Um . . . hello? [crickets chirping] Is anybody out there?

Hi. Remember me? I used to be the girl who wrote a mildly entertaining blog you'd check every week or so for updates. I don't know where that girl has gone. Yes I do. I think she was accidentally hauled off with the contents of my kitchen. Because remodeling the living room and dining room wasn't disruptive enough, I've moved on to the kitchen. I know, you're asking yourself, "Has she completely lost her mind?!" Maybe, but when you hear the back story, I think you'll agree that it was the right thing to do.

A few weeks ago, the boys and I went to Utah to help my parents get ready to move from their home (they sold it). On Saturday morning I ran the few miles from my parents' house to Lynn's (Paul's brother), where I woke them up to beg a drink of water--sorry guys. While I was there, Lynn told me his neighbor--a cabinet maker--was selling his showroom display cabinets for cheap. Having seen my lovely (not!) 50s-era metal cabinets, Lynn wondered if I'd be interested in new ones. I said if I had time later, I'd take a look at them.

That afternoon, Lynn came to my parents' house with an update: his neighbor had a house full of brand new cabinets that he was repossessing from a spec home; and I could have them, installed, for half the regular price. Long story short, I now have beautiful knotty alder cabinets. Wait, it gets better. I didn't have a sample of the wood when I choose the counter top and tile for the floor, only a few photos that Jeff, the cabinet guy, had e-mailed me. When he brought the cabinets into the house, I grabbed a piece of the granite I'd chosen for the counter, and a floor tile to see how they'd look together. Guess what? They matched perfectly! Same thing with the knobs and handles I bought. What's more, Jeff said he's never, ever had cabinets that were specifically built for one house fit so perfectly into another. Everything fit like they were made for our home. He called it a crazy coincidence, but I don't believe in coincidence. I have no doubt Heavenly Father knew I needed a new, affordable kitchen, and he orchestrated events to allow it to happen. It might seem insignificant in the eternal scheme of things, but to me, it's a testimony of God's love for his children. He truly is aware of our needs, whether large or small, temporal or spiritual.

I promise, I will post pictures. Soon. Before September. But now, I've gotta get to bed. Tomorrow is my first day of class: Tile Laying 101. Wish me luck!