Month: May 2019

Posted in life

And So it Begins

Posted on by Dede

I closed on my house May 23rd. I bought my daughter’s and son-in-law’s house and no I didn’t get it for a deal. I paid current market value. Even though we closed last week, they don’t leave for their new home in Pennsylvania until June 15th. It’s going to be a bittersweet day. They move faraway and I get my own home.

My plan is to rent a cargo van and move as stuff as I can in 2 days so I stay occupied and don’t dwell on the fact they aren’t coming back. It’s going to hot because this is Texas. Hopefully I don’t melt and quit too early.

I’ve moved six times in the last 7.5 years so avoiding packing is a big goal. The plan is to just load stuff and drop it off and repeat.

Another challenge is making it my own. It may take awhile not to think of it as my daughter’s home. Having new floors put in the kitchen and one bedroom hopefully will help. New appliances arrive late June. My weekends will be spent painting cabinets and walls. A lawn crew will work in the yard and I have a contractor doing a few odd jobs. My actual move in date is mid-July which I do have movers.

As I sat signing all the papers at the closing, my heart felt both joy and sadness. Until now every home I have ever owned was purchased with my now ex-husband and it was a reminder I’m on my own now. The joy was knowing I accomplished this on my own and life can be good post divorce.

Most of all God is good. He never left me even at my lowest point. I honestly didn’t believe I’d ever have my own home again but He knew differently. Praise Jesus.

Posted in divorce, Faith, God, life, Moving

An Adventure Begins

Posted on by Dede

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God is Good! When I found myself divorced 6.5 years ago, I believed I would never own a home again. I couldn’t find a job. I was living off a quickly depleting 401K and felt utterly unrooted and that was the key. It wasn’t that I hated renting, but it gave me the feeling of impermanence. Prior to the divorce, I had lived in the same community for almost 30 years. Now in 6.5 years I have made 5 moves. Never underestimate God.

After trying to qualify for a mortgage a few years ago, I felt it was a lost cause. Then I decided to try again at the first of this year. The mortgage broker with whom I spoke, told me I could NOT qualify. It was heartbreaking. Then a dear friend told me to try someone else so I did. After giving him my information, he said I could qualify!! I couldn’t believe my ears. In fact I am not certain I believed, until I received the CLEAR TO CLOSE email in my inbox. I’ll be closing the end of May and moving in mid-July. I’ll have no help but somehow I’ll manage.

Upon seeing that email, I began to cry. They were tears of joy but my heart was and still is full of so many emotions. Gratefulness, happiness, joy, coupled with fear and sadness. Why fear and why sadness? My daughter and her family are moving 1,635 miles away to the East. My younger daughter lives 1,412 miles to the West. According to google maps they are 2,711 miles apart. And this will be the first time in my entire life, I have lived with no family or close friends nearby.

Being alone, not living alone, but having no one near to call on in an emergency scares me. I’ll be alone on all major holidays except Christmas. I won’t be there when my daughter has her 2nd child in November. With a 50 hours per week job and not a lot of extra money, the ability to travel to see them is and will be very limited. And that doesn’t include trying to see my 82 yr old mother and sister who live 1,242 miles away.

But God is good and I will never underestimate Him again. If this is where He wants me to live and work, then I will accept it and find joy. As I approach my 60th birthday, it is ever more evident that life doesn’t roll along like a slow paced creek, but it rushes by like river rapids. There is no time to waste. I have to get onboard and go for the ride.