Flop Flip

Jim and I talked last night and this morning. We decided that we won’t do anything about the house, but will just concentrate on our own home and the additions we want to make to it. Moving can wait a few years.

I’m fine with that.  Really! I was getting that panicked feeling when I remembered all that we still have to do on our house–all those unfinished projects that we can live with but someone else wouldn’t want to.

Like the toilet that is  currently sitting in our master bedroom. Yeah, I don’t think a home buyer would be too impressed by that.

Flip Flop

While looking at houses on Craigslist, which is something I do for fun, I actually found something that looked somewhat interesting. I just came home from seeing it with our realtor.

More than a month ago, we walked away from the idea of moving, instead going the route of adding onto our current home and staying a few more years. We’ve talked to four contractors and are in the process of picking one of them.

Jim thinks I’m crazy. Certifiable. I don’t disagree. But the house was really  nice, had a good lot and even a fully finished basement with a viable in-law suite (full kitchen and full bath) in the basement. That would actually be a problem because we really use our basement. But if you pretend it isn’t an in-law suite and just a finished basement, it’s a good price. It’s a nice house at a good price, something I couldn’t find when I was looking before. Even in our current school district, which is not the greatest.

I just talked to Jim and the agent. He’ll do a drive-by and see if he likes the outside (which he probably will, since it’s very nice). I’m shaking my head at the mere idea of going through this again when we had decided against it, but I don’t want to be dumb, either–we can buy this home for cheaper than we can add onto ours.

Any words of wisdom?

Welcome!

I just came over here from another blog and wanted to welcome you to my new home. I hope you find something that interests you, be it a funny story about my kids, what I’m learning about the bible as I study it, or just life in general. Feel free to comment, as I read every one. Thanks for stopping by!

Sleepy Monday

My eyes are at half-mast this morning. I went to bed a little later than normal and just didn’t get my full 8 hours. I can survive on less, but it’s not a pretty sight.

I’m thinking caffeine is in my very near future.

7 Quick Takes Friday

1. Wow, another week has flown by! Sorry posting has been so light….I’ve been in and out a LOT with working and the IEP and doctor appointments.

2. Speaking of work, the job at my current client’s house is just about wrapped up. We’ll finish next week. It’s been a lot of hard, physical work, but I have really enjoyed it! And the client is very pleased, as well, which is a satisfying feeling.

3. Ethan’s IEP went very well. Lots of good goals for next year and lots of measurable progress from last year’s IEP. I truly love and admire Overbrook and have nothing but high praise for the teachers, therapists and staff there.

4. We had our monthly elder/deacon meeting and somehow I ended up with 6 things on my to do list. That spiritual gift of “helps” won’t let me keep my mouth shut! 😀

5. I got on the scale this morning and much to my delight, saw a new number there. I have broken into the 140’s! As of 6:10am, I was 149.6, which means 5 pounds gone!

6. I was supposed to work today, but the client canceled, so I have an unexpected whole day home to accomplish a lot. Especially laundry…I am SO BEHIND on laundry! I will repeat this: laundry is the bane of my existence. And the kitchen floor. They’re partners in my hate triangle.

7. It’s been in the sunny 60’s all week. It has been AMAZING. Like coming back to life after being buried in the snow. LOVING IT. Next week we’re back to our regularly scheduled spring, but this has been such a blessing.

Emtpy House

The home next to mine is empty. For almost 10 years it housed a wonderful, godly woman, her mother and her two daughters. They were my friends. They rented the house. Both of the older women were widows–one my age and widowed when her girls were very young. I loved having them as my neighbors. I depended on the wisdom of the mom and the babysitting of the girls. The mom and I could talk for hours about anything and everything. But the owner of the home let the house go into foreclosure. So, through no fault of their own, they were forced to move by a bank that didn’t care. Into a much smaller home that is about 45 minutes away.

Each day, a truck with a trailer in the back pulls up in the driveway and leaves with more of their things. The man driving it is in charge of cleaning out their house before the auction. He feels badly for my friend, but he is just doing his job. I’m sure he’s a nice man, but I cannot help but resent his presence. The items he removes are just that to him–things, stuff–not treasures that just couldn’t fit into their new life, or things they just didn’t have time to pack. I don’t know what he does with their things–if he takes them to a thrift store, or to friends or just to the dump. Yesterday I watched a life-size Frosty the Snowman get driven away. One more reminder that my friend wouldn’t be here next Christmas.

Someone nice may move in. Someone with small children that my children could befriend. Or a teenager who could babysit. Maybe even a nice woman that I could be friends with as well.

But it will never be the same.

7 Quick Takes Friday

1. I’m sick. Jim has a sinus infection. I’m pretty sure I have one.
2. I’m so busy with getting ready for Catie’s party, cleaning, making a meal for a church family, and going to Catie’s school that I cannot get to the doctor’s today.
3. I’m hoping to make it there tomorrow during their “walk in” hours of 9-1.
4. I’m being productive today. I have no choice. There’s a lot to do and the party is tomorrow.
5. People coming over forces me to have a clean home. It’s actually a good thing. I love how the house looks when it’s clean.
6. The Byetta is working. I’ve lost two pounds so far.
7. We’re still waiting on two bids from contractors. I’m starting to get slightly annoyed, as one of them was our favorite guy.

May you all escape this sinus thing. It’s rotten.