In the Works
It's been a few weeks since we barely hung onto the deal with the Sunnyside house, and the good news is that I don't have much to report. The financing part of things is chugging along, and we haven't hit any major snags. The most exciting thing was that we met with the designer and contractor last week to get a plan in place for repairs and renovations. The estimate came back today, and we should be able to get a fair amount of work done! Not everything...but at least the important things.
The master bathroom and closets are really small. And really, the bathroom is in need of updating. The project to expand on that, however, is going to have to be put on hold for now. I have no earthly idea what I'll do with my expansive clothing and shoe collection. I've been working hard to get rid of a lot of clothes and other stuff, too, but there's no way I'll pare it down to fit into the closets at this house. I guess the non-seasonal stuff will live in the attic, and we'll have to get creative with storage furniture. Not the worst problem in the world. The bathroom is ugly, but if everything else is beautiful, I'm sure I can live with that for a couple of years until we can embark on Phase II of the project.
Hopefully we'll get all the details ironed out so that work can begin the day after we close. It's a very exciting but very busy time. It's also kind of scary. We've got so many people wrapped up in this now, and when it's all said and done, it will be like a dream come true. But I don't want to think like that. Because what if the dream doesn't come true? I don't see any reason why it wouldn't, but you just never know. I want to be better about just letting myself feel joy and hope and excitement instead of always being so cautious about my happiness. It's just that this is a pretty big deal, so I can't lose sight of things quite yet.
If it does all pan out, it will be because so many miracles fell into place at the right time. It will be a house that was meant for our family and an incredible blessing to us. We cannot lose sight of the fact that "To whom much is given, much is required." (Which is a translation of the verse Luke 12:48.) The house has a great backyard, and it's a perfect house for entertaining. If it becomes ours, then I really feel we will be charged with a mission of hospitality. We are so isolated out where we live right now, and we hardly ever host anybody for dinner or get-togethers. It makes both Dylan and I sad. I really believe that nothing is more live-giving than being with your friends, neighbors and family. Everyone is so busy these days, and it's so easy to lose sight of making time to foster a sense of community. We want to change that, and it will happen at our house. It probably won't ever entail anything fancy. Maybe a pot of chili or even just dessert and drinks. But I do promise warmth, love and laughter, and I want people to come to our house often and to leave each time just a tiny bit happier or more fulfilled.
My role model for almost everything in life, Jen Hatmaker, really brings this point home in Of Mess and Moxie. I read the book months ago, and it still resonates with me so deeply. It seems like opening up your house to your friends, neighbors and family is an easy enough mission. Especially when you set the bar low and promise to never make anything fancy. However, I am deeply introverted and very insecure about inviting people to do things. I'm not afraid of anybody saying "no" to an invitation...I'm afraid of them saying "yes" only out of obligation. So, please take us up on our offers of hospitality, but of course only if you're really up to it. It's an open invitation, really. We'll open our door to you any time you're in the neighborhood. We'll keep the bar stocked, and we look forward to sharing stories and laughs with our people.
The master bathroom and closets are really small. And really, the bathroom is in need of updating. The project to expand on that, however, is going to have to be put on hold for now. I have no earthly idea what I'll do with my expansive clothing and shoe collection. I've been working hard to get rid of a lot of clothes and other stuff, too, but there's no way I'll pare it down to fit into the closets at this house. I guess the non-seasonal stuff will live in the attic, and we'll have to get creative with storage furniture. Not the worst problem in the world. The bathroom is ugly, but if everything else is beautiful, I'm sure I can live with that for a couple of years until we can embark on Phase II of the project.
Hopefully we'll get all the details ironed out so that work can begin the day after we close. It's a very exciting but very busy time. It's also kind of scary. We've got so many people wrapped up in this now, and when it's all said and done, it will be like a dream come true. But I don't want to think like that. Because what if the dream doesn't come true? I don't see any reason why it wouldn't, but you just never know. I want to be better about just letting myself feel joy and hope and excitement instead of always being so cautious about my happiness. It's just that this is a pretty big deal, so I can't lose sight of things quite yet.
If it does all pan out, it will be because so many miracles fell into place at the right time. It will be a house that was meant for our family and an incredible blessing to us. We cannot lose sight of the fact that "To whom much is given, much is required." (Which is a translation of the verse Luke 12:48.) The house has a great backyard, and it's a perfect house for entertaining. If it becomes ours, then I really feel we will be charged with a mission of hospitality. We are so isolated out where we live right now, and we hardly ever host anybody for dinner or get-togethers. It makes both Dylan and I sad. I really believe that nothing is more live-giving than being with your friends, neighbors and family. Everyone is so busy these days, and it's so easy to lose sight of making time to foster a sense of community. We want to change that, and it will happen at our house. It probably won't ever entail anything fancy. Maybe a pot of chili or even just dessert and drinks. But I do promise warmth, love and laughter, and I want people to come to our house often and to leave each time just a tiny bit happier or more fulfilled.
My role model for almost everything in life, Jen Hatmaker, really brings this point home in Of Mess and Moxie. I read the book months ago, and it still resonates with me so deeply. It seems like opening up your house to your friends, neighbors and family is an easy enough mission. Especially when you set the bar low and promise to never make anything fancy. However, I am deeply introverted and very insecure about inviting people to do things. I'm not afraid of anybody saying "no" to an invitation...I'm afraid of them saying "yes" only out of obligation. So, please take us up on our offers of hospitality, but of course only if you're really up to it. It's an open invitation, really. We'll open our door to you any time you're in the neighborhood. We'll keep the bar stocked, and we look forward to sharing stories and laughs with our people.
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