and just like that...

…everything changes.

This past Thursday we closed on our place. We’re now, officially, “leasing” it for a few weeks. In order to pack and move to our new home. (New to us! It’s just six years old, though, and in a lovely, small neighborhood. Seventeen-ish minutes from TLC, Her Hubby and Our Little Princesses!!!) We close this Monday morning on this new-to-us home.

So much has happened in the past three weeks. It’s been fast and furious. It’s also been faith-testing. Stressful. Frustrating. Difficult. Exciting. CrAzY. JOYFUL. Sad.

We were to get to our closing at 11:00. Our Buyers were set for 10:30. When we walked into the title company at 10:40, we saw our realtor. He said: “The Buyers aren’t here. And there are some problems.” I’ve said I wish someone had taken a picture of My Sweet Hubby’s (aka MSH) and my expressions. Because I’m sure they were somewhat priceless.

FEAR. Sheer fear took over both of our minds, hearts, souls and bodies. This had to be okay. Or we’d lose the home that we believed—deeply believed—was meant to be for us on our new journey. A journey even six years ago we didn't expect to be taking.

Let me summarize the entire closing experience this way:

It was TRAUMATIC.

The Lender for the Buyers had made a big mistake. When he (finally) arrived, he was beyond apologetic. He’d realized his mistake, he said, at 2:00 o’clock in the morning. Questions had to be asked. Information had to be checked. Documents had to be changed. And it couldn’t happen as fast as we, as the Sellers, wanted it to.

The Buyers walked in, with their realtor, an hour and half late. They, too, were very apologetic. It had been nothing they had done wrong or could control. We'd only seen them the one time they'd come to look at our home, barn apartment and property. We'd enjoyed the few minutes we'd talked to them that Sunday morning. We knew they were extremely interested because they were here longer than any of the other potential Buyers. There were 19 couples and/or individuals that came, in the past year, to look at our home and place. Including this couple. We had a strong feeling they were the most connected to it right away.

I was thinking later that night, as I reflected on the events and tried to unwind from the stress by catching up on my DVRed "The Voice" and "Dancing With the Stars," how one person can affect so many other lives. One person can unintentionally, or intentionally, do or not do, say or not say, act or not act, irresponsibly, unfairly, dishonestly or unkindly, and in a such a way their actions and/or choices and/or behaviors can change the lives of one to thousands—millions—of people. Made me wonder what I might have done in my past to have scared, angered, hurt, stressed or frustrated someone else. Maybe many, many other people. Happens all the time in families, right? 

Our Buyers’ Lender? He made an honest mistake. An honest, unintentional mistake. He had such great remorse. We all ended up sincerely feeling sorry for him. He was a nice man. (I hope, by the time I post this, that he has let it all go and realized he fixed it. I hope he’s moved on. God bless him.) But think of the individuals in this World, or in your life, or in the lives of your families and friends, that affect YOU. Personally. Sometimes you don't even know that individual. Yet they somehow changed your day, month, year, or life.

By 4:00 Thursday afternoon, it was completely and successfully finished.

So in a little over an hour, TLC and her family will come, for their very last time, to our country casa. Little Leighton, at six years old, has spent the most time, of all of our seven grandchildren, including Baby Elle, with us here. She'll be sad. She'll adjust and will be hugely thrilled we'll be living so close to her. Still, her heart will always miss Grammy and Pa-Pa's home. Barn. Ranger. Mama Cows and Calves. The roadrunner and armadillo and turtle she saw. Up close and personal. Feeding the catfish at the Big Tank. Blowing bubbles outside for hours. Coloring on the back patio in the cool, morning breezes. Trips to town to Staples (which she refers to as one of her favourite all-time stores) and the Froyo Shop. Beloved memories.

I have spontaneously and regularly cried, many times, in the past year. In the past three weeks? I've cried every day. Several times a day, actually. I'm not sure I understand how I'm going to drive away from this magnificent home we've cherished for over eighteen years. We've seen thousands of starry nights that have taken our breath away. We've seen thousands of exquisite sunrises. Thousands of incredible sunsets. We've watched Mother Nature at her finest! Beautiful birds and cute/precious country critters have touched our lives more than we could have ever imagined. We've spent countless days and nights and weekends making memories with our family and dear, special friends. Luckily, we have videos and millions of pictures to help us remember everything wonderful (and even some of the not-so-wonderful) times we treasure.

I must scoot. I need a tissue. Again. Sigh.

(TLC has promised to do a post by Monday! We'll see...won't we? Winky. Wink.)

Wishing each of Y'all a WONDERFUL Weekend...wherever in this World Y'all are!

Hugs,

ELC