Here's a long saga made short (to my dad's intense relief). Timothy got a raise at work (yay!) and we started throwing around the idea of moving. We live in a 1600 square foot home that we've made work for seven years now. We could continue to make it work. However, we decided we wanted a seventh child after an unexpected pregnancy ended in a miscarriage this November. Someday I'm going to write about this fall; about my baby brother's wedding in November, followed by a miscarriage, then a trip to Vegas, then Christmas, then my birthday and now house moving preparations. I haven't had a chance to breathe yet.
I'd like to post about the miscarriage someday--about how much harder it was emotionally to lose a baby at ten weeks than it was to have the two miscarriages at six weeks. I've been pregnant ten times now. Strange.
Back to my brief (really, Dad!) house update. After the miscarriage, Timothy and I started seriously considering having another baby. He'd wanted to think seriously about not having another baby before that :) but together we decided we'd pursue another baby (yay!!!). Then we started thinking about having seven children in our four bedroom home. Then he was told he'd be getting a raise. We started trying to decide between staying in our current home or moving.
We decided, finally, that we would stay in this house, keep our lovely $700 a month mortgage payment, remodel the kitchen, and go on a vacation or two and enjoy living a little less paycheck to paycheck. It was a good decision, we thought. But then we kept changing our mind. Then we'd change it back. Then one day at church a lady told me that she wanted to buy a house in our neighborhood (she lives in a basement here in the ward boundaries). Being my father's child I said she could buy mine. Anything is for sale for the right price is one of my dad's life mottos. The lady came and looked at the house and said she wanted it, so we started looking at moving more seriously.
Then the lady couldn't get approved for enough. By then, though, I had found the PERFECT house in Ogden. It was right by the university, right by a nice trailhead, right by one of my favorite parks. The house was also large and completely trashed and bank owned, and, therefore, in our price range. We worked like crazy people for three days to make it happen but the bank dropped the price by $25,000 the night before we put in our offer and three investors offered cash the next morning. We did not get the house.
In the meantime, though, Timothy and I had both felt quite strongly that Heavenly Father wanted us to pursue the home, which leads us to believe that staying in our current home is the wrong choice for our family. With that decision finally made, we have been working like crazy people trying to fix up our house to put on the market. We're hoping to list it before this weekend but, if not, then early next week.
Several people have asked us about our intended move destination. We don't know. I want to be on the mountain so I can send my kids and dog away to be free and independent as God intended children and dogs to be. Houses on the mountain are a lot more expensive so you get a lot less house for the money. We've found some nice options in Ogden--our favorite town on the Wasatch front--but that adds time to Timothy's commute, something neither of us are very excited about. We've found some nice homes in Syracuse and Roy, but then we'd be moving strictly for a larger home and not at all for location. Timothy cares more about the house--I care more about location. It's a hard decision. We're hoping Heavenly Father makes it very clear where he wants us. That would simplify things.
So that's it. My update. Now I'm going to go clean my kitchen and make bread. We haven't had real food in days because I've been painting the kitchen cupboards but I'm putting my kitchen back together as soon as I hit the publish button.
Thank you, again, to everyone who has watched my kids or brought me food (or is going to bring me food--thanks again!!) or helped with the house. Trying to get the house ready to put on the market with six kids living in the house is testing my already questionable sanity!!! Timothy is coming home early tonight so we can look at a house he's particularly interested in.
More updates to follow, I suppose, as things develop.
PS I'm not currently pregnant but if I am fortunate enough to have another baby and that baby is a girl (as per our pattern) than I'm thinking Lavinia Mildred for the name. So in love with the name Lavinia. I really wanted Flannery (still do) but Timothy hates it. He tolerates Lavinia--which, for us, is pretty encouraging!
PPS No, you cannot call her Vinnie. Blech. Vivi, though, is a pretty cute nickname. If I believed in nicknames--which I do not.
4 comments:
Sounds like a lot of stress. But it also sounds very exciting! I would have to be with you on the location part. After buying a house and working at a Bank in the loan department, it's location, location, location. Especially if you ever want to move or sell that said house. Do you watch Downtown Abbey? If you don't, did you know there was a character named Livinia on the show that died?
Sorry, Lavinia.
Sarah, I had forgotten about the Lavinia on Downtown (she was in it so briefly--but she was a redhead, if I remember correctly) until another friend of mine mentioned it. Other Lavinia's include the tragic Shakespeare character (she was raped and then had her tongue and hands cut off) and the mean girl in The Little Princess. The's also the ditzy aunt in Washington Square.
I would hope my Lavinia would rise above all such associations. :)
Crazy busy you are! I wish nothing but the best! I love your faith....to go and do as the Lord would have you do. It's hard when he hasn't quite shown the big picture yet....but as it has been said before.....you only need to take the first step....you don't need to see the whole staircase. ; ) Praying for you and your sweet family!
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