Blessings

I have no witty thoughts lately for my blog friends. It's a sad reality, but I think all the frantic work I've been doing on the house are sucking all my brain cells straight out of my head. In fact there were more than a few occasions in the past week where I couldn't even formulate or articulate my thoughts at work. It would be funnier if it hadn't been so annoying.

But enough of that... All that work is leading up to a BIG FAT Celebration! My Open House is this Saturday at 4pm. Come one come all! I've sent out invites if you didn't get one let me know and I'll send you the specifics via email. I tried to keep track of addresses and invitees but really with this recent state of mind don't take it personally if you didn't get one. Hopefully by then I'll at least have the boxes in the spare room stacked nicely instead of the giant pile they are now. One task at a time.

I was so very grateful this weekend for so many things. God reminded me that He's taking me through each and every step in my life and this weekend he provided me with some great support. I had a truck to borrow to run errands in and pick up some Ikea furniture, which is still in its very heavy box waiting to be assembled. I have a great roommate who worked on painting and spiffing the house up all day Saturday. I had these amazing gardening fairies (can fairies be masculine, I think so based on Midsummer Night's Dream) show up and mow and edge my lawn, plant and trim flowers not to mention pressure wash my drive way. It was pure and utter loveliness. Then I had a wonderful night out with a friend that ended in sipping wine on my new deck and great conversation. Sunday I felt God telling me I needed to observe a Sabbath Day or I'd never survive the next week. So instead of finishing the list of tasks I had a great lunch and lazy afternoon with friends and ended the night finishing a great book. So much to be thankful for!

Oh and a reminder that the Oregon Symphony's free concert on the waterfront is this Thursday! The best night of the year.

Will it never end?

Now that I am officially in my first lovely house all I see around me are things I want to update, paint, fix or decorate. I am working every minute I'm home on some little project it seems. There are endless spots to touch up with paint, fix or tackle. Last week I got new window's installed and a more secure door on the garage and a new dishwasher and disposal installed. Next I need to actually find a washer and dryer because I can only survive so long hauling it to Matt and Emily's who graciously let me use theirs tonight.

I can't seem to relax at all when I'm here yet. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love that I can actually DO these little improvements. In fact this is just what I was wanting (little projects). I just need to be okay with pacing myself which has always been a struggle. I am a "red" personality in this test I took last year and really it means I just want to get things DONE and get them done quickly. Taking my time is hard. Usually on moving I have the entire house decorated and put away with in a month! I'm working on pacing myself though. Also the finances are a good reminder that I need to take it slow, because soon the money will be gone if I'm not careful! I had 1a friend at work today explain that before you buy you talk in thousands of dollars (price of the house, financing, down payments etc...) but once you own it you talk in hundreds of dollars (washers, dryers, windows etc...). Will it never end? I guess not. This is what you do when you own a home. Wow... No going back now.

Oh and yes I know you all want to see pictures but I need a few things to be a bit more done before I post before and after pictures. I'll try and do it by next week, this weekend hopefully we'll get a lot more of the little details done. Also the open house is August 30th at 4pm. Invites are coming I swear, but consider this also your invite.

Its actually happening!

My inspections and requested repairs have gone really well. There are two minor details on a repair that need fixed and I still want the tree from next door trimmed up. I'm off to China for a week so my agent will be working this beat for me. I come back next Saturday and on that Monday at 8 am I sign papers! Oh my goodness! Its surreal.

If you are up for helping me move my plan is August 2nd garage sale to get rid of stuff I no longer need. I think we'll do this at Matt and Emily's house on Yamhill a few blocks away. I'll also work on painting my new house that week inside. August 9th is moving day! Let me know if you can help? I'm hoping to do an open house the weekend of August 23rd or 30th. Still working on confirming that date so my parents can come up.

Thanks everyone for all your input and support in this process. I feel like a grown up!