Journal: End of September already?!

Out my window: 51 and cloudy.  It's been lovely and unseasonably warm, so chilly temps are a bit of a shock.  Feels like fall, though, so I won't complain.

Clothing myself in:  New skinny jeans, periwinkle lace tank, plaid button-down, new cardigan sweater.  Mom and Dad Marney sent a maurice's gift certificate for my birthday, so the new things were part of my gift.  I am pretty excited- I am down two jeans sizes.  I haven't weighed this much since forever ago.  Now I just need to remember to maintain my health and fitness over the long winter.  It's hard. I try to hibernate by stuffing myself with sugary baked things.  Hopefully the pretty new jeans will be a reminder to not overindulge.

Around the house: It's fairly tidy.  We had an open house on Saturday (that no one attended) so it was spotless.  Also, when we thought we were moving into a smaller house at the end of this month, we sold a bunch of furniture, so the house is sparsely furnished.  It has been fine, but a little weird.  Downsizing has really shown me how much we don't strictly need.  And it feels good to have less things to be attached to.

Kiddos:  George has been waking up at 5:45ish again.  Gah.  I thought we were over that.  He had a good several month stretch where he woke up after 6, sometimes considerably.  I would like to go back to that, please?

Settling into school, getting more comfortable with the curriculum and pacing.  I love being home with them again and getting to be part of their day to day.

As I was typing, Liam came into the house screaming about bees and shortly after, Isaac followed with George.  Liam and George apparently stepped in a ground bee's nest.  Isaac sent Liam into the house, brushed some of the bees off George and brought him.  Liam got two stings, George got four.  Isaac's cool head saved the day.  Everyone seems okay and the swelling is going down.  That gave me quite the fright.

In the kitchen: I made some amazing Italian sausage soup and rosemary herb bread yesterday.  Pumpkin pancakes later this week, brunswick stew.  Good eating around here.  Got the new oven (ours died in July and we hemmed and hawed about whether to buy a new one or fix it and ultimately decided to just buy one) and it has been amazing.  Joe made me pumpkin chocolate chip brownies for my birthday. Yum.

Crafting: In order to not drive myself crazy with anxiety at the fact that our house hasn't sold, I am putting that into creative energy.  I told Joe I missed knitting and he suggested starting something.  I bought some Wool of the Andes Bulky in Wallaby to knit him a Mr Darcy sweater.  He suggested that while I was waiting for the yarn, I could knit him a camera strap cover, so I have been doing that and it's almost done.

Bringing me joy:  Sunshine in my windows, apple pumpkin scented candle, autumn apple coffee, purpley-red leaves, fire on a cool autumn evening with the hubby, an amazingly clean house for my birthday, surprise birthday flowers. How considerate my husband is- he is a really amazing man.

Thinking about: Being grateful and living in the present while trying to keep an eye on the future.  Our house is for sale and it is so easy to get caught up in planning for when that happens to forgot about living in this moment.  I find transition and uncertainty uncomfortable, but there is grace in this growing time.

Even though our house here is not under contract, Joe spoke with our Idaho realtor and he said that the buyer wants to extend the contract.  So for as long as he doesn't get other offers, we still have a chance at that house.  I have confidence that this house will sell eventually, it is just a matter of when.  But fretting about it doesn't help, so I am just going to trust that things will happen as they need to.

School and houses....

I have started or thought about starting a blog post several times. But sometimes my brain gets tired of thinking and processing so I just didn't.

So hi! I am alive. Things have changed completely since my last post. 

Let's see, some non-house things: we started our homeschooling year.  Issy is in 6th grade, Isaac is in 4th, Liam is in 2nd and Adelle is in Kindergarten.  We are enrolled in a virtual school through another school district and so far, so good, for the most part.  It is obviously an adjustment.  Getting used to the curriculum, getting used to each child's learning style, strengths and weaknesses.  Managing time well.  

The blessing of being enrolled in a virtual school is that there is accountability, the materials are provided and I don't have to worry about not "doing enough".  The con is that it is a fair amount of work to get through- it is very "school at home".  It is fine for the older three since they are used to it, though.  

I love having the kids together again. I love them being each other's.  Seeing them interact, playing together, even fight.  I miss my job, but I love being with them.  

Life is not perfect.  I get tired.  George sometimes makes school difficult, the older kids sometimes huff at me (I love the eye-rolls) when I asked them to play with him so I can work with someone else.  Schoolwork made one of my children cry in frustration yesterday.  Sometimes Critter eats the puzzle pieces that are left on the floor.  Markers get left out and George scribbles on couch cushions.  

But it's still pretty great, overall.  

Ah, the house situation.  So, pretty much immediately after pushing "publish" on my last blog post, we got a counteroffer on the Wyoming house that was unworkable and it was made clear that they weren't willing to meet us on a price that would work for us.  So no.

So we pursued a house in Idaho.  And very shortly after our counter-counteroffer was accepted, we found out that the contract on this house was going to fall through because the buyer was having loan issues.  Fortunately, there was another party interested.  They went to the bank to get a bridge loan and we found out last Monday that they would also be unable to buy our house because of some financial issues. And the first people that put in an offer (with a contingency) were still interested but their house hasn't sold yet.

So to lay it out- under contract on a house in Idaho.   Three interested parties but no one to actually buy this house.

To say that this was upsetting or stressful would be an understatement.  I also feel, because this is a situation that we willingly choose, I have no room to complain or feel badly.  I am trying to remind myself that we are here to do God's will, whatever we discern that to be.  And if that means that now is not the time, it isn't the time.  

We had a showing on Tuesday and are having an open house this Saturday.  If we don't get any offers from that, there is a fairly good likelihood that we will lose the contract on the Idaho house.  That is, obviously, disappointing.  But if it isn't that house now, we will find something else when this house does indeed sell.

When we put this house on the market, we expected it would take a while to sell.  It was surprising to get an offer (and then a second offer!) so quickly.  I think the hardest part has been going back and forth on expectations.  We thought it would take a while to sell, then we were supposed to be moving at the end of September, and now we are back to it taking a while.

So now, in order to keep our sanity, we are being hopeful but realistic in our expectations.  We will embrace and enjoy life here now and be present in the moment until we are off on a new adventure.