HOUSE FOR SALE!

We bought our house on July 18, 2002. The sign went up in the front yard today, July 15, 2006. Interesting providence, isn’t it?

We have been working like maniacs for the last month. Almost every inch of the interior has been painted. The basement was officially finished today. There is so little furniture left in our house that it is sparser (is that a word? more sparse?) than a model home. It looks spacious and clean.

I was supposed to be at a men’s seminar today. Mia called me just as it began and said our realtor was coming at 1:00 to get the house listed and there was too much for her to do at the last minute to get it done. So I left just minutes after the seminar began. I hope the presenters didn’t think I got offended so quickly! (Actually, I wrote a long note of explanation and gave it to them so they wouldn’t feel I just walked out on them.) Mia’s had a three-day migraine and there was no way she could get everything ready in time. I figured my place was to help her so I went home.

We dashed around the house putting all the finishing touches on cleaning and straightening. I sat down mere minutes before our realtor walked in. We took her around the house. I was so proud! Then she started… “You better touch this up. Is this fingernail polish? What are you going to do about this wall? (She didn’t like my taping job in the basement!) You need to put some beadboard over it! (Beadboard? Where the heck do you buy beadboard?) What about that hornet’s nest?” I guess we’re not quite finished.

Nevertheless, she loved what we had done to the house. She has an open house scheduled already for next Sunday (the 23rd). She is optimistic that the house will move quickly. (We have until October 10 to close on the Arts and Crafts house.) The price and the selling strategy were agreed upon and the sign went up in the yard! Elizabeth got so excited! She said, “Dad! It’s even a cool looking sign!”

So, now we are already feeling like we are living in someone else’s house. I’ve turned into the “Neat Dragon.” Anybody leaves anything out and I’m on them like flies on manure. Mia and I think it would be best if we just got out of here for a month or so. You know, just load up the old family van and take off. Do any of you have a hankering to host a family of eight for a week or two? Look at it this way, I have an associate pastor, a worship guy who can preach, and an intern. I’m sure they could handle things even better than I could!

It’s 9:50 pm and the sky is orange out of the window of my study. I’m glad I’m not out in my garage! It’s still 88 degrees outside and I’m sure the garage has to be around 100. And you know Michigan, it’s not a dry heat! I’m going to go over my sermon notes and then sleep the sleep of the dead. Perhaps the stress will be gone in the morning!

You guys are great! Thanks for stopping by!