We met again with our Realtor tonight, and after much prayer and consideration, 3 1/2 months later we finally found a place to call home. We posted the pictures of our "framed house" on our Shutterfly link, along with the pictures from the "model home". The layout is the same but floors, cupbards, countertops, fixtures, etc. will be a little different! Thanks again for all of the prayers, encouragement, advice, and shared excitement that you've all provided. We still have a few details to work out with the process, but we think we'll be moving in about 45 days--YAY! We can't wait to have you all over! :)
Here's a REALLY QUICK house update. We found out this afternoon that we got a verbal agreement from the bank on the "Coon Rapids House" that we will have a contract ready to go by Monday. Whoa! GREAT! We also found out this week that through a connection we have, we are able to purchase a brand new detached-townhome in Lino Lakes for the same price. What?!?! We went from no offers, to 2 within a few hours! Sometimes I wonder what God is doing up there?!?! ;) We posted the pictures on our "Latest Hardie Pics" link, so take a peek and let us know what you think! Hopefully before the weekend is over we'll have our decision. We're going to look at both homes again on Sunday afternoon (we think our parents can come with too, which would be really nice) and we're PRAYING DESPERATELY for peace, clarity, wisdom, and discernment in making this decision. Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and advice. We'll let you know as soon as we know! :)
The past 2 weeks have been tiring and full, but my students and I are starting to get used to each other, and there's been a little less "testing the teacher" going on. We actually got to experience something very special together last week--my parents were up in the cities for Cameron's knee surgery, and they decided to stop by my class. My dad brought soybean plants and corn stalks (which are 8 feet tall), corn and beans for the kids to run their fingers through, and little toy models of his combines and tractors. The kids were completely enamored by the corn, beans, and machinery. It was so cute to watch them try to process all of the statistics my dad was giving them, and the child-like questions they asked him: "Do you have pigs?" "Do you have cows?" "Do you have ANY animals?" "You don't look like a farmer...." This was fun for me to watch and really remember how many of my little ones have so many things they have not experienced yet. Even though they're stinkers a lot of the time :) they really are hungry to learn.
In the past 2 weeks we've also had some "interesting moments". One of my kiddos looked up at me in the middle of the morning and said (with a lisp and a Spanish accent), "Mrs. Hardie! I have gum in my shoe!" Sure enough--HUGE piece of chewed gum in his sock! Huh... Needless to say, he went sockless the rest of the day. Another favorite, was my little Eduardo (who the kids keep calling EGGuardo--oh boy!) When I returned to the classroom in the afternoon after they'd had a substitute teacher all morning, he said: "Mrs. Hardie, you look....you look....you look good!" I think he was trying to say he missed me...nothing like a 6-year-old to boost the ego! Finally, I have a number of kiddos whose parents only speak/read Spanish. Fortunately, I have all of our Math homework and family letters in Spanish. One day last week I forgot to give the kids that needed them the Spanish homework. One little guy came running up to me, waving his English homework, and screaming (literally) "Mrs. Hardie! I need the Mexican papers!" Oh dear--he's not a shy one. ;) I wish I could show you pictures of them, but pretty sure posting them online without parent consent is a BIG NO-NO! ;) While this crew is a LOT more work than my classes the past couple of years, I am learning to find them endearing and love their little quirks....like how several of the little boys tell me "I love you" instead of "I'm sorry" when they're in trouble--wonder where they learned that from? And I think they'll learn to love First Grade too....Here's hoping!
We went to see 9 houses on Saturday, and of those 9 there was 1 that really stood out. We went to see it again last night in hopes of putting in a lower offer than list price. However, when we met our Realtor we found out that there were already 2 offers that were made Thursday and Friday. So AGAIN we are the third offer on this house. We were told that putting in a full price offer DID give us a really good shot at getting the house this time, so here's hoping! We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything. IF we get it, we'll put up pictures too! :) Thanks for all of the prayers during this process--we're really trying to be patient and trust that God has our best interest in mind!
...but you can't take the country out of the kids! :) Kyle and I had our first adventure of freezing corn this weekend, just like we used to on the farm. This felt a little funny considering we were husking corn on the deck of our 3rd floor apartment, overlooking County Road D--HA! What a process this is! The best part was that I had NO VOICE--I got a cold and spent too much time "talking sternly" to my students this past week, so by Friday night I couldn't say a word. Throughout the night when I needed to get Kyle's attention to help me out by stirring corn, bagging, etc...I resorted to stomping my feet on the floor (sorry Ann!), clapping by his ears, and waving my arms in the air! What a sight! By the end of the night we were covered in corn (as was our kitchen), laughing hysterically at my communication attempts, and SO tired! Overall, it was a great night and we know that in the dead of winter, when we pull a bag of YUMMY sweet corn out of the freezer, it will have all been worth it.
Our house hunt is continuing on! We found out that we are "the middle offer" on the Bittersweet House. We don't know how much higher the top offer is, but we decided that we're not willing to go any higher than we already have. The bank is still processing the offers and hasn't given us the official "no", but we're going to move on assuming that they'll go for the highest offer. PLUS, it's been 3 1/2 weeks since we put our offer in--CRAZY! The Football House turned out much like the Vikings' first game.....just shy of winning. When we put in our original offer, they told us that there were no other offers on the table--BIG LIE! They countered yesterday with a price ABOVE the list price (don't they know what's going on with the market these days?!?!). Again, the other offer is just above ours, but we're not willing to go any higher because we don't want to be "house poor". So, the Bittersweet House turned out to be just that, and the Football House disappointed much like our favorite team. We'll be on the hunt again hopefully by next week. We're feeling really encouraged that there are still so many homes available, and we love the place where we're at, so there's no rush. That's the latest, and we'll keep you posted on any new developments in the future!
...177 to go! :) How shall I sum up the first week with the kiddos....hmmm.... I think I have the most culturally and racially diverse class that I've ever had! I was talking with someone and telling them about my kiddos, and they asked "Aren't you in the 'northern suburbs'?" Sort of, but things are changing! In my little class of 20, I have students from MN, Bosnia, Ukraine, Africa, Jerusalem, and Mexico. WOW! It has been so sweet to watch the kids help each other fumble through these first few days, often with more patience than I exhibit. (That's one area that I know I'm going to need to keep at the forefront of my prayers this school year!) Anyways, as I get to know these little ones, and meet their families, it is interesting to ponder how we all came to this point. Some just new to the country, others new to the school, some have been in the neighborhood for years, others struggling to communicate with me and yet I know they care so much about their child's education...and here we all are... Some of you know that there were times when I thought teaching at a different school this coming year HAD to be where God wanted me. But alas, as I look back with a little "hindsight" and perspective, I can begin to see now why I am at my school, with this special group of kids. It's not always going to be easy, but it's a good reminder that God's way is always going to be best. Maybe not my favorite all the time, but best. Anyways, here are a few highlights from the first week of First Grade to leave you with! Hopefully they make you smile (or roll your eyes)!~several of my sweet English Language Learners began the morning in OTHER teachers' rooms because they couldn't find ours!~we were making "hopes and dreams" for the school year, and one little guy told me that his dream was "to become a man".....WOW....not sure where THAT came from! ~"Who farted?!?" (there's one in every crowd!)~"Teacher! Help! I have to pee SO BAD but I can't remember where the bathroom is!!" (Need I remind you that the bathroom is IN our classroom! hehe)~getting hugs from each one of my kiddos as they leave for the day. That's really why we tough it out through some of the "rough patches", right?
