Our house is for sale, not our home.
Since this is my spot to let my mind spill out onto the keyboard…
We’re selling our house. Doesn’t that sum up my life these past 2 weeks?
Okay, a little more detail.
It all began when my Mom was talking with her Mom about possibly moving into adjoining townhomes. While my grandparents dropped the idea, my Mom finally stepped up to the idea that Dad has been patiently hinting at for oh about 3 years. Downsizing. She’s really kicked herself into moving mode when a storm tore up her yard and she found a wonderful place to move to. It’s been interesting going through all those bins of memorable treasures. And yes, we got plenty of hand-me-downs!
For curiosity sake, I checked to see what their competition in the housing market would be like. Tough to say the least. I then was inspired to check on our own home’s market value. To my surprise not bad at all. And the homes we’d like to move to were plentiful and priced right.
Tom was thrilled that I had finally caught up to his idea of moving somewhere closer to work, closer to my family, more land and less house payment. Neighbors thought I was just joking. Friends are shocked at the spontaneity of the idea. I’m simply in go mode. I have to be.
We talked to the realtor, who sold us this house just over 3 years ago. And ever since I’ve been cleaning like a mad woman. My kids tearing it apart right behind me! With those eyes that say “Hey, look! Mom got our toys ready for us!” Jonathan just started walking. Today, we’re almost done. When it is show ready, the sign goes up. phew!
It all seemed so simple at first. You clean, you list your home, you pray to St. Joseph and it all falls into place. Yeah right! I have a sandwich baggie that is jammed with nails and hooks from the dozens of personal pictures and decor I took off our walls. I couldn’t walk down one more hall and see my babies faces on that wall I’m going to sell. I felt like a sinner taking down crucifixes and holy images from every other wall or shelf. (Thanks mom for the pep talk on that one.) I’ve subtly emailed friends to let them know what’s going on, only to have to talk to them…. trying not to cry. That’s why I’m in go mode, so I don’t think about the parts of moving I don’t like.
I’m an expert at this, this will be my 13th move over 31 years. Only the 5th where I got to pick the place!
It’s one thing to sell a house. It’s a whole other thing to sell a home in a neighborhood where you’ve made your friends, your connections and got to know all the back-roads! Tom laughs because “Now that they just built a new Sams Club and Walmart nearby…”
In the midst of it all, I am so disappointed in myself as a teacher. My childrens’ books await them at their desks. But they have no one to show them what to do. It is just too much all at once, but it ALL has to be done. I tell myself, luckily I homeschool so I have the opportunity to just take off for a week or two. At the same time, I wonder how much easier it could be if 2 of 4 were in school somewhere else so I could play, paint, pack and sew with less interruptions. Nope, not worth it. Ugh!
At the end of the day, my husband has washed another load of laundry and dishes. My 8 year old daughter has put her little sister to sleep with a lullabye. My boys come in to the office to give me a hug goodnight. The stillness of the night calms me, and I say a prayer of thanks to God for my chaotic life.
Tom’s aunt has always said, “If there aren’t toys to pick up, the kids must be sick. So thank God for the messes.”
Tomorrow, we will worship and praise God at Mass. Next we clean. Then come Monday we list our house for sale. After that we can resume our humble yet crazy lives as a Catholic Homeschool family – just cleaner!
We’re selling our house. Doesn’t that sum up my life these past 2 weeks?
Okay, a little more detail.
It all began when my Mom was talking with her Mom about possibly moving into adjoining townhomes. While my grandparents dropped the idea, my Mom finally stepped up to the idea that Dad has been patiently hinting at for oh about 3 years. Downsizing. She’s really kicked herself into moving mode when a storm tore up her yard and she found a wonderful place to move to. It’s been interesting going through all those bins of memorable treasures. And yes, we got plenty of hand-me-downs!
For curiosity sake, I checked to see what their competition in the housing market would be like. Tough to say the least. I then was inspired to check on our own home’s market value. To my surprise not bad at all. And the homes we’d like to move to were plentiful and priced right.
Tom was thrilled that I had finally caught up to his idea of moving somewhere closer to work, closer to my family, more land and less house payment. Neighbors thought I was just joking. Friends are shocked at the spontaneity of the idea. I’m simply in go mode. I have to be.
We talked to the realtor, who sold us this house just over 3 years ago. And ever since I’ve been cleaning like a mad woman. My kids tearing it apart right behind me! With those eyes that say “Hey, look! Mom got our toys ready for us!” Jonathan just started walking. Today, we’re almost done. When it is show ready, the sign goes up. phew!
It all seemed so simple at first. You clean, you list your home, you pray to St. Joseph and it all falls into place. Yeah right! I have a sandwich baggie that is jammed with nails and hooks from the dozens of personal pictures and decor I took off our walls. I couldn’t walk down one more hall and see my babies faces on that wall I’m going to sell. I felt like a sinner taking down crucifixes and holy images from every other wall or shelf. (Thanks mom for the pep talk on that one.) I’ve subtly emailed friends to let them know what’s going on, only to have to talk to them…. trying not to cry. That’s why I’m in go mode, so I don’t think about the parts of moving I don’t like.
I’m an expert at this, this will be my 13th move over 31 years. Only the 5th where I got to pick the place!
It’s one thing to sell a house. It’s a whole other thing to sell a home in a neighborhood where you’ve made your friends, your connections and got to know all the back-roads! Tom laughs because “Now that they just built a new Sams Club and Walmart nearby…”
In the midst of it all, I am so disappointed in myself as a teacher. My childrens’ books await them at their desks. But they have no one to show them what to do. It is just too much all at once, but it ALL has to be done. I tell myself, luckily I homeschool so I have the opportunity to just take off for a week or two. At the same time, I wonder how much easier it could be if 2 of 4 were in school somewhere else so I could play, paint, pack and sew with less interruptions. Nope, not worth it. Ugh!
At the end of the day, my husband has washed another load of laundry and dishes. My 8 year old daughter has put her little sister to sleep with a lullabye. My boys come in to the office to give me a hug goodnight. The stillness of the night calms me, and I say a prayer of thanks to God for my chaotic life.
Tom’s aunt has always said, “If there aren’t toys to pick up, the kids must be sick. So thank God for the messes.”
Tomorrow, we will worship and praise God at Mass. Next we clean. Then come Monday we list our house for sale. After that we can resume our humble yet crazy lives as a Catholic Homeschool family – just cleaner!
