HOW!

I think that's how you say hello in Indian, right? (That was probably the most un-politically correct thing I have ever said...like the whole Native American language is called "Indian". HA!)

ANYWAY, we're going to be learning a lot more "Indian" because we're moving to TONICA, Illinois! And the house we're buying is on a street called "Wauponis". Other streets in the small town of 700 include Shiawasee, Hiawatha, and Minnehaha.

Our offer was accepted tonight, and the paperwork is coming. I'll post more later, but just thought that I'd let you all know the good news.

I wonder how you say "platapoos out" in Indian.

My Brain

My brain is a washing machine of thoughts and ideas and worries and wonders and fears and excitement all swirling about, but never really finishing the cycle.

I have a lot on my mind these days.

First of all, I don't need to reiterate the fact that I am so grateful and relieved that we are moving. I'm still in awe and shock over how completely cosmic the timing is, and how wondrous a blessing could be bestowed on us. I'm humbled.

But now, I'm all tied up in knots.

Not bad knots, not the kind of knots you get when something's wrong and your getting that "stupor of thought" feeling in your mind and in your gut. No, it's not that.

It's a good kind of knot I guess. The kind where I worry and wonder about school districts, commute times, shopping, friends, being close to the Ward building, whether or not there are LDS babysitters within a 10 minute drive, etc. Lots to think about.

So I need some help untying my knots, if you please.

Remember when I had that post awhile back about the top 5 most important things you look for in a house...mine were lots of natural light, sidewalks to ride bikes and take walks on, good appliances, a garage, and a decent mortgage (not being "house poor"). I think, I may have changed a few but essentially these are big for me. Many of you shared with me what's big for you, but if you forgot something, now's the time to let me know. Okay, now the next thing.

So now my big dilemma is where to look for houses this weekend.

Here are the two options:

1. Peru, Illinois: It's about 5 minutes from Oglesby and has TONS of shopping, good schools, and low property taxes. The only problem is that it's about 20-30 minutes from Ottawa where the Ward is, and ALL the members. There's not 1 LDS family in Peru. Nope, not one. It's a small Ward.

2. Ottawa, Illinois: It's about 20-25 minutes from Oglesby (which is where Mark will be working), and in the winter the drive is dicey. It also has TONS of shopping, good schools, and has the Ward building right there, along with the majority of members. However, the property taxes are higher here, and houses in general cost a little more than Peru.

So basically, we either live in Peru which is close to where Mark works, but far away from the Church, and insta-friends (meaning members of the new Ward).

Or we live in Ottawa, which is close to the Church, but Mark has to commute and we may not get as good of a deal on a house.

What would you do?

Please share your opinions with me, I really do value them.

Thanks in advance!!

Taggedy Tag-Tag

J. Vos tagged me from Notes from the Burrow. I'm happy to comply.

8 Favorite TV shows
1. Lost
2. Dancing With The Stars
3. Growing Pains (back in the day)
4. (Embarrassed to Admit) Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters
5. The Office
6. 2000 Acres of Sky
7. American Idol (only 2 more months before the next season!!)
8. Little House on the Prairie (classic, all-time favorite)

8 Favorite Songs
1. Romeo & Juliet--The Indigo Girls
2. Wide Open Spaces--Dixie Chicks
3. Muskrat Love--Captain & Tenille
4. Close to You--The Carpenters
5. The Water is Wide--James Taylor or the group of ladies who sang it at Lileth Fair: Sarah McLaclan, Jewel, Indigo Girls, 1999ish
6. When We Dance--Sting
7. Hey Ya--Outkast
8. Your Love is Better Than Chocolate--Sarah McLachlan

8 Favorite Restaurants
1.QDoba--all across our blessed country, except LaSalle, Illinois!! Boo hoo!!
2. Leo's or Kerby's Coney Island--a Michigan classic and favorite!! Once again, Boo hoo!!
3. Pei Wei--a chain, I think. 14 Mile and Orchard Lake.
4. La Pita or Fattoush Village--I love Middle Eastern Cuisine!!
5. TGI Friday's--I don't know why, but I love all the choices, and I'm ALWAYS grateful it's Friday!!
6. Wendy's--My old reliable...usually the chili and fries, but also the Taco Salad, or the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and top it off with a Frosty!
7. The Garden--Twin Falls, Idaho. I had this coconut chicken and shrimp there on my birthday one year, and I still remember it!!
8. Pier 49--Logan and Pocatello. Awesome pizza, I had the pesto chicken and still remember it!

8 Favorite Movies
1. Terms of Endearment
2. Little Women (the one with Winona Ryder)
3. Annie
4. Anne of Green Gables, the series
5. Drop Dead Gorgeous
6. Whale Rider
7. Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre
8. Sense & Sensibility

8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Slept in a little.
2. Had a ham & cheese omelet made by Mark for breakfast.
3. Did chores around the house.
4. Finished preparing my sharing time for Primary.
5. Got lunch with my family at Leo's in Westland.
6. Went shopping with the girls and Mark--Burlington Coat Factory, Kohl's, and walked the Westland Mall.
7. Met my peeps for a Girl's Night Out in Belleville at O'Charley's...awesome!!
8. Went to bed way too late.

8 Things I am looking forward to
1. Going back over to Illinois this weekend to shop for houses.
2. Thanksgiving.
3. Seeing the movie, Australia over Thanksgiving weekend (fingers crossed, hint, hint, Mark, I'm talking to you!)
4. Maryn's Baptism--December 14, 7 pm, you're all invited!!
5. Our Tenth Wedding Anniversary--December 19, I can't believe we made it!!
6. Christmas
7. A New Ward
8. A Fresh Start

8 Things on my wish list
1. Reusable grocery bags--going green!!
2. The Mother In Me (book from Deseret)
3. Errand of Angels (movie about Sister Missionaries from Deseret)
4. New Bedroom Furniture and Bedding
5. Getting to stay home for awhile and not having to find a job right away.
6. A Fun Getaway with Mark to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary sometime after the move.
7. Cable TV (or Satellite, whichever)
8. That everyone else's wishes would come true...stable jobs for everyone, health, babies if you want them, happiness, and prosperity!!

8 people I tag
1. Mark
2. Mom
3. Shauna
4. Amy
5. Melanie
6. Erin
7. Shalee
8. Sheila, maybe this could be your blog debut!! And please invite me!!

Hip Hip

Hooray! Mark got the job!!

Needless to say we are thrilled and so incredibly relieved!! Not sure on too many details right now, but we are tentatively planning the trek west (it's only about 5 hours away) after Christmas. We have lots of planning and house hunting to do in the meantime.

Thank you all for your faith, prayers, and incredible compassion and support. It really means so much to me to know that I have so many people in my life who are always there when life throws a few curve balls. Isn't it strange to think that exactly 2 weeks ago tomorrow I was laid off? And now, 2 weeks later we are blessed.

My testimony is recharged. I feel full of gratitude and humility and love for our Heavenly Father who never deserts us, and for His Son, our Saviour, who continues to shepherd us to the places we need to be at the appropriate time. I know this is His plan for us at this time. Is there any doubt?

Once again, hip hip hooray!!

My Sister--Always There For Me

{I don't think I need to reiterate the fact that I completely suck at remembering birthdays, but in case you missed it, I DO, BIG TIME!! Shauna's birthday was on Saturday, and I wanted to blog her a tribute, but forgot about it until today! So, without any further adieu (or lame excuses), here is my birthday blog for Shauna Lynne, eldest of our family, and greatest big (little) sister of all time!!}

My sister Shauna has always been there for me. She was there when I was blessed and welcomed as the fourth member of the Paul and Linda Day family.

She was there for my first Christmas, and made sure that I got to sit on Santa's lap even though I probably cried because I was so scared.



She was there to play dress-up and fashion show. I'm not sure if this was actually dress-up or what we were actually dressed in for Church or something. But regardless, we were adorable then and we're adorable now!!



Shauna was always in charge. She was the queen-bee and we were her loyal subjects. She was always so much fun, had a wild imagination, and always came up with the best games and activities.

My sister was always there for a wagon ride around the Katherine Court.



She has always been full of adventure!! Never one to balk at something too high or too fast or too scary. She loves the thrill!!

She was always there to push me around in my stroller and I would wait for her as she went on her fast rides, clapping for her the whole time.



Shauna has always been there for me, and has been a gift and blessing in my life. From the time I was young, she was there to care for me and help me out. And as I've grown she has always been there for me, offering advice, a good example, and her unending support. She is such an incredible person, she is always moving 90 miles an hour, and I admire her energy and tenacity. She is so loving and nurturing as well. She has helped us all as we've welcomed our babies into our own families, and I appreciate all of her Motherly wisdom. She is a great cook, an avid reader, a determined student, a fast runner, a fun friend, a hip and cool Mom, and an AWESOME SISTER! I am so sorry this is late, but I wish you the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!



Love You Shauna!!

Belated Halloween Pictures

Maryn, her friend Sharpay, and Avery


Simba--can you get over those cheeks?!?


Avery holding Braeden's hand--they had so much fun!!


Halloween 2008--Livonia, Michigan--Another success!!

Thursday's Thoughts

We got home late last night from our 2-day trip west to Illinois. It was a good trip. Beautiful, unreal Fall weather. The 70's if you can believe it. I wasn't brave enough to whip out the flip-flops again, but it was nice to sport short-sleeves, with no jacket!!

We drove down on Tuesday after Mark and I voted.

The Illinois Valley is very nice. The town of Oglesby is pretty small. There were 2 hotels, a couple fast food places, a family diner, and a drive-in rootbeer stand. Oh, and the College. Illinois Valley Community College. It's pretty small too, but a nice campus just the same.

We drove around quite a bit after we arrived. First we drove through Ottawa (where the Ward is, and many Church members, but also 30 minutes away from Oglesby). The downtown was adorable, and many of the storefronts were bright and busy and it was a sight for sore eyes. Mark and I are accustomed to seeing boarded up storefronts on Woodward downtown. We then drove over to Oglesby, and figured out where everything was, and then before we lost our daylight we decided to go over into LaSalle and Peru. These two cities are basically 5-10 minutes away from Oglesby and have lots of shopping and lots of cute neighborhoods. Well Peru does, LaSalle is kinda rough from what we've heard. We had dinner at Applebee's in Peru (which is by the Mall, a Target, a Kohl's, a Super Wal-Mart, etc. I felt right at home!!) Then we headed back to the hotel and swam.

The next morning, we dropped Mark off on campus. He looked very handsome and professorial in his plaid jacket, brown slacks, and a fallish colored tie. He had the whole thing in the bag from Hello, I'm sure. The girls and I went back to the hotel, and finished getting ready and packed up the car for check-out. The Bishop's wife agreed to pick us up and take us around the area to show us the sights. I'm glad she did. She spent a good chunk of time telling us lots of great info that will really come in handy if we end up moving over there. It was great, albeit a bit overwhelming. My eyes were about to pop out of my skull by the end of the day. She dropped us back in Oglesby so she could pick up her own kids from school, and the girls and I played at a local park while Mark was finishing up. We also decided to grab root beer floats from the Rootbeer Stand and talk to some locals. The owner had lived in that teeny town for 50 years. Wow. He told me that one of the Elemetary schools is on "Mormon" street. Ha!

We picked Mark up around 5, and drove around a little more, got some dinner in LaSalle and headed home. It was a long day for everybody, but I'm so grateful we were able to do it. It gave us both a lot of hope, and Mark feels that he did his best in the interview. Hopefully everything will work out for the best. We'll know by next week or the week after. I know. It's excruciating having to wait, but hopefully I can distract myself somehow.