SI’ve been alluding to a rough couple of weeks. I had hoped to reach today with good news to share, but I can’t give details because it’s a legal matter. What I can say is that today was supposed to be the closing on my old house… it would have been officially sold, and we’d be free to fully begin our new life in Washington. I waited three months from the time my buyers made their offer and I was so ready to celebrate this milestone.
After a long year of unemployment for my husband, him starting a great job this past January, the strain of selling our house, searching for a new home and coordinating a move to Washington, I was eager to finally feel settled. Owning a house in one state while trying to live in another has been draining. I was looking forward to the relief of closing this chapter and turning the page.
But sometimes life takes unexpected turns. Despite our hard work, prayers and positive outlook, things can go wrong—sometimes badly. People’s choices, made with their own free will, can have painful consequences for others. Today I’m not celebrating. I’m sad, bewildered and exhausted.
After accepting the buyers’ offer three months ago and patiently waiting through a long closing period (during which we even lost a backup offer), they decided two days ago that they no longer wanted to buy the house and walked away. They left us scrambling. I received their official cancellation paperwork yesterday, just one day before the scheduled closing.
Today was meant to be very different. It makes me physically sick to think of what this change means for us. We were set to buy our new house next week; many of our plans—and other people’s plans—hinged on that timeline. Now everything is uncertain.
I’m angry, frustrated, disappointed and in disbelief that I have to start over. We had emptied the old house so the buyers could move in today. Now I have to restage the property and begin the process again.
Life isn’t always fair. It doesn’t always make sense. It isn’t always easy or beautiful. I’m choosing to trust that God is watching over us and can bring good from even the worst situations. I need to be patient and have faith.
So many people are hurting far more than I am, and when I remember that, my situation feels small. For that I am grateful.
I kind of felt like Flat Stanley this week,
trying to keep smiling while that tire loomed over my head!
My son took this photo. Poor Flat Stanley!
This wasn’t a great week for me, but despite the disappointment I pushed through and found something to celebrate. A wonderful community came together to create something beautiful with what we had. Sometimes that’s all we can do—make beauty from what we’re given.
Thank you to everyone who joined the procrastinator party and helped make it such a success. I’m blown away by your projects; you’re a talented group. If you haven’t explored the links yet (I’m still going through them), you’ll find plenty of inspiration.
{THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!} In fact, let’s do a prize right now. I have a copy of DECORATING IS FUN by Dorothy Draper, a classic that has been reprinted. I’ll give an extra entry to anyone who participated in the party. Anyone can enter to win by leaving a comment. One winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night the 17th at 9 PST.