The waiting game

There's been a lot of back-and-forth on the house deal. We had to raise our offer price because they got another offer on the same day, with no contingency. So now we're just waiting to see if they accept our offer or reject it. I'm fine with it either way. I figure if it's supposed to work out it will, and if not then there's something else out there for us. We officially have our house on the market now. It should hit the MLS later today. That's exciting and sad for me. I really like my house, and I'm sentimental about the memories we've had in this house. I've been this way about every house I've ever lived in. I still remember crying when I left my house in Moses Lake, Washington to move to Utah. Since I was always cartwheeling around the house, I decided to do a cartwheel in every room as a final goodbye! Then when my parents sold our house in Sandy, Utah after I got married, I had a really hard time. That house was definitely home for me. I still dream that I'm in that house all the time. The day my parents had to move out of that house, I got off work and quickly drove to Sandy so I could walk through each room and be sentimental about the memories I have there. Unfortunately, my parents had already left and the house was completely locked up. I sat on the front porch and cried. That house on Savannah Drive was a nice size for our family, but it is proof that a house does not need to be huge or perfectly decorated to be "home". Ryan and I often talk about the first house we owned, which was a condo in Pleasant Grove, Utah. We bought it for $94,000 and were incredibly proud of ourselves.

There will be a "For Sale" sign in my yard later today, and it makes me a little sad. I just hope that the next family to live here can create some fond memories and enjoy the house as much as we did.

In other news: Ryan was released from teaching Seminary, after two years of early mornings. He will now be the Gospel Essentials teacher and THE ward missionary, which is a rather time-consuming position. Change is always good though, and he will do a wonderful job in both his callings.

Ryan is in Arizona today, for a work meeting with many of the "big-wigs" he works with. He will be meeting with Paula Abdul, of all people, because his company is going to start selling products that she endorses. He wanted me to have a shirt made for him that had Paula's picture and the words "I'm a cold-hearted snake" written across the front. Only Ryan would make a request like that!

As a side note, we still don't have air conditioning because our unit was destroyed in the big hail storms that came through last month. We got a check from our home owners insurance, and will have a new unit installed next week. It's been rather fun for the kids, because we all sleep in the cool (as in, not as hot) basement together. The house gets unbearably hot at times, but we bought a $150 window air conditioner at Lowes that is helping to cool off the main level. I've been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Thank you, anxiety, for leaving me during this stressful time! We have worked very hard in the past week to get the house incredibly clean and finish all the half-done projects. Now to keep the house clean while it's on the market . . .