ADHD - the life of me!

Man – I’ve written a post about ADHD at least 100 times.  But it never comes out good.  Trying to make something that the world sees as bad, seem good, or normal..is tough!  When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD, and I am not ashamed.

I struggled during school.  My mind was always wandering.  I could never focus.  When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, my doctor put me on Adderall.  Man, worst decision of his life! It was awful.  It did not help me one bit.   I really can’t even explain what happened.  I would itch so bad that I would make scabs, which I would then pick, and repeat the process.  It would take forever for my scrapes and scratches to heal because all I would want to do is pick them.  When you’re in 3^rd and 4^th grade, other kids find that very, very weird.  I’d wear Band-Aids and it was embarrassing to me.

I don’t really remember how old I was when I switched to Concerta.  I will tell you one thing though.. that pill saved my freaking life.  It was beautiful.  I would take this pill that mom gave me, and I would focus.  I could understand what my teachers were telling me, I’d be able to look at mom and really understand (for the most part) what she was asking me to do.  I was on that until I was 18.  When we lived in Mexico, that pill was not very easy to get.  It was quite expensive.  I was on 54mg (the highest mg) and they only had 18mg.  HAHAHAHA like that would work.. well mom and dad talked to me one day and we decided that I should go off of it all together.  I’d been on medication for so long, that we didn’t know how it would affect me when I got older.  I went off Concerta (during my senior year—also, kind of a bad mistake) and I haven’t taken a pill for ADHD since. 

I would try and try to explain how I felt with ADHD and I could never find the right words for it.  But then today (May 2, 2017) I found this poem on Facebook.  I have NEVER read anything more accurate.  This was and sometimes still is my life. 

A.D.H.D

Take my hand and come with me,
I want to teach you about ADHD.
I need you to know, I want to explain,
I have a very different brain.
Sights, sounds, and thoughts collide.
What to do first? I can't decide.
Please understand I'm not to blame,
I just can't process things the same.
Take my hand and walk with me,
Let me show you about ADHD.
I try to behave; I want to be good,
But I sometimes forget to do as I should.
Walk with me and wear my shoes,
You'll see it’s not the way I'd choose.
I do know what I'm supposed to do,
But my brain is slow getting the message through.
Take my hand and talk with me,
I want to tell you about ADHD.
I rarely think before I talk,
I often run when I should walk.
It's hard to get my school work done,
My thoughts are outside having fun.
I never know just where to start,
I think with my feelings and see with my heart.
Take my hand and stand by me,
I need you to know about ADHD.
It's hard to explain but I want you to know,
I can't help letting my feelings show.
Sometimes I'm angry, jealous, or sad.
I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and mad.
I can't concentrate and I lose all my stuff.
I try really hard but it's never enough.
Take my hand and learn with me,
We need to know more about ADHD.
I worry a lot about getting things wrong,
Everything I do takes twice as long.
Every day is exhausting for me...
Looking through the fog of ADHD.
I'm often so misunderstood,
I would change in a heartbeat if I could.
Take my hand and listen to me,
I want to share a secret about ADHD.
I want you to know there is more to me.
I'm not defined by it, you see.
I'm sensitive, kind and lots of fun.
I'm blamed for things I haven't done.
I'm the most loyal friend you'll ever know,
I just need a chance to let it show.
Take my hand and look at me,
Just forget about the ADHD.
I have real feelings just like you.
The love in my heart is just as true.
I may have a brain that can never rest,
But please understand I'm trying my best.
I want you to know, I need you to see,
I'm more than the label, I am still me!!!!
~Author Unknown

Going off of my Concerta was kind of hard.  Days that I forgot to take it, I could sleep all day long. (weird I know – and yes, I understand that the word HYPERactivity is included in ADHD..) I remember when we decided that I wouldn’t take any more pills for it, I slept during school.  I’ve talked about our program in Mexico called SWAS.  Well, my teachers in SWAS were the bomb.  I told them about my situation and for 2-3 days I took my blanket and pillow and I just slept in class. (I made sure all my other classes were up to date :) I mean.. technically I was at school!

Life after Concerta, but with ADHD hasn’t been too bad.  I was so dependent on my medication that I was slightly fearful that I would start acting hyper, and speak without thinking and that the kids in Mexico would have even more of a reason to think I was weird.  Surprisingly though, it’s been good for me.  It made me take control of my life.  There are some things that I can still see that are symptoms from ADHD.  I get focused on one thing and I can’t stop thinking about it.  Sometimes it gets to the point that it just absolutely drives D nuts.  Another thing I do is I get super hyper when I get excited.  I don’t know if I’ve talked about my squeal or not.  But when I get real happy I make this high pitched squeal.  When I feel my heart start to race and when I can start feeling hyper I know that I’ll probably be “squealy”  Haha..

Anyways, if someone mentions to you that they have ADHD or that their kid has ADHD, don’t turn them away.  We’re still human.  We’re more than just a label.  :)

Spring has sprung

Devin and I are fully aware that spring is here.  To most people, signs of spring usually include:

Melting snow

Budding trees/flowers

Bugs

Mud

Butterflies and birds

In the Fabricius household, signs that spring has sprung upon us are:

my personal favorite, CALVING!!

Farming at Dry Lake

Fixing fences

The first calf of the year was born on April 9, 2017.  She’s a little heifer.  835 was the lucky winner who got to enjoy birthing first this year.  She’s come along ways since last year.  Last year she gave birth to twins, and was one of the last ones to give birth.  (This year’s calf number should be 783)

Usually I name the first calf of the season. (Others too-especially if we become BFFs) I’ve been trying to think of a name for this cute little calf.  I’ve had Cleo, Ziva, Tank and Houdini.  I’m thinking that I am going to name this one Aggie.  I’ve always wanted to name an animal Aggie.  Utah State Aggies…agriculture.. cows.. makes sense to me!  When Miga (my parents dog) had puppies last year, I fell in love with one of the girls and I named her Aggie.  She went to the cutest man with some learning disabilities.  Devin has picked out a new name for when we get a dog..and I love it.  If that happens, there will definitely be a blog post to come :)

I seriously love calving season!! Being able to see this new life come into the world, just as the rest of the world is waking up from winter, is so neat to me!  I do absolutely hate it when we have to pull a calf.. ugh.  It makes me shiver just thinking about it. 

I remember one year I got home from work, Dev and I both went to do the rounds on checking for calves and I found one! Right in the middle of all the poop.  Go figure.  I had no idea where her mom was.  Devin found a little sled for me and then he went to go try and find who that little baby belonged to.  Calves are not like little human babies.  They are A LOT heavier! But D helped me load it onto the sled and I pulled that little cutie out to the field so she wouldn't be laying in all that poop.  It's kind of boring when you only have 1 or 2 calves that are born.  It really gets fun when you have like 10-15 little calves running all over the place.  They're usually pretty used to humans by now cause Jedd and Derik go and feed their mamas everyday, so you can sit and play with it and pet it.  The calves that are born in Dry Lake..man they are their own kind of breed.  They are the most skittish sons of guns you've ever seen in your life.  Good luck petting one of them! Still cute though. :)

Okay I have another story too.  There was this one time (I think it was the same year that I pulled a calf out on the sled) D and I had gotten home from a little mini vacation.  We decided that since it was so nice and pretty outside -- ok lets be honest-- I decided that since it was so nice and pretty outside, we should go and check for calves! Devin walks down there with me and he sees this black thing.  WHAAAAT?? Our cows are strictly RED angus cows.  Devin thought it was just some other animal.  He went down there and sure enough! There was a black calf with a white face.  Man he was the cutest thing ever.  We named him Blackie.  Apparently when we were breeding the cows the year before, our neighbor who has the other part of Dry Lake, his bull got out and bred one of Jedds cows.  Since his herd is a registered RED angus herd, we made him a steer and he was sold the next year with the other steers. 

One last cow story and then I'll stop talking about cows.  Our calves from 2016 - I made a BFF for life.  Her number is 647.  She's a heifer and I just love her.  Well I did when she was little.  Before she grew up to weigh probably 10x more than me, she would come and rub her head on my leg like it was a fence post.  She'd let me pet her..and love on her.  Until one day she picked me up off of the ground.  I had to stop playing with her because she was getting mighty large without her really knowing it.  I found her at the barn couple of days ago and sadly, she does not remember me.  Still one of the funnest calves I've ever dealt with.  Okay, enough about cows now! :)

Devin has started going to Dry Lake to help grandpa out with the farming.  It should be called Wet Lake for how much freaking water is in the lake this year.  Believe me, it ain’t dry!

I’m still working on our garden.  My dad came and tilled the ground for me.  I’m so blessed to have both our families close to us to help.  I am so grateful that spring has finally decided to make an entrance.  Looking at the weather for the next couple of days though, it could be a trick.  It’s supposed to be a little chilly next week, but hopefully winter is gone!! For now.. 

Last night Devin and I took a big step with our house.  WE MOWED OUR LAWN. We have a little push mower but decided that our lawn is waaaayyy too big for that nonsense.  I drove grandma and grandpa’s riding mower down to the house and got done a lot quicker than had we just mowed with the push mower!  I’m so excited that spring is here and I can’t wait to see what we will be able to do with our cute little house!!

S P R I N G

Hellllooo SPRING! Yesterday was the start of spring! (March 20th)  What a beautiful day it was.  I went to work without a jacket -- which is quite strange for me.  I'm usually wearing a jacket into June.  (Today is a different story.  It's supposed to storm - so I wore my winter coat! lol) Sometime last week Devin and I whipped out his portable grill that he got for graduation and grilled hamburgers.  We had some left over buns, so we grilled hotdogs last night and put it on a hamburger bun.  Saturday we bought a cute little bench to sit out on our front porch.  (I'm still working on the post about the house.  It might just be a picture post. :) We sat out on the porch while eating dinner and just watched the beauty and listened to the birdies.  Devin and I love going on walks during the summer.  Summer is our escape from life! Going up to Dry Lake (the family farm in Sardine Canyon) and farming, riding tractors and four wheelers, doing something with the cows, is just so relaxing to us.  Anyways.. back to real life here..

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!  Since yesterday was the first day of spring, D and I decided to do something with our garden.  It looked like a disaster.  The owners before us had two large rows of raspberries.  His wife got sick and he spent a lot of time last year taking care of her.  Because of that, the raspberries were a little bit neglected.  BUT WE SAVED THEM.  Ok, that's kind of over exaggerating.  They weren't THAT bad.  Just a little bad.  D and I have never had our own garden before, so we invited his grandparents over to help us do a little trimming.  His grandparents have a raspberry patch as big as one our rows.  Yes, I said one.  We decided that since usually grandma's raspberries take care of his whole family, our one row will be plenty.  So we trimmed them up nicely and will take the remaining row out another day.  It was such a beautiful night!

Grandpa had bought some clothes line wire for me to put on my clothes line ( I LOVE hanging up my sheets and towels) and I have a lilac tree that kind of blocks the clothes line pole and our dog run. We decided to keep on trimming!  What a beautiful night it was to do all of that yard work!

So grateful for the opportunity that D and I have to be able to try and grow our own garden.  We are very blessed with the land that we have and the ability to have a garden lot so near to our home. 

FEELING 23!

I feel old.  Yesterday I turned 23.  After your 13^th birthday or so, they really aren’t that big of a deal anymore.  I had a really great day though! My morning started off with me eating one of my favorite yogurts! It’s one of the Chobani Flip yogurts.  Almond Coco-Loco.  It’s soo delicious! Before D and I went to work, he gave me my birthday present.  THE STAR WARS SAGA! All six episodes.  I was so excited!! I love Star Wars.  So that was pretty fantastic.  I got to work and Ashlee (my coworker) made me carmalitas – no I cannot give you the recipe…mainly because she won’t give it to me. :(  Its classified!

About 1 oclock, Devin’s parents took me to Chilis.  I love their Caribbean Grilled Chicken Salad.  It is literally a taste of summer in your mouth.  It’s divine. 

I went back to work and the day went by pretty quickly! After work, Devin and I went to the house to paint. (FOR THE RECORD: I wanted to go and paint.  It was totally my choice to paint on my birthday.  I was just dying to see what our master room would look like with the trim finally finished) Our house is looking SO GOOD!  We’re planning on moving in on Saturday. (March 4^th)    

We were waiting for my siblings to get home from YM/YW’s before going to my parents house for a little “party”.  My mom made me my favorite birthday cake.  Funfetti! I have seriously had this cake every year since I was like 3 years old.  I just can’t break away from tradition.  She did however tell me that I needed to “grow up” *insert eye rolling emoji* so she added pudding to it.  Apparently pudding is “grown up” and “hardy”.  HAHA! After we ate my “grown up” and “hardy” cake, we opened some gifts.  Lindsie had everyone sign a card for me.  I keep every card that I get and it’s so fun for me to go back through and look at what people have written.  Mom and dad got me a new pair of capris, a new purse, and some face wash that I keep forgetting to get.. so mom just threw it in there for me.  Really, it’s the little things! Ha!  Allie and Sean got me a Hobby Lobby gift card.  I love that place.  Poor Devin when I start decorating the house..

Derik and Devin bought me an Air Fryer.  I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS MACHINE.  It’s like having fried food, but not in oil.  We are so excited to try it and see if we can have that “fried food” taste without the extra calories from oil!

I’m so grateful for everyone that took the time to wish me a Happy Birthday!  Dev spoiled me as always and I am enjoying getting older with him.

Homeownership - week one

Devin and I knew that when we bought a house it would be hard.  There would be things that break, things that need updated, etc.  HOWEVER – neither of us were prepared for what would happen in the first week of being homeowners.  Friday February 18, 2017 Devin and I received the keys to our beautiful new home.  We were so excited! We had gone to Home Depot and got some paint samples to take with us, as we wanted to paint the house as soon as possible.  When we got in the house, it was freezing.  We were so cold.  Devin ran down to the cellar to make sure that we weren’t having any water issues.  PHEW! We were in the clear.  When D and I bought the house, there was a big bubble over the fireplace, showing signs of a leaking roof.  My dad came over and he pulled the bubble down.  Turns out, it’s wet up there.  It should not be wet up there.  Dad said it should be an easy fix and since D and I were already anticipating having to fix it, it didn’t bug us too bad. 

Saturday we were up bright and early.  We found paint that we liked so we went back to Home Depot for paint and painting supplies.  We got over to the house and our furnace broke.  Lovely.  I was so super sad about that.  It was really chilly in the house.  We were still able to start the fire place which was nice.  Devin and I have a home warranty on the house that lasts for a year.  We already used it!  We called the warranty people and we were able to have someone come to the house that day and look at the furnace.  He said it was covered under our plan and he’d be able to fix it on Monday.  WOOHOO! Saturday we just spent the remainder of our day painting.  We got a lot done!  We got all of the ceilings painted.  It didn’t look like much, but we all know we did a lot. 

Monday we came back and knocked out a TON of work.  We got a lot of walls painted and the kitchen is almost completely done.  Once we started to put the color on our wall, (we chose ‘clay dust’) we could see a difference-- it was very rewarding! 

Tuesday we went back to work.  It had been raining all night on Monday so we were still a little bit nervous about having water downstairs.  We learned the power was out and left work early cause that meant the sump pump wouldn’t work anymore.  We were right.  We had water in the basement.  I ran to my parents’ house to get their generator and  we got it plugged in and it started working.  Devin, my dad and I all agreed that the sump pump was looking kind of old.  We decided that I would go to Brigham City (closest sump pump available) and get a backup one – just in case.  Grandpa, grandma and I drove to Brigham and picked it up.  The power came on right before we got home, which was a relief.  I’m not kidding you when I say that not even 10 minutes passed by when Devin came running upstairs to say that our sump pump burned out.  UGH! These things come in threes, right?! Cause this was number three.  I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that God pushed us to buy that extra pump.  Devin and my dad installed it and we’ve been pumping again like champs!  This is going to be hard, and things are going to be tough—but I am so grateful for Devin and I’s families and the things that they do for us.  We are especially grateful for our Heavenly Father’s hand in our lives.  Here’s to many more years as homeowners!

Home Loan Process

January 27, 2017:  I’m not going to post this blog post until after everything is said and done.  For the last two weeks Devin and I have been looking at this beautiful little house in Wellsville, UT.  We know the couple that is selling the house, and they were so great to us.  They gave us a couple of weeks to think about the house and then make our decision.  On January 25, 2017, Devin and I submitted an offer to the home owners.  They accepted it that night, and we even signed the contract. 

Today, January 27, 2017, our credit was pulled and we were approved for a USDA loan through Wasatch Mortgage Solutions. (Wasatch Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS:3135)  As per WMS’s website, USDA home loans are tremendously popular.  There is no down payment required with a USDA loan.  Often times, USDA loans are also referred to as a Rural Housing loan.  The property must be in a “rural area” to be considered for this loan.  In fact, according to their website, there are very scarce places in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho that do not qualify for a USDA home loan.  To see more information on what kind of loans you could qualify for, click here.

I am seriously just so excited.  It really is just the perfect home for Devin and I right now.  I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for answering our prayers and for the owners of this house.  They have been so patient and loving to us.  We can’t wait to see what we can do with it. 

January 30, 2017: Ok so plans changed.  We’re still buying the house, but we had to switch the type of loan that we are doing.  We want to do a Conventional loan.  We’ve chosen to switch to this, because of the appraisal.  An appraisal with a conventional home loan is not as picky as one being done for a USDA loan.  Where our house was built in 1921, we feel that this is going to be the best option for us.  There is a downside for us doing the loan this way.  Rates are a little higher for this loan.  As per my husband’s website, conventional home loans are one of the most popular mortgage programs that are available. Once you’ve reached 20% equity in your home, your monthly mortgage insurance falls off of your mortgage.  To learn more about conventional loans, click here. (NOTE: just like with all loans, there are certain criteria’s that need to be met.  This is not a guarantee of payment)

Today, D and I met with our mortgage officer (Jedd) and signed a bunch of papers.  It’s been really nice for us to do our loan through family, because we are kept in the loop constantly! –well, more like I am annoying and they give me what I want :) haha. HOWEVER—WMS is REALLY great at keeping their customers in the loop.  Devin sends out an email each time your loans completes a step in the process.  It’s actually really comforting. – Derik is going to submit our loan to wherever he submits them, and all we have to do now is….wait.  I hate waiting.  UGH.  I know that Heavenly Father makes me wait for a reason, but man it is tough!

UPDATE: I got an email from STEARNs Lending, LLC – I had to do some “e-signing” for them.  They sent both Devin and I a link (we’re both on the loan) and were asked to read through, and fill out the information.  I signed where needed to be signed, and now I am back to waiting! Hopefully tomorrow they will let us know if they will fund the loan for us.  If they decide that they are going to fund us, they will come back saying they’ll fund us as long as we give them this or that.  EI: An appraisal report.  So hopefully by tomorrow afternoon, we can have our appraisal ordered and ready to go!

January 31, 2017:  Not a whole lot is going on with our loan right now.  We did just get notice that it was sent to underwriting.  I asked D what that means, his response: “Someone is going to review it to let us know conditions.  We should know tomorrow what we gotta do.”  So hopefully it’s assigned to a nice underwriter and that everything continues to go well!

Dev and I have been talking about things that we want to do to the house once we have it.  Priority number one is painting.  I’m going to make him paint the entire house.  I’m not quite sure how he feels about that, but it has to be done.  It is a smaller house, so I want light, refreshing colors to make it feel more home like and bigger.  I’ve been reading into color therapy as well.  Some people know that I suffer from anxiety.  Blue is a really big calming color that doctors use with anxiety.  I think we are going to be decorating with blue, maybe have a blue accent wall in our room – we haven’t quite decided yet.  It is really fun though to be able to finally have a place that we can paint our own, and put nails where we want, have a GARDEN!  I am so beyond excited for a garden.  It’s nice to be able to share these similarities with D.  We are looking forward to making this house a home.

UPDATE: We locked our rate in!  From my understanding, there is a big meeting that is supposed to be being held tomorrow.  Apparently, that can affect mortgage rates.  We had two options:  Lock right now.  Lock tomorrow.  If we took a gamble, we could be paying less a month and bring less to closing – or be paying more a month and bring more to closing.  D and I decided that we felt comfortable with our payment and the rates so we locked it down. :)

February 1, 2017:  We got our conditions back! The underwriters did their thing and sent us back things that we have to do before they will fund the loan.  Obviously, we need an appraisal.  Other things that they listed were minor things.  Current flood insurance, closing papers, updated VOE, just things that were small.  D and I were really happy with how it came back.  Easy fixes for right now.  Hopefully later today we will order our appraisal.  That will take a little longer.  I keep saying that I have to wait, but we’ve been blessed with opportunity of knowing things pretty quickly.  I’m still praying that our appraisal won’t kill us.  I know that we will be blessed as we continue to do what we are supposed to be doing. :)

UPDATE: We are starting to get the things that the underwriters need approved! We’re doing the best that we can.  Devin called me to let me know that he ordered our appraisal! OHMYGOSH this is getting so freaking real.  I’m still just trying to keep calm as who knows what could happen.  I pray and plead that everything with this appraisal will turn out good for us.  For those that do not know, an appraisal is “an act of assessing something or someone.  An expert estimate of the value of something.”—Thanks Google! Hopefully the appraiser will come back saying that we don’t have to fix too much on the house before we can move in.  Also, we figured out who we are going to go with for our home owners insurance.  That’s a relief! I am forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for how things are turning out.

February 4, 2017: Today Devin and I went and walked the house again.  We had just gotten home from doing taxes and I just had a feeling that we needed to go and see the house.  We felt really bad because the seller was at a swim meet for his daughter.  He kept reassuring us that it was ok, (they have an hour break in between swims) so I felt a little better.  With the temps being so high and it had rained over night, I wanted to see what the damage was to the house.  We walked through it and everywhere that we had looked, was dry.. except that addition room.  There was a leek.  UGH. The owner told us that he would get up on the roof to see if he could see the problem.  D and I started to worry, but technically it should be the sellers responsibility to fix the issue, since we don’t own the house yet, but in our contract, we are buying as is.  So…yeah.  I am kind of frustrated that the appraiser didn’t get in the house before this happened.  It’s upsetting our mortgage company that they haven’t even called to schedule the appointment.

UPDATE:  I got a text from the seller.  He thinks that he solved the issue.  He said that he found where the water was seeping.  There was an inch of ice built up right on the end of the roof.  The water was backing up because of the ice, and leaking down through some screws that were loose.  As soon as he pulled the ice away, it appeared to have stopped.  He said he’d replace the screws on Monday and that he was drying out the sheetrock.  (There will still be a stain on the ceiling)  So hopefully that fixed the issue.  There is still the potential that we will need to replace the roof and have a roof inspection.  But it’s looking up a little bit. :)

February 6, 2017:  Appraisal update! Our appraiser has called and left the seller a voicemail.  That’s literally about all I know.  Haha! :)

UPDATE:  Devin sent me a text saying that our report delivery date is on 02/09/2017 by 5PM.  PEOPLE THAT IS THIS THURSDAY!!! I am just continuing to pray that the appraisal goes well and that we don’t have to fix too much.  Doy gracias a mi padre celestial por los bendiciones que nos ha dado. 

February 7, 2017:  Apparently our appraisal is for today at 4!! I am excited and so nervous at the same time.  I am literally praying and pleading that everything will be dry in the house and that everything will go ok.  My anxiety is now through the freaking roof! This is getting so real.  Of course, the day that it is raining is the day the appraiser decides to come..but I know that eventually everything will be ok.

On a side note, the owners wife texted me and said that they had 3 bottles of liquid detergent for the washer and asked if we would like it.  They are just being too kind to us! I can’t even stand it.  We are so, so blessed. 

UPDATE: D and I drove by the house on our way home from work.  It was a little wet, but not even as wet as last Saturday.  That made us pretty happy.  To be honest with you, I was expecting it to be like pools of water in the back yard, and in the drive way.  The owners put sandbags in the driveway to keep the water from going to the garage.  Again, very grateful for that!  I’m glad that the appraisal is supposedly done with.  Just have to wait for the appraiser to write the report.  Praying has been my saving grace with my anxiety. 

February 9, 2017:  We received the appraisal! Holy toledo.  WMS received a message during the day yesterday from the appraiser stating that he would have the appraisal submitted by 5 PM today.  It literally got uploaded at 4:57.  I am not even kidding. Since WMS is a family run business, Devin just forwarded the message to me, and we just looked at it when we got home.  When we looked at it, we surprised to find out that we do not have to fix a single freaking thing.  WHAAAT?! Even with the leak from last Saturday? Well…when I got looking at pictures, I could tell that something was off with the room where the leak was at.  The owners had painted it.  (I am not sure whether the leak was patched or what..all I know is that the wall was painted.) Anyways, the house did come in higher than our offer, which was good for us.  But still a little lower than what D and I were hoping for.  But that’s ok.  :)

Since we have had soooo much rain, D and I decided to drive by it on our way home from work.  It looked dry.  We were really surprised.  The sellers had sandbagged in front of the drive way, as well as in front of the sidewalk.  As long as the water isn’t in the root cellar, I am a happy camper! We’re thinking of moving our close date to the 24^th.  That is TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY! I can’t even stand it.  I am so excited.  Devin and I are going to look at couches on Saturday.  We have a really nice one, but I called Fishers and they discontinued the brand we bought.  So were going to see if we can find a couch that would match, if not, then we might buy a new set.  Who knows!  I am here to tell you though that God hears and answers prayers.  It is not a joke.  He will be there when you need him.  I have been praying nonstop for peace and comfort.  Especially with all of this rain that we have been getting.  He will hear you.  Just keep having faith.

February 11, 2017:  This morning we got a text from the seller asking if we could come and help them move some things out of the house.  SURE!  Devin and I were going to drive by to see if anyone was there anyways.  We wanted to see the basement and if it had flooded or not.  GULP! I was dang nervous to go down there.  Our two neighbors to the east of us both had water in their basements.  So down the stairs we went – only to find the floor was dry and it was just the sump pump filled! Woohoo!! We were so nervous! Oh my heavens I couldn’t even explain to you have nervous I was.  We drained the sump pump and the water was gone in like literally 20 seconds.  We are still a little bit worried, but at least we know that the sump pump works.  Also, I forgot to mention, Derik is going to resubmit everything on Monday to Stearns.  If they approve all of our conditions, we could close by THURSDAY.  That is in less than one week.  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that our house did not flood.  I know that he hears and answers your prayers.  I can truly testify of that. 

UPDATE: We went and looked at couches today! Man what a job! Since we can’t really find a matching set to our leather couch, we are thinking of getting a fabric loveseat that would accent the leather.  We have found one that we like.  Pics will come in a later blog post.  We also looked at paint.  That is a stressful job.. just in case anyone was wondering..

February 14, 2017: Happy Valentine’s Day!  We have news! We are closing on THIS THURSDAY. Yes, I said that correctly.  THIS THURSDAY.  – As in, two days. This is so real—I almost don’t even believe that it’s happening.  Devin and I have been so blessed.  The closing is at 3 PM – then we will get our keys on Friday.  What a blessed life we live in!

February 16, 2017:  We signed our papers.  HOLY COW! THIS IS REAL! We just met with Kim Winward at American Secure Title.  We signed A LOT of papers.  It was insane.  When we first started, she told us that we have to include our middle initial.  My “signature” is literally my full, legal name – with lots of loops and curves and fancy things, so don’t even try to forge it ;)  so when she told us we needed to include our middle initial, I thought I would be ok.  Well I was wrong.  We were like ¾ of the way done signing our 3-inch stack paper, everyone noticed (everyone but me…literally) that I was signing my full middle name – Ashlie.  We were having such a good time talking that nobody caught it! So I had to resign some papers haha.  Oh well! :)  It was a really cool experience.  Devin and I are EXTREMELY grateful for our loan officer, (Devin’s dad, Jedd – he’s the best.  If you want a home, come see him) Devin’s brother, Derik, (who did all the processing) the title company, and Stearns.  They’ve all been so great to us!  We have been truly blessed with the best.

The money should fund tomorrow, and we should get our key!  D and I are going to go and get some paint samples tomorrow to paint on the walls.  Another blog post will come I’m sure of the house and what it looks like – so stay tuned for an update of our new home sweet home.

February 17, 2017:  Devin and I are official home owners as of about 1:30 today! OUR HOUSE HAS FUNDED!!!