Regina enters in 2022

 Hey there! I hope everyone is having a terrific fall!

I am the Director of Student Media, and I encourage everyone to check out washburnreview.org.

Cash fails to flow

Though my parents never sent me away to camp for the summer, I am thinking today about the letters kids used to write home.

Dear Mom & Dad,
Camp Cassell is fine. We are loving our new home, but it did not come without complications. Please send cash. Hugs and kisses.
love, your daughter Regina

Where is my crockpot?

I begin teaching MM100 Media Boot Camp and MM422 Editing on Tuesday. I need the fog to clear in my new-house brain.

Change has been somewhat harder than I expected. While I love the look of my kitchen, I have not been happy COOKING in my kitchen. In my mind, there simply is not a natural flow. A small center cabinet/portable island might improve many of my BIG issues, but it will not make the silly refrigerator bigger :) I finally cleaned the oven, and now it's very functional. Cooking on gas is fine, but I miss the EASE and CONVENIENCE of being able to just wipe down my stovetop without having to remove heavy grates on top and set them somewhere. And, let's face it, I'm not fancy in the kitchen so the benefit of gas is likely lost on me.

I can't find my red crockpot either. It was my birthday present last year (I asked for it and am thrilled to get gifts I use all the time.) I spy one last box in the dining room to unpack (aka pile the stuff on the tables to delay working on things I should be doing.) SIGH.

BTW, I have four tables in here presently and still space to dance if I wanted. I was excited to have guests Friday night sitting around Roy D. Baum and Annette's former dining room table. I LOVE this dining room. Seriously. It's my favorite spot. Maybe I should just hire a chef and a housekeeper, so I can avoid the kitchen entirely! Now, I just need some good lotto numbers.

OK, time to close and unpack that box, which taunts me. AND THEN, I will sort the silly papers on my kitchen table (aaauugggh) and do some real work.

I KNOW that I am beyond blessed. Truly, I do. I hope no one takes offense at any of my whining. I know it's whining, and I will deal.

But, I've got in mind a project and FB seems to be super handy to compile my thoughts for a scrapbook project. Now I just need my forever friends and best roommates ever (no offense to you, dear husband, Gene Cassell), akaDyan Millsaps Shirley and Reba Gant Richie to come see me for a LONG weekend. I see chippies and dipppies in our future…

Jared joins the Jaguars

My youngest son begins middle school today. How is this possible?

I am back in my office wondering how I am going to settle my thoughts enough to tackle a few BIG tasks -- such as getting ready to teach MY classes next Tuesday.

June was teaching while trying to get our house ready for the market. I did go to Scout camp with Jared that month also.

July was taking care of the never-ending list of fixes on Medford.

The first two weeks of August was excruciating WAITING. WAITING. WAITING.

Friday: Complete final closing paperwork on TWO HOMES. Move into new house

Saturday: Continue to work on house

Sunday: Church, church field trip, helping a friend

Monday: Find the garage (done!), Get a check from church and then signed by two, wait 15 minutes in bank drive-through, drop off stuff for Wonderful Weekend for Women at KSNSBat Jared haircut, both boys new shoes and one back to school T-shirt because I had no energy/money for more at this moment.

Tuesday: Go back to work. ENGAGE BRAIN (working on this)

Thank you so much!

You know you're tired when you haven't posted on FB about surviving a move involving a home where you lived for the past 15 years!

Aside from the aches and pains, we are thrilled to wake up for the second time on College Avenue!

My deepest thanks to our tireless crew the past two days: Karen Huntleyand Mary Cassell got my kitchen and pantry way under control.

Roger Flenniken, Trey Flenniken, Rachel Flenniken and Kyannaje Metcalfehauled more than their fair share up and down the stairs.

Gene Cassell and Gene Senior Cassell tackled not only the move but the long list of assembly-required items.

Tracy Horacek was super at helping get house closer to home status.

And, Jake Cassell and best friend Alex Thomas lugged many things to the basement for me.

Marshall H helped Jared stay on track and they both worked pretty hard--before they begged to be dropped off at the pool ;)

My deepest thanks!

Andalay! Andalay! OOPS...

I try to represent an "honest" look at my life on Facebook, the good, the bad and the truly annoying. I try to label my rants as such, but I generally find I am more reflective. Maybe it's because I used to journal, but my thoughts seem to flow better in front of a keyboard these days.

Today I got up and was only three minutes late meeting my walking partner who lives across town. Oh,heck. I just saw some natural foreshadowing in that sentence because on the way back to my house after feeling a bit proud for our pace today, I got a speeding ticket.

And, let me tell you friends, it's my second speeding ticket in my life, and I have thoroughly earned both of them. (I'd like to note that your comments are not needed in this regard- :-) There's not a single reason to get angry about it, and I am not. Were you driving your car faster than the posted sign? Yes? Well, then, you get your ticket.

If we can survive them, we have three more days on Medford. Oh, the stress. Our youngest is coping with his stress by being in continual meltdown mode, which cycles through the entire family in rapid succession.

Yesterday, our home warranty folks came to look at a few things and nothing was solved. A part was ordered. And then our Realtor saved the day and called another plumbing company -- likely the only plumbing company I am ever going to trust again. More money being spent on Medford (sigh). Oh, if only I could go back a bit and make some different choices, but at least I've learned something. And, as an educator, I know learning comes with a price tag.

Today I sit and wait for the HVAC guy to come "service the furnace." But what he will really do is tell me that the OLD furnace needs to be replaced. I know this. It's why we have a home warranty and are paying for one for our buyer. I have prayed for the furnace to just die already many times.

I love Jesus. I know he loves me. I believe in God's timing though I rarely appreciate it while I'm knee deep.

Anyone remember those old Calgon bath bubble commercials?

"Calgon, take me away …"

Reflections

I had a productive day, and we are down to six nights left in our house on Medford, which threatens to make me emotional at times. But, I am so beyond excited to move to College that these moments do not last long.

It has been a super wonderful home, and we have stuffed it full of awesome memories, people, joyful family additions and everything else.

For anyone considering buying a house outside of your means, DO NOT DO IT! We have managed to survive/thrive in our modest home with ONE bathroom, two boys and smaller bedrooms for 15 years. This house does not have a basement or a garage we could park in, but I never once worried that my family would not have a place to live. It's probably the only wise financial decision Gene and I made in our 20s. Those 15 years would have been shortened considerably if we had made better choices in other areas, but God has gotten us here in HIS time.

I realized today as I was cleaning and *ahem* directing my hubby on some cleaning standards I have, I realized I've never moved out of a house and NOT gotten a full security deposit back. Well, I guess if the house looks awesome when we leave, WHICH IT WILL, I will just have to give myself a nice deposit to spend.

Trusting God

STRESSED OUT. Today was the home inspection, which I understand is a perfectly good idea and a smart idea. However, as the person living in the house that was inspected, it SUCKS.

I so wish I did not have to wait at least overnight to find out how the house measured up. But, in my heart of hearts, I KNOW God has the right plan for us. But, I am not doing so good at the trusting because I want HIS plan to be MY plan at the moment.

There is a song by Jars of Clay called "Two Hands." Some of the lyrics are "I have a broken disposition. I am a liar who thirsts for the truth and while I ache for faith to hold me, I need to see the scars and feel the proof…" I am so there right now.

Thanks to all the friends who are praying me up, especially when I'm riding the struggle bus…

2.5 percent, say what?!

I am super excited to lock in a 2.5 percent interest rate on our new house! God is super good!

We were a bit bummed to learn that when the sewer pipes in our current home were replaced (prior to us moving in), the plumbing company failed to go the distance. We now have the joy of paying for 3 more feet of pipe replacement to reach the city's main line. I know it's all part of the process, and we are blessed to be able to afford it. But, being able to and wanting to are not quite the same thing.

Anyway, thanks for the prayer warriors who are always praying us up. I feel your prayers, and I am grateful.

The garage gets packed

The garage is PACKED. My feet are on fire, but the garage is packed.

Gene Cassell hates, loathes, despises and abhors painting at this time. He had to paint under the overhangs around the outside of the house today. I'm not sure I looked up there even once since we moved in 15 years ago. Ask him to paint something at your own risk.

And a HUGE thank you to Tracy Kloos Horacek, who came over and made us all dinner. It was very much appreciated.