Projects

Getting a new house is SO exciting! And obviously I was thrilled....

But now the seemingly endless list of projects is getting to me. Simple things like a big pile of limbs that need to get cleaned up...

Prior to closing they took the pile and made it even larger! But I have been blessed with the amazing support of my family and, of course, Mr. Golden. My mom has filled up my yard debri can the past two weekends by cutting down the branches into smaller pieces. 

Last weekend (more than a week ago by the time I get this posted!) we were blessed with the help of my parents, younger brother and his wife. After several days of Mr. Golden's sweat going into the house, my brother and I added our blood! 

Bloody knuckles that is! 

As a group we got a LOT done. I finished painting the final coat inside our pantry (another post for the pantry/laundry room will be coming with full pictures of the process!) while my mom diligently worked on the branch pile. Steven (my brother) and his wife worked on taking all the nails out of the baseboards after bringing them inside from the back porch. 

We swept up all the debri in the bathroom, which now looks like this: (sorry for the blur!)

Dad pulled up the tack board and so much more that I can't keep track. 

 

Mr. Golden has been doing so much that I have a hard time keeping track of what he did on which day. And I'm being serious! 

All in all if was a productive an beneficial weekend!

Demolition

Just as expected I got keys to my first house on Thursday last week! And what a whirlwind since!!! I'm getting used to being a homeowner (and watching my bank account quickly dwindle!)... And if walls could speak I'm not sure if the house would say she likes her new owner or not! 

She might say it feels good to get a deep scrub and grooming! She also might say that it's uncomfortable and she doesn't like being "naked!"

Immediately after getting the keys, we went to my parents and borrowed tools. I just couldn't wait and had to pull out carpet in the 3rd bedroom! 

When we went to the home inspections a few weeks ago, we immediately noticed a soft spot in the floor underneath where their bed had been. So what did we find?

It actually looks worse than it is... But it is dry rot! So we kept pulling and pulling the floor up. It's amazing how much damage can be done when things aren't properly done!

See, the thing is you need a vapor barrier between concrete and wood. Why? Because concrete BEEATHES. What I mean is that it is porous. It allows moisture and air through and without a barrier, all the elements of being outside have access to the wood floor joists. 

So after Me. Golden pulled up all the floor he began the installation of the new floor... Starting with the all-important vapor barrier! 

On top of the vapor barrier, he began building out the new floor joists. A generous friend offered up his Saturday to help build out the floor while my best friend and I took a long trip to Lowes to pick out paint colors. 

Again, the old floor had not been built properly. Large gaps between joists allows the subfloor too much space to bend, leading to much of the "soft" feeling. So the new floor joists were built closer together in order to supply the necessary support. Then, laying on te subfloor!

There are still several more steps for this room but our too concern has now been addressed!

Big Step!

Life has been moving so quickly and I can barely keep up!

I am excited to begin blogging again and to have the support of some wonderful people along this journey called life.  But before we jump into what's ahead, a recap of all that has happened in the past year!

About seven months ago, a dear friend asked me "How tall are you?" 

To which I responded "Why?  Are you trying to set me up with someone?"  Despite her adamant denial, her husband was eagerly nodding his head behind her... Within a few weeks, I met and began dating Mr. Golden.  What an adventure it has been so far!  Being that we are both beyond our 20's already (okay.... barely for me!), it has been an adjustment of learning how to do life with another person.  We still have a long way to go, but all in all it has been a marvelous journey.  The best way I can describe our relationship is this: iron sharpening iron.  It's not always pleasant, but so beneficial!

Of course the timing is never perfect, because I was already in the process of looking to buy my first house!  But we talked through this and with his support, I've continued along this path, involving him as much as possible along the way.  We scoured hundreds of listings in a very large search area.  My very patient Realtor called to inquire about dozens of homes that we thought might be a good fit.  And of course, there were the visits to homes as I tried to imagine myself living there.

In all the searching, I put in two offers.  The first was on a short sale... but you never know what the bank is going to say, so we kept looking and searching.  The second offer was $10,100 over the asking price and I was outbid.  We kept looking for two more months before the call came... the bank had accepted my offer!

The process has been long, stressful, and arduous.  But as of this time tomorrow, I will be in possession of keys to my first house!

Let the demo begin!!!

(On Saturday when I have a day off from work....)

Inflammation

I started a new - and CRAZY - diet.  It's not an official or technical diet, but something that I'm piecing together with the help of my therapist.  I'm calling it the anti-inflammatory diet.

I started on Friday - and cheated around dinner time.  Well, actually earlier... I snagged some Reeses Pieces from my coworker's candy bowl and popped them in before I realized I'm not supposed to eat that!  Too late.  Then, I went to a wedding that served dinner and had a delicious salad with non-approved dressing.  Small cheats.

Saturday was slightly better.  But I suppose I should start by telling you what the anti-inflammatory diet is!

For the first week, I am only allowed to eat fresh fruits, veggies, and meat.  That's it.  Then, each week after, I get to add one or two new approved foods... Greek yogurt, raw nuts, quinoa, unprocessed (or flash-pasturized or something like that) cheeses, and beans.  So, at the end of it all I can have only these few items.  None of these items can come from a can, which means my beans have to be dried... then I soak them before use.  Starches (potatoes, breads, white rice, etc.) are out for good.  Which is grievous to me, because I LOVE my carbs!!!

So, after a few small cheats on Friday, I set off for Saturday.  I began with a delicious garden scramble (I'll probably post the recipe soon!), then a huge bowl of fruit for lunch, chicken for dinner (another recipe I'll post soon!), and a green smoothie after dinner.  Then, late in the evening, another cheat... I had a chocolate from my dad's candy dish as we were watching the football game!

Sunday I decided to skip ahead.  I just can't survive on only meats, fruits and veggies!  So, after an expensive trip to the grocery store after church, I added greek yogurt to my diet.  I also used a little parmesan in a pesto I was making.  I used up the 7 avocados I had sitting in my fridge from too long ago (surprisingly, with one exception, they were perfectly ripe!) and made up some avocado-ranch (another recipe to post) and avocado pesto (this one needs some tweeking before it's ready to post).

Today, I am looking forward to mixing up some DELICIOUS fro-yo from my Greek yogurt, organic baking chocolate, and Coconut-peanut butter.  And, on that note, I'm off to create something wonderful!

Oh... I should also mention that, while I am still in about the same amount of pain, I am feeling a significant increase in energy (up at 6am the past two days and this is after going to bed late both nights and working hard in the kitchen all day yesterday getting meals ready for the week!).  My muscles (especially my shoulders) seem to be less inflamed, too.  Which is what I'm really after.  I'm hoping the reduction in pain will come in time :)

Whiteboard restoration

I'm surprised I haven't seen this on Pinterest yet... The whiteboards in my office are in horrible condition!  So, a quick google search and I discover WD-40!

REALLY?! I think... But I decide to give it a try.  A step in the right direction, but still not quite up to par.  So, some more google searching... Still, all I'm finding is WD-40.  So, we decide to give it another try... And, finally, we come up with the perfect process:

Step 1) Erase, the best you can, all pen marks with dry eraser or microfiber cloth.

Step 2) Use whiteboard cleaning spray (we recommend Expo White Board Care) to clean entire white board of all pen marks and residue. Wipe dry with paper towels.

Step 3) When dry, shake WD-40 well, spray on to one section of the whiteboard in a Z formation. Working with the board in three sections works best.

Step 4) Use a new dry paper towel to spread WD-40 evenly in that section. Do NOT wipe dry.

Step 5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 in the other sections of the board.

Step 6) When each section has had WD-40 applied and spread evenly, let sit for about 10 minutes.

Step 7) Use a new clean microfiber cloth to polish the whiteboard free of WD-40.  Use circular motions to rub the WD-40 into the board.

Step 8) Test the board by using an expo pen and then try to erase as usual. This procedure may need to be repeated twice depending on condition of the board.

Before starting with the WD-40, our board looked like this... and this is after erasing!  The black came up better than the red, but clearly both are still very evident on the board.

Morgan then began the process outlined above... Here, she is polishing the board (step 7)

Most of the time when you see a restoration step-by-step, they show the whiteboard after it's done. That's great, but I can make my whiteboard look just as great with the Expo cleaning solution.  That doesn't mean that its going to wipe clean after I write on it again!  But, just to prove to you that this works, here's a video :)

We have to mention a few very important things.  NEVER use Glass cleaner, baby wipes, Lysol, or any other cleaner that is not approved for whiteboard use!  This will ruin your whiteboard.  If any of these products have been used and you're now trying to restore your whiteboard, be sure to let the WD-40 sit (after it is smeared in step 4).  You may need to repeat steps 3-7 two or three times.

Full Speed Ahead

Life seems to be moving SO quickly!  Graduation is less than 7 weeks away and its going to be a whirlwind for the next 6 months (at least!).

There's a job I've been hoping for... I should find out this month if I have the job.  And by the time this happens, I'll be in the last few weeks of classes!  After all, there are only 5 weeks left!  I think the easiest way to talk about it is in a simple time-line...

• As of today, I have 5 weeks of classes left!
• May 7th begins a "week" of finals (though I really only have 2 or 3 finals!) 
• May 13th begins Senior Retreat
• May 18th - GRADUATION and my 29th birthday!
• May 20th - I leave for UGANDA!
• May 22nd - June 11th - I'll be in Uganda
• June 11-12th - 23 hours in LONDON
• June 12th - arrive back in Portland
• I'm thinking it will be a week or so to recover from jet lag and "process" everything I had experienced in Uganda and London

Then, if I get the job I was hoping for, I will be starting work on July 1st (technically... the 1st is a Sunday, so I'll actually start on the 2nd).  And if I get that job... I'll be walking into a whirlwind!  But, for now, its just an "if" so I'll leave it there.  Besides, I think this is enough to process!

I'm truly praising God and praying for strength, endurance, and clearness of mind as I strive to grow closer to God during this busy time of life!

I smile at the future

If, 5 years ago, someone had told me what my life would be like now... I would have cried.  If they had told me how content I would be (and am), I would have looked at them like they were crazy and done everything in my power to change the course.

Maybe someone did tell me.  If so, I probably looked at them like they were absurd and thought I'm glad they don't control my future.

But, here I am.  And you know what?  Its not at all like I thought it would be, but I'm content.  I smile at the future, knowing God has good things for me.  I peer at the horizon and, while I don't know what's out there, I can see the silhouettes and I find myself thinking That looks fun... exciting... attractive...


I may not know the details, but I still smile knowing that everything is good.  And will be good.