So I CAN live with out air conditioning and an indoor shower.
Who knew?!
Although we were all very excited to come home though.
On Friday morning I told the boys that it was time to go home. At first they were sad and then the electricity went out.
Which meant no fans...we had 5 going.
They immediately jumped in the car and sat in there for over an hour waiting for Mr. Genius and I cleaned up the house.
It is safe to say that we are spoiled by modern conveniences.
Later on I plan on showing you some picture of our little vacation. It was much needed time away together.
But today I want to tell you about our big news....
We are selling our house!
I am having major, crazy emotions about this decision.
I think I mentioned before that we took the Dave Ramsey class at our church last year.
Taking that class is the best decision Mr. Genius and I have made in our married life. It has truly blessed us.
We rarely fight about money now. And friends let me tell you about how much of a miracle that is.
I have been trying for YEARS to get us on a budget. YEARS people!!!!
This class is what got Mr. Genius motivated to get on a budget and to actually stick to it!
It has been so helpful for us.
We payed off Mr. Genius' student loan so then our only debt is our house!
Which is great! But the problem is taxes went up and with Mr. Genius' home office taken away, expenses went way up.
Also Dave Ramsey recommends that your mortgage be a certain percentage...which right now I can't remember what that percentage is. Whatever it is...ours is more. Much more.
Mr. Genius has been wanting to put the house on the market as soon as he heard what Dave Ramsey recommended for the mortgage percentage. I fought him on it. I was not ready to move. After all we just moved here from TN.
But more and more things have happened to help me realize that not only does Mr. Genius want us to sell, but God does too. I am still working on my attitude about it.
Do you always have to smile when you are obeying God?
Don't answer that.
I can not promise that there wasn't a temper tantrum or two...or ten. Tears may or may not have been shed over the fact that we will be renting. And pity parties could have been in full force.
There is a lot of pride in me that I didn't realize about being a home owner. I like having a house that I could paint the kitchen cabinets pink and put in green carpet. Not that I would do that, but it is my house and I can if I want to.
Going back to renting...means I won't be able to have that freedom.
But the fact that we will be doing what we need to do, does out weight all the bad.
So people I have less then one week to get the house ready to be on the market!!!!!
I am freaking out over here.
Yesterday we started getting the ball rolling. I cleaned out closets. Then organized those closets. Sold furniture. Move around boxes in our basement in order for it to feel bigger. Touched up paint. Fixed blinds.
Over the next couple of days I plan on making curtains, make a frame for the boys bathroom mirror. Sell more items in the basement. (Anyone need a 46" projector TV?). And last but more certainly not least, clean up the garage. Thinking of cleaning that place out gives me hives. OH and we are having another garage sale...in two weeks! Did I mention that Mr. Genius will be out of town during most of this?
Yeah, more hives keep breaking out as the minutes pass.
Once the house is all done. I plan on doing a big house tour so you can see what I have done around here and what I had planned to do.
My hope is to find a rental house that has a garage so I can still redo furniture. I love doing it so much.
Starting next week, I will be painting dressers and bed and chairs and whatever else I have out there in full force in order to clean out that garage.
Now my break is over and our winter shoes, gloves and scarves are looking at me wondering what in the world I will do with them.
Up to the attic I will be.
My husband and I are starting FPU next month! I'm so glad you talked about your experience with it. It's nice to hear a testimonial not from their website!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your transition. It sounds like a journey. Obeying God is not always easy and sometimes we have to do what we don't want to and we fight it. Good for you for being faithful. He will surely bless you for that. I remember when my husband and I were called to ministry (he is a pastor) and this required a move North. We had to sell our adorable home and leave our family to go when God had called us. I was super-resistant and went reluctantly (maybe even kicking and screaming?). I am so glad we did as we were very blessed by the move and the new life and ministry we created in our new residence.
ReplyDeleteRemember Jeremiah 29:11 -" For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."
Rest in His peace and on his promises.
Stacey of Embracing Change
Ahh! I just want to give you a big hug & a high five! My husband & I are debt snowballing & definitely living like no one else right now. It's humbling. OH SO HUMBLING...but God works SO much through our humility, doesn't He?! God bless your journey & give you wisdom & favor to find a BUYER :) I'm so excited for you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was a hard decision for you guys. We have made some similar decisions and I can certainly empathize with you. You guys will make it through this time, and the hardest decisions are often the best for us.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your transition.
Becca
I have an excel spreadsheet going. It works.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! We follow Dave's plan, and it is TOUGH, but in the end, worth it. We rent right now, and as much as I want to own a home, I try to remind myself of the benefits: more cash savings, no surprise roof renovations, easier to move if a great opportunity (or job loss) comes up, etc.
ReplyDeleteI have the software, a book & some cd's that we have actually listened to but no actual class anywhere around here for us to take so we are trying to figure it out on our on and not doing a very good job.. I keeping reminding myself that "broke ppl shouldn't buy a house" cause i am so tired of renting and just "giving" away my $$ every month.. How is it better to rent than to own if I could buy a house & have cheaper pmts?
ReplyDeleteTake a deep breath and don't worry so much. I can guarantee that your house will show much cuter than most others listed around you. So although you see so many things that "need to be" just know that God has the buyer for you already. We sold our house in VA in a market that was bad, when multiple other houses were listed on our street. People had been waiting a year with no buyers and ours had a full price offer in under 2 weeks...totally God. Just keep in mind that if this is indeed His will for you, that He has it all in control. All of it...even the yard sale and your desire for a garage in your next home. :) And, I don't think God requires us to obey with a happy face. He wants us to be real. He knows our heart. If this is difficult...He knows. He is just pleased that you are choosing to obey, especially when it is difficult. Just think how proud you are of your boys when they obey, when the choice is tough. Praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to thank you for sharing this and to commend you for being willing to follow where God is leading, even when it is hard. This is a step that I have been considering too - selling our home and going back to renting, even though we have only been here for almost a year at this point. I will be praying for you because sacrifices like this can be hard, but allowing yourself to be obedient will unquestionably bring you blessings down the road.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for your family's upcoming transition. The right thing and the comfortable thing aren't always the same.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit curious, though...what makes renting better than a mortgage payment? We've always found the opposite to be true, even when we've gone beyond the limit of standard mortgage capacity. We spend carefully in other areas, which allows us to cover the higher debt percentage and build equity as we pay every two weeks. Interest rates are certainly favourable now, too. Not judging at all, just curious about another perspective.
I've only been a "Follower" of your for under 15 minutes, and this is a post I chose to read in the short time I have online currently. I was visiting from a furniture link you had at MMS today, and you talked about downsizing into an apt.
ReplyDeleteI have a story about what would have been my first home ever owned, and how the Lord worked that day so we didn't buy it. I will have a post on my blog about it soon. Your post and choice to follow what God wanted from your family about your finances has moved me and inspired ME to make my own post. If you don't mind, I'll put a link to this very post on my own blog. I hope you'll come over and view my story when it's done.
God Bless you all +
~Your newest Follower, from NW Illinois,
Suzanne
Good for you!! I've been on a budget for years...and I LOVE it! I've always felt really empowered by it. No debt is a concept that I firmly believe in. It certainly makes you the odd man out in our society, but who cares? I do still have a mortgage, but I'm working on that. It's the only debt I have. If I can't pay cash for whatever it is, then I just don't need it. It's just that simple. I save money every month for car repairs, dental/medical expenses, home insurance, etc. I'm even saving for a new (well used) car even though I won't need one for years. Feels SO good!! Happy budgeting and good luck with the home sale :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard the Financial Peace program is amazing! I am so encouraged by your faith and obedience! And of course I LOVE all of your furniture redos. Praying for you and your family as you guys follow the Lord! :)
ReplyDelete-Bonnie @ Revolutionaries
http://bonniegetchell.blogspot.com
Love your aMAZing blog! Thank you for all the fantastic posts.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you might be able to consider calling Ramsey to ask him about selling your house. Or, maybe you could ask your FPU leaders to confirm that this is the best for you at this time.
We took FPU too and went very hard core, maybe too hard core. We are debt free including our little house after four years of intensity.
Wishing you blessings!