Dreams, plans and an "oops!"

There are two kinds of people in this world I think.  Those that dream and then meticulously plan it out, add up the pros and cons, research and then wisely commit knowing full well what they are getting into.  Then there are those that dream, have a yarn or two figure "she'll be right!" and then leap head first, sink a bit, thrash about and then somehow find their way to calmer waters.  Yep, it seems we are the latter.

It appears we have sold this house and we have bought a run down, 4 room, 100yr old cottage, on a massive block and that we are moving in about two weeks.  (packing party anyone?!)

We were intending to buy the place in cash, then get a $60,000 line of credit style loan in which we would use to renovate and knock off a small high interest loan we have.  Of course it didn't occur to us to actually double check this was the best way to arrange it.  We organized the sale presuming the banks would still do this as we have used it in the past for renovating projects.....yep.....nope....apparently they dont offer it any more as they deem it too high a risk, first "oh crap" moment right there people!!  Forward planning, always a good move.   

What they will however do is give us $60,000 towards the building, allow us to use our own money for the rest and for the renos.  All good, problem solved right?  A simple task of collecting a mountain of paperwork and faxing it of and bobs your uncle.  BUT......It appears we have lost 3 rather important peices of paper.  No biggie, we can order copies from the tax department.....except it takes 28 days for them to process it.....I did mention we need to be out of here in two weeks right?

So.....best case scenario the banks will be satisfied with the mountain of paperwork we have provided them, seeing as we are actually reducing debit by $100,000 and all will be fine.  The worst case scenario is we buy the cottage in cash, and then deal with the reno budget as we can scrape money together.....Dear Lord please let it be the first option....

Did I mention we will be living in the little old caravan while Grant and I gut the cottage, treat the salt damp, plaster, lay flooring and you know - make it clean and livable?  In the middle of a south Australian summer (think 40C), over Christmas, with three small boys, two dogs and a cat?  Whats life without a few hair brained ideas and a couple of adventures right?!

So, like any wise, organized and sensible homemaker I am of course in total denial about the entire situation and am continuing my sewing-fest.  I'm 3/4 the way through a lovely linen summer dress, I don't have any current pics but here is some of it at the beginning. 

The boys and I have been enjoying baking, reading and this amazing spring weather we are having of course lends its self to loads of time outside and plenty of water play.

This is some scripture I love and am slowly and prayerfully trying to remember in my daily life and forever trying to work towards as I can be a little hot headed and feisty!  So far I managed to not loose my cool at Grant for mis-placing the paperwork.... Ha!

Much love,
Emma 

 

Looking forward.

Grant and I have been in the "waiting place" with the sale of our shop for the best part of two years now.

We have decided once and for all, if it was God's plan for us to sell it would have happened.  It is not a viable or desirable way to run a business "on hold".  A business like ours needs to continue to develop, to evolve and grow.  With this waiting we have been hesitant to spend money on it, as it would be a waste of our resources to invest and build something we would never get to benefit from.  

So with a heavy heart I rang the real estate fellow, and informed him at the close of the next weeks business week, it will be officially taken off the market and we will commit to another 5 years to building it, growing it.  Unless a miracle occurs next week of course! 

We have decided as a family not to buy small acreage at this point, as it is time, money and energy we will need to invest into the business.  We will instead, finish renovating this house and move closer to our shop, so we can spend as much time together as a family.  We will keep veggies and chooks still, and continue to develop Grants bugs business.  We hope to go deeper into our simple living journey, and that being further away from a large town will facilitate a slower, more intentional lifestyle.  We have been weighing up the pros and cons of staying vs moving in this decision.  And have tossed and turned throughout the various options as will show in the last few weeks of my blog!  But I want this blog to be a real account of how we live our lives.  An honest account, and some decisions are difficult to make, and that's OK.  This too-ing and fro-ing shows we plan things, think things through.  That we weigh them up and also that we embrace change. 

The boys will be able to walk down and spend time with Grant, we will be able to buy a house with a little more room to spread out in, and maybe even grow in for the same amount of mortgage we have where we are.  It is a country town, it is wider there, quieter there.  More our pace, it is simpler in many ways.  We will be living and working in the town, which feels right.  The boys will remain in the same school as it is only 20 minutes out of town.  A christian education is important to us and we really love the school they are in.     

We are going to enjoy going away in our little old van, taking the boys camping in cheap/free camping grounds.  We are a family that loves to be together.  So this is our focus going forward.

Much love,
Em
xx