Wednesday, June 10, 2009

House is Sold and God Rest Lindy's Soul, Amen!

Can you see that little sign hanging down from the bottom? This time it's not 'sale pending'. It's S.O.L.D. and can you hear us squealing all the way from here to where you are? You should be able to, because we are.

We've been envisioning this for two years, getting ready for it, painting for it, praying for it. We got two offers, chose the one that had the best terms for us, and now we're off to the races with the whole moving thing. Two places, 1200 miles apart, in 19 days. We'll be sleeping at this place for ten more nights, then moving into a condo nearby, and a truck will be pulling out with most of our stuff, taking it to the lake.

So, now that the house is sold and there are no more showings (oh, thank you God!), I figured I better go back and give one more good dig, trying to find our dearly departed 11 years ago golden retriever, Lindy. After she died we had her cremated and I kept her ashes in our bedroom closet for several years because everyone was so tender about losing her. Finally I decided there would never be a good time, and we had a funeral of one as I buried her beneath the squirrel feeder. I thought she would like it there. After I buried her, I stood there a minute thinking happy thoughts. I told her Elisabeth Elliott believes dogs go to heaven and that's good enough for me! Then I took a brick, painted it white, took a sharpie marker and wrote her name and dates on it, to mark the spot.

I tried. Really hard. This is what it looked like before I started. The brick was sitting there, marking the spot.

This is what it looked like when I was taking my first break, recovering from the humidity and feeling semi-sick from heat exhaustion.

Notice: there's no longer a squirrel / deer feeder there. I loaded it into the back of the car and took it to Jeremy and Leslie's place. He loves feeding deer in their yard, and they'll have a lot of fun with this in their yard, over the years. If I put it in our yard at the lake, we'll be fattening up skunks. No thank you!

This is a really big hole, and I'm thinking, 'what on earth was I thinking? Why did I think she needed to be buried more than two feet deep? It's not like we live in the wild with wolverines roaming about!'

This is what it looked like when I'd taken two more breaks, with sweat dripping down the sides of my face, running into my eyes and a broken blood vessel in my right foot from digging with the shovel in purdee clay for a solid two hours.

I tried, I tried really hard. Lindy, Rest in Peace. I'm pretty sure you're safely laid to rest, wherever you are. You're safe from little kids digging to China and wolverines too. We'll leave a little note for the next owners, just in case they decide to put a swimming pool in the backyard someday.

P.S. I promised my husband I would not complain a single time during this process of moving. We're feeling so blessed by God, in approximately 50 days on the market we showed our home about 25 times. That's just unheard of. We got three offers, and sold it in two months. So any noise coming from my mouth will be words of P.R.A.I.S.E. No complaining - nosiree! Just deep breaths, and as Elisabeth Elliott also says, "Do The Next Thing."

13 comments:

Deidre said...

I was going to say, "Do the Next Thing", but now I don't have to. My goodness .... 19 Days? I am praying you can hold true to that 'no complaint' promise. If you can't complain to him, you can jump on here and we'll give you lots of sympathy :)

So happy for you!

Barb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barb said...

I'm sure that looked like a mess to you, but to me that looks like the neatest and tidiest digging up of the yard I've ever seen. When you told me you were digging for Lindy, I had visions of the Caddy Shack golf course running through my head. Lindy ran and played in that yard, so it's right and proper that she's at rest in that yard.

And you know I'm only an email away when you need to vent. xoxoxo

Jen said...

Well at least you looked for her one more time. I dont blame you for leaving her and if they do dig a pool...and they find her....they will call. I would if it were me. Congrats on the Sold sign. It's a good feeling.

Kelly said...

Yay! Oh my, I know how good that feels, and just know the relief of living in your home instead of always showing it.

I'm just so thrilled for you!

Unknown said...

Congratulations Bev! I seriously prayed for this very thing just a few minutes ago, and now, I am crossing it off my list. Praise indeed!!

Beck said...

I'm so glad your house has sold! That's wonderful news.

Susanne said...

Nineteen Days. You go girl! I see a packing frenzy coming. I must have missed the post where you might have mentioned you got a condo? Congratulations on the sale and the new place. May all things moving go smoothly!

I love Barb's comment about how Lindy played and ran in that yard and it's right that she rests in that yard. Almost made me cry.

Beautiful Mommy Princess said...

Congratulations! On selling your house. I only wish I could have lent you my sons to help dig up Lindy. It would have been a win, win situation. They love being helpful and digging.

Linda said...

I am so pleased for you Bev. I pray the move will go smoothly and we'll welcome you back to wonderful Texas very soon!

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Woo hoo!!!!! I'm tickled for y'all, Bev. What a ride this house selling has been, not to mention the next 3 weeks or so!

As for Lindy, you tried but it seems like she wants to stay in PA. Rest in peace, Lindy.

xoxoxoxo

Dana~Are We There Yet? said...

Oh Bev! Excellent news! So glad for you guys! The prospect of trying to sell this house while we're living in it is enough to make me poo canal water. I admire you for not just doing it, but doing it with grace, style and, the way things are going these days, in record time!

Gretchen said...

Congrats, my friend. So happy the page is turning on this chapter.