The Search Has Ended!

Gary and I have been searching for a house.   Yes, we like our house now.  We have worked hard and long to make it into the house that we really like.  But during the past year we have realized that we are spending too much time in the car, driving to and from Pyrmont and Frankfort.

Now I know that we don't have to attend all of Landon's baseball games or that we can say no when asked to babysit for Lynnlee and Cooper.  I know that we (meaning me) did not have to volunteer to take Cooper to pre-school every Wednesday which meant spending every Tuesday night away from our house.  

But that is what we do.  We help out our girls whenever we can.

My folks did not help us with anything when the girls were growing up.  Granted they lived in Ohio so it was hard for them to come to ball games or to babysit at all.  But they NEVER attended anything that the girls participated in except one beef show at the Indiana State Fair.  I will not be like that.

Also Grampy and Grammy never missed a concert, a program, a ball game, or a church program.  The girls spent so much time there  - before school, after school, in the evenings if we had school activities or meetings, on weekends.  As a result they were very close to their Siemens grandparents.  I want that too with our five grandchildren.

So the search was on.  

Requirements:   master bedroom and bath; air conditioning; larger kitchen and dining room; sewing room; country setting; outbuilding for 4-H animals; 2 bathrooms minimum; garage for parking inside

The real estate market is hot right now in the Lafayette area.  Properties are listed, shown, and sold very quickly.  We needed to act fast if we found one we liked.

Monday/Tuesday last week it happened.  The process was a little complicated, but the time was very quick.  It was listed on Monday, we saw it on Tuesday morning, we made an offer on Tuesday evening (countered twice), and we agreed to buy by midnight Tuesday.  Quick?  You bet.

Wednesday we returned with Rebecca, our agent, the girls and families, and Karen and Clay to see the house again.  Rooms were measured.  Ideas discussed. House and buildings more closely scrutinized.

Since then several things have happened.  The inspection will be on June 3 at 10:00 a.m.  We went to Lowe's to look at new washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator.  We have checked out carpet and gotten both an estimate and established a timeline for purchase.  We went to Star Furniture and found a couch and loveseat we liked for the living room (and we are putting the other two couches in the family room).   Hilary and I went to Home Depot for paint samples.  I bought a shower curtain and bath rugs for the master bathroom.

Closing in June 25.  Since we are leaving on June 5 for Michigan for a week and since Father's Day weekend is also Jill's wedding, I know the time will fly by. 

I  have to admit that at least once a day I have had the feeling of "What did we do??? Can we get out of it????" running through my mind.  But then I go upstairs and know I won't be able to sleep because it is like an oven up there, even with both windows open and the fan running.  Plus today we picked up Cooper and Lynnlee in Delphi, went to Royal Center, went back to Delphi to return them to their folks, and returned home.  All told - 130 miles and 3 hours on the road.  Just today.  Living 5-10 minutes from Delphi would really make a difference!

More updates to come as the time approaches to move.  This is exciting!!