The Kids Are Here. Yea!

My goodness, how she has grown! From that little baby 6 months ago to chunky little gal, she certainly has her own personality. I took this picture last night so I could post a recent picture – otherwise you would be mad at me (huh, Suzie?)

They got here about 8:00 Saturday evening. Basically it was a good trip except that Jeyanthi developed a little diarrhea which made the last 3 hours about 4 very trying hours. She is doing better now. Next time I’ll post some pictures of the other kids doing something fun. So far we haven’t  done very much that is exciting.

Today Korak and I cleaned up all the suspicious (i.e. might leak) looking places on the RV roof and sealed all the seams with roof patch. (Remember last fall I posted that the roof leaked? I just covered it with a tarp and it has simply sat in the driveway looking rather neglected ever since). Anyway, I hope we got the leaky spot. Then we washed the Taylor car, the Mumau pickup, and the Mumau car. We’ll wash the RV tomorrow and rub on a coat of Gel-Gloss. Then it will be off to Ginger’s house to make some repairs to get it ready for sale.

You are just trembling to know about the house, aren’t you? Well…. we found out we will not close until August 1 OR LATER. Very disappointing but typical government. Since it is a foreclosure and since Bank of America cheated on a whole batch of foreclosures, every single one of them have to be reviewed and re-reviewed and re-re-reviewed. So Joyce and I are learning patience. It will happen. Eventually.

I worked today. I even barbecued hamburgers for dinner. I’m tired. I’m signing  off. Good  night.

The Inspection Is Good

We met the inspector at the house today. He spent 3 1/2 hours going from the chimney to the dirt under the house. There are a fair number of little things that need addressing. Remember, this is a foreclosure so no work was done to get it ready for a sale. (A side bar here: I feel cheated because we did a ton of work – and money— on our Grants Pass house to get it ready to sell; zilch was done on this house. But I understand the difference). He found little things like a cracked toilet seat (ouch!), two electrical outlets that don’t work but no apparent switch to control them, door knobs that are loose or don’t work, and so on. Perhaps the biggest thing is that the electrical panel needs to be replaced. It is not a serious, right NOW issue and we will replace it when we build the addition.

One other issue. He couldn’t crawl under the house because pipes are in the way. However he could get his head in and look around. It all looks good and doesn’t smell like dry rot or sewage or anything bad. We are going to go on a little faith at this point. We will cut an access hole in the floor of the walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Most new houses have the access to the crawl space in a closet so this will not be something unusual. We need to add insulation under the house and in the attic. We need to paint the interior. Stuff like that. Some money involved but lots of work.

This is the bedroom that is painted and speckled – weird colors. It will get lots of Kilz and then some paint!

The main bathroom looking into the mirror.

The kitchen looking from the family room. We found out the dishwasher and garbage disposal don’t work. The cabinets are “okay” but will need replacing. Joyce wants to take out the cabinets in the foreground to open up the two rooms. The door leads to the garage.

Gas fireplace. I should have taken this picture when we had the fire going. The blower works; lots of heat. The bricks have been painted bright red. We’ll probably repaint them white. We’ll also replace the funky light fixtures.

Okay. That’s the house. Now for VBS. Joyce, Ginger and I have been teaching the Bible story at our church’s Vacation Bible School. The title is Son Harvest and it has a country fair theme (i.e. farmer). We don’t have as many kids as they expected so we teach three 30 minutes segments and have one segment free. These minutes include the story and working on the Bible verse – which means playing some games to reinforce it.

Here are a couple of our kids – not the one with the blue head. These were dressed up as scarecrows for a game we played.

Ginger is enjoying a moment of quiet repose before the next onslaught of kids. Our friendly neighborhood scarecrow keeps watch.

This is the Fruit of the Spirit tree Joyce and some of the high school helpers built. And you thought only God could make a tree!

We have two more days. We’ll make it but I admit we come home each afternoon and take a nap. I’ve been walking about a mile each evening. I skipped it tonight! Well, until next time. Take care.

We Nabbed One–Maybe

There is a house on the north side of Salem we looked at a couple weeks ago. It is a HUD house which means a foreclosure and now the government owns it. Finally we decided to look again and take a friend with us who is the one who will draw whatever is necessary for Ginger to live there. The house is big – 1785 square feet; the lot is huge – .27 acres. It is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with a living room, dining room, family room, fireplace with a gas insert, laundry room in the house, and of course a kitchen. The double car garage is huge also. The interior needs painting to hide the purple with lavender polka dot wall in the bedroom and the other weird colors. We’ll probably remove part of the carpet and put down laminate flooring. The kitchen cabinets will eventually need replacing but are okay for now.

We will need to add on so Ginger has her space but there is lots of room on the lot and room in the budget to do it (or so I figure!). We still  need to get an inspection and if it shows too many hidden things we will back out. That’s why I put the “maybe” at the top. We already know a few things that will need to be taken care of – like insulation in the attic.

HUD is kind of different in the way they do things (remember they are a government entity!!!). When they listed the house they gave 10 days to receive offers. They collected all those and after the 10 day period considered them based solely on the amount offered. At our agent’s suggestion we offered more than the asking  price. Offers are submitted via computer and website. The 10 day period ended at 10:00 last night (we submitted ours with 1 day and 9 hours remaining). Monday morning we got  a phone call from our realtor that we “won.” Were there any other offers? We’ll never know. Did we offer way too much? Well, as far as other offers, we don’t know. As far as value, no. This morning (Tuesday) we submitted the paper work just like we would in a normal transaction – earnest money, preapproval letter, etc.  etc.

Here are some external pictures – the interior ones will have to wait until we have easy access. Obviously this is the front, the next one is back, and final one is our back yard. Lots of land to take care of. What am I thinking?? Yes, that is an apple tree in the center. There are also a couple others – all of them need pruning.

How am I feeling? Thanks for asking. And thanks for your caring and concern. I am either back to normal (whatever that is) or very, very close. I have been walking every evening (sometimes with Joyce). Not as far as I need to but I’m working myself up to my 1.0 to 1.4 miles. I saw the doc the other day. This is the new one we had never met but had to have to escape the hospital. I think he will be a good family doctor. He basically said I can do whatever I feel like doing. He answered a bunch of questions: Where did the clot in my leg come from? They just happen sometimes. How will I know when it is gone? They assume it is gone after a few months and the ones in my lung are gone when I feel better (probably gone now). I am humbled by everyone’s concern.

Last Friday we had a Senior Adult Picnic Potluck (indoors at the church). Attendance was down but the fun was up. Everyone had a good time and the food was delicious.

One question I asked in the Picnic Trivia contest was what was the biggest hamburger ever made? Answer: the record for the largest hamburger is held by Rutland, North Dakota. In 1982, the town made the World's Largest Hamburger, 3,591 pounds, which was consumed by some 8,000 people!

I don’t think they barbecued it. But happy barbecuing to you.

Breathing Disguised As Blessings

“He huffed and he puffed and”… and there wasn’t any wind. Kind of like the big bad wolf with asthma. So now I know how it feels. Scary. But first, a warning. If you don’t like to read about other people’s ailments and hospitalizations, this would be a good place to log out. No hard feelings.

Before I tell about the memorable Memorial Day I need to go back a week. I haven’t blogged for quite awhile so it’s okay. This would be the Monday before Memorial Day we’re talking about. I mowed the lawn and was really panting for air when I finished. I just thought I was out of shape and needed to do more walking. I’d already scouted out an “around the block” that is one mile and an “around the BIG block” that is 1.4 miles. Tuesday morning I pinched a nerve in my back taking a shower. All I did was bend over to wash my feet. This has happened a few times in the past but fortunately not very often. For the next few day, I wore a back brace, walked bent over, and gritted by teeth.

About the this time the bursitis in my left shoulder decided to flare up so that hurt more than usual. Then toward the end of the week I developed flu-like systems – achy, temperature, but not sick to my stomach. This all slowed me down even more and I did almost nothing for about three day. I didn’t even go to church Sunday!!! Now, I’m telling all this to say that it wasn’t a real good week. I don’t know if any of it had anything to do with subsequent events but it sure slowed me down. Joyce and I had talked about various things to do on Memorial Day weekend but hadn’t decided on anything. If we had, we wouldn’t have done them anyway. When I got up and walked around the house it caused me to breath really hard.

Memorial Day Monday I knew I needed some exercise so we went over to Wal-Mart in the afternoon. I walked around holding on to a shopping cart. It was good. I wasn’t too tired. We even considered going to Lowes but decided against it.

That evening I walked out to the garage with some recycle stuff – 70, 80 feet round trip. When I got back to my recliner I was really sucking for air. And it didn’t get better. I remember a pastor who held people he was baptizing under water until they begin to squirm. When he was asked why, he replied, “I want them to want Jesus as bad as they want air.” I was there. Joyce called Ginger to come over to spend the night. Just in case, you know. By the time she got here at 9:50 I was ready to go the ER. I guess I looked pretty bad because all the lady at window wanted was my ID and a man was standing right behind me with a wheelchair!

The first thing they did in the ER room was give me oxygen with one of those little things in my nose. Aaaah, that was sooooo good. Finally some air. The little oxygen meter they put on my finger indicated I was at 71 (normal is 95 to 100). Somewhere along the line they put in an IV and got a chest x-ray. The doctor finally came in and declared that I had pneumonia. We joked about that because I had gotten my pneumonia shot. I said I was going to ask for my money back (actually Medicare paid for it). However she wasn’t letting go of it. Certain things just didn’t add up for her so she ordered a CAT scan. The results showed I had a pulmonary embolism. A what??

What I understand about these things is that there is a clot in my right leg – an ultra sound proved this. Part of it broke off, went to my lung (the place these things go), divided into parts and lodged in various parts of my lung. So that’s the story.

I got to a room – I later found out it was in the sub-critical care part of the hospital – about 3:00 a.m. They had me on a heparin drip and Coumadin pills the rest of my hospital stay. I was transferred to a regular room after a couple days and finally went home Friday afternoon. One complication in all this was that they would not let me go home without a primary care physician. Joyce and I had talked about getting one but really didn’t know which one to pick and couldn’t get any good recommendations. Of course, this brought things to the “do it now” point. Between Joyce, Ginger, and my niece Kandy they found a doctor who would accept us (Joyce also). I’ll see him next week. Right now I’m being monitored every three days for the anticoagulation level in my blood – it’s called the INR. They adjust the Coumadin to keep it in the proper range.

Want to know about blood clots? Just ask me. I’m an “expert” now – at least a lot smarter. I’m told the body will eventually absorb the clots. What they want to do is keep any more from developing.

We really feel blessed with all the good care I received. I’m guessing that I encountered 40 different individuals in the hospital (Joyce counted 28 in the first 8 hours or so). They were all fantastic. We are especially grateful to the ER doctor who wouldn’t give up with a simple answer. I appreciate all the people who were praying for me – people I don’t even know. We have a great church; they were praying, some came to visit, others sent cards. Joyce and Ginger were great. Joyce spent every night with me in the hospital. This was a great help because I didn’t have to wait for a nurse. She even learned how to give me shots. For the first 3 days after my discharge I had to have shots of electrolux… no, equinox… no, that’s not right either. Joyce says they were Lovanox – more blood thinner. A little poke in the fat part of the belly. No problem finding a spot there!

So now it is recovery. I’m doing better each day. Still a little short of breath and weak in the legs but it’s coming. I think when this is all past us, I will feel better than I have in quite a while. If you were one who was praying, thank you.

Blessings.

Here’s An Update

I thought it was time to post an update. Okay, maybe it is past time but there really isn’t much new to tell. Our lives are good but rather routine. I put in 10 or more hours a week doing Senior Adult ministry. This involves visiting people -- usually with Joyce, doing a monthly newsletter, going to staff meetings, and other “senior adult” stuff. Each month we help  organize a luncheon and, until a couple weeks ago, I taught a Sunday school class. I’ve been “catching up” on the hours I got behind when we went to L.A., when we spent time in Grants Pass, when I went to Anchorage, and other such things. Last week I caught up! Now I am putting hours “in the bank” so we can be gone again when the kids are here – or when we go there. Last Sunday I preached and I counted the preparation hours. Check out the church website at www.salemfirst.com. At the bottom click on “Ministries” and then on “Senior Adults.”

Okay, that’s the church. Then there is the house search. This is getting long and tedious. Each day a real estate agent sends me a batch of emails with new listings and listings on which the price has been reduced. This could be 3 to 10 houses to check out. First, on line. Is it big enough? Is there room for the RV? Can we make it duel living? Is it in a good neighborhood? Is it on one level? Is it in our price range? etc. etc. etc. Some of these seem like ones we should drive by. So we gather a list, then go sight seeing (thank you, Lord, for our GPS). A few of those we decide we want to see inside so we call the agent and set up time for a tour. So far, some are close but not the one. All this takes time. I feel like a professional house hunter. We are still looking for duel living so Ginger can have her own place close to us. If this doesn’t happen, at some point the Lord will release us to look for a single family residence. But not yet.

Did I mention the time given to Oregon Conference Board stuff? Thursday morning I met with a guy for an hour or so and Friday I met with the Superintendent. And there was an hour or so on the computer working on a report and doing email. This is all “free” – not time I get paid for. This is the time of year that takes lots of extra hours so it … well, it takes lots of hours.

As I said, life if good. I’m not complaining, just explaining what is happening in our lives. I will be glad when we find a house, get moved in, and life settles down. Oh, be realistic, Gene! Life will never settle down. So Joyce and enjoy each minute – well, most of the minutes. My advise: enjoy yours.

Blessings.

Done Deal

It is done,  finished, over. Our GP house closed yesterday. We drove down to sign the papers, visit Donna, Violet, and Reggie, run a couple errands, meet the new owners and drive back.  It was a long day. That part of our lives is now in the past. Kind of sad. Or maybe bitter-sweet is a better word. We loved it in Grants Pass and we loved our house but the time had come to “pull up stakes” and move on.

Now we are looking for a house in Salem. (Sure is rainy up here in the valley!!!)

Today we met with about 45 senior adults for a soup luncheon, a hymn sing, followed by a  bunch of us stuffing plastic Easter eggs with candy for the kid’s Easter Egg Hunt next week. Long day. Good day.

Blessings, everyone.

Sold Again (We Hope)

Here’s a quickie update on our house situation. Saturday a week ago we got a call from the realtor saying an offer was coming in. We were happy. A hour later he called and said another offer was coming in. We were overjoyed. He thought it would be Monday before they got them but Saturday evening he emailed both offers to us. One was not so great, the other was so-so. Monday morning we countered both offers, putting one in second place. We gave them 2 days to respond but Monday afternoon the realtor called and said he had responses. Both countered our counters. AND we had a third offer!! We were overwhelmed.

All three offers were quit different so we agonized, prayed, got opinions, talked to friends, and of course talked to our realtor. The third offer was for the same amount as the one we accepted earlier and the people backed out, AND it was for cash -- no inspections, no appraisals, take it as is. We accepted that offer because it would go through the easiest. However the realtor said he had to give the buyer the inspection report “purchased and paid for by someone else.” That sounded strange to me but so be it. Their motto is disclose, disclose, disclose. Anyway, I called the realtor on Thursday (or maybe it was Friday) and he said the buyer had the report, wasn’t concerned and it was going into escrow. So it should close in 2 to 3 weeks. We will have to make a trip down to bring back the last of the stuff. Plus a trip to sign the papers. Or maybe we can combine this together in one trip.

We spend lots of time looking at houses here. A realtor we have connected with here in Salem sends us possibilities via email. I sort through them on the computer, Joyce and I consider them, delete most of them for various reasons, but when we find a potential we write it down. After generating a list we start our “drive bys.” The list then gets pared down to, maybe, a few look worth pursuing. When we get a few on that list we ask the realtor for a tour so we can see them up close and personal. So far nothing has come along making us feel we had to jump on it immediately. This week the realtor will take us to look at some homes that have a possibility of being duel living. Maybe. It’s out there somewhere.

My cousin Jim and wife Joyce from Tucson are here visiting. These are the relatives in whose front yard we camped a couple years ago. Tuesday we are going to have a short, simple committal service for his dad and mom at an old cemetery near Monroe. His dad was my uncle Ken whom we visited while in Tucson. Ken’s dad and mom (my grandparents) are buried in this cemetery so it is appropriate than Ken’s and Mary’s cremated remains also be deposited there.

It seems our lives our down to a few simple, time consuming things right now. Selling a house, buying a house, visiting church people. That’s about all we do. My motto: “I’m retired; I can do anything I want to do.”

Iditarod Addenda

John Baker won the 39th Iditarod Tuesday morning in a record time of 8 days 19 hours 46 minutes 39 seconds. He is a Native Alaskan and the first northwestern Alaska musher to win the race. If want more information and pictures go to adn.com and click on pictures, standings, etc.