MOVING DAYS!

The house at 817 Riviera in Mansfield is now ours. It doesn't feel like "home" yet, but we'll get there. It was incredibly difficult to leave Deer Creek and Nacogdoches. Benjamin wrote the note above on the rafters in the attic at Deer Creek. Both he and Matthew had time to be there just before it was packed up. I was there from Oct. 25-29, except for a day in Mansfield to close the new house. The time in Nac was very special time even though we were packing. Tears were shed by ALL! For the boys, leaving the house that they built with their dad, grandpas, and numerous friends was difficult enough, but the fact that we're leaving Nacogdoches is also hard for them. This has been home for them since 6th grade. Since Irby is in training for a new job, he could not be there except the 25-26th, which means he wasn't there for the actual move or either closing! Yes, he owes me! My best friend, Phyllis, helped me out once again. When I went to Mansfield to close and wait for the mover, she stayed at the Nac. house for the packers to finish up and the mover loaded for his first trip. How can I EVER thank her? And Benjamin got off early in Dallas that evening, so at the last minute, he decided to drive me back to Nac. for the final load and clean up the next day. I was so grateful for his company, but he said I fell asleep in the middle of the conversation we were having! (Sorry, Benjamin! Was getting tired by this time!) Benjamin was with me when we closed the door for the last time and walked down the sidewalk together to my car. On the way down the long driveway to the street, we waved bye through the sunroof for Matthew. In college, Matthew made it his tradition to wave bye out his sunroof until he couldn't see us any longer. More tears when I told Matthew that. Irby called when Benjamin and I were walking through the house the last time. We had to hang up because neither of us could talk. I found out when he got home today that he was so concerned for us during that call, that he wasn't paying attention, and he fell, scraping his hand and arm up pretty badly.

But it's time to move on, no matter how difficult...and it may not be a bed of roses for awhile either! Our new house has not been lived in for over a year. One of the two water heaters is not working or the water is off...haven't had time to completely investigate. The former owner couldn't find the remotes to perfectly working garage opener. Then the day of the move the garage door wouldn't close from the push button inside! We had the house inspected early on, and these things were not a problem at that time. We DO have a home warranty, thank goodness! Besides needing all the cabinets painted (scheduled for the next couple of weeks), fence built (getting 1st estimate tomorrow), windows scraped and washed...and there are many and they are HIGH, some windows have beautiful plantation shutters while some windows aren't covered at all, needing some cabinets built, we have quite a few boxes to go through! We won't begin doing that until the cabinets are painted...no use to waste time on that. We have our apt. in Arlington for another couple of months, so we're still living there. We'd like to be settled early in Dec. for the holidays. Pray with us that it will be possible. We're glad the move is technically over, but as you can see, there's still much to do to get settled or feel at home. The whole buying and selling seemed very complicated this time. The closing date for Deer Creek was changed because of damage to our buyer's house from Hurricane Ike, which meant Riviera had to be changed tot. Amendments were drawn up for repairs to new house (not yet completed -- roof, etc.). It all required what seemed like MOUNTAINS of paperwork. They must kill trees for even more papers to sign at closing! Much of the increased paper is because of defaulted loans. I had a thick file folder on each house BEFORE closing! Much to do in the weeks to come...will try to keep up the blog!