under contract...and counting

That's right folks. After a very long and trying 7 days on the market our house is officially under contract. It seems that if everything falls into place our home will no longer be ours by December. Hard to believe.....it's just really hard to believe.

I find myself looking around my home taking in each sight, every smell, and reminiscing in those moments long gone. I find myself wondering what life is going to be like 2 months from now or even 2 weeks from now.

With each transition in my life I've always had a destination and a place to call home but with this massive change we are unsettled. Renting the remainder of our stay in NC and complete unknown awaiting in WV. Sure there is family who offered us stay but no place to call ours for many months to come. Our belongings hidden in storage, our pictures packed away from the sunlight, our lives in constant transition.

I am happy that things with the house are moving along and we won't be facing taking care of a property almost 7 hours away. I'm happy that it seems our home will become home to another family with 3 children, the halls still filled with laughter, and the yard still full of toys.

I'm happy that this family seems excited at the prospect of living here, excited about creating a home for their family...I'm just sad that that means we will be leaving this portion of our lives behind.

NC has been home, it has introduced me to some amazing women who have changed my life. It was the place that allowed me to finish college and finally get that degree, it was the place that welcomed my children, it was in so many ways my heart.

So for the next several posts I'm going to be looking back at our stay here and what has made it so special....those special moments and those amazing people who have allowed us to truly feel at home here.

there's nothing like pizza to help you see clearly

Yesterday we had our very first house showing. We received a phone call early afternoon that they wanted to see the house between 3pm and 4pm. So I let the girls finish their nap and by 2:30 we were all showered, dressed, and off to have a late lunch. The girls chose Pizza Hut as our destination and husband and I braced ourselves for the craziness that is eating out.

Much to our amazement....the trip out was rather wonderful. Michael was ready for his nap so he quickly fell asleep in his stroller leaving those of us remaining to eat in peace. The table was equipped with some type of game cards which we used to entertain ourselves until food arrived.

With each course (first salad, then breadsticks, then cinnamon sticks, then finally pizza) we found out what each of our favorites were. Erin for the day chose 1, pink, cat, and Super Why as her favorites. Ireland went with 5, blue, zebra, and Super Why as her favorites. Husband and I were only asked about our favorite color and number but it all amounted to a lot of fun.

Granted it helped that the restaurant was basically empty and the bathroom was close enough that after taking the girls once they and I felt comfortable enough letting them venture on their own the remaining of the stay. I of course sat and watched and waited the entire time they were away just in case someone else entered the bathroom or if they happened to take too long so I could spring into action.

Even though husband wasn't feeling well it was a wonderful experience. One that left me thinking that maybe we will become the family I dream about. You know the family who seems like they actually enjoy being around each other and can have conversations without someone loosing a limb.

My aspirations aren't very high, I know my children will at some point express their utter hatred of me and my parenting. I know they will choose a different path then which I would wish, or they will act in a manner in which I deem inappropriate, but at least I know that for this day we could sit, enjoy a meal, and appreciate each other.

The only down side to the day was returning home only to find the viewers still in our home, talking. We were faced with the stark reality that our home is slowly becoming someone else's and less and less ours. The girls immediately brought to tears by the fact their swing set may become someone else's.

Good day but a dose of reality that our lives will be changing dramatically very soon.

finshed... except for the selling

Here it is almost 2 weeks since I began prepping the house for the real estate market and I'm finally finished. Well....sort of. The house has been painted (interior including living room, hall, master bedroom, and both bathrooms....not to count touch-ups in the other rooms) the outside has been landscaped and a large amount of junk is now out of my house. All but installing new carpet in the master and doing a few minor things here and there it's ready.

While the house is viewer friendly and lends itself to the buying market it has begun to feel less and less like home each evening that I return after a day of trying my best to keep the children from marking up the walls or making large other messes.

With each return I'm amazed to find a sale sign in our yard, and even more amazed that when I walk in I immediately feel like I've entered someone else's home. I suppose this is a good thing...it will make it a little easier to move. I'm also saddened because the wonderful things that we did to make this house a home has vanished.

Who knew trying to sell a house could be so emotional but right now that is what it is.

My friend Jennifer came to the house yesterday to take pictures and have me sign a zillion papers so that the house would officially be on the market. I spent the entire time nervous and worried about selling my home. As much as I dislike our current living arrangements (cramped because of our growing family) it's hard to let go and know that our home will become someone else's. Another family will fill the hall with their laughter and the yard will be filled with their toys, the drive filled with their cars, and the bedrooms which welcomed each of my children to their first home will now house others.

I find myself analysing each photo that now represents my home, each word spoken as if there must be a hidden message. Do the photos show what a wonderful place this can be to live? I fear that no photo could capture the wonderful happenings that our home has allowed. I fear that every word spoken will not be caring enough to capture the beauty the walls were able to experience.

It is said that a house only becomes a home because of the happenings within. My home has witnessed the wonderful journey of newlyweds to the birth of my 3 children. This was not only husband and I's first home together it was also our children's first. I know the girls are old enough to remember their time there but wee one he's just beginning and this home will have very little importance to him.

I know that it may take a long time to sell our house that has been our home. I just hope that these months in limbo will help prepare us for the new journey we take as we prepare to move back to WV in the coming year.

Until then, prepare for crazed blogs about the difficult time I face with trying to keep 4 year olds from putting their dirty hands on the freshly painted walls, or keeping their toys cleaned up, or their inability to really live within their home. I can just hope that the house sells quickly and we are able to regain a small amount of normalcy within our lives.

Until that happens, my prayers are with Jennifer because she is trying to sell a home for a bunch of crazies....and we love her dearly for it!

rest assured i'm still breathing

For anyone who still reads this undiscovered blog just know I'm still around and am missing my blogging life very very much. I promise to return soon with wonderful moments in my life just as soon as I get all the freakin' painting, yard work, and packing completed.

Getting this house ready for the market is proving to be at least time consuming....and extremely exhausting!

Now, if I could just talk my husband into a good foot massage.