House Update

Well, we've come full circle again. After looking at the last house I posted below 3 times and crunching numbers, we decided it's too much of a stretch for us. It would take everything we have to get into it, and we don't want to be left broke. Besides, it still wasn't just right. So, we're back to looking at lower-priced houses again, for the third time. We tried really hard to find our dream home, but it's just not gonna happen. So we'll find something to settle on, and that will be that. It will still be better than what we had before. It's just hard to let dreams go, well set them aside anyway. Everybody knows I never let go of dreams =)

Here vs There

Since we've been here in NC, I've noticed a few differences I thought it would be fun to share.


1. The buses are Freightliners with the engines up front as opposed to the rear engines of the Bluebird buses in Yakima.














2. Wild animals run all over. Deer, squirels, opposum, turkey; be ready!















3. You can buy racing fuel at the mini mart!














4. Cement trucks look like they are going backwards.














5. Cemetaries are next to churches. I didn't want to be disrespectful, so no picture. Although not all churches have a cemetary, I have yet to see a cemetary that is just a cemetary.

6. Speed limits are typicaly 45mph and you better be up to speed within 5 seconds! I have never seen a sign lower that 35. Well, aside from in our neighborhood where it is 17. Ya, not 20 or 15, 17.

I'm sure there are many more, but these are a few visual observations that have stuck in my head. I'll stay on the look out.

Job Update

Sam's still working at WRE. Things have slowed down tremendously. He's down to 2 other guys in the shop and they are looking for jobs elsewhere. We got good news that 2 of the guys Sam had to let go already have other jobs in the racing field. That's great to hear!
Sam is pretty torn on what to do at this point. They (the Lynch's) still want to run the GN car in Phoenix, so that's job security for at least a month. No word has been said about selling trucks or equipment, so that's hope. Sam is trying his hardest to protect both the team and his reputation.
He is mortified at the thought of having to go search for a job. I think that's one of the things that kept him from moving here a long time ago, and I can't blame him. When I think about having to do the same, it frightens me too. It really makes you face your education and qualifications (or lack of), and really your whole life. For a couple people who are not big on self-esteem, it's actually quite depressing. BUT...
We shall be strong, and we shall perservere! My mom asked me back when I first gave her the news of our move, "what if it doesn't work out?". My immediate reponse was, "That's not an option. We are going to make it work.". I stand by that whole-heartedly. As tough as moments get, I know without a doubt that this move was meant to be for us. We will get through this darkness to where the light will shine even brighter for us! I must stand back and re-look the big picture. Our main goal was to give our children a better quality of life and raise them in a place with abundent opportunities. That hasn't changed, and that place is definately here. Hope abounds!

Maybe??????

So, like all the others, this house is not perfect, but it's the closest we've come. It's full brick on a flat .35 acre. It has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a bonus room. The neighborhood is small (by standards out here) and very nice. The area has lots of trees and a pond they stock for fishing. Most the homes are 10-15 years old, but this one is new construction. We wish it were bigger, but at 2221 sq ft, it's still nearly 1000 sq ft larger than we had before! Right now we're waiting to find out if there are any building/addition restrictions. If we can add on, we may make an offer on this one.

I am ready for a house, so if this one doesn't work out, we'll probably settle for something. I have a few other places in mind =)

I dug out the St Joseph figure I used when we sold our house in Yakima. You are supposed to display it in your new home, but since I haven't considered this apartment a home, he's been left in a box. I know they are marketed to sell houses, but since he is the saint of home and family, I didn't think it would hurt to say a prayer to help us buy a house. Some folks (including my husband) thought I was nutso when I told them about St Joseph, but I had faith. I buried him in the front yard without telling anyone but the kids, prayed every day, and we closed a full-price sale in less than 6 weeks in a struggling market! So now St Joseph is sitting on top of our tv and reminding me to pray (not just for a house of course). Even if that is all it does, it's still a good thing. I tell ya though, if we get this house, I might find a life-size statue to display!

Ups and Downs

Sorry I slacked on the blogging last week.
Sam was actually with us 4 days out of the past 8! That's the upside.
The down side is he's home because work is tapering off and he had the NASCAR flu that's going around. Sam is still working in the shop with 5 other guys, but as of now the truck racing is on hold indefinitely. Last week he laid off some great guys. He said it was the hardest thing he's had to do in a long time. The plan is to get a couple cars ready for Nick (Scott's brother) to race in the GN division in Phoenix April 10 but after that...? Maybe they will go truck racing again in a few months, but we just don't know. I'm hoping Sam got the chance to speak with his mentor out here and has a fresh outlook today.
On the upside again, the weather is absolutely PERFECT here. It's been in the lower 70's and we just love it! Trees and flowers are blooming, more boats can be seen on the lake....ahhhh. =)