Has it been THAT long since my last post?!

Boy, it's been WAY TOO LONG since I updated my blog. At first there wasn't anything earth shattering to say, so I waited... then things really picked up, but no real resolutions, so I've still been waiting, but decided I may as well post our current situation. I don't have any pictures for this post--couldn't think of any that 'worked' with it!

First of all, as my tagline up above says, "Where things are rarely boring!" has truly fit our lives and I feel like I've been on an emotional roller coaster!!! Where to start... hmmm... Good news or bad news? Or the good AND bad news and then good news again segment? Maybe I'll do that one first.

The continuing saga of Philip (our oldest son): He agreed to move out here to Ohio and we offered to help him get back on his feet, pointed in the right direction, etc. So, we bought a one-way plane ticket (non-refundable/non-transferable) for April 23rd. This ticket was purchased well over a month ago. Well, less than 2 weeks ago, he informed us he wasn't going to come and that he was in love with a young lady he'd known less than 2 weeks!!! He seems to be head-over-heals! She is planning on moving from Tucson (where Philip is currently living) to a small town in Arkansas, where some of her family is currently living. He wanted to go with her instead of coming here. I can't tell you how this made me feel! To further complicate things, and to set the stage for WHY I have been so overwhelmed, this young woman is almost 23, getting a divorce (should be final next week) and has 3 children!!! One of the MANY thoughts running through my head was, "How does this young man think he can provide for such a family when he can't provide for himself very well??? I must say I think I handled things pretty well--I certainly didn't want alienate my son, but did voice some of our concerns--adding we would still love him no matter what he decided. I'm leaving a LOT of details out of this story for a couple reasons--my post will be way too long as it is, and there's no sense boring those who read this with all of the details (unless you really want to know--email or call me!). Well, as I said this story was a good news and bad news and then good news. I've been praying for my son to 'see the light' and take our advice--'if it's meant to be, give it some time, still come out here for awhile, work, save some money, and then if they both still feel so strongly, we'd be happy to drive him down to Arkansas' (that was the gist of it anyway). Well, thankfully, Stacy (her name, but I'm not sure of the spelling) took her parents advice, which was pretty much what Tim & I have been saying (along with plenty other people). Her mom also suggested it's too much too fast for the children--a new dad. So, my son called yesterday to tell me he will be on that plane to Columbus, OH on the 23rd! However, knowing my son as I do... I'm not holding my breath! But I am hopeful reason will reign!!! So, that's where it stands now with the continuing saga of Philip...

Next up, good news, since I'm not up to the bad news... our daughter, Kathryn and her little family are currently living in Tucson, AZ (which is where Philip has been temporarily staying). Her husband, David has been attending church meetings and meeting with the missionaries and now has decided to be baptized!!! We are very thrilled and very sad because we aren't able to go to AZ for his baptism. The baptism will be taking place this month--hopefully before Philip flies here, so he can be there for it.

Okay, now for the bad news (though it's still debatable if it will end up being good/bad or mixed when all is said and done). We've been here in Ohio almost a year--one month from today. However Tim has been here since the end of January. We moved out here for his new job at a mortuary. Things have been VERY slow at this particular mortuary for a few reasons I won't take time to go through here... well even after the corporate owners said a year ago that they wouldn't, they are now selling the funeral home! The manager has left--as of today--for a new job in a mortuary near Cincinnati. Tim can either find a new job, continue to sit here at this mortuary 'business as usual' (which isn't doing much of anything), or buy it. With the option of staying here until it sells is the possibility of being kept/hired on by the new owners. In fact that is supposedly what the sellers want in the sale--because there is a 3 yr. contract Tim had them agree to when he was hired. The buyers will either reject that stipulation, or keep him or 'buy him out'. If they reject, then apparently the seller will have to buy Tim out as an employee for the balance of the 3 yrs.

I'm not thrilled about moving AGAIN, but that may not happen... Time will tell. With the way business has been going I'm not all that sure buying this particular mortuary would really be a wise thing--aside from the fact my husband's father and sister think it might be. Maybe I'm being negative, but I like to think of it more as I'm being realistic. I just don't know if we'd be able to turn things around and make it profitable before we financially are destroyed.

So, we are looking at all options at this point--even the possibility of some other line of work and stay here.... but he may have as much luck as I've had trying to get a job!!! I'm STILL looking.

If we have to move again, we will... not my number one option though, but I'm not so attached to this area that it wouldn't be hard to leave. My biggest concerns are: would this house sell in the current market??? AND, I hate uprooting my boys again! High school is tough enough as it is!

So, there you have it--in a BIG nutshell. Trust me, it could really be MUCH longer of a post here. As I said, things are definitely on a rollercoaster right now. I'd like to get off!

I thought I'd better end with something good: Elizabeth is doing well, but very uncomfortable in these last several weeks of her pregnancy. I will be going to Virginia when the baby comes!!!

I'll try to post sooner next time, and it won't be so long!!!