Answered prayer!

It looks like we found a house! Of course we haven't actually seen it in person yet, but in our online search, we found that housing prices are considerably higher in Cincinnati than they are here. In order to maintain our standard of living we'd likely have to pay hundreds more per month on a house payment. Or we could live in a tiny little, less-nice-than-our-current-place home. Neither option was enticing.

Then we found it. {cue angels singing} The perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, for the right price (exactly the same as we pay now, in fact). Even better than our current house. Right next to a big grassy field. Bike trail to the YMCA. Neighborhood pool and playground.

Only one problem: someone else beat us to it. So we went back to square one, but we couldn't find anything that compared or even came close. Then Jason called the realtor on that dream house and found out the people who beat us to it, fell through. So we quickly put in a good faith deposit and found out last night that it's ours. Only after a couple days of praying about it. And I really trusted God on this one. Sometimes I trust Him but at the same time worry that what He has planned for us won't line up with what *I* want. This time, I just *knew* that whatever He had for us would be perfect for us. As if I could ever doubt such an awesome God!!!

I won't publicly post the listing but I'll add pictures to the blog later once we have a chance to see it and finalize details early next week.

Good News and Bad News at the Dentist

So I found a new dentist for the kids. They all went in for their cleaning and xrays. I did my part and sent all my insurance info up front, 3 weeks before the visit. All looked good.

We showed up. They cleaned. They took xrays. No cavities. Grant might not even need braces! They think that once his adult eye teeth come in, they might push the front top teeth together and close the gap. Other than the gap his teeth are nice and straight.

The bad news: My bill was $452!!! After they picked me up off the floor, I paid it, then passed out again. Okay not really. But I paid it. Here's the thing, I have never had to pay anything for the dentist. Nothing. We get full coverage for preventative care. She showed me what they charged and what was covered, etc. Today I finally got around to calling the insurance company. Turns out this dentist is out of network for us. GEE, thanks for telling me, people! Why the hell would I see you and PAY HUNDREDS for something I can get for FREE???!?! You are not all that!!!

Of course I begrudgingly have to take partial blame because I didn't ask if they were in my network, but I have had providers tell me in the past that they weren't, and this group was very organized about getting all my insurance information 3 weeks before the visit so I guess I thought they would alert me that they were not network providers if they weren't. It honestly did not even occur to me to ask. A very costly mistake indeed. Right on top of Jason's Christmas bonus coming in at less than half of what his boss told him last week that it would be. I guess I am just feeling a little burned by that. Don't lie to him. So between those two items, we can subtract a big fat $2500 out of what I thought would be in our bank account right now. For the move and our big upcoming trip to Ohio next week. Crap.

Anyway, I got our Christmas shopping done so that is a plus. As long as the van doesn't crap out on the trip.

Ho ho ho!

It's official...

We're moving to Cincinnati.

I have fought this for the kids' sake (and for mine, to be honest). I don't want to move again. I love my neighbors. I like it here. I don't love it, but I like it. More than that, I just don't want to move. Unless it is to Albuquerque. Albuquerque is home. We have so many memories, such good friends, such involvement. I would walk back into that tomorrow if I could. Without looking back.

But Cincinnati? I am excited to be a reasonable drive from family, but it's still 4 hours. Not a day trip. We will still be strangers in a strange town, once again trying to find our place. Trying to fit in. Ugh. I HATE moving. HATE it. Especially when the destination is just not exciting.

So now I go from praying that we can go back to Albuquerque to praying that it all works out. And that we can go back to Albuquerque soon.

I finished my Disney scrapbook and it arrived today. 74 pages. I love it! The kids love it. It will really keep the trip alive for us. I don't know if we'll take that trip next November because we might not be homeschooling next year.

And I miss my mom.