A Prescription for Inscription

This might be the last post about the move, moving process, and new house. Or perhaps not. A completely new place to call home (which is actually a pretty OLD place with sneaky surprises, quirky noises, odd smells, and quaint uniqueness) impacts about every part of our lives at this point.

We’ve lived in our new house for 12 days. Our stuff has been here for 19 days but our bodies and a few suitcases, left after 4 days of living here, for a much needed, and previously planned and paid for vacation to Park City, Utah.

My mom invited her four children, and their families, to celebrate her 60th birthday by gathering in a place we’ve never been before with opportunities for connection and fun. Park City in late April was perfect. Surrounded by mountains on every side, bathed in 73 degree sunshine, spread out in an awesome condo, and playing, hot tubbing, and conversing with siblings we don’t see nearly enough, Park City was wonderful. We got to tour the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics sites and the Tabernacle. We shopped and wandered. My kids were loved on by aunts and uncles. Most of all, we celebrated my mom for her 60 years of life lived with love, deliberation, hospitality, conviction, hard work, strong traditions, deep faith, and so much service.

I loved being away from the new house chaos for a few days. Right before we left, things got a little exciting.

Literally, and I mean literally, right after I hit send on the previous post about how awesome our new house was two weeks ago, I heard a drip of water drop on the kitchen table next to my computer. I looked up and saw a giant yellowed stain on the ceiling. Best I could guess, there was water coming from the master bathroom somehow. We called the plumber who did some repairs for the seller in the inspection negotiations, and he came out by 7pm. He cut the kitchen ceiling drywall which drained a ceiling full of water onto the floor. He determined the problem to be a faulty faucet in the tub upstairs. He was able to fix it quite easily and left us very apologetically for the mess and hole. We were relieved the issue was resolved.

Tuesday, April 29th was Andi’s 6th birthday; we had some family over for Andi’s birthday dinner. I cooked in my kitchen for the first time! I was overjoyed to host 9 people around my kitchen table!

After dinner, Christine went up to check out Andi’s new Barbie dream house in it’s nook between her two closets. On her way to Andi’s room, she stopped and said, “Um, Lindsey or Drew, can you come up here?” We went up to discover a hole in wall at the top of the stairs. The story came out: Andi had tripped while running down the hall, spun, and fell which somehow sent her little elbow right through the wall! Drew and I shook our heads slowly and took a deep breath. Then, we crossed our fingers, got on airplanes, and really enjoyed Park City.

Arriving back, we focused in on some unpacking, projects, and people. It feels good to have some familiar things in place:

-my fridge is covered with pictures of people we love

-the family room floor is covered in balls, cars,  books, and toys

-we have 4 squares of ice cream in our freezer

-Laura and I planted flower pots Friday afternoon

-we had a family dance party, complete with disco ball, Friday night.

We’re also experiencing all things new:

-I pulled out the tree-sized weeds from the garden on Tuesday (thanks to a surprise visit from Lauren Meystedt- a very appropriate blessing since I’ve now moved 1 block from her childhood house!), and planted seeds and small starter plants Saturday afternoon. I’ve never attempted to grow so much before. Now, it’s wait and see and hope and hopefully eat!

-the lawn mower has worked twice for Drew to mow the lawn! but elected not to work the other 3 times Drew has tried.

-we’ve met some new neighbors. The family to our left has two really sweet kids. The daughter, 13, came over to play Barbies with Andi and the son, 11, has 2 bike/scooter ramps. Eli’s heaven lives right next door- an older kid with an adventure apparatus! There were 5 kids in our front yard having a water fight yesterday afternoon. Good, clean, wet, fun.

-I do not have to stack 5 small plates on top of 8 big plates, in front of 3 bowls, when I unload the dishwasher. The cabinet space is so spacious. I’m loving it!

-Oaks can run in a circle around the first level of our house- being chased and giggling, he motors from the kitchen, through the dining room, to the living room, and wheels around through the entry way for lap 2.

-We have a play area in the basement where lots of toys and fun can live. The basement did NOT thrill me when we moved in here, but I’m enjoying and appreciating it more and more each day.

With so many great new blessings, and a few set backs, we are very grateful for our new house and excited to have people over soon!

Thankfully, no one was here Saturday night when we experienced just one more first: using a fire extinguisher to stop a kitchen fire.

Drew put nachos in the oven and then went outside to meet a couple new neighbors. I was in the kitchen working on salsa when I saw smoke in the oven. Holding Oakley, I peeked in and saw flames! I screamed, Oaks cried, and we ran to the front door. I yelled, “FIRE! DREW, FIRE!”  He came running and I handed him the extinguisher we keep under our sink (something Drew got intentional about a year ago). One short shot and the flames were out. Smoke poured out of the oven and all over our house. The neighbor Drew left mid-conversation, was at the front door, making sure we didn’t need help. Eli was asking, “But do we still get to eat nachos?” We cleaned up white foamy mess and hustled to get dinner going again. We ate outside on the deck just before dark.

Adventures, woes, “Oh nos”, wins, “Yays!“, holes, floods, and fires…its all part of a little Osborne family homestead.

And its only been 19 days.

Who’s sick of hearing about me, our new house, moving, and life in chaos? I completely understand if so and yet I write on. I must record the weekend that just was. Holding onto the moments of the move is a must!

Drew and I, per tradition, match on moving day.

Right now, I’m writing in my new kitchen looks out a huge window to my green backyard- it’s a wonderful new “office”. I am estactic that the plug in for my computer is near, not opposite, the wall outlet! Just one of very little things  I am absolutely excited about! Mostly, there are great big things for which I’m giddy, grateful, and saying, “This is such a gift” around our new house.

We closed Friday at 11am and started moving our goods from the generous garage space at Steve and Gayle Osborne’s house. Mike and Carol Graves met us in heavy lifting clothes

Keys in hand! We were so grateful to have Judy Lane as our realtor.

and moved all that stuff all the way into the new house.

Drew and I both kind of wandered around, delerious with joy and paralyzed by the packing up that needed to be done. We picked small tasks and started in. The house was in great shape, clean and ready to go- the garage and basement were a bit spider-webby so I vacuumed and wiped some surfaces we would soon pile stuff upon. We created a label system for assigning boxes and furtniture to rooms. All rectangle stickers went upstairs to color coded bedrooms, different colors of circled dots designted the dumping into family room, living room, and dininig room. There were oodles for the kitchen “price” stickers and plenty for basement “price-B” stickers. No sticker? Stick it in the garage please.

It was double sister doings at the new house Friday night with Laura and Christine and I lining cabinets and drawers until after 11pm. The boys, Zach, Drew and James, went to the “old house” and loaded both big couches and a ton of other stuff into the truck. We went to sleep at 5408 for one last time.

Saturday brought a bounty of help and the movement of our entire life from one house to the next. We were expecting some of the blessings, but surprised by others. There were slight mishaps and some discouragements but mostly, Drew and I worked alongside the crew who gave so generously of their time and gifts to help all day in so many ways!

The truck was HUGE! The truck ramp was FUN!

Some moving moments to mark:

• Carol Graves came at 6:45am with coffee and bagels and help with loading all the stuff we didn’t want in the truck (clothes, toys, pictures in frames etc..). Carol’s help was constant and generous throughout the day!
• Geeg took the kids for a day away from the craziness- offering them familiar solace and care in the midst of a huge change.
• I met the fridge delivery men at 8:45 at the new house. They dropped off the new black frigde but said the water line was cut so they wouldn’t/couldn’t install the ice maker. Bummer!
• Literally, 15 minutes later, Jim and Jan Bruce knocked on the door with orange scones! Without knowing they were coming, I was completely surprised by their thoughtfulness. A quick scone delivery became a 3 hour manual labor commitment as Jim offered to install the fridge water line! He worked himself into soaked pants and sweat serving us- we are so grateful.
• The fridge was not coooling off…perhaps it just needed more time.
• The moving truck arrived with all the contents of our house in one load. The moving crew (Poppy, Zach, James, Shane- a Park Hill YL kid, Keith (a friend from the gym), and Tom Meyer) had met Drew at the old house around 9. They loaded and then unloaded, following my stickers upstairs and down and had it all done by 11:30. There were worker bees building beds, vacuuming spider webs (thank you Dustin Sollars), making up beds (Carol) and unpacking my kitchen (Laura and Christine). Drew and I were everywhere but in the same spot. It happened so fast I am sure I’ve grossly underestimated all the help I received.
  

  Our muscle movers.

• After pizza lunch picked up my Keith’s wife Sara, James and Drew holed up in the garage to install a garage door opener (first time for both of them!) and Laura and I headed upstairs to bedrooms. In the end, Laura and James gave 12 solid hours to the Osborne cause on Saturday…pregnant and busy themselves and yet they stayed all day . We love them and loved working with them…they must really love us too- it was a gift!
• Jan Bruce brought a microwave by late in the afternoon that she had in her basement. We didn’t know when she dropped it off it would be the key to eating anything that night. Turns out the fridge never did get cold so we ended up with a smograsboard of what we had to eat from the fridge and a few HyVee chinese entrees. Sunday morning, Drew discovered the fridge was stuck on “store mode” so now, it’s all fine! A scary start with a chill ending.
• I went back for one last walk through of our old house. I was struck suddenly with overwhelming emotion and sat on the floor of my empty bedroom and cried. Sad, grateful, amazed, and full of emotion. That house held our life well for almost 8 years, I brought all my babies home there, and Drew and I grew up in that space. I was leaving a lot but ready to go.
• Kristin Sollars, an amazing women who does so many things AND wields wicked drill skills!, came to help install window coverings so we could put kids to bed that night.

Saturday night was the first night in our new house as a family. Oakley went to bed sick and sad- bothered by an ear infection we’d discover at the urgent care clinic Sunday morning. Drew suggested doing something special with E and A who had patiently been told, “No I can’t right now” for most of the afternoon. Quick thinking (and the Holy Spirit surely) gave us the idea to walk around the house and do “Blessings and Wishes” in each room.

We started in Eli’s room and said something we were grateful for about that space or what we hoped would happen there through the years. Despite it’s spontaneity, it became precious quickly as Eli and Andi dove full into thanking God and sharing silly and serious hopes.

In Eli’s room, E said, “I can’t wait to fill up my shelves with all my books- like put Harry potter on there!”

In Andi’s room, I prayed, “She would Grow up looking in her own bathroom mirror knowing how beautiful she is in Christ every day.”

For Oakley, Drew prayed, “That Oaks would feel brave and beloved, and have space to play, laugh and grow.”

Eli prayed for Drew and me in our room: “I pray that Mommy and Daddy have lots of fun and are happy no matter what together here.”

Downstairs, in the living/dining room spaces, Andi prayed, “Dear God I hope we have lots of cheers’ here and have people to our house in these rooms”.  She absolutely articulated my dream for those rooms!

In the kitchen,  I said, “I hope we use this space to continue special traditions, and host great conversations around the table”. Drew prayed it will be a space for the kids to land after school and Eli and Andi both prayed for lots of feasts, snacks, and favorite foods.

In the family room, we were grateful we had a place to watch shows, wrestle with Daddy, play a lot and hang out together.

We ended in the basement where we marked their heights on the door frame next to the washer. I promised to pray for them, remembering how small they are, while I do the laundry. Andi has asked me twice as I’ve headed down for a load if I’m praying for her. I so wish we could have recorded it more specifically. Instead, we will count on our minds and Spirit to remind us of the dreams and prayers coming true throughout the house.

When we went to bed that night, Andi slept back on her bottom bunk under Eli instead of her new bedroom. Oaks slept alone for the first time ever, and Drew and I chose to keep our sides of the bed. We snaked around on the floor while shirtless because of these great windows in our room and bathroom!

And now for the unpacking and settling. Already I feel so good about how settled we are. There are beds and clothes and food for all. Boxes? Yes- tons. Joy? Yes- tons!

Eli’s room- new desk and dresser!

Andi girls room!

The master..master closet for sure!

The basement. Eli and Andi were able to scooter and create a stunt room down here yesterday! I’ve done 4 loads of laundry

kitchen with view of my “desk”

The Living room…a holding area…

Oakley’s room. The rocking chair is back!!

I just got back from the Midwest Division Young Life Student Staff Weekend in Chicago. Check out #YLshakinupchicago to catch up on the trending take-aways from the 260 college leaders who came to share, learn, worship, and adventure.

One part of my job with YL is to help coordinate the trip for 4 big college areas in our region. This year, two borrowed conversion vans from Lincoln, NE, a cozy mini-van from Lawrence KS (7 people in 7 seats!), a 12 passenger van from St. Louis, and a Chevy Suburban from St. Joseph carried our crew to the Windy (but a pleasant 72 degrees) City. I was in the rented 2014 Suburban with 6 great folks from St. Joe. Their leader is my dear friend and first YL girl, Sara Hare.

Sara and me

I was excited to spend the weekend with this group but was packing some regret and stress alongside my black puffy vest and skinny jeans. Lots of me wanted to stay home and pack up our house, hang with my kids while Drew worked tax craziness all weekend, and go to a wedding of good friends at the gym.  All good things, one busy weekend.

Bringing back some goods for my kiddos

The conference was grand. We packed back up in the Suburban to leave the Chicago burbs around 11:30am yesterday which was to put us back in KC around 7pm. All was well as we lumbered down the road until the radio cut out.

I was driving and came to notice the radio cut off also included the entire electrical system. We had a fully functional car but no information. All gauge needles rested at zero. How much gas I had left or what speed at which I was traveling, became a mystery and a guessing game.  The cruise control, gas pedal, brakes and steering worked fine. The turning signals and automatic windows were moot. We drove to a gas station and shut the car off at the pump. I erroneously assumed the car would restart and the electricl system would resume normal function- like an iphone or computer might do. Instead, there was no engine function and a dead battery when we tried to turn the key. We were on the phone with roadside assistance shortly and were told we would have a new car brought within 120 minutes.

The St Joe crew

At this point, the 5 college leaders, hunkered down. They flexed. They wandered from the car to the inside of the gas station. They dabbled with their phones and conversed with each other. They bought donuts and ice cream and shared snacks. They wrestled in the back of the stalled Suburban and they NEVER EVER COMPLAINED.

I called to check on the status at the 2 hour wait mark, and was told there was now no car as promised at the replacement pick-up location. We were told it would be another 2 hours. I relayed the news to my passengers who once again, swallowed the information- thinking of their chemistry test due at midnight and their 45 minute solo drive back to school after we dropped them off at the meeting point now a whole 4 hours later that previously assumed- and they smiled bewildered smiles. They started scanning the horizon and making a plan to find this little town’s main street to stretch their legs. No one threw a fit, no one cried.

Note the smiles and good cheer

We decided to push the car out of the pump stall before we walked off to town. I tossed the keys to one of the guys and asked him to put it in neutral. When he casually turned the keys, the car started! The engine fired up and full electrical function returned. We were shocked and elated! We were on our way!!!

As we drove, we celebrated. I thanked them for their attitudes and patience. I could not imagine being in such a circumstance with many other people I know who would have handled it so well. I loved the extra time to talk to Sara and her team. I felt no pressure or anxiety from these people relying on me to make phone calls to get us back on track. I love my family, but I don’t think it would have gone as well if I had been with the very people I’m related to by blood.

Today, I’m celebrating those people I don’t have to like, but do. I didn’t know the St Joe student staff leaders very well, or at all, but can now say I truly enjoy and appreciate them as ministers of the gospel and my friends. I work with them because it’s my job, but I’d hang out with them even if it wasn’t.

I am fortunate to have relationships with quite a few people who make ordinary life transactions enjoyable. 

1. My Hyvee ladies. I love my neighborhood HyVee. More than the layout or selection of items, I appreciate my friends in the check-out lanes: Leslie, Andrea, and Deanna. They have watched my kids grow up, listened to my life, commented on my produce selection, and hit on my husband…well, just one of them who is married and 60 something…truly, her comments serve only to flatter us both.

2. My phlebotomists Cynthia and Jana. (Come to think of it, these ladies also fall into a Drew-swooning category). When we go to give blood, Drew and I are among friends. They follow our life through stories. They knew about Oakley’s ear injury and checked up on us and him the next time we were in. They are great to talk to and hear from.

3. My OB-GYN is one of the most genuine and kind people I know and I just plain really like her. She took such great care to advocate for me through my pregnancy and birthing plans with Oakley. I loved going to office visits and check-ups because seeing Lee was a time to be encouraged, heard, cared for, and often just really fun. I felt she really liked me and I absolutely return the feelings!

4. My neighbors. Beyond borrowing eggs, milk,  or teaspoons of nutmeg, my house-mates, Abbie and Delanie, are our friends. I like them as people and am in awe of their strength as a family. I appreciate their help in reminding me my garage door is ,but also like sharing conversations in our driveway and our cookie decorating Christmas tradition.

All these great people and now we are indeed moving. Our offer was accepted last week on the house we found and loved. We will close April 25th and move April 26th. The timing is amazing and we are blown away by the blessing of this gift of a home.

When we move, we won’t geographically connect as easily with our neighbors but can continue to be friends. There will be a loss in the change for both our families.

As we move in the next few weeks, I realize, we will be around new people. We don’t know the people on our new street at all, but if the story of my life continues in its current theme, I assume we will really enjoy at least some of them! Maybe my college friends from St. Joe will grow up and come live on my street!

Today is back to school and real life day for Eli, Andi, Oaks and me. I flew in this morning from a retreat in Chicago that stacked upon our return from 5 days in Colorado. Drew has been back to work for a whole week now. No rest for the tax weary!

Our time in Colorado this year was momentous and relaxing both.

Here are the sound bites: 

I’m sending you an email about two offers. – Judy, our Realtor on the phone Saturday. Indeed, when we came off the slopes, one week after we put the sign in our yard, we had an offer on our house! We would negotiate throughout the weekend and finalize and accept an offer by Monday! We couldn’t have asked for better timing as showings would end by the time we brought ourselves and our stuff back to Missouri!

Sold!!

Andi did you hear that… Someone wants to buy our house.- Eli. The kids processed together and with us. They are bravely moving forward. I wonder what they think and feel and hope to give space to their emotions, thoughts, fears, and dreams.

I have nothing to hide but admit I was avoiding hard conversations. -My dad. About the news that he is getting married March 29th. The transitions keep coming and we will rely on honesty, family connections, and trust in Christ’s presence moving forward.
That’s amazing! -And it looks so real! – Eli to Andi about her drawing of a farm. A super genuine compliment of her great drawing!

That was my first for real face plant. I was just on the lift and then, total face plant.  And, Mom- you can write about that on your blog.-  Eli describing his fall from the lift. He loaded with James but scooted too close to the chairs edge. He fell about 6 feet into deep snow shocking his family and the rest of the lift line. Both skis came off and Eli said his face has never been colder. Thank goodness for nimble and strong lift operators schooled in beginner lift rescues and for Eli’s toughness! Thanks for the permission to tell your story Eli!

I have diarrhea. -Everyone! Except Drew. Sickness ran through the house and family. Poor Oaks had it very severely with vomiting all day on Tuesday in Colorado. Poor brave baby!

I just threw up but it’s all in a trash can. Andi, during her sick day Tuesday afternoon.

Mom, can I have a piece of paper? –Eli to make a get well sign for Andi who had previously made one for both of her sick brothers. This was huge coming from Eli- he doesn’t slow down for art or handwriting hardly ever. He thought of her sick up in bed that afternoon and gave of himself in a way she would feel really loved!

It’s hard to get him to talking.  -Eli about us trying to get Oakley to say words. Oakley can say about 20 when he wants to!

I just love Chandler. Andi, who enjoys Maama’s house for many reasons but especially for the daily dog interactions!

This is the coldest craziest day of skiing!- My dad, who was absolutely correct! The sky changed from sun to sleet to blustery winds all day on Saturday

Wahooooo – Drew and I each after catching good lines and making epic mogul runs!

This is a handsome boy. -Andi handing me the DVD case for 8 Below.  I agree with her completely but didn’t break the news that Paul Walker has tragically died in the last year.

Okay, let’s go. -My mom who boldly loaded into the van with the kids and me to head back to Kansas City. Despite feeling ill herself, she cared for me and the kids and helped get us safely home. She then stayed to play and help while I left again and Drew worked! It was one of Andi’s highlights as she reported at school today about Spring Break, “I went to Colorado for 5 days and then my grandma, who is named Maama, came back with me for 3 days.”

Some favorite Chicago friends!

The weekend in Chicago was a wonderful time of connection, rest, and encouragement. I loved being with wonderful YL staff women and spending a day with the Hersmas!

So now we hunker down and house hunt. We will pack up our life at 5408 and move out and on in 30 days. Where? We have no idea!

Two weeks ago I attended a substance abuse prevention conference put on by the Northland Coalition. I left more informed, yet discouraged, shocked, inspired, and convinced there must be deliberate, communal, educated, and diversified efforts toward protecting children from the harms of substance abuse.

Last week, Missouri State Legislators entertained a bill proposing the legalization of marijuana in Missouri. Laura and her coworkers drove three hours to sit in on the committee hearing. Their side was out numbered in testimony air time, financial backing, and bodies in the seats, yet they spoke boldly on behalf of what they believe is best for the state, especially for the future members of Missouri’s adult community.

In response to a communal urging to write a Letter to the Editor of the newspaper, I submitted these 200 words to the KC Star:

As a parent, advocate for area teens, and Colorado native, Missouri’s consideration of a bill to legalize marijuana raises concerns. The “facts” come from many sides. There’s confusion and delusion around marijuana’s medical potential. Lay citizens encourage the comparison of marijuana to alcohol and the relaxation of control laws. The loudest voice comes from the propaganda of big pot lobbyists. “Big marijuana”  money has a loud voice and a list of lies. Purporting legalized pot will increase tax revenue and cut down on muddled drug legalization, are weak allegations with grave consequences for young people. The scientific data affirms danger and devastation for developing brains: losses in IQ, memory, attention span, and learning abilities, as well as increased risks for mental illnesses and heart attacks. Near my childhood home in Colorado, today’s marijuana, containing unprecedented concentrations of THC, is sold in strip malls, baked into brownies or laced in candy. Casual, inviting, and available, legal pot finds its way into the hands and heads of kids. Increased availability has led to increased illness, accidents, addictions, and deaths. We cannot afford to lose the heads of MO teens. Legalized pot will injure the development of our most precious resource: kids.

Despite my intentional attempt to sound off, I know very little of the facts. I’ve asked Laura to write with her most convincing evidence to clarify the confusion and encourage Missouri to move with wisdom and care for kids!

Here is Laura-

I’ve worked in the field of prevention for the past 5 years. Those who know me are familiar with my ongoing passion and desire to protect area kids from the unforeseen dangers of underage drinking and drug use.  Even with this intense passion, I used to shy away from conversations about marijuana, preferring to avoid the airing of strong opinions in heated arguments.  After spending the last 2 years digging in the research, hearing from national experts, and seeing the effects in national trends and data, I’ve crossed over from “l don’t want to  ruffle feathers” to “I need to tell everyone.”  Below I share three tenets of truth that highlight dangers of marijuana’s rapid mainstream movement.

·         The pro-marijuana movement is a multi-billion dollar business.  Marijuana investors and companies, through greed and commercialism, are swooping into communities and neighborhoods and making money off of an addictive and harmful substance.  In Denver, there are more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks.  Cannabis food and candy, like “Ring Pots” and “Pot Tarts” are marketed to children and sold through vending machines.  A former Head of Strategy for Microsoft has said that he wants to “mint more millionaires than Microsoft” with marijuana.    I’m not concerned of simple pot possession or use, but I am concerned about a multi-billion dollar industry selling a dangerous product. 

·         Marijuana now is much more harmful than it was at Woodstock.  In the 60’s, THC (the chemical that makes you “high”) levels in marijuana were between 4-5%.  Now, marijuana found in Missouri is packed with 15%-30% THC…and it’s just getting stronger. As a result, 1 in 6 youth who use marijuana will become addicted, 1 in 10 adults will become addicted. Marijuana use has been shown to be significantly linked with mental illness, especially schizophrenia, psychosis, depression and anxiety.  Legalization laws don’t protect about potency either.  This winter, school resource officers have found marijuana they believe to be 90% pure THC (see dabbing)

·         More kids are using marijuana. While rates of underage drinking and tobacco use among high school youth is decreasing, marijuana use is increasing.  In a survey of high school students in Colorado in 2011,  22% used marijuana.  In Missouri only 8.6% of our kids use.  Because kids hear the messages that it’s not harmful (“it’s medicine”), along with increases in availability, use will and is going up among our kids. The price kids will pay in their brains and their futures is steep.

Thank you for listening in.