On Wednesday, November 25 at about 2:30 PM, the home in Birmingham was no longer ours and I never thought I could feel so relieved. Despite all the bumps along the way we are truly thankful that our home sold without having to use any assistance from our mortgage company, the government, etc.
While our home was on the market, we were hoped that the home next door to us would not go up for sale. Since it was a foreclosure, it sold well below the appraised value and thus would resell very low. Well, the day of the closing, the home next door went on the market for $5000 less than our home sold for, talk about God's perfect timing!
Matthew and I can officially begin our lives in D.C. now. In just 3 days, we will FINALLY be together in the same state again.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
House Sale & The Holidays
House: We found out today that I (Kelly) will NOT have to be present for the closing on Wednesday 11/25--This is FANTASTIC!!!! Only one or two more things to do on our end and then we are ready to officially close!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!
The Holidays: I love the Christmas and Thanksgiving time of year, there is nothing I do not enjoy about it. Many people think "Christmas" starts too early now, but I for one welcome the early signs pointing towards the holiday season. Decorations, candy, music, gloves, hats, warm beverages, red cups at Starbucks and nativity scenes all begin to pop up around November 1. It seems as though everyone's attitude change when these subtle reminders of Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to appear. People start to look forward to giving to others (Christmas) and thanking each other (Thanksgiving) making the season pleasant and welcomed change from the ghosts and goblins of Halloween. People also seem more willing to speak to perfect strangers as they wait in line to make their purchases, which brings me to the next reason I love this season!
This is also the time for believers to have extra ammunition to share about Christ. Admittedly, I find it challenging to share with others, but how can I not seize the opportunity to ask someone if they know what the star on the top of the Christmas tree symbolizes? Or share the parallelism between the evergreen Christmas tree and Christ. Or the simple motivation behind why I give gifts at Christmas. [Just to be clear, I give gifts at Christmas as a reminder that Christ was the ultimate gift to mankind from our Heavenly Father. The free gift is eternal life, should we chose to accept it, which I hope you have.] Thanksgiving gives us a chance to say what we are thankful for---and sure I AM incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband, my family, my friends, my health, my Blessing on the way (aka G Penny) and so much more, but why not share with others the gift I am MOST thankful for---my salvation.
So why do we so often roll our eyes when we ear that first Christmas song of the season? Or why do we sigh deeply when we think about all the holiday pounds we will pack on if the holidays begin a month early?
I challenge myself and you, whoever is reading this, to seize this early start to the holiday season to share not sigh.
The Holidays: I love the Christmas and Thanksgiving time of year, there is nothing I do not enjoy about it. Many people think "Christmas" starts too early now, but I for one welcome the early signs pointing towards the holiday season. Decorations, candy, music, gloves, hats, warm beverages, red cups at Starbucks and nativity scenes all begin to pop up around November 1. It seems as though everyone's attitude change when these subtle reminders of Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to appear. People start to look forward to giving to others (Christmas) and thanking each other (Thanksgiving) making the season pleasant and welcomed change from the ghosts and goblins of Halloween. People also seem more willing to speak to perfect strangers as they wait in line to make their purchases, which brings me to the next reason I love this season!
This is also the time for believers to have extra ammunition to share about Christ. Admittedly, I find it challenging to share with others, but how can I not seize the opportunity to ask someone if they know what the star on the top of the Christmas tree symbolizes? Or share the parallelism between the evergreen Christmas tree and Christ. Or the simple motivation behind why I give gifts at Christmas. [Just to be clear, I give gifts at Christmas as a reminder that Christ was the ultimate gift to mankind from our Heavenly Father. The free gift is eternal life, should we chose to accept it, which I hope you have.] Thanksgiving gives us a chance to say what we are thankful for---and sure I AM incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband, my family, my friends, my health, my Blessing on the way (aka G Penny) and so much more, but why not share with others the gift I am MOST thankful for---my salvation.
So why do we so often roll our eyes when we ear that first Christmas song of the season? Or why do we sigh deeply when we think about all the holiday pounds we will pack on if the holidays begin a month early?
I challenge myself and you, whoever is reading this, to seize this early start to the holiday season to share not sigh.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Blessing, Job, House, Matthew and Randomness
Blessing: Our final doctor's appointment in Alabama was today and according to the doctor everything is going perfectly!! Heartbeat and size (which they do by measuring my stomach---WEIRD)is right on target! We couldn't be more excited!!! Praise the Lord for our Spaghetti Squash Sized Blessing!!!
Job: I (Kelly) had a phone interview today for a part time job at a local hospital. I think it went well because they are scheduling an in person interview for the first day I am in D.C., Monday, November 29. I am still deciding what to do about the job offer I received from the christian bookstore.
House: The inspection discovered that a tiny latch on ONE window was broken. The approximate cost to replace this is $2-5 bucks. Sounds simple enough, however it would have to be ordered online since this particular size is not carried in stores. Since there is not much time between now and the closing, the buyer will resolve on their own. The closing is scheduled for November 25 right now and we are working through the details of how to close without me present. Keep that in your prayers!!
Matthew: Matthew is in Maryland this week doing some training! I really think he certifiably has the coolest job ever of all times ever!!!! I am so proud of my NASA hubby :)
Random: I won a painting of "The Catch" signed by Daniel Moore (artist)and Tyrone Prothro. For those of you who do not know, its a painting of AL football player catching the football off the back of a Southern Miss player at a 2005 game. I know its ironic that I selected that painting since a) I am a Southern Miss fan and b) since I am FAR from an AL fan----but hey it's worth a pretty penny on Ebay. If anyone reading this is interested---let me know. I will put it on Ebay next week.
Two Blog posts so far....and so far so good.
Job: I (Kelly) had a phone interview today for a part time job at a local hospital. I think it went well because they are scheduling an in person interview for the first day I am in D.C., Monday, November 29. I am still deciding what to do about the job offer I received from the christian bookstore.
House: The inspection discovered that a tiny latch on ONE window was broken. The approximate cost to replace this is $2-5 bucks. Sounds simple enough, however it would have to be ordered online since this particular size is not carried in stores. Since there is not much time between now and the closing, the buyer will resolve on their own. The closing is scheduled for November 25 right now and we are working through the details of how to close without me present. Keep that in your prayers!!
Matthew: Matthew is in Maryland this week doing some training! I really think he certifiably has the coolest job ever of all times ever!!!! I am so proud of my NASA hubby :)
Random: I won a painting of "The Catch" signed by Daniel Moore (artist)and Tyrone Prothro. For those of you who do not know, its a painting of AL football player catching the football off the back of a Southern Miss player at a 2005 game. I know its ironic that I selected that painting since a) I am a Southern Miss fan and b) since I am FAR from an AL fan----but hey it's worth a pretty penny on Ebay. If anyone reading this is interested---let me know. I will put it on Ebay next week.
Two Blog posts so far....and so far so good.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Grant's are D.C. Bound
So, I finally broke down and decided to start a blog! After writing about four emails to four recipients with essentially the Grant Gang same updates, I decided it was far more efficient to begin our family's first blog. With all the recent life events in the Matthew Grant family, the blog web address is quite appropriate, http://keepingupwiththegrantgang.blogspot.com.As we get closer to the birth of our little Blessing on March 22, 2010--be sure to check back for baby updates, pictures and more!
As for now, here is a timeline to bring you up to speed. As I wrote this, I realized how much has changed in less than a year; engagement, marriage, moving, pregnancy...to name a few!!
- 12.22.08 - We get engaged on the Southern Miss campus!
- 05.09.09 - We finally become one at Dunleith in Natchez, MS !
- 06.18.09 - Lyla Claire Burley is born to Kimberly and Tim Burley, Matthew's sister! She is the cutest ever of all times ever---not to mention the best baby ever of all times ever!
- 07.22.09 - By taking a home test, we discover that we are possibly expecting. Wow, after being married only 2 months, SURPRISE...errrr...BLESSING!! That is were our baby got its now nickname, Blessing.
- 08.13.09 - Our first ultrasound and the day we share the news with our friends and family!
- 10.09.09 - Our second ultrasound. What an amazing site to see the hands, feet, eyes, spine! It confirms that being a parent is an honor and blessing given to us by the Lord. I think this is when I really realized, God has a special plan for this surprise blessing! With so few true surprises in life, we resisted the temptation to find out the gender. This will likely be our last ultrasound until a few weeks weeks before the due date.
- 10.10.09 - Matthew relocates to Washington D.C. for his new job with NASA; this is a true testament to God's perfect plan! Although we will spend the next two and half months apart while I finish up my job in Birmingham, AL, this opportunity was too good to miss.
- 10.31.09 - Matthew moves into our new apartment in Alexandria, VA. The suburb we moved to has everything we need within 2 miles of where we live, including access to the Metro into the city!!!! Lots of trees, familes, parks, houses and MORE!!
- 11.09.09 - Our home in Alabama goes under contract!!!!!! YAY!!!!
(Blessing at 20-ish weeks)- 11.11.09 - (21 weeks) Blessing is really starting to move a lot now! Its a strange, wonderful and reassuring feeling!! I think we have a future soccer player in there!!
- 11.14.09 - My wonderful father and uncle load up a trailer full of things for temporary storage while Matthew and I look for a home in VA for the next year or two.
Filled with a mixture of emotions as I prepare to close on our home in Alabama, I look forward to 14 days from now when Matthew and I will be in the same city again. It is bittersweet to begin packing up the first home not only I bought, but the first home Matthew and I shared.
Tomorrow is a big day---last week of work begins, phone interview for a part time job in D.C. (for me, Kelly) AND a doctors appointment!
Please pray for a good doctors visit and phone interview. This part time job would be perfect! Also, please pray that everything continues to come together smoothly for the home closing.
Although it is hard for me to even keep up with the Grant Gang right now, I hope this blog will help our family and friends as they are ----Keeping Up With The Grant Gang :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)