The Deal Is Done......

Today at 4:00pm the subjects were removed and the deal is done--we are single home owners after one year and 10 days! I can't put into words how relieved we are!

My Stargazer Lily finally bloomed on the 7th of August, and its scent is heavenly!

She Who Loves A Garden.......

She who loves a garden likes to make the earth more lovely…


…and enjoys the beauty she’s contributing.




She who loves a garden loves the joys of simple living…





…and the peace on which no man can put a price.




She who loves a garden has a very special treasure…



for she has found her private paradise.










***********************************


from “She Who Loves a Garden”; Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit



(Images From My Garden!)

Grateful......

I am so thankful to God we have a solid offer in place on our condo--we want to close that chapter of our life and move forward into the next chapter. It is a joy to think someone else can now enjoy the fruit of our labor and how much went into making that condo a problem-free home. We enjoyed many laughs in those 4 walls, but the stress of having a "leaky" condo and the cost that comes with such an issue is monumental. Financially, it was a $60,000 cost out of our pocket, because someone did not do their job properly. But the wear on the emotions and mental stress far out way even the huge financial cost.

Under the strain of it all, we saw marriages dissolve and seniors whom we called friends, die from the overwhelming situation. It was announced in 1998 that we had a "leaky" condo, and it was not until 2006 that it was repaired. The years saw the amount climb from $16,000 per person to finally resting at 2.2 million dollars divided amoung 42 units. It was something I would not wish on my worst enemy to go thru, but it also made us realize the old adage--"What doesn't kill you..." God never left us, even in the times he seemed distance and silent, He was working it all out for our good.

We are not the same "kids" who snuck onto the property at night in 1997, to gaze from below the turret balcony and dream of how soon we were going to own our own "home" soon. Many things have happened to make us weary, but also wiser in this world. So as this chapter of our life closes, I happily remember the good times, the people we met in BBLII, and the lessons that have made us who were are today.

Finally.....

After one long year of trying to sell our condo, we sent papers off tonight and God-willing in 6 days we will be single-home owners! It has been a huge test of our faith and a trial of highs and lows ~ at times ending in tears.

The couple sounds like a very nice senior couple, who seen 7 places that day & fell in love with ours. We had 2 people visit on the same day and both put offers in--go figure, listed a year and finally on the same day a double offer comes in!!!--a day after my mom's birthday and a day before Michael's! What a wonderful birthday gift (for us all!) Anyway, the younger couple's offer came in first, and nothing from the older couple, we waited all day and finally we signed the paperwork to send over to the Realtor to accept their offer. My heart was sad, I should be rejoicing--but it didn't feel "right", (if that makes any sense-after a year, I shouldn't care but I did) I wanted the person to LOVE the condo and feel at home--the seniors did, and I wanted them to buy our place, and feel like it was their little castle. We finally made it into town at 4:00 to do the faxing of the paperwork, and the lady commented how long it was taking to fax the 11 pages over--20 min! We got home and had an urgent call from the Realtor, I groaned thinking the fax didn't go thru--but the offer from the seniors was coming in, while that long fax was going thru--delaying him from calling the other Realtor to accept! We ended up accepting the seniors offer, which they paid the full listing price --and wanting the house within a week!

Thank you Lord!......Why do I ever doubt?

BC Day Long Weekend...

Ah, what a nice thing Long Weekends are, a "Free Day"....It is my mom's birthday this week, so I took her to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington for the day. It was a beautiful warm day and with the A/C on, it made driving a pleasure. The drive from Creston is open and scenic--and the traffic was light. We had lunch at Spokane Valley and went to a few of her shopping haunts she likes. I sometimes have to remind myself it is an honor to have parents to spend time with, and not to be impatient or board when a story I have heard several times before is recited again. They are now in their early 80's and they are doing very well, for that I am grateful. They will soon be moving back down to the Coast and selling their house there, and permanently moving back to Creston. They have had much tragedy in their lives, but their faith remains strong and are a great example of strength. I will write more of them in future, but in short ~ they have lost their first-born to a brain tumor at the age of 8 1/2, the next son they lost 6 years ago at age 36, who was shot 5 times in his home, their home was burnt down on Dec 27, 2008 and they lost most everything they own--and that is just the major things! It has never been a boring year for them thus far, but they never stop smiling or believing.

My dads favorite saying is "You've got to shake hands with disappointment", I just never realized it was going to move in!

Come With Me And Escape......

I love the old 70's "Pina Colada" song...I always have loved a song that has a story wrapped in it. Yesterday we worked in the heat till 5pm, and Michael asked me to escape with him to our favorite place--we call Narnia. Its a place that we can get to by going out our back property and crossing a small creek, then entering a hole in the bush, and after 15 minutes of walking, it opens up into a paradise of rippling creeks, green forest trees & mountain ridges filled with grouse, deer and the occasional majestic elk peering out from the hollow.

Last night instead of walking we took the Rokon, our wonderful off-road bike, which is our magic carpet ride into Narnia. We went farther and higher than we could ever go on foot, in the same time period. We, as usual lost track of time and when the light started to fade up the mountain peaks, we reluctantly turned around and started back. The trail was dangerous in twilight, but we managed to make it back with only two minor wipe outs.

When we made it back to our neighborhood, we failed to notice it was in complete darkness--until we tried to turn our lights on in the house, it finally hit us the power was out. It had been out for 5-6 hours, unbeknown to us. Also, unrelated the gas pumps in town were completely out of gas, and had been for 2 days due to a refinery issue in Alberta. There are also over 100 fires that have sparked in the Kootenays.

I realize how fragile we all are and also how unprepared I am for any emergency situation. I am going to resolve to keep my cell phone charged, have water available in case of shortage and can as much food as I able ~ verses freezing. We are living in unsettling times, and nothing is for sure any longer.

It's Birthday time....

My mom turns 83 this August 5th and Michael turns 41 on August the 7th-- so I thought I would make a carrot cake with cream cheese icing to see if it tastes any good--yum! It does!!....