The Hodges Homestead: August 2010

For those of you who don't know, I have a paralegal degree. When I graduated, because of the recession, most law firms were on a hiring freeze. So I have been patiently waiting to utilize the degree I will be paying for until my kids go to college.

For the past couple weeks I have been going through the interview process with a local, very well known law firm (I will not mention their name). It was a really great experience. My friend recommended me, and I interviewed last week. The interview went so well. I walked out of there feeling confident, and started making arrangements to be able to accept an offer. I didn't want to be unprepared!!! I did all my research to find the best place possible for the boys until we could hire a nanny, checked and rechecked waiting lists at local private schools, and toyed with our family budget. Then I waited.... and waited.....AND WAITED....

I have been anxiously awaiting a phone call for 5 days. It was worse than waiting for Dave to call after our first date. I had the worst anxiety!!! They called Friday at 4:42 PM, and I missed the stinkin call!!! I was so upset with myself. So this morning I called back. They wanted to offer me the job. Great, right? A total confidence booster! Unfortunately, we were not on the same page with some of the other details (compensation), and I wasn't able to accept. Too bad. It stinks to go through that whole process, and it not work out. It's such a great firm, and I would have kicked myself in the butt had I not given it my all. I would have really liked to work there.

But here's the upside to it all. Since I started this process, Ady started school and we're just now in a routine. I absolutely LOVE my time at home with the boys. Two babies at home is SO SO SO much easier than three!!! I get one-on-one time with each of them every single day, and time to MYSELF (so foreign to me!). Cade is learning to play independently and has started to sometimes include Hunt in his playtime. Turning down this job also means I get to keep taking part in my favorite part of the day: taking and picking up Ady from school. I just can't tell you how much I love to do that! It sounds small, but it is such a HUGE deal to me! I would also miss my best friend time, breakfast with my girlfriends, and lunch dates with Dave.

I know, a lot of you are thinking, why in the world would you give all that up? Sounds a little crazy when you put it like that, BUT, I am driven. I never imagined myself in this life, and the old me still thinks I can have my cake and eat it too. I always think I can do and have it all... I think this is God's way of putting me in my place, and teaching me a lesson in simplicity and contentment. There will always be time to work. I am right where I need to be.

The Lady Killer Jr.

10:16 AM

Birthday Squared

11:03 PM

Cade waiting for his cake.

This weekend was a celebration.

Cade Ryan turned 2 on Saturday and we hosted an airplane themed birthday extravaganza. I went overboard as always. I always debate if all the effort I put into these parties is worth it. I wonder if he will realize how I agonize for weeks over the guest list, food, invitations, and decorations. I wonder if he will remember how much time it took me to hand draw, cut out, and assemble dozens of airplanes (which were displayed as mobiles throughout the house). Honestly, I doubt he will. But all those things matter to me. He is worth it, and that's how I show my love. I gave him the absolute best party I knew how. Twenty years from now when he looks back at all the parties I hosted for him, I want him to know I gave it my all. We love opening our home to our family and friends. We love laughing and making memories with the ones we love. Isn't that really what it's all about anyway?

We spent today celebrating me. It's nice to have one day a year that is all about me. A little selfish? Maybe. I had the most wonderful day with Dave, the kids, and my mom and dad. Mom cooked the most amazing dinner (ribs, steak, corn on the cob, tabbouleh, and Chocolate Surprise) and we played Wii. You gotta see Mike Wii Bowl. Funniest. Thing. EVER. I'm sure he's thrilled we're laughing at his expense ;) I got some AMAZING gifts: the "Sandra Bullock" watch (white Fossil she wore in the Blind Side), 2 pairs of sunglasses, a beautiful painting for our living room, $$$, and Dave even got up with the baby twice last night (priceless!). It was one of the best birthdays ever. So thankful for my wonderful and generous family and friends who made this weekend so awesome!

Also tonight we are waiting on the arrival of our nephew-in-love Caden Lee Stewart... Shauna and Todd are at the hospital now and Chrissy is updating us as we speak. Can't wait to meet that little guy. Steph and Chrissy will have their hands full with all these nephews (4 boys and Ady all together) WOW!!! Can't wait for the first sleep over with all 5 of them. I can just see that now.

That's all for now. 5:30 AM run will come early! MUST. GET. TO. BED. Tune in tomorrow for some BIG news... (NO, we're not having another baby)!

MCA: The 5 year Journey

7:56 AM

So much has happen since my last post, I don't even know where to begin. Here is what was put on my heart to share today. Everything in our life is more than just a mere coincidence.

Ady started school on August 12th. She is at a private, Christian school, Metro Christian Academy. We have been in prayer for the past 5 years (since Ady was in the womb) about this decision, and have been on numerous waiting lists at various schools to keep our options open. We have been committed to Christian education since we had Adyson, but never imagined Metro would be an option for obvious financial and logistical reasons. I am so grateful to our parents for instilling in both of us the importance of choosing the right school. It took some convincing for me (a public school grad), but the best witness of what this school is doing, is seeing first-hand the successes of it's graduates (Dave and his classmates).

God has provided for our family! I can't even explain the satisfaction and sheer excitement our family has experienced by having this dream fulfilled. Since Dave graduated from Metro in 2003, we have stayed involved by supporting their athletics, capital campaigns, and alumni events. We knew it would be a stretch, and as one of the youngest (and largest for our age) families there, it was our hope that our children would be able to experience the community and "home away from home" that we have felt there. We have great comfort in knowing that is right where we are supposed to be. The sacrifice is worth every penny.

For those of you who don't know, here is a little chain of events that occurred throughout the past year that made this possible. This is clearly no coincidence, looking back, we see God's plan in every step:

#1 Last July, I randomly took a part time management position at Starbucks after reconnecting with an old friend from high school who managed a local store. The only opening they had for me at the time was at 71st and Riverside (this could not have been further from our home, but was just blocks from Dave's office). For months Dave worked 7 AM- 4 PM, would meet me at Starbucks, we would trade cars, I would go to work, and he would take the kids home. It sucked!

#2 I am the only person I know that was an "outside hire" to a management position. Starbucks promotes within. This set the groundwork for the provision for Metro. In addition to Dave getting several promotions at Superior.

#3 In January 2010, we put our house on the market. Because we had only been there 18 months and financed in our closing costs, we had little equity. It was not an option for us to pay a Realtor. My best friend's dad, Robert Lumsden (the most amazing Realtor ever!) listed our house for next to nothing. This was a HUGE leap of faith for several reasons: we had very little savings to put towards our next house, we had no idea where we were going to move if our house sold, we were expecting our 3rd child in March, etc.

#4 We strongly considered building. We searched and searched, but our options for lots were not great. We wanted to build a 1 1/2 story, 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath. We debated leaving the upstairs unfinished until Dave's next bonus. We made several offers on other homes, all which fell through for one reason or another. We were frustrated to say the least. Our house FINALLY sold after having 3 different contracts on it. We had 1 week to find a house in order to prevent a gap between closings. It took us 2 weeks. We were certain we would be homeless for a short time and have to stay with family.

#5 We put a contract on our new house in mid-April. The builder agreed to pay ALL closing costs and pre-paids. The house was a new construction built in 2007, but rented for a short time.

#6 On May 28th we had simultaneous closes. Because of the first time homeowners tax credit, our closing on the first house was pushed back to the day before the closing on our new house. PERFECT TIMING! And we made about 3 times what we expected to on the sale of our old house.

#7 Our new house is in a neighborhood we never knew existed. Located on the west side of the Arkansas River, Tulsa City, but Jenks Schools. I stuck my nose up when the Realtor told me where it was located. Really? You want to show me a house in West Tulsa? I did not like the sound of that at all... It's tucked away in a small secluded area between 2 golf courses. Our home backs up to the 9th tee of Old Page. It's beautiful, peaceful, quiet, and we have wonderful neighbors. It's a 1 1/2 story 4 bed, 3 bath with an upstairs playroom.

I can not even imagine making the 30 mile (one-way) drive in from Coweta to Metro every morning and afternoon. I can not imagine the additional cost in gas. Satan tried to detour us a number of times. We had a host of attacks on our finances, illness (almost losing our sweet baby boy Hunter), and other setbacks along the home buying/selling path. We held steadfast that we were fulfilling the plan He had for us. We let nothing get in our way, and constantly stood our ground against the Enemy. I can not imagine us anywhere else. Isn't God great?

The Hodges Homestead

Fireplace Mantles

Law and Order

The Lady Killer Jr.

Birthday Squared

MCA: The 5 year Journey

The Kids.

About Us

Blog Archive

Popular Posts