We're here...barely

Just in case you might think The Wright's have fallen off of earth, I thought I would inform you that we are still here and hanging on...barely! As if moving for the 2nd time and prepping to live in our 3rd place of residence in one year isnt enough, we have had a few other hurdles to jump over during the last month! I started a new job teaching preschool M-F, 8:30-1:30 on October 24. I am teaching 3's and it has been wonderful getting back into the classroom, but quite an adjustment and change for our family since I have not worked since I had Hailee! Brian has had to take and pick the girls up at their preschool most days since they start their day 30 minutes later than I have to work and 30 minutes earlier than I am done. We have had help from some family and friends on some days as well, making it very crazy and chaoctic for the girls, not knowing who is taking them or picking them up from school! And, of course, as a teacher, starting in the middle of the year rather than the 1st day, always has its set of challenges! ;)
And then on October 28, we closed on our new house...which was SO exciting, since we had started this process with this house back in JUNE!! However, it has needed a good amount of TLC, lots of cleaning, paint from head to toe and everything in between, yard work, 1 room that had to be completely gutted and re-done, 1 room that still needs some nails and caulk, carpets cleaned, carpets stretched, furniture to buy to put in new house, and to say there were a few shelves that needed to be re-covered in contact paper is an understatement!!!
In the midst of juggling the above, I came down with the flu (nausea and all!) on November 10 and had a fever of 100+ for 8 straight days that ended with walking pneumonia. Brian got the exact same virus 2 days after me. Praise the Lord for my mother who came to stay with us in this tiny, germ infested apartment to take care of our kids for 4 days when we couldnt get out of bed and to Brian's parents and sister who took our girls every afternoon after mom left so we could rest and heal as much as possible! I missed 6 total days of work...I only get 4 for the entire year of teaching. Sweet.
I went back to work on Monday, Nov. 21 and worked for 2 days of Thanksgiving week, then drove on Tuesday afternoon to Greenville to see my family for a day and a 1/2, leave the girls behind with my mom, and drive back to Greensboro Thanksgiving morning at 6am to start packing up our apartment and working on house projects and moving boxes over to the new house for 4 days. Brian and I enjoyed a sandwich on our card-table in the apt. for our Thanksgiving meal all by ourselves b/c we had taken down our kitchen table to start painting it for the new house (that project has not gone over so well so far!)
During all this time my car has been smoking, overheating, smelling like its burning, and leaking fluids. Brian's car has been losing air and has a nail in it that needs to be removed and patched. To one of Brian's 1,000+ trips to Lowes for house stuff, he got out of his car and his phone fell out and his iphone screen smashed and cracked. We were issued new check cards from our bank, and when we activated the new cards, the old ones were no longer valid in any shape or form and I've had numerous purchases for things from the house that I've needed to return, and now cant do so b/c I have a "new card!" Seriously people, just give us a little break!!
Soooo, in saying all of that, we are here, alive, beyond blessed and happy about our new house, thankful for God's provisions and a new job that's providing much needed additional finances, health (even though Brian has cracked a rib from coughing and we're both still coughing a lot), friends who provided meals and prayers for us when we were so sick, family who help us with our children, and give us gifts and money, and this time of year where we're reminded that nothing on this earth matters compared to our Lord Jesus and His unfailing love for us and that if we depend on Him for everything, we can endure anything!
But, we need a break. We are here, holding on, living in boxes, and will let out a huge sigh of relief when our life slows down a bit and things come back to a "normal." We've been through a lot in a month's time and to say we are exhausted is an understatement. We will be so glad to be in a permanent place of residence (an awesome one I might add!) and know we dont have to look at moving boxes or a storage unit hopefully ever again, but I wont say that since I've learned each time I say "never again," God says, "yes, now!" One day I'll upload all of our "before" and "after" pics of our house since so many of you have requested pics! For now, we will be moving this Saturday, unpacking for as long as that takes, decorating for Christmas, flying through this holiday season with parties and gift exchanges and birthdays and travels, and then maybe come January, maybe, we will feel somewhat rested and caught up and can slow down a bit. Maybe.