To sell, perchance to move.

Our home has now been on the market for two months. This is really nothing of note, except the fact that we have never had this much trouble selling a house! We have shown the house many, many times and each time the people have nothing but positive things to say. For example, "I just love the layout. It flows so well." or "There are so many features that you can't find in a lot of homes in this neighborhood. You all have done a nice job with this house." and even "I can totally see myself living here. I just love it!" Okay then....BUY IT! Inevitably there has been something that keeps them from making an offer. We just don't know what it is. Several buyers have talked about bringing family back with them, or viewing it a second time, but then they never do. This is the hardest part about being For Sale By Owner.

We have friends who have offered to list the house. We have actually considered it, but we are going to give it a few more weeks. Yesterday we held an open house and one couple (okay, okay, the only couple) who came to see it really liked it and the man even went under the house to look around. I'm hoping to hear back from them today or tomorrow to schedule another showing. I'm really ready to move on.

On another note...I have discovered some cleaning tips for those of you out there who are thinking about selling, but don't think you have the money to fix up your house to be ready to show. We initially had our ad stating that we were giving a carpet and paint allowance. I just kept looking around and seeing marks on the walls and spots on the flooring and couldn't bare to thought of someone thinking I wanted them to buy the house without some sort of compensation for how bad it looked. We don't have the money to paint the whole house, plus with vaulted ceilings I have no idea how I would do it. So I went online and did some research on cheap ways to make your walls and floors look better. I learned that the Mr. Clean Magic Sponge is one of the most awesome inventions of our time (next to wrinkle releaser)! I bought several and went to work on the walls. Lo and behold!...they work like magic! Years of wear, dirt, and markings from heaven only knows what came off easily and without messing up my walls. I'm now addicted to the sponges and I won't ever go without them in my cleaning arsenal again.

The second tool is Goo Gone. I always knew this stuff was good, but had no idea what all it could be used for. I learned that it can take scuff marks off of vinyl flooring. Joseph and Krissi both have shoes that are, or were, wreaking havoc on my kitchen floor and I was desperate to make them look better. Again, we have no money for putting down new flooring so I needed a cheaper solution. I spent about 2 hours on Saturday night getting all the scuff marks up off the floor (trust me....there were a lot of them). The kitchen floor now looks like new. So, I have spent a total of $14.68 and my walls and floor look great! It's the best money ever spent on cleaning supplies. My house looks awesome now and I have removed the offer of an allowance from our ad. I think it will make a huge difference. I pray that we sell real soon.

Calling all readers!

I have recently been told by several people that they love reading my blog. Thanks guys...it's great to hear from ya! But there are times that a girl needs to have people showin' a lil' love in the form of COMMENTS!! I know you're out there. I miss knowing that there are faithful readers. I'm not motivated to write if I'm not sure that there are people to read, you know?

So...I have a proposal for ya. The first person to leave a comment to this post will get a free drink of their choice from McDonalds. Why the McD's? Well, honestly, it's easy for me since I'm there several times a week with the kids. :-) I would like for all others to leave a comment as well. What do you get? A nice hug from me...what more could you want (come on people....I'm not made of money!)? Have a great day and I look forward to hearing from ya! And if you are the first to comment then leave your drink order.

Things that make you say, "Geez, I'm old!"

As I was driving home this morning from dropping off the kiddos I couldn't help but notice how old my hands look. I was stopped at a red light and happened to glance down at them on my steering wheel. It almost felt like they weren't mine. They are becoming very wrinkled. I don't know what happened to me that suddenly my body is rejecting my youth. Is this what happens to a 35 year old woman?

I also have also experienced some other instances these past few weeks where my age was very apparent to me. For example, just last week I went into my bedroom, laid flat on my back on the bed for what seemed like only a few minutes, and when I went to get up my back was very stiff and hurting! Has this ever happened to you? I hadn't been working in the yard, or doing things that were strenuous. I was literally just laying on my back thinking and praying.

My knees have been going out on me for quite some time now, but lately it has been much worse. They pop and crack almost with each step. That can't be good! And this morning, after the wrinkled hand incident, I took a look at my legs and my knees are getting all wrinkled, too (don't worry...I did wait until I was home and out of the car before I looked)! What is going on?

The final straw, or should I say the last nail in the coffin, happened just last past Monday. While helping out the gang at CLS Screen Printing and Embroidery with a huge job they had to finish I was placed in the back room with the screen printing guys so that I could get the shirts as they were coming out of the oven and needing to be folded. It's good honest work and I like it. Anyway, they listen to a radio station from Lexington that plays only classic rock. This is a good thing since I like classic rock. I knew most of the songs (ones I grew up on because my mom and dad both like this type of music) that played, but I was saddened to hear a particular song. It appears that much of the music that was new when I was a teenager is now considered classic rock. I grew up in the 80's! this isn't supposed to happen for another 10-20 years at least!! Then...Dwayne pointed out to me that it was 20 years ago at the particular song they were playing was released and by radio standards it is now classic. Bummer. Talk about putting you in a funk.

I will leave you with the wise words of Truvy (played by Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias), "Honey, time marches on. And sooner or later you realize it's marchin' across your face!"

Lonely...again.

I had a really good run. The last several weeks I have been surrounded by loved ones and awesome friends. I stated in a previous post that Nele was home for a while and it was truly wonderful. She has returned to Germany and I miss her so much.

I'm not doing too awful, though. I mean...sure I am a little lonely, and yes, I do wish she was here again, but honestly, I have been a LOT worse in the past. Maybe it's the fact that we are leaving in less than 3 months to go to Germany; maybe it has to with how busy I am this week; or maybe I'm just getting really good at dealing with my feelings. I don't know, Babs...I just can't help but realize that I am hurting right now. I would say that this feeling will be really intense on Sunday when there is an empty seat next to me.

I just realized I don't even really want to be writing this post. Oh well...live and learn.

Totally worth it!

Today I took Joseph and Nele to the movies where we met up with Kari and the kids. We saw "Meet the Robinson's" and it was great. It was expensive to get in ($18 for the 3 of us--yikes!--can you believe that it costs $6 to get into a MATINEE?), but it was so worth it!! For those of you who are not familiar with this movie, it is a great work by Disney that is funny, entertaining, cute, and touching.

I was really moved by the movie because it is ultimately about adoption. I didn't know that going in and I have watched the trailer for the movie several times. The main character, Louis, is a 12 year old boy who was dropped off at an orphanage when he was a baby and, at 12 years old, knows that his chances of being adopted are not good because he is an older child. Kari and I both cried over this fact. It's like this movie was made for our family.

I hope that all of you take the time to have a date, family night, or a night out with friends and go see this movie. The kids will LOVE it and so will you.

What a difference a day makes

I hope that all of you had a truly blessed Easter Sunday. And Easter weekend for that matter. Ours was quite good and I was amazed at all the blessings that God gave us during that time. Saturday was a good day of relaxing with the family, celebrating Tim's birthday with Betty and Jerry, and then relaxing some more. I really enjoyed getting my pedicure that day even though I didn't wear my fabulous shoes on Sunday. Speaking of, it was a wonderful day. Yes it was really cold, but we had a great worship service in the morning and very good relaxing fellowship with our dear friends, the McGrath's, that afternoon. It was a very non-traditional Easter lunch that we enjoyed together. We had decided that it would be good to grill out (even though it was freezing cold) and just have simple foods. So, Tim fired up the grill and cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for us while Kari and I put together all the fixin's. The younger kids got to hunt for a few eggs while the older ones watched a DVD. Kari and I had lots of fun talking and Tim and Shane played Madden 07 on the xbox 360. Poor Nehemiah was a little fussy (unusual for him) but he was still a very good baby. I loved every minute of it. Well....except the end. It was a rushed and awkward departure for them because we had a lady come and see our house and her coming in and their going out overlapped. Because of this I didn't get to give them a proper goodbye and I'm truly sorry for that. I don't even remember seeing Shane and the girls go outside and I felt awful having basically abandoned them the way we did. I will make it up to them...I just don't know how yet.

Showing the house went rather well. We talked with them for a long time and they seemed to really like the layout and size. I'm praying that I hear back from her today. I think that would help to pull me out of this funk I've been in lately.

And, yesterday was my mom's birthday!! I got to talk to her for a little while last night and sent her an e-card. I know...how sad is that? But, it's the same every year. We usually don't give my parents their gifts until we see them either here or in Chattanooga and that has worked out well this year. My mom's gift is in and already wrapped, but my dad's gift hasn't even shipped yet. However, I think that the waiting will be worth it. I do truly believe they will both really enjoy the gift.

I think my favorite part of Easter is living in the truth and realizing God's love for me. I like seeing all the kids in their new clothes, and others all dressed up (even if that is more relaxed at The Point which is nice, honestly), but I love hearing the story of how Christ died for me. It's heart breaking and many times REALLY difficult to get through, but amazing to me at the same time. This year is the first time that Joseph has been able to fully relay the story to me and that was super special. I love hearing him talk about Jesus riding in on a donkey and the people waving palm branches, the last supper with the bread and wine, Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, how Pilate was a man who said, "I don't want this on my hands" (Joe's paraphase) and finally the very indepth description of Christ on the cross and then Him "gettin' on up to heaven with God" (another paraphase). It's awesome to see how he is starting to really get it. I love it that he is attending a Christian school and is constantly exposed to the Word and the truth.

So, while this Easter was a little crazy, it was also very good to be with friends and family for great fellowship. I have another post I'm going to write later today about something I saw on CNN last night, but I'm still getting my thoughts together on it. All I can say is the show was titled "What would Jesus REALLY do" and I was appalled at what was said by some on the show. So, stayed tuned and have a great day.

A complete waste of time...but I did it anyway.

I spent about 30 minutes tonight playing around on www.becomeanmm.com designing myself as an M&M candy. I wouldn't say it's a perfect likeness or anything, but it's pretty good and it was rather fun. This past week has been so busy that I just thought I would take some time for myself and this is what I did with it. How sad is that?

Busy week, but so worth it!

This past week has been incredibly busy for me and my family. A week ago today the Mr. came home and gave me the best surprise ever-my Nele!! I was so shocked, but so happy. Apparently he, Nele and Krissi had been planning this for 3 weeks. They did a great job hiding it from me. They all said the look on my face was priceless. I'm sure it was. Once I finally calmed down and let it sink in that my girl was home, we had dinner together, unpacked her stuff, and talked for a long time. I have really missed her. It's good to have her home again. She is here for 2 weeks and, for me, that's just not long enough, but I will take what I can get.

Today my Mr. turned 40!! I can hardly believe that I'm married to a 40 year old man. I'm still so young! HA! Yeah, right. I must say, that for being 40 years old he looks GOOD! I am still so in love with him after all these years. He's so good to me and I just don't deserve him, but he loves me just as I am--always has, always will.

Next week is spring break for kids here in Franklin County. Krissi is going to NYC for several days with Betty and Jerry. She is going to have so much fun. We are staying here and hopefully working on the yard and spending LOTS of time with Nele before she goes back home. I know that one day Joseph and I are going to see "Meet the Robinsons" with the Kari and the kids. We are looking forward to having some rest and relaxation. I just pray that the weather gets more like it was last week and the temperatures return to the 70s.

I have shown the house several times in the past month, but no contract just yet. While this makes me sad I also know that God is in control of this and He will provide the right buyer for us. And, as usual, I just wish I knew His timeline. Anybody else ever had that feeling? Yeah, I thought so.