Today, we are signing all the paperwork to officially own our home. We will be doing a final walk-through at 9, we’ll close at 10, at 3:30 some manly men friends are coming to our apartment to clear the place of furniture, and I’ll finish packing tonight. Hopefully. Saturday is the box-moving day, which will probably take all of 30 minutes. A tiny apartment is the best way to encourage less accumulation of “stuff.”
I am so, so very excited about our adorable little home. I’ll try to put pictures up soon. They knocked the place out so quickly, and the weather was so cooperative. I can’t believe it’s ours. I’m excited to get away from thin walls shared with strangers, having to consider landlords in all home decisions, and our demanding neighbor. I’m excited to have a yard for Linus, a fireplace for me, and a neighborhood community for Mike. I love that every little gadget in the home is ours. Isn’t that strange? Toilets. Mirrors. Fans. Windows. Doors. Doorknobs. Cabinets. Garage door openers. Suddenly these objects are just magical in my eyes, because they belong to us.
Last night we spent the last night in our apartment, per my request. One big difference between Mike and me – and perhaps between men and women as well, but I won’t try to generalize – is that Mike basically loves looking forward and I love looking back. He’s ready to move into the new home the moment those silver keys hit his hands. I want one last night in our apartment to pay the place its proper respects and to relish in the memories that it has brought us as our first home as a married couple. It was nice to be in our own bed for the final night, though we had to skip out staying at Jonathan’s like we thought we would and therefore missed relishing in the last night at his house, which was Monday.
I have had no attention span for work this week. Thankfully, it’s slow for us at the moment, but I still feel antsy. We have things to pack, trash to clear out, and an apartment to which we’re preparing to say goodbye. We have a football game to attend, a moving day to oversee in our new home, family to love on, and relaxation calling our names in this next holiday/vacation week. I’m nostalgic and optimistic, but for now in this present moment I am thoroughly enjoying the mere anticipation of it all.
So, it’s difficult when one has been busy to follow through with one’s promise to her readers that she will, in fact, be writing about the process that was mentioned a couple weeks ago.
But here is the big (and slightly obvious) news:
We have bought a house!!!***
***I feel the need to have some sort of disclaimer here after having been through and educated by my first home-buying experience. We have not, in fact, “bought” a house. We have invested in a house and will be putting money towards buying it until we are in our 50s.
We are so incredibly stoked and a bit surprised at how quickly this process went. To give you an idea of how crazy and cool things have been, here is a timeline (no doubt with long descriptions that I will inevitably have to include):
September 26th: We receive complaints about our dog barking (I typed that “dark boging” first. Oops! Had to share.) We decide that it’s high time we move out, and perhaps there is still a chance at taking advantage of the credit being offered to first-time homeowners.
September 29th: We meet with the financier Jonathan used when he bought his house. The guy’s name is Chris Hutchens, and he is extremely nice and helpful, patiently walking us through the process so we can understand it. He recommends that to be safe, we need to have found a house by October 15th and be closing by November 15th. And so, we have 16 days to look.
October 2nd: After some quick phone calls and awesome planning by our friend and realtor, Frankie Pierson, we begin our house hunt. It’s a drizzly day. We search for homes that are located near the church for 5 hrs. I love the location of them and the fireplaces in the majority of them. Mike is more hesitant, preferring neighborhoods with a more community feel, newer homes, and preferably a pool. (Okay, I want the pool too!) We find a home I love and he likes, but it’s pricey.
October 5th: More house hunting, this time in Leland area. More rain. Mike loves the idea of being outside Wilmington, the developments, the new homes – the pools. I feel more isolated the farther out we go. Oh, and no fireplaces. (Why do these little things suddenly seem so important?) We find a home Mike loves, but it’s way too far out for me. He has to leave for Catalyst in a day, so we have a day to decide if we want to sign a contract.
October 6th: I’m praying my little heart out that some sort of solution will present itself. Pricey home ends up remaining too pricey, so it’s out. We’re down to the wire. Oh, and it’s still raining. Then, at 1pm, Frankie calls. A house with a floorplan we loved in a community we loved that had all the quirks we both wanted is available. We had disregarded it because it is still being built, and they didn’t know if it would be done in time. They have met with the builders and it is now promised to be finished. We go to see the home, hopes rising. Hopes dashed when another potential buyer is already on location looking at it. We have nothing to do but wait – and the potential buyer signs the papers. We meet with the agent afterward and he suggests that we put down a counteroffer, just in case. Why not? We do. Oh, and we pick colors for the siding and counters just in case we get it. Which feels weird. Even find out that they have some door handles we love, so we throw those into the mix.
October 7th: Mike leaves for Catalyst. I’m the one supposed to receive “THE phone call.” Yikes. During staff meeting Mike calls. When I don’t answer, he texts, “call me. get out of staff mtg.” I know mine is the phone expecting THE call, so my paranoia sets in thinking there’s been a car accident or something. I call him and the first thing he says is, “Well, they’ll throw in the door handles for free.” My first thought: We got the house..?! My second, more pessimistic-trying-to-be-realistic-and-not-hopeful thought: We didn’t get the house, and they feel bad, so they’re throwing in door handles for when we DO build. (We had already decided we wanted this floorplan so even if we didn’t get this house, we’d get the same one but without the credit that’s being offered. And we’d have to wait 3 months.)
My response to Mike after these thoughts: “What does that mean?”
…”We got the house.”
WHOOOO!! Praise the Lord!!
In less than a week, we went from looking to finding. Since then, we’ve met with the financier, received our appraisal, and the weather has been beautiful for those wonderful builders. God has been so good and has provided in so many ways. Not only do we have a home, but He has secured us in a financial way despite the fact that we are currently having to pay for a mortgage and rent. Through budgeting (my favorite) we have seen God’s provision and seen that He has made it possible for us to pay both. Doesn’t seem like the best case scenario (paying for an empty apartment is not fun to think about), but even THAT ended up turning into an opportunity to help someone out. It’s not up to me to explain – just know there is a reason God encourages us to be generous: It’s all His anyway and still He gives us so much joy through giving! So we have seen God work in many creative ways these past few weeks, using difficulties for good and providing for us and through us for others. He is so good!
I think of the name Abraham gave to the place where God provided a ram in place of his son as a sacrifice on the mountain – he called it, “Yahweh Yireh”. The Lord will provide.
Years ago, in what I believe was a forwarded e-mail, I read this little snippet about a study in which men and women were given a sentence and asked to place punctuation in it where they saw fit. The sentence was this:
woman without her man is nothing
The study showed this as the typical response from men: Woman, without her man, is nothing.
This little story stuck with me, mostly because I’m fascinated by the way in which grammar and punctuation can direct and define sentences.
Today Mike had to go in to work for a few hours. I made the mental list in my head of things that could be done while he was gone – errands, painting, work, laundry, and a walk with the dog. I could feel productivity in the air, and once Mike had been dropped off at the church, Linus and I headed to the beach to walk the loop.
We’d made it walking 5 minutes before Linus dramatically collapsed on his belly, legs sprawled, under the shade of a tree. Leash tugging was ineffective, and after I scooped him up back on his feet and continued walking, he waited until the shade of the next tree had hit him before dramatically collapsing again and looking at me like I was crazy to think of giving him exercise. This is nothing new to Mike and me; neither the drama nor the laziness. So, I hauled him back to the parking lot and sat on a bench under a tree to read so that Linus could at least have a change of scenery to open his eyes to after sleeping.
Clouds rolled in and rain began coming down, so Linus and I headed back to the car where I made a quick change in my game plan, as I’d intended to run a few quick errands and just leave Linus in the car with the windows open. Clearly, rain ruined any chances of that happening. I did make a quick stop in AC Moore for more paint, as I have no idea when inspiration will hit for the piece I plan to have ready for our expressions art exhibit at our church. When asked on the form how I would describe my art piece, I gave the best description I knew for it at the time: “We’ll see what happens.” Still waiting to see.
By the time we got home, I’d been in the car long enough to realize that the clutter has really built up in there, and in my productive mood I decided that thing #1 to do would be clean out the car. I saw this taking 5 minutes, but it’s amazing what can get smashed, molded, and oozed together (gross) when it’s in a tight space for long enough. Half an hour later I’d finally thrown away all the trash and moved the remaining clutter from our car to our apartment, and was ready to deem it finished. I did my final surveillance of the car, and glimpsed a piece of paper sticking out from among our pile of CDs – it was the registration to our car. I opened the glove compartment to put it back in its proper home…
Ack!! I’d forgotten that the glove compartment was sealed off as a danger zone. It was filled to the brim with I-don’t-know-what-because-it-was-all-crammed-in-there-before-I-was-ever-around. But, productivity never knows when to call it quits, so I decided to tackle that old, inappropriately-labeled compartment. There were no gloves in there at all. Instead, this is all it contained:
- 1 bottle of tanning oil
- 1 bottle (emptied into the compartment) of some kind of cologne or “musk”
- 4 ketchup packets
- 3 expired registration cards
- 2 expired insurance cards, and 1 current insurance card
- an old Wachovia statement (to give you an idea of its age, Mike has long since terminated that account)
- an unopened envelope that read on the outside, “check enclosed!” and when I opened it, there was a check for $10. The check was from May of 2005, and expired in August of 2005.
- another unopened envelope that read on the outside, “check enclosed!” Another expired check from 2005 consisting of $3.55.
- another envelope filled with change. The money kind.
- Old bills from car repairs.
- Mike’s W2 form from 2006.
- Mike’s W2 form from 2007.
- 2 screw drivers, covered in the musky goo.
- 1 pocket knife… is it still called that when it’s the kind with multiple knives, a cork screw, and tweezers included?
- An ice scraper
- what I believe to be an old handle from somewhere in the car. I’m not sure which part of the car is missing a handle, but I found it.
So, there you have it. I’d say my favorite finds were the two checks that would have made Mike thirteen dollars and fifty-five cents richer in 2005, and the W2 form from 2007, as this was what we needed last week as part of the documentation required from our financier. I don’t know how we, or I, have overlooked this compartment so long when cleaning out the car. I am even further baffled as to how Mike crammed so many important documents in there and just… left them. But it made me think of that sentence again, and the study that questioned how to punctuate it. I don’t mind saying that the men could get away with the punctuation they chose, as Mike is the love of my life and is so incredibly important to me. But the glove compartment adventure did put a little grin on my face as I thought of the other grammatical possibility; the typical response that the study received from women:
I’ve been in another kind of crazy this week, it seems. I’d call it a “funk”, but that implies nothing but negative, and that would be inaccurate. I’ve really just felt, well, crazy. It’s been an emotional roller coaster with lows of anxiety, insecurity, doubt and frustration, and highs of jubilation, optimism, hope, and inspiration. Imagine all of these emotions on crack, and you have the gist of my week. I can’t seem to settle down to any task or thought but instead, dwell on whatever particular emotion I’m feeling and produce no action from it.
I couldn’t say why this is. But it’s due to this that I’m delaying the house post, and other posts that have come to mind, because I can’t settle down to anything!
With that said, here’s Linus right now, who could teach me a thing or two about how to settle down.
One of my biggest pet peeves is driving away from the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant, taking a peek into my hamburger/sandwich/taco, and realizing that what I asked for is not what I got. My aim is to be understanding, because I’ll be the first to admit that I never order exactly what the original comes with. However, sometimes I can become so frustrated with the people making my meal. Is it really so hard to take off onions? Or add a few extra pickles? Or to actually give me the type of drink I’d requested? I typically place the blame upon those employed at these establishments, and I don’t think I’m alone in that.
However, yesterday Mike and I were in the drive-thru for Wendy’s (one of the places that is the least likely to get an order right, in my experience, though I love their food). While I sat there listening to the conversation between Mike and Ms. Wendy’s Employee, I realized something. I was wrong in who I tended to blame for all these inaccuracies. The true culprit revealed itself in this exchange:
Monitor: Wehlcohm tsew Wendksies meh ah tek yur ohder?
Mike: Small. And I’d like that with cheese, extra pickles, and no onions. And, a Mr. Pibb to drink.
*2 minute pause*
Monitor: Choo ksaid nohunnins?
Mike: Right. And a Mr. Pibb to drink.
Monitor: What whourksyewkslahke choo trink?
Mike: …Mr. Pibb.
*2 minute pause*
Monitor: Ikssaht kall?
Mike: What?
Monitor: Sksuat?
Mike: What?
Monitor: Sksuat?
…
Monitor: Sksir? Iks. at. all?
Mike: Oh! No ma’am… I’d also like another number one with cheese.
Monitor: Whoulrd yew lahke that wiksth kseese?
Mike: …yes.
Monitor: What whourksyewkslahke choo trink?
Mike: Mr. Pibb as well.
Monitor: Mixerpt ib?
Mike: Mr. Pibb.
Monitor: Ikssaht kall?
Mike: Yes, ma’am.
Monitor: Thaksll be Thirtin fittys kate.
If the poor souls on the other side of the monitor hear us in the same way that we hear them, it’s no wonder that more often than not we drive away with two identical burgers with no cheese, extra onions, and just for the heck of it, no tomato either. It must be the technology that’s to blame.
It makes me wonder if the random cackles on that monitor are no more than its wheezing laughter as it distorts messages daily just for the delight of shaking things up a bit.
Many of you may have heard anywhere from bits and pieces to chunks of the big event that is engulfing our lives for the next month! (Note: I said month, not nine, so stop thinking of storks, you crazy people!)
This new event, which I’d like to dub Project Birchwood, deserves a nice little – long – post, and I promise it will be coming soon!
There are many arguments about God. Whether or not He exists, whether or not He created everything, whether or not He is good. I am fascinated when I hear new evidence for either side.
I don’t really know much about anything. I’m not a scholar, and I am not an expert in any particular area of research or study. When it comes to God, I’ve always presented more experiential evidence – things that He has done in my life. But I love people like my older sister, or Tom Shafer, or Bob Guardino. People who are richly knowledgeable about different studies and research that have been used as evidence against God; people who are capable of using those same studies and research as evidence for God. I love hearing new perspectives being brought to the table.
Which is why I love this video I’m about to share. I found it on someone’s status on facebook. The little boy in the video below took another perspective. And it led him to a very different conclusion from his professor, based on the same facts of which both were aware.
It’s neat to remember what I might be able to find, if I were to dive in with an open mind and seek after it wholeheartedly.
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – Luke 11:9
I thought sticky notes with lines was good, but graph paper lines makes these little notes so. much. better.
I bought 4 packs of them when I saw them on clearance at Staples, because it looks like they didn’t sell any more of them in the aisle of stickies. I can’t understand how graph lines haven’t made their way onto all sticky notes.
I looked for a graph-lined spiral notebook, but they had none. Oh well, I suppose one can’t have everything.
This week, Mike had the privilege of participating in Catalyst 09 with a friend of ours and professional photographer, Chris Davis. Mike sounds like he’s been having a great time as Chris’ “assistant”, hanging out backstage, taking photos, and rubbing shoulders with some of the “greats” like Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio.
Actually, although he’s enjoyed being around everyone, he doesn’t seem to have the gawking giddiness that I would feel. In response to my endless questions – “Who have you seen today? Who have you met today? What were they doing? What were they wearing? Did you talk to them? What did they say? What did you say?” – he simply throws me a couple names and absolutely no details. So like my man.
But he’s been gone. And I miss him. A lot. It’s quite lonely without him.
I’m spoiled, I know. Three days is nothing – and I’m grateful it’s not more, though if it were, I would be just fine. Just as I have been this time. In fact, I’ve been quite productive. Waking up at the time I intend to, going through my morning routine, taking Linus to Jonathan’s at the time I prefer and then heading straight to the church, getting things accomplished at work, leaving the office as soon as I’m done and ready to go, scheduling time with friends and finding time to run errands beforehand, making to-do lists and sticking to my schedule or readjusting as I need or prefer to do, cleaning the house top to bottom, and going to bed when everything is done.
But the bed is too big. The car rides, too quiet. The dog, a bit less manageable. At work, the church feels emptier. Errands and unexpected plans are used to fill the time in the evening. To-do lists are actually completed, with no one around to spontaneously change plans by saying “Come on, Kir, it’s a beautiful day. I’d love to just relax and go to a coffee shop and hang out with you.” And then, at the end of the day, that darned bed is too big again.
I miss him, that’s all. And I’m oh so grateful for him and ready for him to return!
I have much to write. But I am at work, and therefore cannot write much. I can, however, share this with you. It made my day.
Upon seeing the clip about teacup pigs on the morning news, the following dialogue ensued in our home:
me: eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
Mike: *stare*
me: eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
Mike: *stare*
me: eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
(pause)
me: I want a teacup pig!!
Mike: I’m sure you do.
me: He could be friends with Linus!
Mike: He could be food for Linus.
(pause)
me: I don’t think we would be able to eat pork anymore.
Mike: *stare*
And I’m oh so grateful for him and ready for him to return!
