“Jordyn’s sad because you’re leaving,” Elijah explained to me. My car hasn’t been starting lately and since we’re not yet in THE HOUSE where I will hopefully be able to walk to work, we had to drop it off at the shop this morning and Gem drove me to the train station.

Last night as we were getting the Okapis ready for bed, Jordyn got upset that I didn’t wake her up in the morning. (more…)

I can’t believe it is over. I’m going to miss Florida, which feels quite a bit like heaven when we are down here, so much. I’m going to miss my sister (who came from California as a wonderful surprise) and my parents. But what really makes me sad, what brings tears to my eyes, is the thought that I won’t see my Okapis all day, everyday like I have for the past eight days.

I can’t believe we live in a world where I am supposed to leave them every single day to go to a place I would rather not be. (more…)

Many people asked if I would post a picture of THE HOUSE, you know,THE HOUSE we are hopefully moving into in 4-5 weeks. Gem even said to me, “A lot of people asked to see the picture. Are you going to post it?”

“Umm…No, because you said you didn’t want me to.”

“I never said that! Did I say that? I don’t think I said that. When did I say that?”

“Last week when I asked you about it, after they accepted the offer,” I tried to remind her.

“I really don’t think I said that.”

“Well, do you mind if I post a picture then?”

“No, not at all.”

So here you go…our (hopefully) future home.

Also, we are going on the most deserved vacation of my life. We are going to the west coast of Florida and will not be back until the middle of next week. To my knowledge, there is only a dial-up connection where we are staying (unless I can surf on someone’s wireless connection) so I am not sure if I am going to be able to post. Heck, with no train ride I’m not even sure I will be able to write, though I will certainly try.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to at least get one or two posts up, but just in case I don’t, have a great week and I will return with so many things to write about from EIGHT DAYS with my family.

Man, I can’t wait!

I left work early and was home a little after 5:00pm last night. Why you ask? To meet with our lawyer and SIGN CONTRACTS on THE HOUSE!!! They will be delivered to the current owners today and maybe they will sign today or tomorrow. One step closer.

Anyway, when I got home, after the Okapis were able to tear themselves from the TV, they were so excited to see me. They kept interrupting us and hanging around. At one point I went to print something out and Elijah followed me into our office. (more…)

“I know things are still crazy right now, but let’s take a moment to think about how fortunate we are,” Gem said to me on Saturday night, sitting in the California Pizza Kitchen. She had seen THE HOUSE again that morning, showing her parents and brother (who LOVED it), and may have still been giddy from the experience.

I’m never sure how to respond to her when she says things like that. I never feel things as good as she does and always feel them worse than she does. (more…)

“But I want to sit next to Daddy!,” my little girl cries out at the dinner table.

It is dinnertime at the Okapi household and I am sitting next to Elijah while Gem is next to Jordyn.

“But I want to sit next to yooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuu, Daddy. Yooouuu!” In case we somehow didn’t hear her the first time.

I am experiencing something I never thought possible. (more…)