House For Sale

I knew that selling our house would not be easy.  The logistics.  The emotions.  Hard business selling your home under these circumstances.  At the same time, I can't help but find joy in knowing that God has all the details worked out.  He has written the script.  

The kids have really stepped up to help with the daily upkeep, not to mention the added intensity of preparing for showings.  They have finally learned to pick things up when they are done with them, and not to drag every cotton-pickin' thing out on a whim!  (Really, house selling is just a sinister plot to train 'em!) 

It's funny though, the things you learn only when you have to sell your house.  For instance, painting baseboards is not that hard.  And, if you clean the shower ten times in a row, it does get clean again!  I will say, however, I've had more ants with a spotless house than I ever did with a few crumbs on the floor.  The biggest surprise has been how much easier it is to keep things in order when there is NO CLUTTER!  Amazing.  Vacuuming is much easier also!

On the flip side, my van looks like a moving truck threw up in it.  Whatever we can't hide, goes in the van.  Not sure the wisdom in that decision, but my 10yo keeps reminding me "we have a good excuse for it being so messy."  Bless his ever-loving heart.

So I do have a few kudos:  I'm not sure where I'd be without my Swiffer(s).  If I was rich, I'd buy the company!  And Pledge on the shower doors REALLY works!  Amazing!  But then there are the disappointing things like spider webs.  Those spiders are FAST!  My front porch has to be de-webbed daily!  And let's not forget the dishes and laundry.  Always more dishes.  Always more laundry.  I tried to finagle my way out of those chores, but they are here to stay.  We've had other challenges too, like appliances acting fritzy, and toilets that have decided they have a mind of their own.  Grrrrrr!

Emotionally, the hardest part is yet again, the waiting.  And the waiting.  Wait for a showing.  Wait for the feedback.  Wait for a sale.  Wait.  Wait.  We've been waiting a lot the last couple of years.  But that's okay too.  Remembering who's in control does make a the difference. 

I take a deep breath and wonder if we'll really get our school year going before we are interrupted (blessed!) to move.   Can we move and still do school?  Makes my head spin to think about it, but, there is no point in being anxious.  (Wait, wait! :))

Well-Planned Day, Hooray!

I confess!  I'm a planner junkie.  Mostly because I'm a planning junkie.  That said, it was only a matter of time before I got around to the Well-Planned Day planner from Rebecca Keliher and Home Educating Family. It's really pretty!  I know I could get technical about the things I love and don't love about it, but the fact is, it's pretty.  It makes me feel good to write in it and that's just so sad!  But true!  I'm tired of 3-ring binder planners.  I'm tired of things falling out of notebooks.  I'm tired of printing things.  Sure, it's not perfect, but it really does have quite a lot of useful features.  And it's pretty.

It's made me realize something else rather dastardly about myself.  Besides the fact that I'm a planner junkie, that is.  I love filling in blanks.  I'm one of those people who used to love workbooks!  Every blank neatly filled out.  Forms!  I love forms.  Beth Moore studies, for example.  Blanks to fill!  Things requiring penmanship in my rather overly typed world.  So okay.  So far, I'm glad I took the chance on this planner, given the price.  I'm relatively certain it will earn it's keep this year. 

I also bought the Well-Grounded Middle Schooler to try to help my son with his budding independence that is FINally kicking in.  It must be because he's reached 5'4" and he's only TEN.  Ah.  Well.  His is pretty too.  Of course, I just told him it looks rather "smart".  He got the picture.