My sister asked me yesterday, "Aren't you done packing YET?"
We did take 2 weeks off to enjoy Karen and Tyler and our grand
babies, but still, I am a very SLOW packer.
I've decided packing is boring. I don't do boring very well.
But we are getting there and and probably 8/10ths done.
(7 year olds and grandparents are a good combo for packing.)
I get distracted easily, and I have time to take it slow, so I do.
Plus we have had several interruptions such as this....
The workers were just going to "take out 4 tiles, repair a leak,
and put it back together."
Didn't quite work out that way.
We spent the morning yesterday looking for tile.
And I keep running into my past....
I found this on a shelf in my laundry room.
Back row: Chris, Heidi, Robin, John, Richard, Scott
Front row: Jill, Dad, Mom, Peggy
We would put this picture of my parents and their 8 children,
on the wall near my mom's bed when she was in the final stages
of Alzheimer's. I don't think she ever forgot us.
Everything else, yes, but not us.
And this...how can I throw out McKay and Tyler's point chart?
This was my version of a chore chart.
We used this for years and years.
I would give them so many points for chores, or random things I wanted them to do for me.
I'd say things like, "If you mop the kitchen floor I'll give you 50 points."
Of course 50 points equaled 50 cents and they knew that,
but 50 points sounded so much better.
And then they could cash their points in anytime they needed money.
They also became very competitive with it....seeing who could get the most points.
Looks like I may still owe McKay $1.50
(not sure what the 147.30 on the side is all about)
One of the very first things I thought after learning we were to
move.... is how would I leave all the shelves in our garage
that my BIL Dave Shepard and
his incredibly good friend made for me?!
He spent hours and hours and days and days putting these up all
around our garage after Bill died.The items the shelves held are
half packed, but we got SO much use out of them
But also, I often look at them
and remember his example of service and love towards us.
I will never ever forget that.
The realtors asked us to remove all family pictures
before selling our house.We pretty much did,
but since this was behind the bathroom door I kept it up.
I wasn't ready to take it down.
My 4 sons and who they married above them.
Those are the girls I prayed my boys to find one day.
And this gem.
It was in the boys' bathroom throughout their childhood.
I think they all could tell you the first line of this.
Bill use to wear this hat.
It was part of who he was, and where he died.
As I was packing some of Den's things today I laughed
when I saw this.
I had forgotten that years ago he actually needed a comb!
Filbert Avenue is where the rest of it all fell out.
Okay, that's enough for now.
Gotta get back to this.
The truth is I'd rather write or talk about packing,
than actually do it.
But I still think packing is easier than getting ready for Christmas.
Before I go though, here's another distraction today,
but a very good one to me.
Tyson McCauley, Amy, Logan, Chandler
They climbed Mt Whitney and they are on their way home!
I'm anxious to learn details.
I was relieved to see they are all still standing.
I've heard it can be brutal. 14,500 ft high.
The highest climb in all continental US.
Logan said for a short time he was the tallest man in 48 states.
I've read that many do not make it to the top but I would love to know the stats on that.
So far I can't seem to find that info on google.