Snow, Ice & Staying warm

Well just like a lot of other people we have gotten all kinds of snow and ice. P has not worked in two days now and we are just hanging out at home staying warm. (or at least trying to) 
Take a look at our snow & ice...

Since there was no way we were venturing out this weather yesterday, we stayed in and played some games with C.

he won @ bingo

he also won @ Candyland
 
but I won @ Ladybugs  :)

He also played fix it man...

We finished our day off by watching a movie. (sadly not Fireproof, but rather Happy Gilmore) :)

It was a fun day, had by all!!!

Can I ask for a favor?

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                                        PJ and his Mom, July 2007 in TN

I told you a couple weeks ago about my MIL having cancer. Well she is not doing well. She has had some trouble in the past with depression and that may be resurfacing with this recent cancer. With her chemo treatments she is very week and does not have much of an appetite. She is very shakey. (is that even a word?) So she takes medicine for that, which kind of zones her out. (this was the case at Christmas)

PJ has asked me to send her a scripture each week to lift her spirits. So I am going to.
The first scripture I have is this...

 

I have some others in mind, but I thought I would ask you ladies if you had any uplifting scriptures that I could pass along to her in the coming weeks. If you do and you don't mind passing them along to me, I would greatly appreciate it. As would my husband and his Mom.

You can leave them for me in the comments or email me at closetohomeblog@gmail.com

Thank you so much ladies. Your the best.

Back to work and the Fiesta Bowl

After two weeks off, my husband is back to work today. I am not sure if I miss him or if I am glad to have things getting back to normal.  CJ does not seem to listen to me as well when Daddy is home.  (ugh) We are missing him regardless.

After wednesday we will be cable free. I am excited and nervous. We have tried to explain to CJ as much as we could. He cried a little and wanted to know how he could watch his cartoons. (awww) We told him that is why he has so many dvds. Would you believe this same child did not watch tv at all the first two years of his life? We will still have local channels, so he can still see Clifford, Curious George, Word World, etc. I am really looking forward to all the quality time we will now be spending as a family instead of in front of the tv.

Not sure if you know this or not...it is listed in my "about me"  section. It is a dream of mine to someday own an rv and travel all over. Well we are always talking about them and CJ asked PJ over the weekend if he could see inside one.  ;) (that's my boy, he also asked if he could get one for Christmas) (I wish)  Anyway, I looked it up and the annual boat and rv show is this coming weekend, so I think we are going to take him so he can see inside an rv like he wants to.  Good cheap fun.

Some of you have asked about our decision re: PJ's job opportunity,we are still praying about it. To be honest if the economy were in a better place I don't think we would be quite as apprehensive about the cut in pay. Who
knows. I have also mentioned that if it is meant to be it will be. I get the feeling that the timing is a little off. I also think we like being on the outside looking in (so to speak) rather than on the inside looking out. There are some things I would rather be in the dark about. Does that make sense?

Tonight the Buckeyes take on the Texas Longhorns @ the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ.  GO BUCKS!!! According to the hubby, the Big 10 is not doing so well in their bowl games. I have faith in our Buckeyes.
In honor of our Buckeyes big game tonight...I want to share this pictures with you...CJ is 4 months old in these pictures...a true Buckeye from birth...

That is it for now.


Do you enjoy photo updates? (even though they are tacky photos? Except for the ones of CJ;)  )

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

A look back at 2008..

January...we rang in 2008 watching a movie and making potato heads with CJ.
 
February...CJ got his first "big boy" haircut.
Ok, so this really took place the end of Dec. (after Christmas), but I had nothing or Feb)  ;)


March...the "blizzard" of '08

April...CJ turned 3!!! (where did my Baby go?)
 
May...CJ moved from his crib to his "big boy" toddler fire truck bed.
He still asks for his crib from time to time. 

June...our first trip to the children's museum

July...We celebrated our anniv.

August...CJ spent his first night away from us...@ my Mom's house with his cousin.

September...CJ was a ring bearer in my step sister's wedding.
First wedding he was in.

October...I turned 30!!!

November...We spent Thanksgiving in Indiana with family.

December...We celebrated a Happy, Healthy, Blessed, Merry Christmas with family.
 

We are looking forward to what 2009 has in store for us and becoming even closer in relationship with each other and the Lord.

HAPPY 2009!!!

decisions...decisions...

My hubby is self employed. He installs flooring. (carpet, laminate, & vinyl) While this job pays pretty decent, with any self employment there are pros and cons.
I am not going to go into the great detail of those pros & cons, but I will say that installing carpet takes a toll on your body. Most installs have to have knee surgery(ies), retire early from this "career" into another job, etc. (some even end up in wheel chairs)

Since we have been together (six years) he has wanted out of carpet/flooring. But, since the pay is so good he has stayed. His job allows me the luxury to stay home with CJ and for that I am so very thankful.

We recently found out about a possible job opportunity that may be suitable for PJ. We know the people who are hiring, etc. He is not overly qualified, but is not under-qualified either. (there is some clerical work and he has never worked in an office setting before, but knows most of the programs and can type)
This job would offer a stable schedule (most likely four days a week 9-5) Extreme flexibility, benefits IMMEDIATELY, vacation, salary, etc.
The ONE drawback for us is that it would be a HUGE pay cut. We are talking almost half of what he makes now. We are trying to decide if we can "afford" this cut.
I am not one that is into money. I always say, "money does not buy happiness" and I believe that. BUT, we have a mortgage, two car payments, (one is almost paid off), medical bills, ins., etc. I really do not know if we CAN afford to take the cut.

We are praying about this decision and know that the Lord will lead us where we need to be. (remember we are about to put our house on the market and rent while looking for land to build, this would drastically cut back our mortgage/rent pymt) Plus any day now my Dad's estate should be settled and I will receive a portion of it, which could pay off the two car loans or help us out otherwise financially. So money wise, we may be ok in the grand scheme of things. But this position they are wanting to fill ASAP. So time is of the essence.
UGH...I HATE making decisions.
Please say a prayer for us that we make the right decision and that the Lord leads us where we need to be.

THANKS Ladies!!!