Not Quite as Crazy as I thought

It's been ages, but me on a computer at home, just doesn't happen very often.  I never really understood that, when people said it, but I really don't have the want to get online each moment when I get home after being on one for 9 hours, oh and I get my e-mail on my phone, so I don't need to check that (or it might be a different story).  Anywho....my last couple months in a nutshell

1. Closed on my house at the end of October
2. Painted 6 rooms in my house the first full weekend in November
3. Moved my belongings from my apt, to my house the weekend before Thanksgiving
4. Went to NE for Thanksgiving (after working Thanksgiving day)
5. Put up Christmas Decorations, amongst other organizing of the house
6. Baking...galore! 20 loaves of bread and counting, and caramels, snack mix, taco chex, and TONS of sugar cookies


That is the big things that have lead me to today.  November was so busy! I even had a 36 hour day in there, and that kinda messes up any eating schedule, 2 days of eating into one, you just feel like a pig.  Sleeping however was easy!!!  I didn't even sit down some of the days unless I was at work, or laying in bed.  But December has been a different story.  I thought it would be just as busy, and it has been steady, but not overwhelming.  which is a nice break from the crazy that November was.  I still have a house in Disarray, but most of it is behind closed doors.  January will bring me another room to use (one that is now full of boxes, that I get things out of when I need them). I've been able to catch up on some TV, my DVR was full...now it's only 80% full, ;-).  I keep working on it though. 

This week will be interesting, a Major Winter Storm is making it's way toward the central plains and that will wreak havoc for travel, and I'm worried about my own travel home on Christmas eve. But first, I have to finish my bread baking and shopping for Christmas.  3 days of work until Christmas!!! It's quickly approaching! 

If I don't make it on here again before Christmas, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Much love!

And it's out!

While some of you may have known, not all have....I did buy a house a month and a half ago.  I've kept it on the DL for awhile.  Last night things went public.  So here I am putting it out there on here too.  I have written things as they've happened, I just haven't published them.  Check the older posts (but just up) if you care to read about my process. 

  Things are on their way to being complete on the financing side of the house, and the closing date has been moved up one day....to 2 weeks from today.  While it's still 2 weeks away and I'm anxious for it to arrive quickly, I know it will go by much faster than I think it will at this time.  It'll be here before I know it, and there's plenty to do before I get possesion of the house.  All of the fun things like getting electric, gas, trash, water and those things in my name and started on my first date. 

  I'm planning on painting and taking down border the second weekend I have the house, and then slowly moving my stuff over.  I hope to move in completely around Thanksgiving.  My work schedule will make it hard to move my stuff in the beginning of December.  I have not started packing anything, and can't say I will pack for a while.  I don't want to live in boxes in my apartment, especially since I have 2.5 more months left to pay for my apartment.  I've got plenty of time to get everything moved.  I'm sure it will fly though, regardless of having a new home, the holiday season itself flys by all by itself.  I'll try to keep things updated on the process. 

Love!

Jesus take the wheel....he did.

A couple of good friends are getting married today in Valparaiso, IN.  I wanted to come up to Indiana for this special occasion, but flying was just not that feesible money wise as I'd have had to rent a car and what not.  Expensive.  I drove up from Wichita Thursday for the wedding on Friday.  Thursday's weather across the central plains and mississippi valley was well forecasted....RAIN! I left in the middle of some rain around 730am in Wichita, but it quickly moved out ahead of me and I was in a whole of dry and semi-sunny conditions.  It really was a good deal, and I was driving up to I-80 in Iowa, so I was going to miss the constant rainy conditions along I-70. 

  The unneeded excitement occurred around Emporia, KS...less than 100 miles from home.  It wasn't raining at this time, the ground was some wet, but very little standing water.  There were very few people on the road as well.  I was driving northbound on I-35 when all of a sudden, I saw a van that was driving southbound, enter the median....and enter my side of the interstate ahead of me.  The van swerved a little and didn't go straight across my side of the road, and i was able to swerve into the sholder, to avoid a head on collision.  Needless to say, by the time I completely realized what just could have happened and got pulled off to the side of the road...I was shaking.  I called 911 and when looking into my rearview mirror I didn't see this van anymore, so figured they must be in the ditch and I didn't know anything about the condition of the occupants.

  I turned around in the "police" turn arounds on the interstate to go back and try to find the van, no one else had stopped.  After a mile and turning around, I drove along the sholder for a little bit to try and find this van.  I did and went down in the ditch to see what was going on.  The van hadn't moved, no open doors or anything like that.  I was scared to find what I might for the occupants, but when I got to the drivers side door, which was blocked by a tree, a little old woman turned and waved to me.  I was happy she was alive and I again was shaking.  The sherriff's officer arrived shortly there after.  The two of us helped the woman out of her car, her ankle was hurt.  After that, the officer asked me to fill out a witness statement and after that I was able to go about my way.  I didn't see what caused the woman to loose control...but while the road was wet, I don't think she hydroplained...I think it was something medical.

  Of the many possible outcomes of this event, we had the best one possible.  I can't help but think about the outcome, where my swerving didn't make it a near miss, but a head on collision, and at the speeds we were going on the interstate...it wouldn't have been a pretty outcome.  I was nearly in tears and so thankful.  On my way driving off to continue my 700 mile treck to Indiana, when I finally remembered to turn on the radio again the first country station that I found the song that started right away was Jesus take the wheel by Carrie Underwood.  It was so true at that point!  He did take the wheel and God was carrying me in his hands on the trip.  I'm so thankful for how it turned out, but for now, as I said it is hard to not think about the other outcomes. 

 I really don't need any more excitement for the rest of my drive.  After the wedding tonight, I'm heading back into the Chicago area to pick up Sarah and we are going to drive up to Madison, WI for some wonderful wedding things.  I'm so excited to see all my friends this weekend and thankful to be alive.  Say a little prayer in thanks!

Love to all!

50% isn't bad

Well I asked the seller for 2 things after the inspection, but neither were really deal breakers to me.  I'm sure he knows that.  He got the roofer to come back out and fix the imperfections on the roof, but he refused to fix the window.  It has condensation between the panes, but he says it's just dirty.  That isn't correct, actually the thermal seal is broken.  But as I said, it's not that important.  Nothing to loose the house over.  So with that, I do believe we are under the final contract.  Now we are just working on the financing and waiting for the closing at the end of the month. 

Love

Inspection Complete

The rest of the inspection was completed this week.  The inspector was able to get into the attic and there wasn't any evidence of the leak and so things are really on their way! I've asked the seller to fix the little roof problems and the basement window.  The other things were small and I can fix them, plus the seller is quite persnicity and I don't want to get into it with him.  I'll let you know how it goes.


Love

Inspection

I had the Inspection this week. I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect, but it went well. I was a little shocked and worried when the inspector was pointing things out, but when I stepped back and looked at it, they were all pretty minor things. Just a couple bigger things, and one is already being taken care of. The seller has really taken care of the home and it shows. I just hope I can have the same thing if I continue to take care of it, so that when it's inspected when I sell it, I don't have to fix to much.

After the inspection, I stayed around and measured the rooms and did a more in depth search of the house to see things, so my little head can dream and plan for stuff. It was nice to look at things, I took more pictures. One thing that I get to keep part of the contract is the refrigerator. I'm really excited about that, it will save me lots of money and it's a nice fridge.

I have a couple months after I close before my apartment lease is up, so I'll move slowly, but I know as soon as I actually close, I'll want to move in quicker. But, this will give me time to paint, and do other things without having to move furniture or do it around the furniture. I'm looking forward to making it all mine! It will be so nice.

I'm getting more and more excited as time goes on. We are less than 6 weeks from the closing date.

love

Accepted...Big weekend!

My bid (counteroffer by that time) was accepted, or rather, I accepted the sellers counter offer. I'm super excited about it! YAY! I put in my first bid on friday before my parents and I headed up north to Kensington and Smith Center. After lunch with the Realtor we went and packed up and headed out.

I got a counter offer on the way up there, the seller didn't budge much. We thought about it overnight and countered back saturday morning. I was nervous most of the day, but had plenty to distract me...more about that after bit. My realtor finally called back late in the afternoon with yet another counter offer from the seller. I thought about it and thought, after dinner and on my way back to Wichita I offered one more counter.

Sunday afternoon the seller sent their counter back to me and I accepted it. I signed all the new papers and it is awaiting the sellers signature. Wow! What a whirlwind...it's hardly been 2 weeks. And if you'd have asked me if I knew this would happen labor day weekend, I'd have said you were crazy!  Below is a picture of the front of my new house.

The other big thing this weekend was that we were at an auction of my mom's aunt. She had a nice dining room table set with a hutch and buffet. I really want a hutch and the dining room table is very nice. We had to wait all day for it, and bidding was supposed to begin at 2pm. Since they had a scheduled time, I figured there would be lots of people bidding on it. I said I'd go up to 1000 for the table/6 chairs and the hutch, o 500 each. They started the bidding at $100, we nodded. Then NO ONE ELSE BID! I got the two pieces for 100 each, or 200 total! I couldn't believe, it and neither could anyone else. It was an absolute steal! Whoa!!!

Needless to say, this labor day weekend will go down in the history books as one of my biggest thus far in my life. Now the rest of the housing process continues.

love.