Emotional Rollercoaster

The last few months have been an emotional rollercoaster for me in the housing department.  Let me back up and tell the whole story...The summer before I quit my job, Landon came home and told me that a new doctor in town wanted to look at our house.  I almost went ballistic over the idea of selling our house and moving because at that point it seemed as if we had just gotten settled.  They didn't end up buying it, but that planted a selling bug into Landon.  We decided to list our house not too long afterwards.  We have had a few people to look but no serious buyers thus far.  It has been such a fabulous market, you know.  I had mixed feelings about it anyway, so it was fine with me:) 

When we were discussing our next move when our house sold, we decided that we were probably going to build again to get exactly what we wanted.  We found the perfect lot in a great location, and it had lots of trees (something I didn't realize that I really missed until building a new house).  We approached the owners of this "perfect" lot, but they decided they weren't interested in selling.  We took our house off the market and decided to stay. 

In August, we decided to list our house again.  Landon came home a couple of months ago and I could tell he was excited about something.  He told me he had a surprise and to get the kids and load up.  He said on the way that a house just come on the market, and he wanted me to guess which one I thought it would be.  I had no idea, but when we pulled in the road I almost flipped out!  It was a house right next door to the lot we wanted to buy.  Also, I have always loved this house as a child.  We would pass this house on the way to my great-grandmother's often and I would admire it as we drove by.  I thought it looked like a dollhouse:)

When we pulled up I was halfway hoping that I would hate the inside because I didn't want to fall in love with the house and then not be able to sell ours.  It was dated a bit and not decorated in my style, but it was cozy and I loved the layout.  I immediately felt at home, and I was in love.  When we we got back in the van, I started to tear up.  Landon looked at me as if I were crazy and asked what was wrong with me.  I said that I loved this house, but I didn't think we would ever get it because I knew it would sell quickly, and we didn't have a buyer for our house. 

Thanksgiving weekend, Landon told me that we had a showing on our house on Saturday.  The couple was looking at the house across the road seriously with Barb, and Landon encouraged Barb to show them ours house.  I didn't really think too much about it because I thought it was a long shot. 

We were eating dinner with Landon's family at Bella's and Landon received a call with a strong offer.  I sat there at the table and was fighting back tears.  The thought of actually moving the house that we had built and picked out every single detail was a bit overwhelming.  Also, it was big news to try to digest while in front of everyone.  I was also upset about the playroom that I had finally, that week, finished with storage units with the toys actually organized for the first time, complete with a larger than life Darth Vader fathead on the wall. 

We left the restaurant, and I went to the grocery store and had myself a good cry on the way.  I soon got over it and then began to get excited about the other house.

The following Monday, we began the process of negotiations on the other house.  I really didn't think they were going to take offer.  Landon had a limit and was going to walk if we didn't get it for what we wanted.  I was on pins and needles because I don't do well with this process.  We ended up agreeing on an amount and had a closing date set for January 7. 

The home owners of our new house had given us permission to go ahead and begin painting so I was getting ready to start the first room one morning about two weeks before Christmas.  I was ready to go when Landon called me to tell me not to go paint because the people that were going to buy our house just found out that morning that he was having a change in his job and he didn't know where it would take him.  I was speechless.  I had completely detached myself emotionally from this house and already had all the wallpaper stripped, every room painted and decorated, complete with flower boxes on the windows...in my head.  I was crushed to say the least.  I really couldn't talk to anyone for a few days about it because I was so upset.  I was really questioning everything because the timing couldn't have been any more perfect for us to get this house.  We put everything on hold for a month to see if the buyer's job situation was settled so they could still go through with the purchase because they had expressed that this was their dream house.  After Christmas, they said they had spent the holidays both sick with the flu and over the uncertainty and not being able to buy our home.

Landon had a couple that he was showing houses to, and they fell in love with one of Landon's listings.  It was at the top of their price list and they wanted to look at a few houses in a lower price range.  Landon emailed them everything in that lower range, and they picked our house along with two others to view.  When they came and looked at our house, I really had a good feeling, but I didn't want to get my hopes up.  The couple has four children and I just knew that this would be a perfect house for them.  A few days later, Landon received a call from them expressing how much they loved our house and wanted to make an offer.  I was ecstatic but a little more cautious this time.  After meeting with them Thursday night, we knew this was the right family for this house and we both were excited.  We sat down at the table and agreed on everything.  We close in February so, hopefully we won't have any more hangups and will actually get to close this time. 

Through this experience, I have learned to be patient, and that it will work out the way it is supposed to eventually...even if this meant us not getting that house.  I think God wanted me to really appreciate that house and not move begrudgingly.  I know I sound crazy because I cried because I wanted that house, then cried when we found out we sold our house, then cried when we found out that we weren't going to sell afterall.  I don't deal well with change.  Poor Landon.  I feel a bit silly myself, but I am just thankful of how it is turning out now.  There were many wonderful memories made in this home, but I look forward to many more in the new one.   

"Home" is any four walls that enclose the right person.

Helen Rowland