Appraisal

A message just got passed along. Our house has appraised at value. Everything on the Buyers' side is flowing smoothly, so it looks like we will be outta here in a few weeks. Guess the granola and bread I gave to the appraiser helped. :)
On the where we are moving to front: no clue. The farmhouse option is still in play. We have a contract, but it is a short sale and contingent upon bank and FHA approval. We don't know when we will hear from them, but we are praying it will be soon. Everything else has happened in record time, so we'll see.
Even if we have approval this week, I do not think it is possible to close by the 14th. This means we still need an interim place to sleep. My mom has offered her guest room as one option. My best friend has offered us her basement as it will be finished in two weeks. Sweet offer, but I'd hate to wreck our friendship. There are long-term hotels by Sweetheart's work also. Depending on what happens with the farm, it could mean a combination of all the offers.
We haven't ruled out renting a place for awhile as well. We just aren't finding any rentals that want to be short term and we would prefer not to be renting long term. We'll just see what happens. So much has happened so quick that I am left just waiting to see what's next and unable to plan much.
Someday I will get back to regular blogging on something other than moving. I hope.

Update

We are still waiting to hear about the little farm we put an offer on. The seller approved it and it has been sent off to the black hole known as the bank and FHA as it is a short sale. Who knows. They say FHA is responding to offers within 10 days. Let's hope that happens here and that it is accepted without a fuss.
This place has really grown on me and could be a wonderful thing with a lot of potential. I am not psyched about the location as we can never seem to escape trains, but we shall see. ***Yes, Francesca the barn is a part of the property!***
Meanwhile, on our current home the appraisal is scheduled for tomorrow. This is a biggie as it if does not come in close to the contract price, I am not sure what we will do. The inspections have all come back fine with just a few little things to take care of. The appraisal is the make it or break it thing.
I've been working in the basement packing things up. A hard task when one does not know if the sale will go through and even harder when one doesn't not know where one is going. I am working away assuming everything is on track and that we will be someplace temporarily. Even if everything goes smoothly for the little farm, there is no way it will close by the time we have to be out of here.
The consolation is this. If our sale does not go through, we will unpack. Our home is cleaner, we have less stuff, and we can continue to live here just fine. We would probably--no guarantees--take it off the market until after the baby is born and revisit all this at a later date. It's been a lot of work, but the important thing is that no matter where we end up, we will all be together.
Off to pack another box before the boys wake up!

Possibilities...

We'll see...

Living Life & Moving On

The showings have stopped as we proceed with the contract. Inspections, appraisals and deadlines are still keeping us on our toes. So far, everything seems to be progressing well. Our prayer is that the appraisal will be high enough not to cause any problems. A lot of the sales in our area have been foreclosures and short sales which isn't supposed to affect the comparables, but we'll have to just wait until the end of the month to see.
Meanwhile, we need to assume we are moving and be ready no matter what happens. My thoughts are this: if it all falls apart and we don't move it's okay and the house looks better than before with the paint touched up and the carpets cleaned! We are blessed to be making this move by choice and don't have to sell.
So, we are packing up all the random things we use, but not daily and giving away the things we no longer need. Most of what is in our regular living areas really is the stuff we use all the time. It is the basement and garage that need the most work both in weeding out what isn't needed and packing it up.
Not knowing where we are headed makes it all so interesting. We spent a day last weekend looking through homes in four different towns. It was so discouraging and well, disgusting at times. Truly.
We have circled back around to one of the first places we visited before we were even sure we would put our home on the market. In light of what we experienced this weekend, it looked a lot better than before. :) Plus, we were able to really go through things and discover that it has all new windows, wiring, plumbing, and a new roof and new furnace. Important stuff on a 1913 home. The big work is done. Some scrubbing and interior painting will make a world of difference.
It is on two acres with the loveliest barn that is visible for miles. The barn is huge. It needs to be cleaned out and painted, but the loft also adds the bonus of possible future remodeling into a guest quarters or rental. The barn has more square footage than the house. There is room on the main floor for Sweetheart to have his woodworking and metal working shop in the back and a little farm store for me in the front.
We put in an offer yesterday and will wait and see what happens.

Better

A few decent nights of sleep sure make a difference. It looks like everything is going on smoothly. We are still trying to decide where to go from here. I am still up and down emotionally, but not as much. Thanks for the prayers. Gotta go pack something.

Hello

So, we have a contract on the house.
To close in four and half weeks.

We have no where to go.

There are a lot of things that need to fall in place quickly.
Hopefully, I don't fall over.

I have to move forward assuming everything will happen according to plan whilst knowing it may all fall apart at anytime before then.

I like being spontaneous and going with the flow.

For about a day.

For a place to live and how to do it all with the boys and the baby, not so much.

I am grateful for the contract, especially in a market like this. I am.
I just wish I knew what to do from here.

I still need your prayers.

I'm feeling rather alone right now.
Yes, it is the middle of the night and so I am alone, but it is more than that.

I must confess to not relishing the idea of moving away. I know that this is a necessary step to our dreams, but this interim move and life will not be easy. At a time when I want to nest, be surrounded by friends and family, we are pulling up all our roots. And it hurts.

Normal Day

After working relentlessly these last few weeks to get our house ready to list, today is just a quiet day at home. I am so glad. I am thankful for the amazing number of showings we have received, but it nice to just have the place to ourselves today--so far. The boys have been playing as have I.

I have been cleaning, of course and doing laundry, but I have also made up some wood oil (2 oz mineral oil melted with two tablespoons of beeswax) for all my wooden utensils. I liked it so much I also polished several wooden pieces of furniture with it as well.

I decided it was also a good day to make more healing balm as we are quite low. These are 2 oz tins I found. I like these.

Pumpkin keeps asking when someone will buy the house and when we get to go to the new house. I just keep repeating that only God knows where our new home will be. Wish He felt like I should know. :)

As the boys are sleeping, I think I am going to make a cup of tea and go relax for a few minutes on my front porch. Wish you could join me.

EDITED LATER: WE HAVE AN OFFER AND NEED TO COUNTER TOMORROW MORNING.
PLEASE PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR US!!!

Anyone Want to Buy a House?

Kitchen BeforeKitchen After
Master Bedroom Before Picture and Link Here to Full Room

Master Bedroom After

Master Bath After
Living Room Before
Living Room After

Family Room Before

Family Room After
Loft After-Still Needs Work


Random Pictures Downstairs- Afters



I am tired.