to listen to his back and he just about rolled over, he would have had she not stopped him. I told her how he almost stands without help and she said not to get to anxious cause then I’ll never get a break. She laughed and said we better start child proofing soon because he is above average in his motor skills. I was so proud of him!!! He cooed and laughed almost the whole time we were there. he kept wanting to grab the blood pressure monitor cord. It was funny. my little angel! For now, but watch out, soon he’s going to be running this place……

we are so blessed with our son. He had his 4 month check up today. He weighs 14 lbs 13 oz and is 25 3/4 in tall. He had to get 3 injections today, he did not even cry. He kept talking to me and afterward he was even playful. On the way home he fell asleep and is now resting. I was so afraid he was going to be miserable, he is just tired. today he starts to eat rice cereal. I am so excited, I hope he likes it. he has been trying put everything in his mouth so hopefully he will. The biggest deal is the mess we will make!

My morning started out pretty good, at least the first 20 minutes were. I awoke to hear Caleb playing, at first I thought he was upset but he was just kicking and flailing all over the place. Knowing he was content and not hungry yet I started to straighten up the bedroom. Shortly after my cell phone rang and it was the carpet place. On wed when they came to measure we told them we want to wait til we finish painting and that we’d call today to let them know when we want it in. But the guy on the phone yelled at me said we didnt tell the right person and that they were at the house waiting to be let in. he was paying them a lot of money and if it isnt dont today we’ll have to pay a lot more. He continued to yell at me and I told him I’d be over. I hung up and started bawling, a complete stranger brought me to tears. I was upset so I called Dean who called the guy, who was still rude to Dean. We figured we’d have no choice so I got teh baby together and got over to the house, all withuot a shower or anything. I hadnt even changed the baby’s diaper yet. So I get there and these sketchy looking guys come out of the truck to chit chat. I open the door and take the baby in. I hear their truck start up and assume they are pulling into the drive way. Then I hear a loud bang, I run to the window to see our fence has been knocked over and bent. The guy gets out and unbends it and starts to try to figure out what to do , I just yelled at him to leave it alone, he already broke it. So i was still upset about having to be there, then this. I called Dean again, he called and talked to the guy we sold us the carpet, who was not the guy who yelled at us, the guy who yelled was his boss. Dean said he didnt really care either and said to get an estimate and they’d fix it. like it was nothing.

The worst part about this is I convinced Dean to go with this carpet place because we got a decent price, I trusted the guy, and we coudl get it in quick. But the big reason I was so willing to go there was that we got their name out of the shepherds guide, which is basically a christian yellow pages. On the inside it says : You Can Trust TSG – Our Statement of Faith The Shepherd’s Guide logo is a sign of trust. Our trademark appearing in an ad indicates that the owner of the business (or advertiser) has signed the statement of faith below. Statement of Faith:
I have received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and my desire is to live my life for His Glory. I have been born again according to John 3:3 which states,” …except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” I pledge to hold the highest Biblical code of ethics in my transactions. It is my ambition to treat my clients with the utmost respect and integrity.

So the people we dealt with today are definitely not living up to that statement. And when I told the guy installing carpet he said last week a customer asked who the guy was cursing and yelling at me on the phone, he needs to be slapped. So apparently its not the first time. I am writing a letter to the shepherds guide to let them know, i called them and they said if a company gets 3 complaints they no longer advertise for them.

After I go back to the house to make sure the carpet is okay I am going to call the carpet place and let them know how upset I am that their company claims to be a christain owned company and yet treats their clients badly. I am going to rationally find out how to get to the top to complain. All very politely too, as long as that guy doesnt yell at me again.

So we have carpet now which means we will have to paint with new carpet, which is what we were trying to avoid. The carpet looked good when I left but they hadnt cut out the closets or trim yet so we’ll see. Hope everyone else has a better day!!

Not only did we get our loan, but the tenants moved out of the house! All except the roaches they had brought w/ them when they moved in. we fumigated the house twice this week and the darn bugs still look at us and laugh as they stomp all over our house! we are sure it had a lot to do with the condition of the house. Yesterday we got the house completely emptied out, the tenants had left but had left a lot, and in the basment there was standing water and looks of junk. Upstairs there was a milk carton left on the counter and cheetos all over the living room floor. Thats the least of it. So we bleached, rather I bleached, all of the walls (all without wearing gloves because we couldnt find the ones we bought, and my sensitive skin is now bleach burned on my hands, ouch!!) and the floors. Then we started painting. The house is going to look great w/ the new paint and new carpet. we picked out both yesterday and the day before.

I am very disappointed with our church group, and I know I should talk to someone about it in group, but I cant, I know I will get mad at them. We sent out several emails asking for help with the house. Only one person helped and that was Dean’s ex, thats a funny story too, I’ll save it for later. No one who didnt see the house when we started wont know how hard we worked, its a complete turnover job on the house and we are doing all alone. This is a huge feat for people our age and with a newborn. Luckily Dean’s aunt lives around the corner pratically from the new house so has been watching the baby now and then so we can work. My moms been helpful there too. But we cant get any one else even to offer, even if its just to be there for us. It really annoys me. i cant help but think that our group in Ohio would be there for us, we’d probaby at least have round the clock childcare from the gals and the guys would do the work, but here there’s nothing. Sure we’ve only been back a few months, but we’ve made lots of friends in this time but I guess that doesnt matter to them. Sorry , I had to vent. Today my goal is to pack up stuff here at my moms to make the move easier.

We had a very busy, exhausting weekend. I was cleaning the new house and Dean was helping the people move out. The week doesnt look to get calmer either. Tonight we go to get paint and supplies, so that tomorrow I can pick the carpet color I want so it can get installed on Friday. we went to a carpet place and were there for about an hour, it was informative but boring. Dean hates thinking about these things let alone shopping and picking things. But we told his parents we’d shop around for the best price, my goal is a good price and quick installation so we can move in this weekend. I went to two places today, by myself, it took an hour total. I got some good prices and the one place, a Christian place, said if I let them know before noon tomorrow we can have it in on Friday, which is just great. Gives us a day or two to get the rooms painted then new carpet, then this weekend we can move our stuff in!! wohoo! It’s finally coming together, but it has turned into quite an expensive move.

A month later we finally get the loan officer to let us know something, Dean just im’ed me and said she is faxing him a commitment letter which I assume means we got the loan. I am about to cry. Not only do we get to own a house, but I get to decorate it all my own, well as long as Dean agrees, but as I said, he doesnt much care. Suprisingly enough, I have decided to just paint Calebs room a solid color w/ border and Dean wants to make it like it was in Ohio, border and sponge, which requires more work. But to save time I think he is on my side as far as saving time and money. We got a new comforter set yesterday for our room, much more casual, no flowers. It will look nice with our bed and new dressers. Best thing about it it was on sale, the comforter was orig. $80 we got it for $15, someone returned it. There wasnt anything wrong with it, so I grabbed up the deal. Better yet, my mom paid for it!! So all sorts of neat stuff for us this christmas, so we may not have anything to open for Christmas, but we can at least sit in OUR home with our new furniture, new carpet, freshly painted walls, I’d say its a pretty priceless present. Thank you God!!! We know nothing would have worked out without his guidance. So who needs Santa anyway!!

I am not a confrontational person, I avoid it at all costs. But even I have limits. Its been a rough day, we just got in around midnight, after going to what will be our new house several times and after talking to the police several times. What it comes down to is the people my inlaws were renting to rented the downstairs of the house to a family ( a very non stable, very dysfunctional family). The people living upstairs who were the ones renting the house have moved out and are planning on coming to clean up the rest of the upstairs tomorrow. The other family is another story. I had had quite enough today, especially after seeing how bad the upstairs looked, I can only imagine the basement is worse. All I am saying is we found a half full ( i am being optomistic) jar of mayonaise sitting in the hallway upstairs. Looked like it had been sitting there a while. It is no wonder the house is roach infested, its like they were leaving the bugs bait purposefully. A freshly banged whole is now present on the living room wall, mind you it was not there yesterday. And no its not an oops we moved the entertainment center and it banged the wall, its more like someone took out their frustration on the wall. The carpet looks as if it was chewed through, either by one of the several dogs or cats that also occupy the hosue along with at LEAST 4 adults and at least 6 children. The ironic part is of the whole upstairs, the kitchen and dining room looked untouched. The floor is well kept as are the cabinets and counters. Makes you wonder, I guess they didnt cook much. Point is, about being confrontational. The first time we went over tonight the gal (putting it nicely) who lives downstairs all but blamed the upstairs tenant for attempted theft of the stove and fridge and didnt want to put any ownership on anyone they know putting the whole in the wall, but even through this she was nice and reasonable to talk to.

In an attempt to keep the fridge from being stolen which was sitting out front, waiting to be picked up by the upstair tenants, even though its not theirs, we went out to figure out what to do. we called the police who said to call when we got back to the house and they would meet us there. So as we drove up we began to call but realized the upstair tenant was their so we thought we’d try to talk it out. Things were fine with him, but the gal from downstairs became quite defensive and said my lawyer said I should stay and sue you. So I wasnt thrilled. After all how can someone who doesnt pay rent have the right to sue for anything! She said we need an eviction notice, aparently our 30 day notice isnt reasonable time to give to her and her poor family to leave especially due to the fact her children have health problems , not like we asked or as if that should really matter. And that she would stay until then and even until we went to court, since she would sue us. At this I was furious, I usually dont judge people but this was one cover that wasnt hard to read. She was going to milk it out as long as she can. She will stay wherever she can for rent free as long as possible. Seems like she’s done it before, as she said, she’d been through it before and knows how it works. So we’re not the only ones she’s given a hard time, if only that were cause enough for the cops to kick her and her mooching family out. I feel sorry for the kids. A little bit ago I told Dean she should qualify for govt aid and that I am sure they’d find her emergency housing if needed, but he said that would mean they would probably realize she is an unfit mother and take the kids away, and I am all for kids staying with their parents, but as I’ve said before, not everyone is meant to be a mom(or dad for that matter – I know that from my own experience) So my original point is I told her I will happily go do what needs done on Monday to get her her eviction notice and then she said we’d need one for everyone because apparently some guy named Squirrel gets his mail sent there so she wants an eviction notice for him to, and my question should have been who the hell has a name like that and who the hell cares since no one said he could live there in the first place. So we had a few words, in an attempt to be the good person I am, and to keep myself for putting her in her place, I returned to the car and fed the baby. And called my father in law to see what we should do, funny thing how I can turn to him but not my own parents. Even stranger is I knew he would keep me calm if I called him. Seems there wasnt much we can do though about the people who wont move out – at least not at 11:30 at night on a Friday.

unfortunately the law is, once someone occupies a place for 30 days they are resident and have the right to 30 days and an eviction if necessary. Darn squatters have rights too? Doesnt seem right to me, but I guess they have laws to protect someone, but right now they are not on my side. So we gave them 30 days, and being the good tenants (even though they really arent legal tenants) they are, they want the right to their add’l 30 days for the eviction notice. And she wants up to 90 days , or until it goes to court and she thinks it will take that long.

So we had plans to do work this weekend and move stuff in, but not now. Not after seeing the damage already done. So in the morning we are going to get a cop come assess damage and write it up so that if any further damage gets done then they can be charged. (we already discussed this with the police, in one of our many calls for help and advice) We dont think it would be smart to clean it up, put in the carpet we were going to and paint until they are out since we are afraid of what they will do to it. I am writing this all out for you, # 1 because I need to vent #2 because if people watch springer, than of course they’ll enjoy this good tale. Tune in for another episode tomorrow, same time same place……(hopefully not same time, I should be in bed)

Dean called the police today to see what we need to do to get our truck back from my father who took it over 2 months ago to get it fixed. They said I would have to press unauthorized use charges. I love my dad no matter if he is a jerk (putting it mildly) and as a Christian I always try to be a good example so he sees that in me. And pressing charges would have ruined it all. So we talked about it and I decided for now I would just go shopping, my defense mechanism. After getting off the phone with Dean, as he began to call my dads employer to prepare them for the cops coming after dad, I answer a knock on the door. My father turns over the keys to the truck and walks away from me. He turned his back on me and yet I called out to him and asked how he was. Yet again I tried. He spared me a few words then strode off. Its hard when you have to teach a parent what it is to love.