Summer Days

I apologize for my absence. A lot has happened since the last post when our closing date was postponed. We have a lot to be thankful for, and we have learned a lot about the Lord's sovereignty.

We did close on the house, so we now pay the bank every month for the privilege of living in this home and one day owning it. We were able to visit a few friends while we were waiting for that and I would like to again thank Liz & Hunt Mitchell, Nikki & Michael Dixon, Lindsay & Beau Gilmore, Brandon Boswell, Mary & Jonathan Davis, and Emmy Prosko for taking us in on such short notice!

So, in the past 4 months we have:
1) Taken an epic road trip
2) Purchased a house :)
3) Moved into/decorate our new house
4) Suffered a flash flood & had to purchase a new hot water heater :(
5) Taken a trip to Hilton Head Island with my family
6) Searched for jobs for me
7) Jonathan started and finished the career course
8) Spent 4th of July camping at Lake Moomaw

As you will have read, I have been searching for a job, but have not found one yet. I know everyone says this, but it has really taught me a lot about being humble, patient, content & trusting in God's will. And it's all a matter of time now...right?

We are planning a trip in August to Washington State for a sort of family reunion. I have never been to the Pacific Northwest & I am really excited!

That's all for today. I will try to be more diligent in posting pictures and updates.

Whomp Whomp

I have to sadly inform you that we won't be able to move into our new beautiful old home for a few more weeks. 

So, we are trying to plan an impromptu road trip to all of our friends over the next week. We are open to South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Let me know if you want us to stop by!

Update on our new home..and other things

I just wanted to give everyone an update on where we are now with our new home. I will be using a little bit of advanced terminology that I am not even 100% sure on, so I apologize in advance if I don't make sense. 

SO, here's what's gone down:

The seller's accepted our offer on the home

The inspector found a few things that that we asked the seller to fix

The seller was going to fix some of the major things on the house, meanwhile the VA appraiser gave a list of the things that NEEDED to be fixed for them to grant the loan. Some of those things were really stupid, like removing all the paint from the home and the shed and repainting them and adding railing on the staircase. So, we may not have a blue house after all :(. But I am happy with brick if it looks nice, and it should definitely be less maintenance. 

But, basically, all of the appraiser's requirements are going to cost a LOT of money, so we told the seller that if they would do those things, we would be fine with them not fixing the things we requested. 

Thankfully, we have VERY motivated sellers, so they were willing to do everything on the appraiser's list, as well as a few things on ours! 

Unfortunately, all of these repairs take some time, so we had to push the close date from today to March 14th. It's really not that big of a deal, but we have been living with other people since we got back from Germany, so we are just READY to have our own space again. 

We have asked the seller if we could move into the house before closing, and they are fine with it, but there will be a few days the house does not have electricity and a LOT of the windows need to be fixed, so it won't be the best living experience. Jonathan and I think it's worth it though, so we are going for it!

So, hopefully we will be "moving in" to our new home on March 3rd & it will be ours by March 14th!!

IN news not related to our home purchase, Jonathan will be a captain as of tomorrow, which is very exciting! But the poor guy isn't even part of a unit here yet, so there is no one to even recognize it or have a promotion party with. I know he's really torn up about it ;) (that's sarcasm, just so you know). But it also may be a blessing in disguise, because the girl we are staying with will also be a captain tomorrow, and she said she is expected to throw a party for her office & bankroll everyone's meal. So, kind of happy we don't have to do that. We'll just have to have a blowout when he becomes a major in, I don't know, like 8 years. 

ALSO, I have reconnected with the wonderful and amazing Beka Adam who is working at a ranch in Steamboat Springs. I love this woman and it was such a blessing to talk to her a few nights ago. She doesn't have facebook, and apparently if you don't have FB, it is super easy to miss out on what is going on in all of your friends lives. Isn't that sad? Note to self to keep in touch better with people who don't have FB. 

I am also proud to say that my New Year's Resolutions are on track. I decided to read the Bible in a year, going the very rebellious route of Genesis to Revelation straight through. People have tried to warn me off, but I will not be peer pressured! ;) I am on track with 1 Samuel & going strong! I also made the resolution to run a half marathon this year, which should surprise you all if you know me even a little. I have been waking up early and running 5 days a week. It's like I am a completely different person. Don't worry though, I still enjoy the occasional vegging with my Doritos and Gilmore Girls. Some things never change. 

That's all folks! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Let's get on with it already!

Well, the past few months have somehow been ridiculously hectic and boring all at the same time. We have been (and still are) vagabonds living out of suitcases and at the mercy of our wonderful family and friends. We spent the holidays in Atlanta with our families and took a trip to visit Jonathan's grandparents and extended family in Phoenix & Tonto Basin. We spent way too much money on after-Christmas sales and answered way too many of the same questions about "what's next for us" at the different parties and gatherings and church events we attended. I took a trip to Fort Collins, CO to visit my wonderful friend Lauren & her beautiful baby Lucy. Jonathan and I went to our future possible home of Fayetteville to continue the search for house, made an offer on one in Pinehurst, had that offer pretty much rejected, and came back to Atlanta empty handed. 

Thankfully, it seems that all the transitional time is coming to an end. Jonathan has a few more days of Airborne school and then graduates this Thursday. I have spent the past few weeks in Fayetteville looking for homes & we have one under contract in the historic downtown district. Believe it or not, we have done the whole process while Jonathan has been in Airborne school, so he hasn't even seen the house! If that's not trust, I don't know what is. 

This week feels like something of a watershed week in the waiting period that has been the past few months. Today Jonathan will jump out of a plane for the first & second time in his life. I am waiting in anticipation for the call at the end of the day that he is okay. Tomorrow is my 26th birthday, which doesn't really mean anything in the transitional period, but it is always nice to have something to celebrate. Wednesday we will have the inspection on the home we have under contract and the VA will appraise it, so we are also holding our breaths that there is nothing majorly wrong with it & that is appraises higher than our purchase price. By Thursday Jonathan will have, hopefully & prayerfully, jumped out of an airplane 5 times and will be graduating from Airborne school. Oh, did I mention that he can't officially check into Fort Bragg until that happens, so we have really been without a home for almost 2 months now. And meanwhile, snow is on the way; which, in the South means that any or all of the above mentioned things could be cancelled until further notice...Except my birthday, unfortunately it seems aging is the only thing snow doesn't shut down here. 

If everything goes according to plan, we should be closing on the house on Feb 28th. So, while we still have a few more weeks of twiddling our thumbs the end is nigh & I could NOT be more excited about our new home. 

Please be praying for us as we set up our new lives in Fayetteville. I have already been blessed by friendships here and it has only been a few weeks. I know God has great things in store for us, and I want to be humble and willing when called upon. 

Love from Fort Bragg!

1705 Fort Bragg Road - Hopefully our future home!!