We are moving... again! Before you totally call us crazy, let me explain.
Mark's parents have recently been looking for an investment property to purchase. They've always been interested in owning multiple properties and renting them out, fixing them up and someday being able to live off just that. As they were looking, they found a 3 story place (daylight basement) for a great price... less than some of the regular 3 bd, 2 bth places they had been looking at. The house has the main entrance on the main floor - 3 bedrooms and 3 baths (with the master on the top level). Then, the daylight basement is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with kitchen and spare room, kind of like an entertainment room. The basement is unfinished but completely framed, wired and plumbed! Just sheetrock, flooring, cabinets and some fixtures and it's set.
We were unsure how things would go since lately, many people who have been buying homes seem to be put off to the side and end up waiting a good 4-6 weeks to sign papers past the original date they were supposed to sign on. However, not the case with mom and dad A. They did the final walk-through today and signed all the paperwork! They get the keys on the 23rd and will start renovations soon afterwards. All of our living area (top 2 floors) just needs carpet and we may paint a couple of the bathrooms. So, looks like we'll be moving at the middle/end of May.
This idea has been a work in progress. Over the years, we've talked about a family living situation like this but we just hadn't found the home or a way to do it. Shaana (Matt's fiance) will be renting out their current home in Carlton and Matt will be living with Mom and Dad until they get married in July. It's neat to see all of this come together. Things like separate living spaces and kitchens, having enough bathrooms as the boys get older have been hard to find so we're really excited that this is finally working out! Plus, I'll live really close to about 10+ great friends at the new place - which, is still in McMinnville.
Things you can pray for: smooth transition. We are SO tired of moving but are already well prayed into this decision. One of our bedrooms is more like an office - it has doors, but no closet and we're hoping we can have the boys share a bedroom as the 2nd bedroom is plenty big. During the day, we may put Cole into the "office" until he's down to one nap which will hopefully be this coming Fall/Winter but since they are both sleeping through the night on a regular basis we're hoping that part of sharing a room goes well. Pray that all the work downstairs goes smoothly and that the whole transition with mom and dad moving, Shaana moving, Matt moving out from Carlton, into Mac and then back to Carlton all goes as easy as possible.
I'll be really glad to be close to friends (although we'll be farther from the Barnharts - insert sad face) where I can walk and have some relief from being stranded at home all day - I am literally going crazy (ask Tracy or Mark) so I'm pretty thrilled about that. Plus, it's only 1 mile from the park which will be a great distance to jog once the weather is more predictable without being overly ambitious.
And, this really has nothing to do with the rest... but my sister Tracy has a boyfriend! A really awesome, God-fearing, respectful and sweet boyfriend... whose name is also Mark :) So, we're calling our guys "my Mark" and "your Mark" all the time!! Funny stuff. Even funnier, is that he grew up in Coos Bay too but they never really met!!!! God is so funny sometimes. Anyway, keep me and all of us in your prayers, we'll sure need them over the coming months. Thanks!
Mark's parents have recently been looking for an investment property to purchase. They've always been interested in owning multiple properties and renting them out, fixing them up and someday being able to live off just that. As they were looking, they found a 3 story place (daylight basement) for a great price... less than some of the regular 3 bd, 2 bth places they had been looking at. The house has the main entrance on the main floor - 3 bedrooms and 3 baths (with the master on the top level). Then, the daylight basement is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with kitchen and spare room, kind of like an entertainment room. The basement is unfinished but completely framed, wired and plumbed! Just sheetrock, flooring, cabinets and some fixtures and it's set.
We were unsure how things would go since lately, many people who have been buying homes seem to be put off to the side and end up waiting a good 4-6 weeks to sign papers past the original date they were supposed to sign on. However, not the case with mom and dad A. They did the final walk-through today and signed all the paperwork! They get the keys on the 23rd and will start renovations soon afterwards. All of our living area (top 2 floors) just needs carpet and we may paint a couple of the bathrooms. So, looks like we'll be moving at the middle/end of May.
This idea has been a work in progress. Over the years, we've talked about a family living situation like this but we just hadn't found the home or a way to do it. Shaana (Matt's fiance) will be renting out their current home in Carlton and Matt will be living with Mom and Dad until they get married in July. It's neat to see all of this come together. Things like separate living spaces and kitchens, having enough bathrooms as the boys get older have been hard to find so we're really excited that this is finally working out! Plus, I'll live really close to about 10+ great friends at the new place - which, is still in McMinnville.
Things you can pray for: smooth transition. We are SO tired of moving but are already well prayed into this decision. One of our bedrooms is more like an office - it has doors, but no closet and we're hoping we can have the boys share a bedroom as the 2nd bedroom is plenty big. During the day, we may put Cole into the "office" until he's down to one nap which will hopefully be this coming Fall/Winter but since they are both sleeping through the night on a regular basis we're hoping that part of sharing a room goes well. Pray that all the work downstairs goes smoothly and that the whole transition with mom and dad moving, Shaana moving, Matt moving out from Carlton, into Mac and then back to Carlton all goes as easy as possible.
I'll be really glad to be close to friends (although we'll be farther from the Barnharts - insert sad face) where I can walk and have some relief from being stranded at home all day - I am literally going crazy (ask Tracy or Mark) so I'm pretty thrilled about that. Plus, it's only 1 mile from the park which will be a great distance to jog once the weather is more predictable without being overly ambitious.
And, this really has nothing to do with the rest... but my sister Tracy has a boyfriend! A really awesome, God-fearing, respectful and sweet boyfriend... whose name is also Mark :) So, we're calling our guys "my Mark" and "your Mark" all the time!! Funny stuff. Even funnier, is that he grew up in Coos Bay too but they never really met!!!! God is so funny sometimes. Anyway, keep me and all of us in your prayers, we'll sure need them over the coming months. Thanks!
