January 1, 2015 found us in the middle of back and forth negotiations on an acreage. It was the second time we had put an offer on this particular acreage, and the owners were not working with us at all. I had fallen in love with the little red house, and had the entire thing remodeled in my mind, including the addition we were going to build off the north (right side in the photo) of the house, the centering of the front door so my OCD could rest, and all the new fixtures and furnishings. It had an apple tree out back (pies and crisps were already baking in my mind!), the Perfect Tree Swing Tree beside it, a whole row of lilacs (swoon), a pasture for my imaginary goats, and the detached garage on the property was the township's old dance hall (history!). The acreage would have cut Eli's drive-time to work in half.
January 5 Eli was laid off from the manufacturing job he had been at for a year. All negotiations on the acreage were taken off the table.
January 7 Gavin turned 6 years old!
January 20 we made the transition to smartphones when we realized our 14-year-old-grandfathered-in plan was costing us more than a data plan would.
January 24 I hosted a double baby shower for two dear friends.
February 2 I started a serious diet with the goal of losing 57 pounds to get back to the weight I was when we were married.
February 5 Eli found a job at a mold-making company.
February 14 I was down 10 lbs.
February 17 during his 6 year well-child check up, it was found that Gavin had a heart murmur.
February 26 Gavin had an echocardiogram done at a pediatric cardiologist to determine what kind of heart murmur he has. It was determined his murmur is an "innocent stills murmur" and won't restrict him in any way. He was enthralled by the elevator ride, the 5th floor view from the exam room, getting to look like a "robot", and getting to go out to eat with Mama at Applebees. What began as a nerve-racking day turned into a beautiful day out with my big little guy.
February 28 Ian turned 1 year old and I turned 33.
We threw him a birthday party and had steak fajitas and Scratch Cupcakes. This would be the last time little Grandma would ever visit our house.
In March Eli's Grandma had a heart attack, and fell a couple times. She had surgery to repair a broken hip and elbow in April.
March 8 I was down 20 lbs.
March 10 I finished painting my first-ever peg dolls.
March 26 Eli went back to work at the manufacturing job he was laid off from in January.
March 30 I was down 30 lbs.
April 2 we put another offer on the little red house acreage. In hindsight it looks very much like dogged stupidity, but we had convinced ourselves that it was worth trying for. It already felt like ours; like our ticket to finally get out in the country. Again, we couldn't come to an agreement with the seller and we decided to walk away for good. (The acreage is still for sale, by the way, though it's now a foreclosure property and 45 minutes in the wrong direction for us.)
Ian also started walking this day!
April 3 Aidan turned 8 years old!
April 16 I started this blog.
Also in April we got word that my Grandpa's cancer had returned and he had surgery to remove it.
May 2 Eli was stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction so bad he ended up in the ER...in a town nearly an hour away, because he decided post-sting that, despite the swelling, he was still ok to attend bowling league. So some other guys' wife sat with him in the ER and Eli became the bearer of an epi-pen at all times. (After the ER trip he resumed his evening by eating out and visiting a brewery with his bowling buddies.) And that's all I have to say about that. :)
May 3 I was down 40 lbs.
May 8 my Mama and I took a road trip (the funnest of 2015) for Mother's Day to Little Prairie Girl's barn sale and various other little shops. I decided that was what I wanted my job to be when it's no longer raising and teaching boys. Junk sales.
Ian was officially weened in May and drinking from a sippy cup.
May 20 I cut off 16 inches of my hair.
May 22 Eli turned 36. We visited the Amana Colonies and Back Pocket Brewery for the first time. Little did we know this was the first, last, and only date we would have in 2015. Good thing we made the most of it, as we also opted not to take a family vacation either this year.
My brother Joe and his girlfriend Carly also got engaged this day!
May 23 we took Liam to the ER for the first time with a case of swimmer's ear. Blood trickled from his ear for three days.
May 27 I realized I have an intolerance to avocados. I cannot digest them. Yep, that monumental discovery made the list.
May 31 I was down 50 lbs.
June 20 I hosted a bridal shower for my sister-in-law-to-be, Carly.
June 21 we found out our previous pastor, Fr. Wood, was leaving and that Fr. Iscara would be taking his position at St. Philomena Mission.
June 27 Eli and I viewed a four-bedroom two bath farmhouse, on a double lot, in a small town much closer to work for Eli--and put an offer on it the same day. Our offer was accepted within two hours.
On our way home we received the call that Eli's Grandma had passed away.
July 1 was Grandma Vivian's wake, July 2 was her funeral.
July 10 we invested in an inspection of the farmhouse. We were determined to do everything right this time. The inspector said it was in remarkably good condition, minus a few cosmetic issues that would be easy to fix.
July 13 the property assessment was completed on the farmhouse and all fees pertaining to it were no longer refundable. A few repairs were required to the house and then the mortgage was ours.
July 15 marked our 9 year wedding anniversary. For the first time in memory we didn't go out to celebrate, banking on signing mortgage papers as our treat this year.
July 16 Eli was notified that he was being indefinitely laid off from his job August 10.
July 20 we received a letter from the bank saying our mortgage was denied due to "temporary employment".
July 21 I cut Ian's hair for the first time. A glutton for punishment, I broke my own heart. Ian, who is still profoundly irritated by any sort of longish hair, loved it.
July 24 my baby brother Joe got married to Carly. We spent the weekend in Wisconsin celebrating.
August 4 Liam turned 4!
August 10 Eli started his lay-off.
September 8 we started our third year of homeschooling. Late summer/fall was peppered with educational field trips and reconnecting with friends.
In September Eli started working part-time helping a friend with construction work to help get us by until he found a permanent job.
September 10-12 I held a garage sale. The money I made from the sale completely covered Christmas shopping expenses this year.
October 3 I co-hosted another baby shower for a friend.
October 10 marked 2 months of lay-off for Eli. Shortly before this he received a letter from his old employer stating that his lay-off status was switched to permanent. They've had two large lay-offs since then.
October 15 Eli had an interview at the local ethanol plant. They offered him a job the same day!
October 20 Eli started working at the ethanol plant.
November 22 Mom and I went to see Tim Hawkins, stand-up comedian.
December 1 we bought the Suburban.
December 5 I was down 60 lbs.
December 25 my grand total of weight lost since February 2 reached 66 lbs.
December 29 Ian learned how to blow his nose!
I collected rain water for my house plants...in December this year.
We lost family, and gained family.
Four job changes, three attempted and failed house purchases. This year has taught a lot of lessons, especially patience and trust in God to guide us where He wants us to be. Sometimes it's painful being molded like clay. Beautiful things are rarely made with ease.
I'm excited and curious what 2016 will bring us. I'm praying for joyful additions and moves...but whatever they are, I'm mostly praying for the grace to grow from them.
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