13 Hours of Rain

It's a done deal. We purchased House #4 (see previous blog post). Our condominium officially sold on July 16, 2010. Praise God! We were able to use the equity from the sale to finalize our next purchase. I am terrified. And excited. Terrified of all the things that could go wrong with a house. Excited about all the things we can accomplish with a house. Condo living had its perks. No yard work. No snow shovelling. No exterior maintenance. But our little family has been aching to enjoy the outdoors on a more consistent basis. Thus we have purchased a house, with a spectacular yard! I am hoping that the pristine condition of our grounds will motivate us to keep it that way. While I am already dreaming of how to renovate our outdated kitchen on a limited budget (the kitchen is my least favorite feature of House #4), I am looking forward to enjoying a fresh cup of coffee on our deck. I might even buy some french vanilla creamer to celebrate! Thank you for all your prayers.

Last Friday was one exhausting and productive day! Here is a recap of the events. Warning: This is lengthy. But it is worth the read if you empathize with house hunting. 9 A.M. My husband, infant son, and I left my in-laws to drive approximately three hours to our future home. En route we made two stops: one to fill our car with fuel; another to feed the baby. Our quest was to find a suitable house for our family conditional on the sale of our condominium. We enjoyed viewing the changing prairie landscape along the way, including a trek through the scenic river valley. Furthermore, in accordance with local tradition and superstition, we honked at the “lone tree” outside of the city. 12:30 P.M. After arriving at our destination, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at McDonalds. We rushed off to meet our realtor downtown. Now the house viewings began (along with breaks to feed our son). Our goal was to find a 3 + 1 bedroom home, fully developed, with two bathrooms, roomy kitchen, garage, and...

The following six blog posts are short reflections on various topics in the author’s mind. Reader discretion is advised. Virtual Good Byes. After informing family and my husband’s circle of friends, I announced our move on this blog followed by an e-mail to my personal contacts. Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed by the couple of comments after my blog entry. Apparently our move isn’t a big deal. However, on further reflection, I realize that most of the people who read my blog also receive my e-mails. Thus, I did receive many messages expressing congratulations and sadness over our departure. Interestingly enough, the responses have been virtual except for a few phone calls from family and friends. I must say, I miss the “here-and-now” responses. But I guess it goes both ways. I didn’t phone everyone. So what else should I expect? Post Partum Body. It has been a blessing to receive a beautiful baby boy after nine months of pregnancy. But it is discouraging to step on the scale and...