There are 101 downsides to being a one-car fam. An upside today was having a spontaneous lunch date eating Publix samples while we waited for our oil change.

Inspection

We just left our house from the inspection. And most everything looks great. A few repairs to be made here and there, all things the seller will do beforehand. HOWEVER the A/C compressor was stolen since the last time we were in the house. Apparantly thievery is common in vacant houses. So it stinks for the seller, sweet for us because their insurance will cover the cost of a new one. The olderish A/C has been in the back of our minds as something we migt have to fix in the next couple of years. Now, we don't have to.
And our inspector gadget friend has become our go-to man for advice on our home as we make changes, repairs and mistakes.
Now I can't wait. Let me in. Give me the keys. I am ready.

27 days until closing.

there is not much to share on the home front.  We have just been signing whatever our realtor, bank and lawyer send us.  Yikes!

But we have been thinking about how to use our carpet allowance.  We have a certain amount of money the seller has agreed to pay in order to redo the floors.  This is because they had a cat whose litter box was in a hall closet.   Yucko man.  Who would put urine and feces in a small, unventilated area meant for coats?
So what do we do? Carpet? Part carpet part laminate floors?  Laminate floors instead of the tile in the kitchen?  Can we install laminate on our own?  Is it worth paying someone else to sweat and swear their way through it? Who knows.  If you have any thoughts please feel free to share.

the inspection is scheduled for monday.  You may join us in praying God would protect us financially!

coffeecube follow up

my little effort is paying off. the cute little coffee hearts are chilling my iced coffee and not watering it down.

after church picnic along the river

we had errands to run today so John packed us a lunch before church. we found a park with this charming view of the st. john's river. i am thankful for today.

spring break

Its spring break for UNF students. That means time to fundraise for us. We took a mini trip back to gainesville to see some people. And I am sitting in places I used to spend hours upon hours with girls. We would read the bible together, pray for our friends and family, cry over broken relationships and build memory upon memory over cups of coffee. I miss those girls. But they are doing what we prepared them to do. Live in the world, work among peers and walk alongside people loving them and caring for them in the name of Christ. I want them to spend hours with other young women, showing them the riches that are in Christ that they have seen for themselves.

And I start fresh, with new, young, sweet girls who need to be shown the love of Christ and the freedom that comes from trusting in Him for salvation. I get four years with them, Lord willing, to stuggle our way through growing pains, asking God to make Himself known. This is a bitterSWEET calling. Some days its too much to handle, and others its too wonderful to imagine anything else.

in honor of some dear and precious friends

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." 

--Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

no fun

What's the fun in buying a house? At first, none. All you do is sign and initial this and sign and date that. Addendum yours, addendum mine. Please scan and email your life and while your at it, fax your first child to us too, ASAP, time is of the essence.

When do we get the keys bro?

accepted

Our second offer was accepted on Saturday! What? We kind of own a house if the appraisal and inspection go well. We are very excited about it all. And we are already learning how to dream but expect reality to kick in when it comes to updating the house.

Thanks for praying with us. We trust God, not our decision-making skills, not our realtor, and not the bank. The Creator of the Universe is sufficient for us.

waiting

Writing up the offer went well yesterday. It was surreal to throw around huge-to-us numbers like it was no big deal. So we wait today to hear back from the seller. Oddly enough this is the easiest thing I have waited for in years. Maybe because I don't forsee all possible complications, maybe because waiting a day is nothing in my book anymore, or maybe I have learned by now that nothing is in my hands. This is completely out of our control, considering God who already owns that house.
Update sure to come soon.

tomorrow!

We are putting an offer in tomorrow.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  These two slow movers are picking up the pace.

Until then, here is what I am dreaming and scheming FOR MY VERY FIRST HOUSE

from DecorPad

from Hardwareisle

from Holly Mathis Interiors

secrets out . . . I LOVE BEADBOARD.  I would put it everywhere if that were not OVERboard.  We will probably play it safe and go the dining room route, but don't tempt me, or you will see it in our closets too.

where our heart might be

We are ankle deep in the process of owning our very first home! We have been tossing around the idea of buying a home for years and it might be time to take this bull by the horns. We barely stepped into this house before I started mentally arranging our furniture in the rooms, painting the walls and watching, God-willing, our kids run around the corner of the hallways.
So here goes, two non-commital, easy-going, slow decision-makers are about to take the Jacksonville housing market by storm.
Melissa

Good to the last drop

What did you do with the last cold drops of this mornings brew? I put mine in tiny ice cube trays to freeze and use later in my iced coffee. It will take a couple of mornings to make a glass-worth, but I am giving it a shot. No pun intended, but appreciated once I realized it.

almond butter

Totally worth its $4 weight. Delicious. Sounds healthy with that flax and omega talk. And its not too hard to stir, being natural and all. All I need now is a TJ nearby.