Zander Experiences a First

Those of you who know Donnie W are going to laugh at me. It had never dawned on me that Donnie was from Japan. I guess I don't think in terms of countries of origin or what not. He's American...and he is.... but today we had fun.

He lived in Japan until he was 8. Zander came out and said, "Ohayou gozaimasu," to Donnie. Donnie responded in a flow of Japanese. Zander got a strange expression on his face, turned and ran. Huh? Later he told us that it scared him to have someone speak Japanese to him.....we told him he needs to get used to it.

I enjoyed discussing Japan with Donnie. Great tutoring session. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Life Can Move On....

Oh, Praise God, it's OVER. We do NOT like having garage sales. I was not thrilled at the aggressive early birds (and I've not shared all that went on yesterday). I did NOT like sorting through 19 years of homeschooling...but it's over...and it will be good.

Our home still looks like a disaster after the whirlwind of the past week, but I have great hope that by Monday it will look "normal". I'll continue to weed things out. I hope to shortly be ready to divide our belongings into 6 different packer piles. (I really don't know WHERE to begin on this - but that's to obsesss about next week!) Betsy, Bobbie Jo - have you done this before? Any tips?

We all worked HARD yesterday to be ready for the sale today (little did we know how persistent garage sale attendees can be in Texas. I'm not sure how to handle this in the future...)

I DID tell homeschoolers they could come early and so we wanted to have the homeschool stuff out last night.....

We started very orderly...looks pretty?



The homeschool wing of the sale....Notice these tables have stacks and boxes full of books underneath them. It's amazing to me that all but two apple boxes of books are gone. Wow - I didn't expect them to sell as well as they did....and many of the most excited were not homeschoolers.

Yes, we hired guards for the driveway last night.


7:30 - an hour before we opened. ::snort:: You can barely see myself and Deja's head....thanks Deja. Deja came over and helped us set things out, then she kept giving me the EYE when our early bird showed up and pressed me to make "deals" on all the big things. She reminded me that it was even 8:30 yet and I didn't need to make deals. Deja really walked me through this sale process. Her Mother and Grandmother hold estate sales for a living. It's not any friend that would get up at 5:30 a.m. to help you. ::snort::

I still don't have that, "ah, the house is bare" feeling....but I AM happy with our results. We made well over anything we've ever made before. I've had a couple of offers to take the couple of boxes of things that I have left to the homeschool sale next week.....I can't attend as I have a farewell to attend - for me and Mandy. ::sigh::

You know....I teared up when our table sold. Silly? We bought two identical tables about 8 years ago...and we needed them. We loved them...solid wood...little drawer to hide cards. ::snort:: We've heard two won't fit in the kitchen area in Misawa quarters...so we sold one...but now I realize that there is no way 7 will fit around this table.....hmm.....and I sold the cart that held my laptop so I wasn't sure I'd be able to blog...but I guess I can. ::snort:: Oh, back to the table....I was fine watching all my well-loved books leave the house, the pool, swing set, picnic tables, canoes (ouch),bike trailer etc...but that table...all the dinners, games, puzzles...discussions...it really signaled to me that our family make up is changing...and it made me sad. (I only slept 3 hours last night so that could have something to do with my emotions). ::snort::

I DID hold back the baby backpack too....no one asked about it. I'm either going to find someone who doesn't have one and likes to hike and bless them; or I'm taking it to a consignment shop. Someone snatched up the Indisposable Diapers and Stacia's first sling....I was happy that the young family was so excited to find the cloth diapers. It's the small things that made my day....I think we got to visit with most of the city. LOL We'll miss this city....and that is truly a blessing because it took a long time for this to be home for our family.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Beware of the Japanese Speaking 7 year old

People keep dropping in.....next time I advertise for ONE day or I do the sale on Friday and be done with it. ::snort::

As one guy tried to scope out our garage Zander cornered his partner and said, "Ohiyo Gozaimas! Nihonggo ga warimas ka?"

Man: "Are you speaking Chinese?"

Zander: "iay, nihonggo."

Zander: "ie....otaniki desu neh!"

Man: "WHAT is he speaking???"

All together now: Japanese.

Zander: We're moving to JAPAN you know!

Moving sales? A PAIN!

Stranger's expressions when they encounter Zander? PRICELESS!

Another stranger at our door!

{Psst! Kim - quit laughing at the spelling. It's hard to figure out how to SPELL what we are learning to say! When i's are e's and r's are d's....}

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

NO EARLY BIRDS?

I went to the gym....I came home and a man was carting away our canoes and my picnic tables....Huh???? ::snort:: I'm sure glad Mike was home this a.m. this would have seriously freaked out our children....at this point it only mildly freaked them out. ::snort::

Our goal was "over $200" for our garage sale....we've doubled that and aren't open yet!

Back to garage sale prep. Sale starts TOMORROW at 8:30......or hey today at 7:30 a.m. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Maternity Clothes - Scrapbooking Stuff - Telescopes

Still going through the house.... Give YOUR input...

I am taking a break from books, books, books....which I know don't sell well, but I have to get rid of them. 10 books shelves will not fit in a 1500 sq ft home. They'll go to Goodwill if they don't sell. Knowing the Internet has a zillion sites for Pre-school activities, crafts, recipes etc., makes it easier to get rid of books. I AM wondering if I should take some of the more current books and list them on PBS and at least get future book credits.

Film Cannon and Nikon cameras - Obsolete. . . I get it. ::snort::

Maternity Clothes - I won't have a lot of storage room for clothes....I've not gotten pregnant in 2 years....but finding modest maternity clothes these days (or ones that a middle age expectant mom may want to wear) is hard....clothes don't make $ in garage sales....so bring them to Misawa or give them to Goodwill?

Scrapbooking stuff....ugh. I don't PLAN to do "real scrapping" and yet the kids can use it for school...but it's weight....so...garage sale? I have about 10 7 x 7 albums....maybe I should keep them and make quick albums for farewell gifts in Japan. I've done that before....I could find time again?

Telescopes - just to remind me to talk to Mike. We have two nice telescopes and only need one.

BTW, i otanki desu neh!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

OUR GARAGE SALE LIST

Local readers - here are a few of things that will be available at the garage sale on Saturday. Please do not call to ask me questions or to reserve items; I'm running wild trying to be ready for Saturday AND continue on with other responsibilities this week. I AM allowing homeschoolers to come early - 7:30 a.m. NO OTHER EARLY BIRDS! (Yeah, right. ::snort::)If you are interested in an item, please visit our sale.

In addition there will be furniture, swing set, pool, free trampoline, bike trailer, canoes, 2 picnic tables, complete Olympic Weight set (bench, handheld weights, dumbbells, tower, leg extension), patio swing, small rototiller, gardening tools, garage shelves, and lots more misc. Eventually we'll have a fridge, washer, dryer and grill to list in the paper...but we're still using them.

The sale is Saturday from 8:30 - 4:30. I am including our address and such in emails that go out with this notice to Concho Valley Home Educators and possibly SACHSA members....if you do not receive those emails and do not know our address - check the paper on Friday/ Saturday. We're the ad that says "Large, military, homeschooling family moving to Japan" and lists lots of stuff. LOL Or email me at dschoosingjoy@gmail.com

INTERNET BUDDIES - I'm swamped and desperately trying to get things out of here before packers show up at my house. I'd rather sell everything in person and not have to mail it..... BUT if you see something you'd like to have, you are willing to pay the price AND shipping....and you are willing to maybe have to wait a week for me to mail....feel free to respond to me at dschoosingjoy as well. I do want to be a good internet friend too. Keep in mind that books will GO - but for the kits that don't sell at the sale, I plan to decrease the price and offer them online. SO...if you really want something now - speak up; but you might get a better deal if you wait until after the sale...or I may get sick of "stuff" and give them all away to the lucky person who shows up at 4:45. ::snort:: I'm making no promises....because I'm that sort of purger. ::snort::

Misawa Garage Sale - Home School Stuff

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Books Brochures & Catalogs garage sale Homeschool

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Help Get the Word Out!

Several have asked me about writing more Super Sized Saturday entries and about the proposed Meme. I promise to bring it back.

I can almost guarantee that I will not be writing lots of weekly entries between now and our move (maybe, but I doubt it).

However, if I can figure out Mr. Linky I WILL do some backwards Super Sized Saturdays.....where I ask YOU for your best tips on a variety of issues that would be of help to Super Sized Families...and remember all are welcome to participate regardless of the size of their family...though the hope is tips that will benefit Super Sized Families as well as all families.

The very first meme topic will be a plea for you to share your BEST STORAGE tips ~ especially helpful for a family downsizing in space. IF I figure out Mr. Linky he'll be here this Saturday (or late Friday night). If I don't have time to figure out Mr. Linky, we'll use the comment section for this first meme. I NEED your tips....now. ::snort::

You'll simply write a post about storage in small spaces, then put a link to that post in the Mr Linky....or if you don't own a blog, you can leave your tips in the comment section. Start thinking now and we'll give it a shot. Do save the graphic to your computer and feel free to use it with your posts or what not. It would be nice if you'd link it back to the page explaining Super Sized Saturdays. IF yo can't figure it out, don't worry. I've not figured out how to make it a clickable graphic with the code for you to copy. ::snort::

Click to read my heart for Super Sized Saturday & for past entries.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.