some updates, winners, and an announcement...

28 October 2009

Hello!
I have to thank you so much for your words and prayers for Sadie's family. I went to try to comfort, uplift, and strengthen, but they did that for me. They know where their perfect daughter is, and they are determined to live their lives so that they will be able to live with her as an eternal family. They are amazing and I was reminded that family, friends, and the gospel of Jesus Christ are really all that matter in this life. The rest is just fluff.



Speaking of fluff :),
I completely forgot to post the winners for the blogiversary giveaway. I did the random integer thing on the computer and it came up with numbers 2 and 409:



So.....drumroll please for:

Amy@The Red Chair Blog wins the $25 gift card

and

Karli @ Rocky Bella won the basket of goodies

Ladies, if you could email me your addresses, I'll get these out pronto. Congrats!!
Thank you for all of your comments~I'll answer your questions in a later post. We especially loved the jokes and we're compiling them into a little joke book we'll share with you later, but for NOW I have to tell you that

we are moving.

Yikes. As I type that, I feel a little like throwing up. My husband accepted a job offer teaching at a university back east. I love saying "back east." I've never lived in the east, so we're not going back, but I like the sound of it. Out west, back east, you know.

We're thrilled for the job, it's only about an hour from his parents, but not so thrilled for all of the work between now and then. I'd tell you more details, but I'm just not comfortable typing where we're moving to for the whole world to see. We are moving in the middle of December and we're putting our house on the market next week.

Next week.

Yikes.

So, this blog will be taking a back burner while selling the house, packing, and my husband finishing his dissertation will be at the front. I'll be popping in here and there to let you know how things are coming though and give you updates. I'm thinking some posts on selling your home, staging, what I'm glad I did, what I wish I did in the whole buying a fixer upper, etc. will be in order, but for now, have a wonderful Halloween, and I'll see you back here in November!

48 comments

  1. So glad you made it back safe! Good luck with your LONG list of things to do! We loved being with you guys! You are in our prayers!

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  2. I hope your move goes smoothly. Sounds like you'll have a lot of blog fodder, but a lot of work too. Looking forward to when you return. :)

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  3. Wow! How exciting, I wish I was moving back east ... goodluck with everything!

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  4. You are so funny! :o) When we moved "back east" from CA ... I loved the way it sounded too! :o)
    Eek you do have a lot to do. Looking forward to hearing from you (blogging) when you can. In the mean time I will pray for the sale of your home as well as your monumental list of things to do.
    Take care!!
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

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  5. Oh, wow, Melissa!! A lot of changes coming your way. :) Don't know if "East" means anywhere around Virginia, but I'll wave when you get close to the East. ;) Good luck with the planning and preparation!

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  6. Congrats to the hubby on his new job. I don't envy you having to pack up & move and sell a house on top of it all. Yikes!!! But if anyone can handle it, you can. We will look forward to your sporadic updates. Good luck!!! And you are definitely right about family, friends and the gospel of Jesus Christ is all we need. The rest is indeed fluff, but the fluff can still be wonderful as well.

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  7. Oh my! Very exciting! I'll be hoping you get a quick sale. I'm in the "east".

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  8. So exciting - couldn't have picked a busier time of year! Good luck with EVERYTHING!

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  9. Welcome back. Sounds like your friends are handling this in the absolute best way possible. I'm glad your time with them was healing for both of you.

    Congratulations on the hubby's new job! Very exciting! Best of luck selling your house and with everything else related to moving.

    pk @ Room Remix

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  10. Congratulations on the new job and moving! I would love to live "back east" at some point in my live. How fun! Good luck with what I'm sure will be the biggest to do list ever!

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  11. Congratulations on the new job. A move is all stressful, but I know you will love the thrill of finding a new home and starting the decorating process all over again. Love to hear how it's going. Hugs, Marty

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  12. congrats on the new job and a new home!!!

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  13. Hey Melissa...my parents live in Harrisonburg, about an hour away from Rod and Danielle. Maybe we can finally meet sometime!!!!!

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  14. I'm sure it sounds like a lot of stress and work to you, but how fun for the rest of us who get to watch what you do with a whole new house! Sorry if that sounds selfish :) I really do wish you a trouble-free relocation. And congrats to your husband on the new job!

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  15. Hey Melissa! Crazy Mom of 5 here in GA! Oh how fun to move east as a southern cali girl I love being in the east! I'm a Realtor and I'm not sure you have anyone in particular in mind to sell your home in this market. But, I would be glad to give you some tips on what to ask and how to interview your Realtor! Just make sure they are a Realtor too and not just a Real Estate Agent! I know lots of Realtors in Texas with Keller Williams and would be glad to refer you to the best agent in your area so you can get your home sold quickly and on your way to the east! In this market things are different so please contact me with any questions on who to trust. I maybe can give you some tips after all the great tips you have given me! Email me at realsouthernliving at gmail.com for more Real Estate Info. I would love to help!

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  16. I am so glad that you were able to be with your friends. Glad you are back.

    I can help on the moving thing. My husband has been transferred from sunny Florida to a suburb of Cincinnati and he moved this week. My son flies up there Friday and I leave next Saturday. I can sure help you with all the feelings that you are going through. I have felt like throwing up too:) I started a blog just to document our move and my adjustment to the cold weather and being in the north. Stop by and cry on my shoulder if you have to.

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  17. I have always wanted to move 'back east' too ;-) A new adventure awaits and closer to family! It will be busy but exciting too. We were military and my 3 little troopers were so great about moving. I ran across a video the other day of the 3 of them sitting in the back of a U-haul have a picnic. Take time to breath and make some fun moving memories with them!

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  18. Hey, Melissa, I wish you the best with selling your house & moving. Don't envy you, it's a lot of work & I remember it well from 4 years ago when we moved.

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  19. Congrats to your husband on his new opportunity! We just moved ourselves, and are still working to get settled 2 months later, but it'll be a great adventure! Best wishes.

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  20. Good luck with selling your house! I hope it goes really fast! Just think of all the new decorating oppotunities you'll have in a new house!

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  21. I'm so grateful I got to see you and give you a hug before your big move. I just love you and miss you. You have always been such a light to me- and I'm grateful to call you friend. I need to follow the family blog- I'm not so good at the whole blog thing... email me a link if you ever have time! Know I'll be thinking of you and praying for a quick sell and move!! I love your guts...g

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  22. How exciting but soo stressful as well! Just did all of that a little over 3 mths ago. We actually as crazy as it sounds have been pondering a move back east as well. We are from there and think abt how nice it would be to be closer to fam now that we have kiddos. Anyways, good luck!!! Sending my packing fairy your way!

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  23. So glad that you were able to be there for Lynee and family. They are such an awesome family, we have all been praying for them. Congrats on the new job and I am sure that the people back east will love you guys as much as the rest of us have. Good luck on all of your big changes.

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  24. Amen...having eternal families is the only comfort in times like that. Good luck with your move. We packed up our family and moved from Idaho to Minnesota 2 years ago. I can say now that the Lord has guided our footsteps along the way. You'll find it is a huge adventure.
    cinderlori72@yahoo.com

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  25. I know you are an expert at "rolling with it", but that is awesome news. Hang in there!

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  26. Hey, I live "back east" oh and near a University too....wonder if you are coming our way. If so you really want to be in my ward!! LOL!! I bet you feel so sad about moving after you have just put so much work into your house. I hope that pays off for you. Unfortunately it didn't pay off for us...but I am sure where you are is a different story. Good Luck! And if it is the big N.D. where your hubby is coming to teach....I can't wait to meet you!! LOL!!

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  27. Melissa!!!! Congratulations on the job, but I'm really sad too! :( You'll have to bring your boys over to play a few times before you move - it will give you some time to get things done and give my boys a chance to have some buddies. Let me know if you need anything.

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  28. Congratulations on the new job. I'll bet Hyrum is so excited to finally start teaching! That's great that you will be so close to family. Good luck on the move.

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  29. Hello sweet Melissa - I'm so thankful you were able to spend some time with Sadie's family. It warms my sad heart that they are relying on the Lord and are remembering His faithfulness that their precious daughter is safe with Him.
    And it sounds like you have quite an adventure in front of you! Will be praying that all the details fall into place smoothly.
    Looking forward to updates!

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  30. Wow, you will be a busy lady!!! I guess by East you don't mean Southeast. ;)

    I hope everything moves smoothly for you all and you are blessed with incredible energy!

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  31. I'm so sad you'll be going! We'll miss you so much, but thank goodness for blogging so i can keep tabs on you and still roll ideas past you :)

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  32. Oh, bless your heart!!

    We've moved so many times over the course of our marriage (usually for a job change) that I've lost count. I am SO glad for you that your husband has a job. That's wonderful!! But I know that doing everything it takes to get your house ready to sell, then sold, then moved to a new location is so much work. . . . God bless you!

    Not sure where "back east" is, but if you can use any help from someone in North Carolina (we're in Durham, where Duke University is), please do let me know. I'd be honored to help in any way I can.

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  33. Best of luck with your move and this time of transition!

    I am so excited about winning the giveaway! Thank you in advance for the gift card!

    I emailed you my contact info., but it may end up in your "spam" filter because I used my business email account. In case you didn't receive an email from me, my email address is: amy[at]redchairhomeinteriors[dot]com.

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  34. Oh good luck Melissa! I grew up "back east" and wish I could move back. I haven't been able to talk my husband into it, even though he works during the week in Ontario, Canada!

    I hope everything goes really well with the move!

    XOXO
    Jen

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  35. saw your blog, adding you to my blog roll on my blog. check it out when you can
    starterhometodreamhome.blogspot.com
    good luck with the move! (I am lds too) may the lord be with yoU!

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  36. Congratulations! What University and what Eastern State? How exciting! I look forward to following your journey to and in your new home... A LOT!

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  37. Congratulations! What University and what Eastern State? How exciting! I look forward to following your journey to and in your new home... A LOT!

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  38. Congratulations! What University and what Eastern State? How exciting! I look forward to following your journey to and in your new home... A LOT!

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  39. Congratulations! What University and what Eastern State? How exciting! I look forward to following your journey to and in your new home... A LOT!

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  40. Moving can be scary and is a lot of work, but it is also an exciting adventure. I will be praying for your family to have a smooth transition to your new home and hope that you will love it there.

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  41. Georgia Gal here. Hope EAST is in Ga! LOL I also work at a Univ. just a few miles from home. Can't imagine all the 'work' in getting ready to move. My last move was over 10 years ago. Whew! Take care and we'll be waiting!

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  42. I hear you. I have just completed my 7th move in three years. I hate it. I do love my new house though. Good luck and we'll miss you. Check out my blog at www.pretendingtobedomesticdotcom

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  43. Congratulations on the new job. I agree with the "back east". It does sound good. I wish you a fast sale on your home and a safe and easy move.
    Pam

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  44. Hey Melissa! I have not been around much lately because my "real life" has been super busy. I was just catching up on what all you have been up to. Wow, you've been busy!! I hope the move goes very smoothly, and I am so sorry for your friend's loss. I will keep them in my prayers.

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  45. Congratulations Melissa!
    You two are about to take a new journey. God is leading you down a new path of life, and every path is a treasure. Think of all of the wonderful new opportunities that are awaiting you both. I can hardly wait for you to share. Please keep us posted.

    Stop by when you can. I love it when you visit. Country hugs and love, Sherry

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  46. Congrats on moving back east!!! Hope your new little corner of the world is filled with wonder and delight. :)

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  47. Congrats. I don't envy the packing-done it too many times myself.

    Cheri

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