Woop Woop!!!

We closed on our new house. New to us, at least. And it's a super neat story of how it all came to be, but I'll save that for another day.

The closing itself was uneventful, unless you consider two potty breaks and a purple jolly rancher being lobbed out of Little Bit's mouth and onto the carpet in the lawyer's office - he was cool with it all - said he didn't care for those purple jolly ranchers either.

We spent Friday afternoon meeting with a plumber and locksmith and insurance agent...and then we ripped carpet out of three bedrooms...we went to pull it up in the master and guess what? There aren't really "hardwoods throughout." It's concrete. Yep. So we're back to carpet in the master with dogs - but The Engineer is good - and so replacing that carpet with hardwoods is high up on the priority list. It will happen. (I'm smiling.)

We got great news from the plumber - every toilet needs replacing - or rebuilding, but replacing them is much less expensive. There are some positives to new toilets! Out with the originals from '42, in with the new. I dare say the originals had a good, long life.

I didn't open the kitchen cabinets when we looked at the house...they are old and stained wood and the countertops are baby blue and I told The Engineer I would choose contentment. That I would be happy to live with the kitchen like that for a few years...and then we got there Friday and I opened the cabinet doors...and it looked like someone had dumped coffee grounds on every level surface...and it wasn't coffee grounds. And I cringed. And I scooped and scraped and wiped and every time I thought I'd gotten it all, I found more. And then the tears, well, they came.

First project: sealing, scrubbing, priming, and painting the kitchen cabs - inside and out.

I'm a tiny bit overcome with that "gross" feeling of living in a space that's been vacant for over two years...and I feel totally overwhelmed. Like, can't see the forest for the trees...

And I've cried and cried saying goodbye to so many very precious and dear friends. And I've already made a few sweet friends in our new local.

I feel like God has written this beautiful story and we are at the end of this chapter that's been so amazing and I know there's only a short page left - with maybe a paragraph or two, but the chapter's been so good -I want to turn the page to find out what happens, and I know it'll be good, and at the same time, I can't bare it. I want it to last just a little longer.

Alas, we are at the end. The movers come in the morning. They begin at 8am sharp. I've got to finish taking inventory and packing our bags. It's so bittersweet and God is so good and so faithful and I am literally clinging to Him for this season of life, knowing He will carry us through, trusting, and praying He will give me the grace not to be a control freak brat to my family - 'cause life feels a little out of control right now.

Here's to a new chapter - a new adventure - a GREAT new adventure!

See you in our new digs in a few days!