The Stroup Family: (Change Is) Never a Waste of Time

It seems as though many of life's major changes are happening to us all at once....we're moving Memorial Day weekend, Madeline starts kindergarten in the fall and we're getting married next Valentine's Day. Besides adjusting to all these changes emotionally, there's also the financial aspect that we're adjusting to ;-) Suddenly we can't go and blow our money on something sporadic...so this is what it means to be a financially responsible adult?? I know the pay-offs are huge but sometimes I miss my $4 coffees, meals out and regular pedicures and hair-cuts. Don't get me wrong...I'm more than willing to live without all of those things (and many more) to get ourselves into a nice, practically new house, to give Madeline a high-quality education that also focuses on religion, and to marry the love of my life. Nothing else compares.

Speaking of...here's a photo of our new home. As I mentioned, we're moving Memorial Day weekend and I certainly hope this is the last move for a while. I really hate packing. I'm much better at just showing up at the new place and unpacking...not that I've ever gotten to do that. I'm just guessing I'd enjoy doing the easy part.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, living room with vaulted ceiling, front walk-in area and a bathroom. The unfinished basement houses the laundry room but there's room for another bathroom, a family room, two more bedrooms and a craft room (yeah!!) I love the idea of a two-car garage and a bit of a yard. A nice quiet street in what seems to be a nice quiet town. I must also mention that the BASEMENT DOES NOT LEAK!!!

This week I picked up a dress for Madeline to (possibly) wear for our wedding. I say "possibly" because I have yet to pick my dress out and I'd like them to match in color. The dress I found for her is ivory and she absolutely loves it. I warned her that it may not be "the" dress but I wanted to see her in it. She said it tickled her legs a little bit but once she discovered she could curtsy like a princess nothing else mattered. She even did an impromptu performance for me to show off the twirling capabilities of the dress!! I totally would have done that as a girl. I remember my favorite dress being a red, white and blue one (I think I was four or five) mainly because I could twirl around really fast then sit down on the floor and it would stay all spread out. Such simple pleasures as a child. Now a good dress is one that makes me look 50 pounds lighter and shows good cleavage...twirling doesn't even make the list of necessities anymore!

But I digress...

Here she is showing off the new dress...I sure hope I find one near this shade. How many more times would I be able to pick up such a nice dress for a mere $17 (regularly $70)? I'm guessing...never.