Putting the seat down (and trusting in Jesus!)

So, as we were viewing potential houses for us, there were things that jumped out at me.  Things that I hoped I'd remember as I "staged" my home for the showings to interested realtors and buyers and for my realtor to take pictures that would grace local websites, Trulia, Realtor.com and more.  Small things such as to be sure the trash isn't overflowing, the microwave is clean or the shoes under my bed didn't look messy.  It's funny how you start looking at all of your STUFF as a liability, something that a potential buyer could be turned off by or think negatively of.  I mean, if I saw that someone was a  Duke fan and I was interested in their home - would I let that stop me from purchasing?  Absolutely!  I'd like to think not.  I've never been on this end of the deal.  I've been in plenty of homes either sincerely looking, dreaming or slimming down choices.  I've been on the aforementioned websites countless times and tried my best to not let clutter or poor color choices (in MY opinion) stop me from looking at the true beauty of a home.  Walls can be painted, flowers can be planted and their clutter will disappear (replaced by MINE).  It is not the easiest thing in the world to pack up 85% of your 4 year old's toys and tell her that she'll see it again in the new house.  Especially since I know deep down that it could take months...years...we have NO way of knowing!  That's the biggest issue here.  The unknowns.  I am a pretty smart cookie and can adapt to change fairly easily and when a process changes, I can roll with it.  But, when a situation is a big change and you have NO idea how long that change is going to occur?  THAT, my friend, is when I kinda tend to freak out majorly and feel like I have absolutely no control over anything!  And I don't.  And I realized last night, during a heart to heart with my sweet hubby...that is OKAY.  I don't have to know.  I trust in Jesus.  I know He will lead us where we should be and I will be fine until we GET there.  I have faith that this whole process is under His watch and I can rest assured that it will all be fine.  No matter how long it takes.  But, I can still HOPE that it is a really SHORT amount of time!  :-)

Must go now and make the bed and put the toilet seats AND LIDS down!!!  This is getting serious, y'all!!!!

I've never lived in a house with a FOR SALE sign in the yard...

and to be honest, it's pretty scary!  Mind you, it's not there yet.  But I know it will be on Thursday and that kinda freaks me out!  In a really great way...but freaks me out nonetheless.  I am seriously excited that we are finally doing this but really nervous about the feedback we'll get, the length of time it's likely to take and the finality of the whole thing.  I'm not totally attached to this house, mind you...but it IS where we came home to from our honeymoon.  Where we brought MJ home from the hospital to.  Where we had her first birthday party.  Where we have so many memories.  I know we will make more in a new place whenever the Lord allows that to happen...but it's definitely bittersweet!

Selling our home is going to be a new start for us in more than just location.  Our boys need the space, the privacy, the individual nooks and crannies that teenage and preteen boys need...and our girl...she needs.....ohhh she needs so much!  :-)  She needs a closet and a turntable and a dressing room and a jewelry room and a concert hall - she will GET a new room and a new bed and that's all I'm promising!  Mike will hopefully find a room to fit a pool table in and I will get my back yard.  These are the dreams at least.  I would be so grateful if I looked back on this post one day in the future and realized that I got what we wished....but I know that I will be happy with a little more room for my kids to roam.  I'll be happy if we can sell this one, make some other family happy and find a little more yard for us to create the oasis that so many people long for in the industry that I serve at least 40 hours a week.  I'll be happy if God's will is done in our lives - no matter what kind of house that brings us.  I'm ready to start this journey and cannot wait to see what it will lead us to!