The Process of Moving Into Our New Home!!

Well, we are finally in Lil' Yellow and I couldn't be happier.  I absolutely love it here!!  I'm so happy to be in and unpacked.  Below is a slide show that I put together for anyone interested.  You should be able to play it at your own pace by using the buttons to pause and go fwd or back.  Also, if you are interested in a slide, click it to make it bigger.  Or you can click the slideshow and view the pictures in my Picasa Web Album.  

We had a lot of help from a ton of family and friends to get in and get situated.  Jared and I are very blessed and fortunate to be able to have this place and all of the furnishings in it.  It will be a little surprising to see everything in the new house if you've seen our apartment before.

That said, we owe almost everything to our family and friends.  Without their generosity, we would not have a house so well filled.  I also appreciate the financial lessons that I picked up from my family.  My papa always told me, "Spend some, Save some, and You'll Always Have some".

But we all must remember that all of our material blessings come from God Almighty and that they are only temporary.  We have a home in heaven that is much better than any home we could ever make here on earth. 

Taking pictures was so fun, that I decided to take you on a virtual tour and make a video.  Warning - I used my trusty digital camera AGAIN and so you might be in for a bumpy view...

Time to Post a Few Missed Events

It's been a busy time at the Gott house.  We've been waiting to close on the yellow house.  First we were told, maybe we'd close LAST Thursday.  Then it was for sure Wednesday, for sure Thursday, most likely Friday, probably Monday, and now hopefully early next week!!  The waiting game is hard for us... (like it's easy for anyone else!)  On the bright side, I suppose it's been a good learning experience...  Keeps our expectations low, I guess.  And gives us a lesson in patience.  We know we will get the house, it's just a matter of when.  We should hopefully close next week.  Please say a little prayer that we do; we are suppose to be out of the apartment by the first.  I have a husband, a realtor, and two managers at the loan office pushing our gal along.  Hopefully she won't make anymore mistakes (she's made a lot!!)  Oh, and hopefully I don't get so upset that I decide to call her.  Jared has been handling these matters.  He's a lot calmer than me.  (For that I'm ever so grateful.)

And so now I have time to post the Events that I've meant to post earlier, but didn't...

First Event:

Bobby May's Benefit Brunch...

From Collages

Click on photo to enlarge

Jared and I sponsored a table and had some of our friends and coworkers sit with us at this event.  Bobby was one of my friends my first year and a half at Freed.  We were both in Phi Kappa Alpha together and shared some fun times.  Bobby died in a car wreck on his way home before Christmas in 2002.  Bobby was a great guy with a big heart and an amazing voice.  He was in the Ambassadors (a vocal group at Freed) and now there is a  scholarship in his name that raises money for them.  I'm happy that I was asked to be part of raising money for this year's event.

Makin' Music '09

From Collages

Click on picture to enlarge

Who's who in this from Left to Right:

*Brother in Law was a black in white character in XBX's show!!  

*The crew plus me who came from Gasden, AL to watch the show.  (Jared is missing because he was doing XBX's tunnel talk!)

*My alma mater club, PKA!!! And my cousin Justin was a wizard!

*The winning Makin' Music show!!  Whoo-hoo XBX!! (Let it be known that I will always be part red, BUT I am also biased to XBX since the Gotts are purple and gold)

Extra note that we just learned:  Eric (brother in law) earned a spot as a XBX Makin' Music director for '10!!  "Huzzah!!"

I Love Old Main...

The lighting for my favorite building on campus was just right.  If only I had snapped the tree and not its shadow!!

My Crabs Had a Growth Spurt!

They are so big now that I don't really handle them anymore... :o(

Lads to Leaders '09

From Collages

Click on pictures to enlarge

This year was our first year to attend the Lads to Leaders in Nashville.  We attend this event because Jared needs to be there for his job.  During the weekend he sees TONS of prospective students.  I get to go and tag along - what a perk!!

We stayed in the Opryland Hotel and were lucky enough to get a suite sized room!!  Literally it was HUGE!!  The Great Oaks congregation, out of Memphis was staying in the next room.  Ohh, how I love King Sized beds!!  I want one some day.  :o)  The scenery at this hotel is A-MAZ-ING!!  If you've never been, GO!!  Also, eat at Wasabi's!!!  We ate there TWICE!! :o)

The second time our friend, Frank paid..  

Other Noteworthy Tidbits:

Nemo and Sunshine - the guppies - kicked the bucket.  Ohh and one of the neons that we didn't find for days died also.  Actually the neon sorta decomposed.  I new he was missing but was so busy packing I didn't bother to look until I smelt him... Then I asked Jared to look.  Oh, Brave hubby who's nose doesn't work well... you can handle any smell!

At the yellow house, the Irises are just blooming.  I love that there are already flowers and plants in the yard.  I'll try to get a picture of stuff soon.

And the apartment is a disaster zone!  I will definitely update you on that process once we're outta here!!  A documentary, if anyone cares to look at it.  (I know my following is small)

So that's that.

Oh wait - a snapshot of me and Jared at the CrowHop Concert tonight.  We saw Eric Hutchinson perform.  I tried to take pictures but my little digital camera is just not powerful enough for me to post what it took!!  (I'll save it the embarrassment!)

Travels to See Families...

*Sigh* more random people like Jared's blog than mine.  Guess that's because my blog primarily is about what is going on with us.  His is about what's going on in his head.  I guess that would be more interesting... But anyway, this post is what HAS BEEN with us.  Remember to click on the pictures to enlarge.

TIME IN ALABAMA:  

At the end of our Spring Break (roughly two weeks ago).  We went to Alabama to celebrate Eric and Kara's (Jared's siblings) Birthdays.  We were also able to see Kara perform in a Winterguard competition in Georgia!!  She did such a good job!  Winterguard is basically for a competing group of people that can twirl, toss, catch,  and you name it to things like flags, rifles, and sabers!!  It is very impressive!!  Kara is one of the captains for her hometown Winterguard.  She is in an independent group made up of high school and college girls.  Training is rigorous and each weekend they compete somewhere.  I didn't get a good picture of her competing because I was sitting so far away in the stands.  There is a picture of her in the lower right of the below collage.

From Recently Updated

TIME AT HARDING UNIVERSITY:

We went to Harding University last Thursday because Chandler - my brother - had his junior percussion recital.  Our family had been looking forward to attending this for over a year.  Most music majors only do a Senior recital.  Bragging here:  Chandler is so good that his professors wanted him to have a junior recital too!!  He definitely didn't disappoint!  Bragging again:  He is A-MAZ-ING!!  I'm glad that he is going to Harding because of the Christian aspect of the school.  Seriously though, he could have attended ANYWHERE with his talents.  Not only is he amazing at percussion stuff, but he has a mind for composing that you wouldn't believe!!  I have my B.A. in music, but I always feel stupid when talking to him.  It can be aggravating!!

Okay little brother - if you are reading this, don't get a big head!!  I still wish you would have come to Freed.  Snobby Harding Person!! :o)  J/K!!

From Recently Updated

Harding's facilities are impressive!!  Top left is their recital hall.  Top right is their new MUSIC BUILDING!!  I wish FHU would have had one of these...  I would have transfered to Harding my junior year had I not met Jared... <3>

Soon I will be sharing some bad quality videos with you.  I just have to put my money where my mouth is about my brother.  I have to crop the videos first though... I took a lot of them!!

SOME RARE FAMILY PICS WHILE AT HARDING:

Cousin Kevin, Chan Man, and Nana

From Recently Updated

Chan Man and Nana

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Hubby, Chan Man, and Me

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The Men

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Mom and Dad and Chandler

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Momma, Sober Sides, and Me

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Really Good Pics of Mom and Dad...

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I love my little brother and he puts up with me.  Guess he's not so little anymore.  :o(

From Recently Updated

ALSO WORTH NOTING:

We should be getting a closing date soon for Lil' Yellow.

It feels good to pretty much be only waiting for a closing date from our Mortgage Co.

I love driving by the house and checking on things.  Spring is here and below is a picture of an example of the pretty plants that were planted for us!!

From Recently Updated

Jared and I took some friends by Sunday afternoon and Ashley D. says this is a "Lily of the Valley".  I hope she is right, because those flowers are lovely.  I love how pure and delicate this plant looks!  The owners landscaped a lot with different things around the place.  I can't wait until everything blooms!!!! :o)

Thanks for reading!!  Makin' Music is this weekend.  Eric is in it and Mom Gott and Pop Gott are visiting.  I'm sure I'll have another family post soon!!  

Earnest Money: So much that I'm pretty protective over it!!

Earnest Money:  If you've bought a house before you know what this is.  Basically, by putting earnest money down you are saying that you are serious about buying something.  It's a good faith thing.  You aren't just going to up and walk away and leave the seller hanging.

When we finished the contract on lil' yellow we put a lot (for us) of earnest money in on it.  I was just going to put a little in at first, but Jared wanted to put more in.  He is the head and I'm totally trusting his lead on EVERYTHING!!!  

I'M SO GLAD WE DID THIS EARNEST MONEY THING!!! BECAUSE.....

Tonight after worship I wanted to drive by the house and look at it.  When we arrived, a SUV of college girls was pulling into the drive way.  They jumped out of the car and I could tell they were excited about the house.  I could tell by their facial expressions that they really liked it.  My first reaction was HORROR!!!  I was so ANNOYED that they were looking at it.  I know that nothing is a SURE thing until you close.  I thought about the little trick of the earnest money thing and felt a little better.  I'm still nervous about people looking at it who want to buy it.  I feel as if we've put down so much money,  gone through so much paperwork, and interviewed so many people that it should be ours!!!  I guess one good thing to keep in mind is that it is sort of neat that other people are looking at the house.  I knew before we made the contract that there had been some calls interested in it.  Lord willing, I won't have to panic much more.  I'm so NERVOUS!!  This entire process is OVERWHELMING.  I almost feel as if I'm too young to be making such big money decisions!!  But both of our families are or have looked at it, we got an amazing inspector.... and most importantly we are PRAYING to God to help us in everything.  Hopefully, fingers crossed...  We shall see.

Taking the Plunge and Buying our Dream House!!

Picture Copied from Real Estate Website

Incase you didn't know, I'm pretty sure yellow is the official U.S. color of 2009.  I think it has something to do with yellow being a happy color :o)  Evidently the fashion gurus thought that in our dim economic depression yellow might help our spirits... (don't quote me on that!)

Well like any fashion diva (yeah right) I have decided that I'm going to not only wear the color of the year, but LIVE IN IT!!! :o)  HUZZAH!!!  

Meaning:  JARED AND I ARE BUYING OUR FIRST HOUSE!!!

My name for the color of our new abode is buttercream yellow.  It is a beauty and we are both in love with it.  I never thought I'd get my "dream home" so soon.  It was just by chance that I mentioned we were looking to rent and one of my girl friends over heard me and told me about this one.  I don't think we will have to do hardly anything to get it "picture perfect".  I can't wait until we finally close!!  It should be very soon.  We will, Lord willing, be living in our new lil' yellow house by the end of April!!  Below are some pictures for your curiosity... ;o)  If you're interested, you can click on all the pictures to see them really big!!

Below are Pictures from the Real Estate Website!!

From Collages Lil' Yellow has 3 Bedrooms and 2.5 Bathrooms.  It is about a block away from the Church Building and I can see FHU from my front porch!! Everything has been remodeled and is new (thus the reason we don't have to do anything).  The house itself is an older home, but I think that's what makes it so lovely. Dream Location Below: From Recently Updated

Below are some pictures of different things that I love...

From Recently Updated

Ramblings from left to right:  I'm loving the big front porch (with hooks for my porch swing that I've always wanted!!) and all new, black appliances!!   New showers (Ohh, apartment living memories...)  This place has two pedestal sinks and antique looking stuff all over the place!!  Love the fireplace and the cool brass cover thing!!  My bathroom chandelier is glorious!!  Ohh so soft Frise carpet (this was Jared's favorite when he used to carpet clean.  He says it's super nice and easy to clean!!)  The sink in the Utility room!!  Big wooden plantation Blinds!! :o) :o)

Okay.  If you've made it through all of my bragging without getting sick - HUZZAH!!  And I hope you aren't sick of me.  One last time though... The little yellow house that is about to be ours....

From Recently Updated

 I'm so excited!!!! :P