CRAZY DAYS

July 26
Our sweet Florida realtor, Nancy Bernstein, called to let us know that a crazy thing happened. Our renter moved out without informing anyone and left the house a mess - way too unappealing to show potential buyers. We discussed the situation and decided it would be best if we drove down and cleaned it up ourselves. Since we already had something planned for every weekend in August we would have to leave tomorrow! Absolutely crazy!

July 27
We worked like crazy to pack needed cleaning supplies, tools, clothes and bedding since we planned to stay at the house while we worked on it. We drove like crazy all night long, long, long.

July 28
Paul's birthday! What kind of crazy guy spends his whole birthday working to haul stuff out of his house. Not just any stuff, crazy stuff, like stacks and stacks and stacks of women's sweaters, a van seat and of course what everyone keeps around - a good supply of hydraulic fluid - 10 five gallon buckets of hydraulic fluid - where do you put that when you take it out of the house? We did not know either. To "top" it all off, the most "hair" raising part of our day was the whole lice possibility, makes me itch just to think of it - scratch, scratch. The best part of that day was our good friends the Tolleys allowing us (on a spur of the moment phone call) to spend the next two nights with them. Oh the luxury of cleanliness! We are so grateful to them!

July 29
We went to church, visited with some of our friends and swam with the Tolleys. We stopped by the house to see if we could locate the touch-up paint we had specifically left for just such times. I guess it got thrown out when the hydraulic fluid moved in. crazy!

July 30
I dropped off Paul at work, and started calling on carpet. I was praying, the girls were praying and God answered! I went and picked it out, they came and measured, cut and installed it all in one day! How marvelous is our God! We hired cleaners to come help, they worked like crazy, with red faces and sweat dripping, the bathrooms and kitchen were clean again. Paul came home to a new house.



July 31
I gave up on getting the stains out of the upstairs carpet and called the carpet guys back. I scrubbed grout, trimmed plants, got touch up paint samples and did a million other crazy things. The children spent part of their day at church with Andrea getting their super spoiling time.

August 1
I scrubbed and patched walls like crazy. I picked up paint, sushi and a belated birthday cake for Paul. We had a mini birthday celebration for the poor mistreated boy.



August 2
I finished up with the house, packed, and washed our laundry. Fred and Nancy took Hannah and Alena for ice cream, what a treat that was for all! Paul FINALLY got home from work, I was soooo ready to leave that house of drudgery behind! Again, we drove like crazy all night.

August 3
We were home for 4 sweet hours! We took showers, had a nap and then we left and drove like crazy again. This time on our way to St. Louis to visit Jeannine who was back in the states from Holland. We stayed with lovely hosts John and Amanda.

August 4
We visited the zoo. When it got hot, we decided that was also crazy so we went back to John and Amanda's for lunch. We had a big family dinner at Paul Sr. and Faye's home.

August 5
We went to church with John and Amanda and had a yummy lunch at Lollie's home. Later we all went swimming at Paul Sr. and Faye's neighborhood pool. Everyone had a fun time! Then Paul's mom and sister Mary arrived, with everyone together we made a rather crazy entourage of travelers. Then we went back to Lollie's for dinner and more family time.


August 6
We did more visiting with the family over breakfast and lunch at Lollie's. That poor girl must have cooked like crazy! Then we drove home. I must admit that I was so happy to sleep in my own bed that night. It took me several days to recover from all the craziness!