Three weeks after our house was listed, in about mid-March, an offer came in on our house that ended up being the one that stuck. The month that followed was still stressful, as the buyer kept coming for more showings and asked us to fix several things based on the home inspection. It made us nervous that she would back out and we would be back at square one. So for a few hundred dollars and a few miracles, we gave in to her every demand. We fixed some electrical stuff, the garage, a leaky toilet, a sticker on the furnace, and a brand new water heater. While I was angry at times because I felt we were playing a game, things really did fall into place. I had been going through rooms cleaning things out for a week and then started packing things up.
I mostly did ok - boxing up closets and shelves of books and things we don't use was not hard. I was a machine! Filling up that garage and showing Brian my progress each day. However, I did have to call in the big guns to do the hard stuff. Karen came over and single-handedly took down my curtains and pictures and homey things in the front room. I don't know why but it was just so hard for me to do it. Our house looked plain and uninviting. It made me sad. Things were feeling real at that point. So I really waited until the last week to do that. The next few days before the move there was a pretty constant stream of sweet, nice friends who helped me get the kitchen packed and then later our bedroom. They were so kind. They made it go fast. They made it much less painful.
There were so many kindnesses shown to our family, particularly in that last week that made it possible for us to get out quickly. Dinners day after day after the kitchen was packed up and even the day or two after we moved. Kids being taken care of so I could work quickly. Kids of others' kids being watched as well so that their moms could be with me to help. A water heater. Trailers and trucks delivered to our house and keys left on our porch. So many helping hands to move boxes from the crawl space to the garage. From the garage to a trailer. From the trailer into the basement of our new house. It was incredible. People are so, so good.
We closed on April 15. Had to be out by Saturday, the 17th. They were long, long days. I was beat. The kids were out of sorts. We moved into grandma and grandpa Robinson's house for two weeks while we worked on the hew house and got it ready for us to move in.
For the most part, I was composed. But the ending there was pretty hard. Ripped my little heart out. I have so many happy memories of our little house on 1010 West. We moved in 8 years ago with just the two of us and a puppy. So much space - and room to spare! We brought our three, sweet little boys home here. We sat on the front porch and watched snow fall or ate popsicles. Kids ran laps around the kitchen and the family room while Brian played the piano. I can see Gavin army crawling down the entire hall. I can see McKay standing up in the cherry tree waiting for me to come get him down. I can see Jonah standing at the back door watching his big brothers and wishing he was big enough to join in the fun.
This little house is where Brian and I spent hours working together - finishing the yard, building a garden, making it ours. The kids rode bikes and scooters down the path in the backyard over and over. Dug for worms in the backyard. Found rolly pollies. Learned how to ride bikes on the street out front.
I can't list them all here. But I will forever remember the happy feelings associated with our first home. It was a good place. Love grows best in little spaces… We had great neighbors and we made friends that I truly believe will last a lifetime.
When we went outside for the last time the Belliston's and their girls were outside. I was fighting hard to keep it together. But I did. We took pictures and said goodbye. We walked back in the house and as I walked up the stairs to the laundry room door for the last time, the floodgates opened. We went in and kneeled in our bedroom - our little family of five - and said a prayer. Grateful for the opportunity to live here. I had to go lay down for two hours before I was composed again. It was so hard to say goodbye.
I know this move is great for our family and many new adventures await us. And I'm excited for the next phase and know that the next chapter can be just as great. So like Dr. Suess said - I will smile because
it happened!
