All Together Now

This blog will be mostly a listing of events with a few details here and there. From reading the list I think that you will understand that we have all been very busy this past week. Great events have taken place.

Last Thursday at around 6:00 pm we entered our new house on Buchanan Ave. for the first time as new residents. Paul and Dave Boling and Bill Meier were there ushering in the first of many moving van and truck loads of stuff.

Friday night we all slept in the house for the first time. It was a very hot night in Corvallis. The Evans's slept on their newly filled water bed and the Herbs slept in the cool, cool basement.

Saturday morning was moving day. We were overwhelmed with the amazing turn out for our moving party. Snacks and lunch were provided by church folks. Moving and cleaning help was provided by a great gathering of church community from near and far, family from various branches, and friends of all sorts. A HUGE amount of work was accomplished. Most everything was moved from both houses. A stunning accomplishment. It was also about the hottest day we have had all spring. What a sweat bath.

Sunday after church more moving took place. There were a few big items that needed to come over while we still had the moving van and utility dolly. The Boling brothers were there with us again helping us with these last big items. This was also the day that I took an initial try at organizing the kitchen. I started at 10:30 am and finished at 5:30 pm. I had cleared enough away that I was able to wipe the counters!

Monday was another big day of slowly chipping away at the mountains of boxes and furniture surrounding us. It seemed insurmountable. Jeremiah and Nan also had a visit to the doctor this day. He decided that they should go into the hospital at midnight to begin induction.

Tuesday was yet ANOTHER huge day of unpacking, box organizing and furniture moving. It was also chemo day for Mom. Jeremiah and Nan gave us regular reports from the hospital where different induction methods were being used. By dinner time it was obvious that baby Sam would be entering the world soon. Mom and Dad took off to Portland to lend their support to Jeremiah and Nan and to welcome their new grandson into the world.

Wednesday morning at around 2:15 am Sam Tanner Evans was born. He weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces and was 21 & 1/4 inches long. Nan had to have a c-section after quite a few complications arose. Mom and Dad were able to greet Sam at around 4:00 am and made it back home at 5:45 am.

Of course more unpacking occurred on Wednesday too.

Also on Wednesday Mom had a doctor's appointment that went very well. The chemotherapy seems to be working and the inflammation in her breast is down even more from last month's check-in.

Thursday, yes, more unpacking. Thursday night Steve had his Spring music concert at school. He is always quite relieved when his programs are done. Soon the school year will be done too!

Friday was a busy fun day. Steve took the day off work to split all the wood from the huge tree we had to have taken down. This was at our house we are selling on Dixon St. because it came up negatively in the inspection as it was cracking the foundation! The tree was removed last week Thursday and the gigantic rounds of wood have been on our front lawn ever since. We have to clear out of the house next weekend, so it was time to get the wood split. Steve and Dad rented a splitter and the whole family took turns running the machine, hauling wood, and stacking wood. It was a pin oak tree and we will use the wood at our new house in the wood stove and fireplace.

Saturday (today) Steve and I woke up at 4:30 am to get ready for our garage sale. We also had to take care of this project this weekend in order to be out of our house on time. We had a great time practically giving away all sorts of stuff. It was a great relief to see other people carting away our junk.

Tomorrow we will all travel up to Portland after church to see Jeremiah and Nan and new baby Sam. Mom is in the kitchen cooking right now so we can take some dinner to them.

Here we sit in our new house. We are all together in this place and that feels so good. The house is still a wreck with boxes needing to be unpacked, furniture needing to be placed, and all the regular chores of life like laundry and meal prep hardly being adequately taken care of. But, we are doing our best and this is our life!

It is 8:00 pm and I am very ready for bed.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Love, Emily