Things to do when you're supposed to be packing

This morning while I was making breakfast I decided to make up a list of things I've used to procrastinate packing. Here are 10 of them, in no particular order.

1. Cook everything in your freezer.
As a general rule we treat meat as a condiment around here (something we've always done but I've recently found a phrase for how we eat from Family Feasts for $75 a Week that I checked out from the library). Towards the end of the time we live in a place the percentage of meat in a meal goes up extensively. We often call it living like kings. One thing I've done the last couple of days is cook up all the food in the freezer so I could pack my pots and pans. I think that this is the best I've ever done at emptying the freezer before a move!
2. Find a good series and read every book from it that your library
system has.
This is something that I normally do and I thought I might this time too as the newest book from a series I had been reading arrived at our library. The book just didn't grip me though so I didn't end up reading it. I have been scanning 168 Hours and Pretty Neat. I won't be able to finish either of them but I've gotten some good ideas.
3. Go on outings with fellow homeschoolers
Over the last few weeks we've gone to the zoo, the Ithaca Sciencenter, Highland Forest, Chuck E Cheese, Ryder Park, Freedom Train at the Landmark Theater. I actually turned down an offer to go to the Rochester Museum and Science Center yesterday because I didn't think it would be the best use of my time with all the packing I still needed to do.
4. Play games on your computer or handheld device.
Draw Something has been the game of choice for most family members this time. It is super fun. I've also played too much Gemz.
5. Take a nap.
Some nasty sinus something has attacked me this week and all I want to do is sleep. Thankfully I'm feeling better today.
6. Sit on the porch and sort through magazines.
I'm glad that the weather has gotten worse this week because it was SO HARD to stay inside and pack last week. I did get through my magazines, cut out a few things that I want to try, and recycled the rest.
7. Eat
For some reason when we're moving my family still expects to eat regular meals and preparing regular meals takes time! When we're moving I usually leave whatever random food that I want to get rid of on the table for the roaming hungry people. Moving makes me want to eat so I bought extra pretzels and baby carrots because they are easy and semi-healthy.
8. Blog
Glenn laughs because, not so much this time but, my blogs often are more frequent in coming when I am supposed to be packing.
9. Play outside with the kids
Again, that weather last week was wonderful and horrible at the same time.
10. Do school
Last week I was trying to do school with the kids and pack and I really didn't do either well. I was reminded of that verse in James about a double minded man being unstable in all he does. This week I decided that we'd take the week off. An extra week into June isn't going to kill us.

In other news, today I found out that we are living on the right hand side of the duplex (yay! we don't have to knock on both doors and wonder which one is ours!) and internet won't be hooked up until 4/10. I guess that will give me lots of time to unpack without the distraction of the world wide web ;)

Caleb's bedroom has been over-run with bikes!

Moving Progress

We're making progress in this move thing but all of us agreed tonight after supper we are SO glad that we are not moving tomorrow!!

We did make a lot of progress today. Several things left our house including:
1. our van - it had to go for an inspection and we found out that it needed bushings (I think, I had thought it was tie rod but that is just what usually needs replaced) so Glenn came home with a loaner car for us to use today. So thankful that there's money in the bank to pay for the repairs and that we'll get our van back tomorrow!
2. Two Bikes! So far for this week we are negative 5 bikes! 3 were sold on craigslist, 1 was given away and 1 was scrapped. It still looks like we have a bike problem BUT... not quite as bad as it did AND there are 6 of us :)
3. Two desks. We had these great desks that probably came out of a dorm that had book shelves built into the sides. We bought three of them thinking that they would be cute for the girls in their someday Madeline style room. We decided that we don't really do school that way and keeping/ moving desks for a room that may never happen might not be the best thing and, also, more often than not, desks just equal flat surfaces to cover with clutter and we decided that if they'd sell on craigslist we would not keep them. Two women have come to look at them over the past week but weren't interested but a lady came over today and bought them from us - yay!
4. 4 bags of library books. Yes, we are often over our 50 book limit at the library but I smile nicely at them and they just keep scanning. If I let each of my kids get library cards our limit would have been 250... that is way too much. 62 really doesn't sound that bad compared to 250! Anyway, Glenn decided we needed to return them so we could figure out what books we needed to  look for to make sure none of them got packed. We did find out that a library DVD was still in our DVD player that was packed with pieces and cords in various boxes somewhere in the pile. My hero Glenn found all the necessary pieces to get the DVD out so we can take it back tomorrow. It turns out we still have 8 things checked out... not too bad AND the TinTin DVD was there on hold waiting for us (We love Petit!!!!!) so we can watch it tomorrow.
5. 4 bags of stuff to salvation Army. More stuff, out the door, clothes and toys we don't need anymore :)

We got a few more boxes from a friend yesterday and I think that they should do it. Tomorrow I am going to do some cooking so we have food to eat for the rest of the week then I'm packing up my kitchen so we can clean and be done. SO glad we aren't moving tomorrow so I can actually get some sleep tonight.

Be praying for Glenn. He has a lot of studying to do before his test on Friday and this packing mess is stressful and distracting!

Thanks God for stuff sold on craigslist and other stuff out the door. Thank You that progress is being made and that we still have a couple days here to get everything done!

crazy box pile as it stands at the moment - so thankful that there is no longer 2 desks on the desk all the way to the left!

Spreading Spring

One of our first day of spring traditions (that we don't get around to every year) is making sugar cookies with the yellow cookie cutters from our wonderful Winton 101 Cookie Cutter set (one of my favorite investments for my kitchen!). Any excuse to make sugar cookies is a good excuse for me because I love them! Usually when we make them it's to remind ourselves that someday the snow will melt and someday, hopefully soon, we will be able to see flowers. The flowers are also so much fun to decorate :)

This year, even though there's been no snow and there are flowers blooming everywhere, there's still reasons to bake cookies:
1. It is a means to procrastinate packing
2. We have lots of neighbors that we are going to miss a lot
3. It's SPRING! (even though, at 80 degrees today, it feels more like summer.)

So, after getting home from Chuck E Cheese where the kids and I spent the morning with our friends John & Michele and their kids (more procrastinating!) we rolled out and decorated the cookies. (I had made the dough yesterday before going to Freedom Train with some of our homeschooling friends at the Landmark Theater downtown - yes, I know, more procrastinating.) Our friends Dawn and Jeremiah stopped by and helped us decorate and took home a plate of them then the kids delivered plates of cookies to 7 of our neighbors' homes. That leaves very few home with us but that is probably better for all of us.

Happy Spring!!

A Packing Funny

Abigail is always making us laugh but I rarely remember to write it down. Tonights' quote couldn't go without being written down though.

Glenn was packing in the bathroom and as he was packing up the nebulizer Abigail looked at it and asked what it was for. Glenn said, "It is to help you breathe when you can't." A puzzled Abigail asked, "When you're dead?"

I guess it is a good thing. It means we haven't had to use the nebulizer in her memory and for that I am thankful. I think that I just laughed and didn't tell her that it won't help you if you die. Maybe Glenn did. A discussion for another day....

Homeschool... Luggage... Visitors

Well, it is a hot, humid day here in Rochester, NY. I know it got up to at least 91. Ugg. Thank God for fans! Today was homeschool day... no, unfortunately it was not working on math and phonics one day a week that I had intended to do all summer, though Hannah was begging for a phonics lesson... it was sort homeschool stuff to try to decide what to bring, what to keep and what to get rid of. I am having a hard time. This year Caleb will be in 3rd grade and Hannah in 1st. Before I see my stored stuff again Lydia will have at least started K if not completed it while Hannah does 2nd and Caleb 4th... How can my kids be getting that old? What on earth do I need for K-4th grades?? I have really enjoyed using Saxon Phonics with the kids but K,1&2 is over 30 pounds. I don't think I can get away with that much weight for homeschool period, let alone for only phonics. I do use a math curriculum that I print off from the internet (Mathematics Enrichment Programme - it is a great one - and free! - I highly recommend it!). I am looking into using Ambleside Online for most of everything else. Does that mean I can justify 30+ pounds just for phonics?? I don't know. I have been given so much homeschool stuff. So far I have sorted stuff into piles by subject, now I have to make decisions...

In other news we found out that Action Packers are 1 inch too large for airline travel so I think that we may go with Contico Footlockers. I know that we have sworn off WalMart this year but they have them for $35 and they ship to store for free. Pretty cheap luggage. I think that we'll probably do that.

We had two visitors today and Glenn came home for lunch which is always fun! Our first visitor was Kristina who brought us a lasagna for supper - yum! Thanks Kristina! Later in the afternoon my brother Russ stopped in while Camy was at class. Today is their 2nd anniversary (Happy Anniversary you guys!!) and they spent it at Seabreeze and after Camy's class they were heading out for dinner then to a church softball game. It was good to visit with my little bro since we didn't get a chance to talk at Zach's grad party on Saturday. Sounds like they have some fun plans for the month.

Tomorrow we're meeting up with some dear friends from my precious Bible study in Waterloo at the Zoo. That should be fun. Then on Thursday we're going to see Mr Magorium's during the Free Family Film Fest. Other than that it is pack, pack, pack...

Top Ten Ways to Tell That You Have Moved Too Many Times

10. You have ever discussed the idea of the "perfect" packing box.
9. You have ever complained about the cost of packing tape.
8. You buy things based on their multi-use capability and portability.
7. You don't believe the old saying "Four moves equals a fire."
6. You have boxes that have had three different things written on them and x'd out.
5. You have ever said, "That is not packing tape, this is packing tape."
4. You feel naked when you don't have a permanent marker in your pocket.
3. You own a professional grade packing tape gun.
2. People always feel sorry for your wife when she tells them how many places she has lived in.
And the number one way you know you have moved to many times.


1.You'll do anything to procrastinate from packing again, including coming up with a top 10 list.

OK, back to work.

Lydia Quotes and Packing Thoughts

Funny things said by Lydia today:
"No I amn't." (amn't is Lydia's favorite contraction :)
"So they don't live together?" (about Grandma and Grandpa Maas since Grandpa was having to go home and would talk to Hannah in about 10 minutes)

A few of my thoughts while packing today:
* We have too many towels. We have decided to bring 12 towels with us to Dominica - 6 bath towels and 6 beach towels (I am excited about going to the beach). I had picked out 6 of our not super nice towels to bring with us and realized... wow, we each already have a towel that we are currently using and there are several more here that I guess I am storing for the next couple of years. How did we get so many towels? I don't think that we have ever bought one.
* I should have known that we were going to go somewhere warm next we finally bought skis and sleds this past winter. (anybody want to borrow them until we get to snow country again??)
* 6 people = LOTS of clothes... how much should we bring? I think that we have decided on 10-14 days worth. I guess that I will be blessing GoodWill with more in the coming days (or our rag bag).
* I am going to miss my Kitchen Aid (OK, actually it is Glenn's mom but I have had it for almost seven years.) I would love to bring it but I just don't think that I can justify using 25 of our 420 pounds on it - sadness!!
* I am looking forward to living simply. We'll only have whatever we decide is important enough to fit in our 420 pounds of luggage. Less stuff = less work for me (hopefully!)
* I am probably going to be suprised at what I kept when I unpack my boxes in a couple of years.
* We have WAY too many books but we can't seem to part with so many of the ones that we have out and we have already packed tons of book boxes and don't know if it is worth it to go through them to make more decisions or just decide when we unpack in 2-4 years.
*sub-note on the books thing - we are REALLY going to miss the Monroe County Library system. Not really sure what is available library wise on Dominica.
* Sheets - we have lots of twin sheets. I have no idea what the kids are going to be sleeping on in Dominica. I am not sure what kind of beds will be available. Hmmm. I wonder if they'll sleep in hammocks? I think that they'd like that. Not sure that they'll like the adjustment back to beds when we get back Stateside though. Full sheets have been recommended on packing lists. We only have one set. Will the girls sleep together on a full bed? Oh, so many questions.

Well, there are lots more thoughts going through my head but that is enough for now. Until next time...

New Information

Psalm 143 “Hear my prayer, O Lord; answer my plea, because you are faithful to your promises… I remember the glorious miracles you did in days of long ago. I reach out for you. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens; don’t turn from me or I shall die. Let me see your kindness to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for my prayer is sincere… Help me to do your will, for you are my God. Lead me in good paths, for your Spirit is good….”

What a comfort the Psalms have been lately! Our God is so good! He is faithful through His Word and through friends and circumstances to give us just what we need when we need it. Hallelujah.

June has been a rough month. I am glad that it is drawing to a close. For those of you who don’t know my (Sonja’s) dad passed away on June 3^rd. I have blogged about it (see post entitled ‘Dancing on Two Good Legs’) if you want to know more about that. I am so happy for him but I miss him. It is hard not having either of my parents anymore but I know that God will provide the guidance I need and He is a Father to the fatherless.

Throughout the month of June we have been longing to hear back from the University of Rochester School of Medicine that Glenn has been accepted for a seat in the class of 2012. Yesterday we got a letter from them informing us that though they felt he was very well qualified they were not going to be able to give him a seat because the waiting list was not moving and enough seats were not going to open up. It hurts. We really wanted to stay here in Rochester for so many reasons but we know that our God who provided so much for us here will provide all we need where ever He leads us.

What is next? Well, our lease is up at the end of July but we have some beloved friends from our community group at church who have graciously offered to let us bunk at their home for a short time. We are waiting to hear back from Ross University School of Medicine (on Dominica in the Caribbean) to find out if he can get in there for the September class or if we will have to wait until January. We are assuming that he will get in there but God is able to close that door for us as well if that is His will. Then what? We don’t know.

Right now we are sorting and packing our stuff. We have too much stuff. I am not sure what we will bring with us or how much luggage we will be allowed. I am pretty certain that we will only be bringing with us what we can fit in our suitcases (which hopefully we will be allowed 12 of). God is teaching me to hold loosely to stuff and that I am too materialistic.

Praises:

* that we no longer have to wonder if we are staying in Rochester.

* God’s faithfulness and how He comforts us through His Word and our friends.

* the Lishawas are willing to let us move in with them temporarily.

* our wonderful community group who has been providing meals occasionally and lots of love and support – we are going to miss them!

* I don’t have to worry about missing my dad’s funeral while I am out of the country.

Prayer Requests:

* Acceptance to Ross (we would prefer to get into the September class but it may not be until January.)

* wisdom about what to take, what to keep, and what to get rid of.

* Family unity and growth as we start this new adventure together.

* Time management and wisdom getting everything done that needs to get done in the time before we go.

* a place to store our “keep” stuff.

*24 gallon Action packers (a plastic Rubbermaid container, really strong and lockable. These will be our luggage if we can find them at an affordable price.)

If you want to keep up with what is up with the Maas family you can now subscribe to our blog on the right hand side where it says “Subscribe to The Maas Update by Email”. We will try to update it often.

In closing I wanted to share the prayer from the end of an email that I got yesterday:

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for being completely trustworthy. Thank You for having my best interest at heart, even when the path to obedience seems scary. Help me to take the next step of faith, even when I don’t see where I’m going. I will choose to trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thank you for your prayers and support through this time.

Anniversary... Packing... Tears

There were tears this morning as I wrote the date. Today would have been my parents 32nd wedding anniversary. I know that there is no marriage in heaven so I doubt it would be recognized by anyone but us down here. At least my dad doesn't have to go through another June 25th here without her. Yesterday my mom would have been 57. I miss them so much but I am so thankful that they don't have to deal with the physical problems that they were both having down here. It does make me homesick for heaven even more so though. One thing that makes June 24th bearable for me is that it is also Glenn's mom's birthday so at least I get to wish someone "Happy birthday." (she's not nearly as old as my mom would have been though :) - I love you mom - thanks for being such a great one - it was good talking to you yesterday morning - I wish you weren't so far away!)

Yesterday I finally really started packing. There were some tears b/c I am not sure when I will see this stuff again. (God is also showing me that I am too attached to my stuff!) I went through my kitchen and only packed things that I definitely want to keep and I am certain that I won't be taking with me to Dominica. It only amounted to 3 boxes so far. It was hard b/c there were small spots that usually when packing I throw dry goods into but I am not storing dry goods for 3 months - 4 years... Oh, the unknown. God is working in my heart. He is making me more OK with the idea of moving to Dominica everyday. He has shown me that I can trust Him... He will work out the details in His time and provide everything that I need when I need it. Today a friend is coming over to help me attack the kids room and Glenn is going to take the kids somewhere. Hopefully there will be good reports at the end of the day.

I have been crying a lot lately... sometimes for real reasons and sometimes I just don't know why. I have been reading through the Psalms and boy have they been a comfort. It has made me realize that: (1) it is OK to be in despair and (2) that my God is faithful and He will help me through and (3) that God is so worthy to be praised - He has done so many great things for me.