Here I am.  I’m now in what I consider a new chapter in my life. So unsure why I’m here and what it all means, I only know that I have a spirit of peace upon me, regardless of the fact my life has been non-stop since the end of August, and I continue to be surrounded with boxes that need to be unloaded, I still have the most incredible sense of peace.

So how did I do?  Everyone wondered how I’d be when I drove down that long lane for the last time. I wondered myself.  My last drive was on Sunday, August 30.  Amy, Chad, the girls, Jason, Susan and baby Elizabeth were with me that day. We were desperately trying to get those last minute things loaded into 3 trailers we had.  The buyers who had been a pain in my side had insisted on having their last-minute walk-thru at 5:00 that night. I had said I wouldn’t be finished. It didn’t matter, they once again had their way and showed up, regardless of the fact we were desperately trying to finish up. On top of that my renters had made the decision to move that weekend too. Once we were gone, they wanted gone. (Wisdom on their part, or so I feel.) It was nice knowing that God had blessed me with these renters for the last leg of that particular journey having had such bad luck the 4 years I tried my hand at rental properties. I was able to return their deposit.  In spite of it all, the new buyers showed up around 5:30.

I was so tired! We were going on 4 hours sleep, if that much for about 3 days, I was hot, tired, irritable, and to be honest, emotional about everything.  I was so ready to move on, and at the same time holding on to whatever memories I had, as if they would go away or something.  I prayed! Oh boy did I pray.  I wanted to lash out so much that night after all I felt these people and especially their realtor had put me through for a year.  It would take lots of prayers! But as is God’s way in my life, He never really gives me the answers to prayers until I need them.  As I loaded yet more things, Amy and Susan by my side, their realtor approached me. It was as if God gave me eyes to see right in that moment.  Whatever bitterness I had held onto suddenly disappeared as I saw something in her I had never seen. She just really didn’t get it and isn’t all that bright. I suddenly didn’t take anything personal, even tho her comments could have been taken as such.  No, new eyes, peace and wisdom came in the midst of what I knew was not my own strength, but God’s.  Then the people who were buying to place approached us. They had a million questions and took Dell away to answer all the mechanical things they wanted to know. Funny, I felt peace about it because I related to all the questions I now had about my new house too. I understood their excitement as I too was feeling these same things in my own house!  I could see they were having dreams about all they would do to this place. I suppose I could have taken it personal, but why would I? I had my own dreams with my new house too. Isn’t this what buying new houses and moving into new chapters is all about?

We  told them that we couldn’t get our camper/trailer taken that night. This really bothered me as I had put all my clothes in the camper for moving, along with all my favorite wall hangings. It was like leaving behind everything I owned, but I really didn’t have a choice.  They acted fine about it, but I still didn’t like the thought of leaving it till after closing to get it.  Still, I had no choice.

I drove down that long lane for the last time and didn’t even realize it.  I think this was a good thing.  I was taking the kids to Golden Corral for dinner, my treat. They had all worked so hard, we weren’t all that clean, and everyone was starved. It was 8:00pm, Sunday night, August 30.  They had to work the next day, Dell and I had to drive back the 83 miles in the morning to be at closing at 9:00am. I was walking in my sleep, aching beyond belief from all the lifting.

The day before we had moved all the furniture. We’d hired Jane’s grandson and friend to help out. Jason and Chad were both there. We had to do two U-Haul trips the 83 miles, along with 2 additional trailers. We had rented the largest U-Haul they make thinking we’d make it in one trip. Well, we didn’t.  Did I really know how much “stuff” I had?  After dinner at the Golden Corral, we drove back to our new house. I set the alarm to get up at 5:30am as I needed to shower and be on the road to closing no later than 6:30am. This would give us time to get breakfast.  Dell had decided he would go get the trailer and the stuff we just couldn’t get in the trailers while I did closing on the property.  Chad happened to be off that day and was bringing a trailer up to meet Dell.

And all my plans fell apart.  I set my phone alarm for 5:30am, not being able to find my alarm clock in the mass sea of boxes! Only I forgot to hit done on my phone. The outfit I had put out for closing I couldn’t find and all I had was daisy duke shorts and a tank top!  I did some quick searching through whatever box I could find and found something that would be appropriate, tho not my top choice on what I wanted to wear.  Turns out I had put my closing outfit in the travel trailer which Dell was picking up while I was at closing.  When my alarm didn’t go off, I somehow awakened myself at 6:30am!  It was a 1.5 hour drive,  I HAD, HAD to take a shower, and this would mean we would have to do Indianapolis downtown traffic at 7:45am!  To say the least nerves had cracked at this point!  Dell and I got into a shouting match from lack of sleep and nerves and emotions!  Of course we hit a gridlock traffic jam……..we were going to be late.  Didn’t that figure?

I was 15 minutes late, which was in and of itself a miracle.  Everyone was sitting around this long table, my realtor next to me for support, Dell coming in to make sure I’d be okay, I sat down.  I was frazzled from the drive, oversleeping, no sleep, and all the moving and chaos.  In walked Amber. Amber was with the title company and was doing the closing. Amber also had graduated from the high school I worked at for 20 years.  She walked in, said “HI!” so glad to see me, and I broke down into a bottle of tears.  Years of memories suddenly swept through my mind……all the times at the high school, going home to the property which was home for 25 years, my parents being a part of the high school as the boys played sports and Amy was cheerleading.  Memories rushed in and I buried my face in my hands and began to sob.  Dell put his arm on my back, everyone got quiet. Amber said, “Would you like a Kleenex?”  I shook my head.  She came back. I looked up at her as she handed me the box,  “It’s all your fault!” I told her chuckling through sob.  “What did I do?” She asked.  “I saw you and remembered all my times at school!”  She laughed with me. I think the buyers felt bad for me at this point, perhaps realizing that this was a very special place to me.

We went on with closing. They were light-hearted and excited. They had obviously been through this before.  There would be 3 closings. One for each house on the property.  It lasted way longer than I or my realtor anticipated. My realtor had to leave before the last one closed as she had another appointment. It left me alone. She asked me if I’d be okay, I told her I would be.  After all, Amber was there. 

When all the papers were signed, and all was said and done, I’m not sure exactly how I left it, but one of the sons (an adult son approximately my age) who I had really taken a liking too because he really was a nice guy, told me I was welcome to come and visit anytime!  I told him thank you, broke down crying, and left the room with my check in hand.  I had exactly 4 hours to get back to the city and proceed to the next closing.  First tho I had to walk across the street to my bank, deposit my check, and call Dell and hope he was ready to pick me up.  I also had to warn him that the new owners were on the way.  I was so glad I never had to go back as I think that long drive down the lane for the last time would have been too much at that point.

Depositing the check was nice. J

Dell picked me up in downtown city, pulling the travel trailer behind.  Having not eaten anything we stopped for lunch on the way out of town, my hometown which would no longer be where I resided.  Because the camper was behind us, with Chad following, I told myself I was simply going on vacation. A long vacation at that…………

Next stop would be the closing for the new house.  I sure didn’t feel sad about this one!

To be continued……………………………

(Skylar, who is now 4 believe it or not,  is spending the night with me tonight, so I must attend to her.  Since I only live 15 minutes from her these days this is one of her favorite things to do. She calls and I must go spend time with her, so I will continue with the rest of the story over the next few days.

As the faith, love, and light lead me on.

Goodnight,

Sunshine

GNTS:  So many thoughts of you over the past few weeks I’m not sure words could begin to describe.  Sometimes I have such a hard time understanding what this is and isn’t, and I just don’t get why no matter how hard I try, or how busy I get, or what it is I am doing…………….YOU remain.  Why is this?  And what does it all mean?  Will I ever understand it all?  I still pray for you every day. It’s just a part of me and seemingly something so very important I do.  I know it’s special, whatever it is, and I know that it might not ever be those things I once dreamed it would be. Yet in the end, I know it is all good because it is about love and light and peace, and gentleness and a faith that is beyond words.  It’s a knowing of something you just can’t find words for.  It is and that’s all I know.  Hope all is well…………..  ~just me.