Changes

I normally don't go this long between posts, but literally it's been non-stop around here.

The day before school started we found out that the home we'd been hoping to 

get and had put an offer on, had been accepted!  

And so the whirlwind began...

Of course normal life with five kidos continues on, full speed ahead.

Kids need to be fed, cleaned, ran to practices, nurtured, helped with homework, laundered, etc. etc.

In addition, to the little things, we had a few big things on the calendar.

Family pics were scheduled, Tyler was going out of town for work, I had a Ragnar race scheduled, Time Out for Women ticket purchased, a funeral and family reunion in Utah, annual Fall trip to Lake Tahoe, etc.

But somehow we got/are getting through it all.

After finishing some minor projects (feel so blessed as I think the Lord has been preparing 

us for the last six months with this) and "staging" our home so it didn't look like 

seven people were a little squished inside live here, we got our home on the market.

Tyler, who normally isn't super sentimental (unlike me), even wrote his parents an email that day 

saying that indeed our sign was in the yard and it was a little hard to see. 

Please excuse the iphone pics.

 The post saying good-bye to this home that has so many precious memories will have to be a 

future post and one full of tears for me.

The weekend we put our home on the market was crazy.  I started off writing down the realtors that called (I had asked for a 30 minute notice) and their approximate time of showing to their clients.  However, the calls kept coming and the times were definitely going to overlap and I quickly realized that we would need to be gone and they could all help themselves to the lock box. 

 The stack of business cards got high and the line on Saturday was down my court for two hours solid.  I had long ago planned to attend a local Time Our for Women event and Tyler willingly supported me still attending both Friday night and all day Saturday.  How grateful I am for him.  He took the kids to soccer, the park, lunch, the park again, ran errands, and really I'm not sure where else.  But everyone was happy and doing well when I got home and my spiritual bucket was full.  Our listing was up from Thursday afternoon until Monday at five when we would review all offers.  And review we did, until midnight!  There were many offers and our realtor presented us with the top 13, of which 11 were over asking price.  As to not bore you with all the details, we got in contract with a local family (yah!) for over asking price and should be closing this week. 

Our new home needs lots of work, time, and money LOVE!  We are excited to do this, and our lives have been full of with meeting with painters, granite fabricators, tile guys, contractors, carpet installers, etc.etc.  

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Who knew this could be this hard?  And I'm opinionated and usually decisive!  But, I have lost sleep over my granite counter tops and can't get my mind to stop spinning with pinterest inspired projects, decorating possibilities and where everything is going to go.  

 This cute, little guy has been to every granite store in the Sacramento area...at least twice!  

We've been to many friend's homes gathering their opinions of why they love or hate what they've done.  The binder I've started with phone call conversation notes, estimates, etc has grown substantially.  We've made progress, have a good plan, and are excited to see what unfolds the next few weeks.

For us moving means a change also in our local church congregation, which we call ward.  I spent the first three weeks crying as I looked around at the many people I will miss seeing each Sunday.  Especially those that I won't have reason to cross paths with.  I will for sure keep in contact with many, but I am old enough now to know that if your paths don't cross (at school, church, etc) or if there isn't focused effort, relationships change. 

But, alas I always say and believe that change is good. 
Bring it on!