I've Moved...and Such

Hiram gave real estate a try for a few months before realizing that it wasn't really going to work out for us. He can make a lot more money and have a lot more free time (months, in fact) doing door-to-door sales. A few months ago, Hiram signed with a pest control company that's going to pay him a great deal of money to sell for them next year. Being graduated, he won't have to wait til the end of spring semester, so he's decided that he wants to do what a mission buddy of his did this year and sell for six months of the year (from March to September) rather than the usual three to four.

This decision prompted us to consider selling our home. Why would we want a house payment on a house that we live in less than half of the year (because of course we'll be spending some time visiting family and whatnot)? And if we're going to sell it, why not start trying right away? If someone buys it quickly, we can just live with family until March. We put our house on the market, but it being the end of the peak selling time of year and the market being what it is right now, our efforts were in vain. We really didn't give it much time, but when we saw how long it could take to sell the place, we started to think of maybe renting it instead. We had plans to spend the holidays in Nevada with Hiram's family and we thought it would be nice to not have to worry about it and really nice to save money by not having a mortgage payment or utilities and such, so we decided the sooner, the better. My first ad on KSL got only two calls in three weeks, and the one couple that came to see it said their lease wasn't up til the end of January, so I at least was a little discouraged. Looking back, I can see that it would probably benefit me to learn a little patience, but anyway I had this brilliant idea come to me (inspiration). I deleted my first ad and put together a new one week before last advertising half off the second month's rent for someone who could move in by December. I got quite a response from that! Most importantly, I got these super awesome, oh so nice, practically perfect renters in like two days. They wanted the place bad. Its in a perfect location for them--super close to their deaf son's school which the mother will be working at, and right by their daughter's junior high and in the same price range as an apartment but much better. They were leaving Florida on Monday to drive to Utah and would be ready to move in they thought by Thanksgiving. AWEsome! They over-nighted me a check for the first month's rent and security deposit so I would hold the place, and Whah-lah! The house was rented. (Let me say for the record that I know this was a direct answer to prayer and a blessing from the Lord...for us AND the renters. How GREAT is that?)

Hiram was in Lovelock working for his dad on the ranch at this time, but I was able to pack up most of the house on my own and get it moved over to the basement of the Pleasant View house with the help of Karin, Paul, and Adam. (And let me tell that it was such a sweet time for me...for like a whole week, each day each of them would stop by my house on their way home from school/the gym/work and we'd load up their cars with boxes. Then at the end of each day I would bring my own load over, haul everything in from all the cars, and then we would eat dinner together...and really good meals, too. It was just really wonderful. I love my family and feel so blessed that we all enjoy each other's company so much.) Well, Hiram got home late, late Wednesday night, we spent the next three days moving the big stuff and cleaning, and then after church and some finishing up things yesterday, we were off. Here I sit in Lovelock writing this post to update you all.

I know it was all rather sudden, and I was VERY busy, so I didn't get a chance to really talk to very many of you about what was going on. I'll be here til sometime in January when I will be back for a visit and to throw a baby shower for Randee. Then we'll stop by and visit again probably on our way out to summer sales. We are going to start in Texas most likely but plan on spending most of the time in North Carolina. Some good news-- Hiram is going to send me to Okinawa for a month sometime around May so I can see my parents and be there for James' homecoming! Also, with my parents moving to D.C. this year, I'll be able to make little trips to see them throughout the summer, and we plan on spending a couple months with them after Hiram is finished selling for the year. Then we'll spend a couple weeks in Utah...and go to Lovelock for the holidays...and just continue the cycle.

By the time Israel starts school, we would like to be established somewhere but until then, we are going to take advantage of every opportunity to travel and be adventurous...and also to save money, so that we can buy a house outright someday. That's our dream. We want to own our own home...a modest but comfortable place in a small town with a decent-sized piece of land where we can raise our five to seven children and be simple but happy. We'll keep you posted. Love to everyone who reads this.

My Funny Boy

This is a sweet little video I captured a few nights ago. It has a rather sad ending, but don't worry--he only cried for a few seconds, so it couldn't have hurt TOO bad.