Ready for the next step

Well, Jana and Brad just left to go back home. They have been here for a little over a week. Every night Anna has come over and we have worked furiously. Sneezing and coughing the whole way. We have gone over every nook and cranny of this place to our knowledge! We have torn it apart and it looks that way! I think everyone has gotten what was most important to them. We have saved a few boxes full for Josh as well. We will be calling the estate people in this week to evaluate us. I am sure we have things we will wonder why we saved and things we wished we had kept as well! I just don't know how to avoid this. We have several boxes of stuff for later as well.

It was a rough weekend. I think everyone got their feelings hurt at one point or another. There were some really tense moments. But, we were able to sit down and talk things through and I think we are all still friends! I don't know how anyone goes through this without raging emotions. Maybe her young age has more to do with it, maybe the speed with how quickly she got sick had a lot to do with it, maybe our age has a role to play and maybe we have family genes that play a part! However, I feel pretty good about how we resolved the conflict. I think it is a credit to mom and how she raised us. She was able to forgive the greatest insults and hurts. I used to think it was just denial, but as I experience life, I think she had a ton of wisdom and God gave her grace beyond measure. I know pray for grace and wisdom on a daily basis. I think she was one of the strongest ladies I have ever known. I hope as her children we were able to hold her arms up when they got tired during her battles. It makes me wonder about our great grandmother. I know what kind of woman my mom and grandma both were. Where did they learn their wisdom and gain their strength? Where did such devotion to their God come from? Who began handing these qualities down? Where did the legacy begin? What did she experience in her life that she taught my grandma how to love, forgive, pray, praise, stand strong and hold her tongue or speak up when needed? How far back do the amazing women go? I guess we all have these type of questions about our families. I have a blog to post later that has some more to do with this! I hope I can pass the legacy on to my children. I think I have a long way to go to measure up though. I will just keep plugging away though.

If the estate people will contract with us, the Titus family will be moving again! We will take just the essentials and make the most of it! Then when the sale is complete, Anna and Brian can move their family in here and we can officially move home. I know all the kids are ready to be settled for good. I am ready to set up a nursery again!

We are all relieved that we have gotten to this stage. Things are progressing and I think we will all have a huge load off our shoulders when it is settled. We all dread coming back in the house after the sale is over though! It will be a different feeling. One I don't look forward to, but know we must face and we will face it with each other.

So much left to do!!!!!

Jana came in this past week and we spent alot of time in mom's bedroom going through her closet. We all came away with the same thing though- allergy attack! We found things we expected to find and then some surprises. There were some things that we are sick that we don't know where they came from. They obviously were special to mom, but we have no idea who made them, loved them, cherished them. We are of course keeping them and hope that we will be able to put some of it together over time.

We also contacted an auctioneer and an estate sales lady. We are having a hard time trying to decide what to do. I feel like we are handing over our heart and soul. I just don't know how else to handle things. We could sell stuff ourselves, but that seems like such a daunting task! I don't want to haggle with people over mom's stuff either. Then there are things and we just don't know the value. So at this point we are trying to finish up and make a decision so we can have the sale or auction in June. There is so much left to be done! Steve and I will have to move out of the house for a few weeks! We are really looking forward to moving again! (Just kidding!) Poor Steve, I think he probably made a terrible face when I called him. (Notice I called and didn't tell him in person!) He has been so good about all this. I just hated to tell him I was going to make his life a little harder for a little longer! I think we are on an adventure to see how little we can really make it with! These next few weeks will be an almost camp like move! We will take only the BARE Essentials with us and lock everything else here up! Then we will be able to move home once Anna and Brian move here. They will have a few things to do in the house first though I am sure! So if you are one of those praying for us still, please pray we will have strength and joy!

Some of you have emailed and asked about Hogan. Well, you all know how my life goes right! I made a later appointment for Hogan since I had to get Sarah to school first. They like to do the little kids early since they can't eat or drink before the procedure. So I talked with Hogan the night before about not eating or drinking the next morning, force feed him a PB&J with a glass of milk and sent him to bed. He did great the next morning. He never asked for food or drink! I was so grateful. Of course I promised him we would get anything he wanted to eat afterward. I put him in the van, went into the house to get my purse and lock the door, got in the van myself and looked in the rearview mirror to see him chewing!!!!! The little rascal had found a package of gum and helped himself! Well that small piece of gum kept him from having the surgery! I was so frustrated and of course he began asking for pancakes as soon as we left! Well, we went to Cracker Barrel and I bought the guy a pancake! We are rescheduled for the 23rd! I removed all gum from the van!

Sarah had her big dance recital on Tuesday! She did awesome! She was the smallest one on stage this year and she was one of the best (can you tell that is my opinion!) Honestly, she never faultered one time. She knew every step and when the little girl next to her went the wrong way she never even hesitated, they just would bang into each other! Too cute! She danced to Achy Breaky Heart! She was in heaven!

Brianna has had a rough time. She began running a high fever again and got dehydrated. They put her in the hospital last night and finally after NUMEROUS sticks got an IV started today. They had to call a girl from home in to place the IV. They even called the anesthesiologist if he would come and do it since several nurses had already tried! (He doesn't place them on children for some reason!) We were very grateful for the lady that did come from her house just to start the IV! Brianna perked up a little and had a wet diaper or two within a few hours. They will stay there at least one more night. Poor Anna is so tired and worried. I have tried to relieve her a little, but you know a mom, they never leave their baby for long. She was able to get a shower and quick nap is all. Hopefully, they will get to go home tomorrow.

Well, now I think you know about all I know.
Angie