Adventures in House Selling

Our house has been on the market about a week. This is a BIG trusting time and area for me. For us. We know the housing market, while making small rebounds, is not optimal... far from optimal. But God has called and made a way to Ohio, so we are following!

Last week we had our first showing. In my head I had been planning for how I would handle such a thing. Clean up last minute items. Make sure everyday towels are stashed. Vacuum. Quickly run a duster over major surfaces. Put the crate on the lanai. Put the dog in the car. Get Asa into the car.

For a first run, it wasn't too bad. There were a few mishaps, but nothing we couldn't recover from.

First of all, I forgot to grab a leash. I need to stow in the car one of the cheap through-the-loop leashes our vet sends Sammy home with when she boards with them. The funniest part of the experience was that Sammy got a little anxious as she rode shotgun, and she managed to turn on my hazard lights as I drove down to TCBY (my time-wasting location of choice for this first go-round) less than 5 minutes from our house. When I tried to get Asa out of the back seat, Sammy first tried to squeeze between the driver's seat and the door to get to me/outside. She didn't fit, so then she hopped between the front seats and started to barrel right over the carseat! I stopped her from smooshing Asa (she was about to step on him to get outside), and she went back and tried her driver's seat/door space maneuver. She still didn't fit. :) But I was able to sneak Asa out of the carseat and shut the door before she realized she was still too big to fit through there. Then Asa and I went inside to get me a cone (yum! Welcome back dairy-- I have missed you so!). I planned to eat on a bench outside so Sammy could see us. Apparently that made matters worse. I was sitting eating my cone with Asa on one knee when I noticed my hazard lights on... again. Sammy was pacing back and forth across the front 2 seats. Then before I knew it, they were off again. How considerate of her to turn them back off. :) THEN, my car alarm went off! Samantha managed to step on the unlock button, triggering the alarm. So now I'm trying to hold my cone, Asa, dig in my purse, find my key fob, and turn off my alarm! I finally got smart and got Asa's stroller out of the trunk (again, while holding my cone and Asa! Acrobatics were generally involved) so I could strap him in it and have a hand free. Of course at that point, once I actually had a hand free, Sammy chilled out in the car and there was no more excitement. :)

I learned a few things to apply the next time we vacate the house for a showing. But it was certainly a fair first try. :)

Most of all, please pray with us that our house sells SOOOOON!!