Category Archives: Life at Bass Lake Lot 205

Movin’ on in!

And here we are! We arrived yesterday, parked Lizzie next to our cover (so Gary could have easier access to the shed for the renovation work he has planned),
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and began the job of movin’ in!!
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First things first – a stop at the local library to get our library card, a visit to the local internet provider to get that piece of the puzzle started, and of course – a trip to Lowes to get those reno supplies!
While Gary was busy out in the shed (aka Sewing Studio!), I was busy trying to figure out kitchen cupboards. Where things should go – what things do we need? We’ve lived such a (lovely) minimalistic life for the last 20 years, I’m a little overwhelmed with the amount of dishes and glassware that came with the house.
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So many dishes…
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So many glasses!
The Wi-Fi set-up took a little longer than expected, but finally, we’re good to go with that! I think I’ve weeded out what dishes and glasses I’ll be keeping, though I still haven’t figured out the best cupboard for them.
But progress out in the shed is moving right along!
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Pretty soon I’ll be picking out paint colors and flooring!
I using the “Bring-it-in-when-you-need-it” method for moving in, so it will be a slow and steady process in the weeks ahead. But I have clean sheets on the bed in Lizzie, so the guest room is ready for company! Come away! (And maybe you can help me figure out this house organization stuff!)

Thanks for stopping by! Welcome to this baby step into staying still!

Steph

Sabbath Rest – Praise God from whom all blessings flow

The Waco crew came for this weekend. It was just over 24 hours, and virtually all daylight moments included pouring rain. It was beautiful chaos in every one of those moments! To say that four little boys and their mom and dad can fill up our little 850 sq ft house may be an understatement!Untitled
Add torrential rain into the picture, and even Pops got on the floor to get the kids engaged in a game of Mexican Train.
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We took advantage of our son’s brawn to get some giant TVs moved around
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and kept the card table handy for meals and snacks.
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Once we get Lizzie here we’ll have a guest room. But meanwhile –
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bodies just go everywhere!

But wait – this is my Sunday Sabbath Rest post. It’s supposed to be a hymn or worship song, isn’t it?  Well, the previous pictures and prose are just the introduction to a short hymn that has been part of our worship for centuries. The Doxology. Because after this weekend, how can we not give Him ALL the praise and glory?

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Here are two renditions  – both beautiful and well, I just couldn’t decide. May we always give our praise to Him from who all blessings flow!

Random Thoughts on Homeownership

We’re 19 days into homeownership and here are some thoughts – in no particular order!
1. What a great neighborhood!
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Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. We’ve learned that if you want to take a serious walk, you either need to do it uber-early in the day or leave the neighborhood. Otherwise, there will be people to greet and conversations to be had and you will never get your walk in in your allotted time. It’s not just a great neighborhood but a sweet community too! We’ve already enjoyed game nights and a fried chicken/potluck meal in our community building!
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2. Moving into a fully furnished house is amazing. And such a blessing! Not only is there furniture, but there are sheets and towels, shampoo and soap, laundry supplies, and every imaginable kitchen gadget. Last night Gary was looking for a new bar of soap – and found two unopened bars in one of the bathroom drawers. Oh, and a vacuum cleaner, steam floor cleaner, and even a ceiling fan cleaner. No excuses for a messy house for me!
3. Almost every day we make a new discovery – like yesterday when we realized that our front storm door has a screen component that you just roll down. It was like a miracle!
4. The house came with ROSES!!
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5. We were a little overwhelmed with the shed.
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Although it had been originally used as a sewing room/laundry room on one side with a wood shop on the other, the folks we purchased it from used it primarily for storage. And while Ed had already cleaned out a lot of ‘stuff’, there was still a lot left!
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But with the help of friends,
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and then another layer of sorting through bins, it now looks quite manageable.
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We’ll be replacing the floor since there are some soft spots and repairing/painting the walls, but I’m getting excited about the new Sewing Studio that is soon to be! (Well, it won’t be until after we return in the fall, but I’m pretty sure it’s first on the ‘to-do’ list!)
6. Gary’s side is looking up too!
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7. There are a couple of downsides to this homeownership, though like the addition of Homeowner’s Insurance. Thankfully that bill won’t hit the same time as the RV/Truck insurance that comes due in September. And then there is that Electric Bill. Our very modest HOA covers water, sewer, and trash, but we are still responsible for our electricity. We haven’t had to pay an electric bill for a very long time! There will also be taxes of course, but that won’t show up for several months. But show up it will. We’ll figure out the internet and TV once we’re back in the fall with Lizzie. Right now we’re making do with a tiny outdoor antenna (six channels!) and our phone and hotspot wifi.
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8. Homes come with gutters. And gutters need to be cleaned.
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You know Gary’s brain is already working on more effective gutter guards!
9. Still thankful for Google Photos which continues to help us identify unknowns…

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10. For the first time in almost twenty years I can say that kids and grands are coming to MY HOUSE! So excited to welcome our Waco family to our little house in Lindale tomorrow!

It’s been an exciting and blessed nineteen days as we acclimate ourselves to living in something that doesn’t rock when you walk. Of course, we leave on Monday to head back to Lizzie for a summer in the Northeast! Now we have to learn about getting the house ready to be empty for six months! And so the adventure continues!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our adventure!
Steph

Perfection

I wish I could say that I took some excellent pictures of yesterday’s eclipse.
I did not.
I wish I could say that I at least got some fun pictures of us in those goofy (but oh-so-necessary) eclipse glasses.
I did not.

But I did sit with friends, throw my head back, and watch in awe  (with those goofy glasses on) as the moon munched away at the sun until it was completely hidden. And at that moment we spontaneously broke into the Doxology.  For Great is our God – and He is greatly to be praised for the wonder of His marvelous creation!
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One week in

Phew, it’s been quite the week! We’ve been busy with our SOWER work here at the office
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along with continuing the “settling in” process of home ownership! Thank you to all of you who commented either here or on Facebook about this step (however tentative it might be) into our new adventure! And thank you also for sharing in our joy of a new little one arriving at the end of the month! We’re looking forward to meeting our little “tiebreaker”!
But tonight I wanted to share about the sweet visit we had last weekend with our Texas kids (one of the reasons that this whole House-in-Texas thing is happening!). It was short – barely more than 24 hours – but we packed it with lots of love and snuggles! There was a birthday to celebrate (with pizza, not cake!)
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How did this baby of mine get to be 43? And the Daddy to four precious little boys?
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We met the day-old piglets
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and joined in a little Easter egg hunt watching!
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And I also got to deliver the latest bed quilt – made with love and prayers, especially for Anderson!
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(When I started with this particular quilt tradition it was “When they move into a Big Bed”. Now it’s hopefully before they turn seven! Those grands were coming fast and furious for a while!)
As we said our goodbyes after the egg hunt, we made plans for them to come to OUR HOUSE before we head back east towards the end of April. And believe me, it’s been a very, very long time since I’ve been able to extend that invitation!
It felt pretty good!

Thanks again for all your encouraging comments – I really do love hearing from y’all.  Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Lord’s Day!

Steph