New Offer

The bank rejected our offer on the home we bid on a while back, so today we put in an offer on another home. You can view it here:
http://homes.realtor.com/prop/1081622992
Be sure to click on the tour link to see the inside, etc.

I hope our house hunting days are over and we can get this house on the market before we leave for Tami's wedding. We won't be all settled in our new home by then, but we can have our personal stuff out of here and stage this house for sale. Besides, I am just plain tired of searching for houses in a glutted market.

We were out with our realtor the whole day today and I've been out looking day in and day out. Tomorrow, I will work on other things. I think the seller, a sweet widow lady, will get back to us quickly as she is very anxious to sell and has already moved out. We are preapproved and so financing is already in place and all we need is a signed contract.

It seems that the quest for housing has taken an inordinate amount of time, however, we feel this is an especially good buy since the price just dropped over $30K, and even before that, it was at the low end of the market for that neighborhood although it is one of the nicer homes there and has many extras, including a huge natural gas generator for whenever there might be a power outage. The unit is mounted on a concrete slab outside and can handle the households electrical needs.

There are also many custom details, even a special nook in the kitchen wall for a trash basket (the owner doesn't like trash under her sink) and plant or knick knack ledges and nooks in the walls. We're excited about living there with lots more room.

Of course, we haven't closed yet, but I really do think we will. Now we'll wait see what God thinks.

House-Go- Round

We finally heard back from the bank that semi-owns the property we're trying to buy. We made an offer, but they had an appraisal done to see what it's worth in today's market. Our offer is well below that but we are unwilling to go that high. We are making a new offer Monday, but have decided it will be our final offer.

Meanwhile, I have researched and visited the neighborhoods of many, many houses. After a time, they just make your head spin. I am on a House-Go-Round! We had hoped to close before leaving for Tami's wedding, but now it doesn't look like it unless the bank likes our new offer betterm than I think they will.

We are blessed to have all the time we need since this house is paid for, but unless God makes it clear we should not move to a bigger house, we'll keep looking... but perhaps not with the same dedication I've put into it up to this point. It seems almost everything else had been set to the back burner and that's not good, either. My house stays clean and I keep up with my Bible and prayer time, but not much else is getting done. I haven't been to Disney in weeks!

Well, time for bed. Tomorrow is a special day at church. Before services, we're going over for a tour of our new facility!

Favored

I didn't go to pool aerobics today. It was Richard's day off and I wanted to spend every minute possible with him. We had a great day driving around areas we had not yet explored. We went to Lke Alfred and Auburndale and traveled old backroads. We also visited some old railroad stations and historic districts. I like hanging out with the tall man.

We had thick, juicy steaks for dinner and are safe inside our home listening to a glorious and rowdy thunderstorm. I'm feeling especially favored to live such a blessed life!

But now as the storm becomes more intent, I am going to sign off and shut down all electronics. Bye!

Wild Weekend

I did a lot of poking around this weekend and found little, out of the way places where there were properties for sale, beautiful wooded areas, a 1930 monument to Citrus growing, a one-lane brick "highway," and droves of hard working mosquitos. I truly enjoyed the back roads, but the mosquito siege has left its mark(s) on me.

Other aspects of my adventuresome weekend include breaking into our house Sunday afternoon... But let me start at the beginning. Several months ago, I lost my keys and quit locking the door. I kept forgetting to have duplicates made, so the only house key we had was Richard's, therefore I stopped locking up. Then last week, Richard found my keys, so I began locking the house when I was gone, but since unlocking with the key lets you in but does not leave the door unlocked, if you don't turn the little lock thingie on the inside, you can easlily lock yourself out. I, of course, did just that.

Fortunately, our bedroom window was closed but not locked, and I was able to easily remove the screen. I was feeling pretty good about the break-in until I realized I had no way to hoist myself up high enough to crawl in the window. My little stepladder was in the house since I've been doing some interior design inside, and the patio chairs are low, so gettting a leg up into the widow was quite a feat. Indeed, for a few moments I thought I was going to tip out backwards onto the ground, but a gave one mighty lunge and made it inside with Baby Snooks barking wildly all the while. I don't think she knew I was me. At least I can be sure she will alert us if anyone ever tries to get in.

I have finished staging this house for showing... well, not the office because I am using it and simply need the visual cues of my piles of paper, etc. I won't really be able to stage the office until we have moved... if we move. I am quite pleased with the rest of the house though and think I have arranged things to make it appear spacious even though we have more furniture than should be in here. So, the house looks great for showing but is not really practical for living. Many things I need and use are now in the storage room. That also goes for some of my favorite decorative peices.

I have continued to scour the ads and computer for property but have found nothing even close to the bargain buy we made our offer on. We hope to hear from the bank soon as to whether they will go along with the "short sale" of this house. Admittedly, they would be taking quite a hit at our proposed price. We'll just have to wait and see if they are ready to unload this property even at a significant loss.

On another note, I took a more detailed look at our "backup" properties and decided none of them are what we want. They are not big enough bargains to "flip," and they are not what I want to make as our permanent home. Richard wasn't that pleased with one of them from the beginning, so now we just have one property in our sights. If our offer is accepted, we'll be ready to go! If not, we'll wait on the Lord and seek His leading as to whether we should move at all.

Keep us in your prayers, that we hear from the Lord and not our own wills.

Listless

I didn't want to get up and do pool aerobics this morning. I was sleepy and lost in a fog of lethargy that just wouldn't seem to roll back to let in the light and drive of the new day. But duty finally won over drowsiness and I really enjoyed my workout once I got going. I'd like to say I got "in my groove" and accomplished a lot the remainder of the day, but in reality, I don't think I did much... I can't remember what I did after the pool.

When Richard went to work at one this afternoon, I made a shopping list and went to the store and bank. I mailed some letters on the way and when I got to the store I discovered I had no shopping list. Not in my purse. Not in the car. I even looked under the seats. No list. I decided I must have dropped the list in the mailbox with my letters and bill payments.

Listless, I went in the store. I got home after four with a huge carload of groceries, way more than I needed. As I was putting all that away, my niece Donna called and we had a wonderful visit until I happened to look toward the kitchen and see the milk on the counter along with the rest of my new food. Time to hang up and get that stuff in the frig! No easy chore, the frig is now crammed full!

I got fresh herbs from Athena's garden the other day and wanted to use them while they were at their peak so made some flavorful pasta sauce. I really like my homemade Italian sauces. Tomorrow, I'll cook the pasta and Richard can have it for dinner. As for me, I will eat my NutriSystem food... and I will enjoy it. I've lost 21 pounds so far, yay!!

I am now baking a cherry cream cake. I made it up. It is 4 thin layers of yellow cake, layered alternatively with cherry pie filling and French vanilla cream at about pudding consistancy. I just had a thought. It will need to be refrigerated, but there's no room in the frig. Oops! Well, I'd better go try to find room for my cake which is cooling right now and soon to be creamed and cherried. Bye! Sweet dreams, all.

A Great Day

We were up early this morning to go to Deltona (not Daytona as I originally thought) to pick up a used table and chairs. I found them on http://craigslist.com which I truly enjoy browsing. The online picture looked great but I was tad leery because the price was only $40, but when we arrived and saw them staged in the seller's open garage, we could see right away that they looked even better than the picture... brand new! They weren't new, but the seller had recovered the seats and painted the chair and table fraimeworks. the top is wood, the rest metal and the seats padded.

If the Lord permits us to buy a house, we will sell this one furnished and the new table and chairs in white and mauve look great in the dining room. Of course, if we stay here, they'll look just as great. We are quite pleased with the find and with the ceiling fan and light we got for $10. The sellers were wonderful folks and held the items for us until today when we could make it up Deltona to get them.

I also had my semiannual neurologist appointment today. He reviews my meds and checks to see if anything has changed. At this point, nothing changes and the meds are still the same as well, so the appointment lasts only about 20 minutes. Then I am home in a flash to get things ready for Richard to go to work. I like to send him with a different lunch items every day so his mealtimes are interesting and rewarding.

We bought a weather radio the other day and it's been quite interesting learning to live with it. It has a siren alarm that goes off any time there is a weather alert specific to our area. That means it goes off every day because we have sever thunder showers every afternoon! No kidding!!! The warning siren goes off every 15 minutes until there is no danger. The display flashes "SEVERE THUNDER STORM WATCH" or WARNING as the case may be. You can then hit a button to hear the broadcast and all the detailed instructions to minimize the danger of property or bodily damage. Actually, I've learned a thing or two from it.

So, it's been a great day and an interesting one. Seeing my neurologist is always an adventure. On each visit he has been a flamboyant and verbose person with definite opinions on a variety of things upon which he expounds exuberantly. Today, he told me about how addicts gleen opiates from prescription meds so they can shoot up with legally obtained drugs. Then he told me how he was sure I wasn't of that ilk. Nice that he doesn't suspect I am a dope fiend. Yep, quite an interesting doctor's visit, maybe the best one yet. Thus far I have been treated to discourses on "Butter and Egg Money," "Real Estate and Disney," and others... But "Leeching Your Own Heroin to Shoot Up" is the best so far.

I visited with my brother over the phone this evening. He is actually working at quitting smoking... boy, there's a lot of "ing" in that sentense! He's coming out in early August for a medical test, routine, but requiring someone to take him home and be with him for a little while since they will put him to sleep. It will be good to see him again.

Another telephone blessing was a long chat with our friend Sam in Colorado. Sam, who used to drive truck for us, was blinded in a motorcycle accident many years ago. When I was injured in 1988, he was a big part of my being able to accept life with a damaged brain. He is so much more than a friend, he is very much a part of our lives in many, many ways. We have each learned from the other, supported the other and been the supporter... I am so glad to know Sam.

Day of Blessings

What a wonderful and blessed day!

Athena had a birthday yesterday and we celebrated with her this afternoon by sharing a delicious meal at California Pizza. I had never heard of the place, but Athena and Richard informed me that it is a chain. My salmon was wonderful, and the other entrees at our table were good as well. It's always nice to discover a good place to eat.

Athena looks and acts perennially young and is always an inspiration to me. Even as a wee child, she danced (never marched) to a different drummer, or perhaps I should say strummer to be more in keeping with her free-spirited style. She lives life on her own terms and is happy to grant the same liberty to others, passing personal judgement so rarely that I cannot recall the last time I heard her "bad mouth" anyone.

One of my favorite memories is of Athena saving a disoriented wasp which had blown in our car window as we traveled at highway speed. Her caring concern and actual tenderness with a creature most of us hate was more than touching. I can truly say I know of no one else who would have been so dedicated and sincere about saving such an insect.

We had picked up Athena at the University of Central Florida where she is the director of electronic media. As we waited for her in the parking garage, I found someone's cell phone right in the middle if the driving lane. Among the Missed Calls, I found 2 calls from "mom," and called her. The phone's owner met us at California Pizza and collected his phone. It was his birthday... interesting coincidence.

Pleasantly tired, and comfortably full, I am drowsy and ready to call it a day. I am ever amazed at how very blessed I am. God has given me all I could ever dream of or ask for and, although I deserve none of it, I am so very, very thankful for every single blessing.

Ups and Downs

We bank at BOA (Bank of America) and they presented us with a great loan package. All was in place... yes, these loan officers work weekends and nights. I doubt they're from this planet because they seem to never sleep and I am certain the families they talk about are false.

Anyway, as Joh our loan man was writing up the final papers, he ran into a complete roadblock. We had once had a bankruptcy. Our credit scores are good, so he had not spent much time on our credit report. BOA will gladly write many mortgages for us, but not the one wrapping two loans into one.

So, I praised God because it's clear He doesn't want that mortgage for us.I spent the day trying to select an alternate, all the while realizing god may not want us to seek new housing or get a motgage... Finding His will is exciting and very peaceful because with Him working things out, I know it will be good! Yes, there will be problem... life involves problems. but God has limited their effect on us.

So we'll just need to wait and see whether it's the financing, the house or the entire move that is not when God wants it. I'll keep you up tp date.

For inquiring minds who want to know, we gad a bankruptcy discharged in 1999 in relation with a lawsuit. Our credit is fine now and we own ourt home free and clear, ditto for vehicles. In fact we own no one.

Lending Frenzy

I'm sorry I haven't posted for days. We have been bombarded with emails, phone calls and letters from potential lenders, nortgage brokers, banks, you name it. Since we are seeking the best lending package, considering up front closing costs, interest rates, etc., we hated to ignore any of these contacts.

Oh, but we are so uninitiated! The offers kept coming and finally we stopped responding. We have seven lenders to compare now... enough already! I will begin to follow through on these and see what happens. Who coulod guess it would become this much more complex than when we last bought a house.

We have prayed that God would close any door He didn't want us to enter, so we shall see....

It's always exciting to see what God will do!

Ratatouille

It was Richard's day off and we spent part of the day running errands and talking with our banker. We picked up my pills, got the pickup serviceo and did our grocery shopping. Later, we went to Down Town Disney, ate hot pretzels by the lake and saw a movie, Ratatouille. Loved it!

Excitement

Church was wonderful as usual and after I got home and had a bit of lunch, I went over to Disney's Magic Kingdom, arriving just in time for the afternoon parade - I do love a parade! Richard met me there after he got off work and we had a great time. After wandering around and soaking up the fantastic sights and sounds and moods, we ate dinner at Pecos Bill's in Frontier Land where I actually enjoyed my first veggie burger. It was truly GOOD!

Richard was still ribbing me about my "cardboard burger" as we explored Huck Finn's Island. We poked around in the caves, played in the fort and "risked our lives" on a rope bridge as well as the barrel bridge. Then we sat and visited in a gazebo built out over the river. It was just grand.

We haven't heard back from the owner or the bank or the lawyers on the house we're trying to buy, but I spent today getting all the paperwork together for the mortgage lender. We need to verify income and assets, etc. That's easy for Richard, but in my case it's a bit more complex because I have disability payments for which there is no W-2 and I don't have an award letter, either.

I am getting excited about moving to a place where Baby Snooks can come and go from the house to the yard at will, a place I can have room for our food and dishes and kitchen gadgets, a place where we will have room for guests, a place where we can offer our home for church Small Groups, etc. I have to remind myself that the Lord may still close the door. I want the house, but more than anything I want to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and I want what God wants. We'll just have to wait and see...

Tomorrow, Richard and I will go to our bank and talk with the loan officer. I will also give our info to another direct lender. We want a decent rate and don't want to be robbed at closing with high costs. By shopping around now, we can save money in the long run. Finally, we need to look into the property taxes since the house has been reassessed, so it will be a busy and important day, therefore I am off to bed.

Perfect Day

Athena came over this afternoon and we drove over to visit the house Richard and I have made an offer on. Brian didn't come with her because he's in his last year of school and has many projects to do.

We drove over to the house Richard and I made an offer on. We couldn't look inside, but she could see the neighborhood, the huge yard and how nice the house is on the outside. She seemed to like the house and neighborhood.

Athena had done some internet research on the house which was pretty close to the info our agent had shown us. She had taken the time to find pictures and tax scedules, etc. She always knows where to look for information.

We grilled sirloin steak and salmon (I really need to learn to do salmon), had salad, baked potato and cauliflower... a great meal especially with Athena here. After dinner, we played cards and I actually won!

Church is tomorrow and I'm excited, We are moving in new directions (well, not really new, just new to us). Anyway, I'm very tired, but happily so, and I'm also quite hungry... not good since I already ate all the food I can have today. Must be time for a salad. Then off to bed.

Big Rain

Another rainy afternoon... really wet WITH LOTS OF THUNDER AND PLENTY OF LIGHTNING! I loved it, Richard endured it and the dog dreaded every new rumble from the skies. She huddled under my desk and shook. I got down on the floor with her and held her until the worst was over.

I'm not sure what else went on today. I was in town for something but forgot what so came home. I paid bills and looked for refrigerators on Craigslist. I'm getting excited about moving and am also considering decor. Almost everything is white, so it's like beginning with a blank canvass, except I have no idea what I want... or what will show up when I go garage sale shopping for furniture and accessories.

Next week, I plan to begin sorting and packing things here so we can show this house and get it sold. We have way too much stuff here and the house will show better and seem roomier with less furniture an "stuff." Richard thinks I'm being premature since our closing may not take place until September, if at all. We do have a backup house selected if our offer on the first one doesn't get accepted. The other house also has investment potential and is closer to Disney, so, either way, we're good. Of course, God could close the doors to both and that would definitely be a check to the whole idea of buying a house.

As with every weekend, Richard works Saturday and Sunday, but he gets home at about 4:40 tomorrow so we'll try something on the grill. We've only used it once since we bought it. We had planned to ask Athena and Brian over for tomorrow afternoon but I forgot to call... at least I don't recall calling.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Vicarious Remembering

I have no real memory of my younger sister. I was only three when she succumbed to pneumonia, so there is no mindprint of her baby face or her tender infant smells and little suckling noises. My father never spoke of her and would not stay in the room when others did, but my mother loved to tell us about our "Baby Sister," and went into great details. In time, I grew to love her and grieved her loss as one deeply embedded in my heart and life. She became real to me.

But the only tangible connection I have with Virginia Rose Snider is a death certificate and tattered 8X10 black and white photograph... A picture of her sweet body in a tiny casket. A picture taken amid controversy but firmly demanded by my delicate and soft spoken mother who bore the brunt of much criticism for ordering a "dead baby picture. That's why Jerri's blog at http://www.passionateworship.net/blog/ impacted me so much. When you go there, be sure to read the entry for July 5, 2007, entitled Infant Remembrance. In it, she gently leads the reader along a path... well, just go there!

Jerri shares this website with her readers, ans I borrow it, too: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.com/

For all who have lost a baby, or had a miscarriage, or shed tears for those who've been there, I weep with you and pray for us all, and hope you will find these links as great a blessing as did I.

July Already!

We've been spending so much time with real estate, I didn't even realize July had arrived, then yesterday a friend with a lakeside home invited us to a cookout and "front row seat" for the city fireworks display (which was cancelled due to rain) and July burst into my consciousness.

My twin daughters had a birthday July first, which I've now missed. I still haven't filed our income taxes (which I had planned to do by June). I have a stack of unfinished June projects... and now it's July already. Surprise!!!

So, back to my real estate excuse. I had decided we would stay here and see what God had in mind for us... to be satisfied where we are. Then we were presented with an exciting investment opportunity. We made an offer today, here are the details:

A lake area fixer-upper home listed at $250,000 was being foreclosed and dropped to $185,000 so we jumped on it and offered $180,000. It's a large home on a fenced lot (1/3 acre). All tile floors (hidden under ugly carpets) and in a very desirable neighborhood. Other homes nearby (within a 3 by 5 block area) are lited at about $325,000. This is indeed the worst house in the area... just what we want from an investment standpoint.

Most of the "fixing" needed is really cleanup, paint, cosmetic... but there are some larger projects needed. Like, I need more projects! But we're both excited, though and can't wait to see if the bank will accept our offer. We're pre-approved for the mortgage, so feel really good about it. We've spent much time praying about this and believe God has placed us in a position to do it now.

We are blessed in that we can live here and get the other house ready to live in, then have time to sell this one without the pressure of double payments since this one is paid for. God is so GOOD!

Now I need to get birthdays out and projects done while the bank takes its predicted 4 to 6 weeks to consider our offer. Sadly, the agent told us there are so many foreclosures, our offer would be just one in a stack of offers.