a not-so desperate housewife

I thought I would share with you this biggest change in the Zamora house. 

I am, as of right now, unemployed.  

That's right, I am a housewife.  When we decided to take on the adventure of foster care, we also decided that I would stay home with the little ones.  The school year started this week, and I am at home instead of my classroom.  It is a weird place to be:  waiting to be licensed and knowing that I'm no longer working.

Staying at home was terrifying to me for two reasons.

1. Money:  Even though I wasn't bringing home an incredible amount each month, it was significant enough to help with savings.  

I am a savings kind of girl.  

Savings to me is my safety net, and my vision of the future.  Visions of a redone kitchen, hardwood flooring, and sunny vacations. When I am able to transfer a lump some of money from my checking to my savings, I do a little jive in my head.  What I am being reminded of is, my safety net and my vision aren't what matters.  It's something I already knew.  However, I was still holding on to it.  

And now I had to let it go.  And as terrifying as it may be, there is a freedom there. There is freedom knowing I'm not in control, and our Creator is.  Will all of our wants be met?  Absolutely not.  But He will provide for all of our needs.

Are we still saving? Of course.  

Is it as much as I would like it to be?  It never has been.

2.  Discipline:   I lack discipline when it comes to the time I will spend reading my latest book, browsing through pinterest, or even watching a hulu show now and then.  

When I was working I used to say how much I would get done if I was at home.  I would prefer for this to be true.  

So I have made lists every day.  I try to get those lists completed, if not, an item or two may hop onto the next day.  I have found myself lost in time now and then.  However, for the most part, I'm doing my best to be as productive as I can.

I can say this: the Hacker has not had to do an ounce of laundry since I have been off work. Progress.

Of course I miss my classroom, students, and I always miss my coworkers.  However, so far, so good.  

Since I have been home I have fallen head over heels for this guy.

He sleeps 90% of the day.  We take longer walks in the morning, which I am loving.  When we get home, he eats and sleeps, while I do chores.  Ah, to be an American dog. (sigh)

So, here's to staying at home, and making our bed everyday.

Kristin

Garage Phase 1 - complete

Remember our deadline to complete our garage?  

It's May 1st.  That is less than two months away!  It's a crazy ambitious goal, but if we didn't have the deadline, we'd probably continue to procrastinate this project. 

Anyways, we have completed phase one of the project: Transfer all of our stuff from cardboard boxes to plastic.

Remember the embarrassing garage I showed you last week?:

Well, this is it today:

Not bad, right? 

Here is another view from the door to the house:

It took us many weeks, but we can officially cross off the first item of our garage makeover to-do list.

And yes, I hear you, asking yourself, "Hey! What's that pile of junk in the corner?"

Well, it's actually the beginning of phase 2!  These are all the items we plan on selling at our first ever garage sale!

We haven't set a date yet, but once all of that junk is gone, this is all we'll have left!

Plus the Christmas plastic boxes that are sitting in the rafters, and are too difficult to photograph. 

So here is the new and improved garage makeover list:

1. Transfer all of our storage from cardboard boxes to plastic boxes. 

2. Get rid of everything we do not need or want to store = Garage Sale (coming soon)

3. Insulate and drywall the walls

4. Redo the flooring (with what is debatable) 

5. Somehow, someway, cover the monster eyesore that is our water-heating unit

6. Add cabinetry

8. Paint the walls

9. Create a "homelike" atmosphere for our "laundry room area"

10. Maybe even add a loft to the tiny top of the garage for bonus storage

So stay tuned, we'll be having that garage sale soon,

Kristin