It really is all about who you know...

So I have really come to understand how TRUE this statement is!

As you know, in one of my previous blogs, Hal and I have been looking for a house. We really had begun to think that our luck was running out! We were riding through a neighborhood the other day and there was a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the yard of a cute little house. Hal decided he would just walk up to the door and find out about this house that we really liked. The man came to the door and Hal motioned for me to get out of the car. As I started toward the porch I realized this "stranger" was my life-long next door neighbor who had recently moved out of the neighborhood. He was selling his house so he could move in with his dad to be able to take better care of him.

He told us the asking price, and it was just what we were hoping. We left his house that day, and we both wrestled with the fact of getting out of our lease (apartment) and just making an offer on the house. Saturday afternoon, about 3 hours after seeing the house, we called to make an offer. We couldn't let this one go!

WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT YESTERDAY! YAAAAHOOOOO!!!

The bank is currently working on scheduling a closing date, and we are hoping to be moving into our new house the weekend of Sept 14th, one month from TODAY! YAY!

The one downfall is that we owe the rest of our lease, and the complex REFUSES to negotiate with us! Other than that, we are good to go!

Please pray for us this next month that all of the legalities will be handled without any kinks, and we can move in when we hoped! Also, pray that Hal won't cuss at our property manager for robbing us blind! :D

We are so very excited about owning our very first house! I will include pictures when I can get them!

What a MIGHTY God we serve!

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

I seem to have to remind myself of this often!

Yesterday, I asked you to pray for my sister-in-law, because of a tough time that she is going through. I want to thank you for doing that. I wish I could give more details, but I want you to know that all of our prayers were ANSWERED!

God truly blessed her yesterday, and lifted a burden that she has been worried about for some time! Its amazing how in the darkest of situations, God can bless us beyond measure! What an AWESOME God we serve!

Oh what a savior, there is no other name like JESUS!

The Weekend:

Hal and I had a pretty eventful weekend and I just wanted to share some of the things that we experienced, individually and together!

* The experts of the real estate market may say its a buyers market now, but I am here to tell you from experience, ITS NOT! See 2 posts down!

* The phrase "Its too hot to fish" is absolutely true. Hal went fishing early Saturday morning and he didn't get so much as a bite. It was 98 degrees by 10:30am.

* When Hal comes off 3rd shift, "ill as a hornet" takes a new meaning! :D

* You can grow up knowing and respecting someone for their Christian values, and in one conversation you realize that the impression was always wrong.

* Lantana, the plant, is extremely hardy! We accidentally killed ours, or so we thought, 2 weeks ago. It came back and it looks better than ever!

* Mellow Mushroom is called that for a reason, go in there and you will see!

* I am thankful for air conditioning!

* Byrnes beat Independence!

* We FINALLY got our wedding album, it is gorgeous! :D

* No matter how many times we go, I can't get enough of Marble Slab Creamery!

* It really is all about who you know! (I will post about this tomorrow!)

* There is good news on the way, so say a little prayer for us! :D

Prayer Request

I have a request for all of you today.

My sister-in-law, Anna, who I love dearly, is experiencing a rather tough time in her life right now. I won't mention the details because they are somewhat personal, but I would like for you to remember her today.

I know her faith will get her through, but a few extra prayers won't hurt! Thanks girls for remembering her!

Everybody's out to make a dollar!

Hal and I went to look at two houses last night. One of them we really loved, so we called the owner to make an offer this morning. We were sure that the price she was asking was with room to negotiate. She wouldn't BUDGE off her price and she's asking $15,000 more than any similar house in the neighborhood has ever sold for!

Hal and I had done our research and knew that she had only paid half of what she was asking! She claims she wasn't trying to make a flip, but I do have to disagree!

Everytime Hal and I find something that we really love, the people want to make as much money off of us as they can! Why can't we just find a decent house at a decent price? We aren't looking to find a steal, but we definately don't want to be taken advantage of! Why is everyone always looking to make a dollar?

What happened to being truthful and honest when it comes to making money?

Tagged!

I was tagged for a meme, so here goes:

Four jobs I have had:
1. Office Manager - Mobility Prosthetics (current)
2. Bartender - River Falls
3. Server - Hops
4. Office Assistant - Wellford Elementary School

Four places I have lived:
1. Greer, SC
2. Lyman, SC
3. Columbia, SC
4.

TV shows:
1. Friends
2. Real Estate Pros
3. Paula's Home Cooking
4. Giada's Weekend Getaway

Food
1. Lieu's Spicy Chicken
2. IHOP stuffed french toast
3. pinto beans and cornbread...with chow chow of course! :D
4. any kind of seafood...especially SUSHI!

I would rather be:
1. in the bed with my hubby right now!
2. getting a pedicure
3. Charleston
4. shopping at South Park Mall in Charlotte

Favorite movies:
1. Live Free or Die Hard - SO SO good!!
2. Bourne Identity and Supremacy - Im sure I will love the new one too!
3. the Goonies
4. Now and Then

I was one of the last to be tagged, and I don't think there is anyone left! :D

13 Ways I Can Live GREEN!

After reading Meredith's blog the other day I have felt compelled to do this. For the last 5 years or so I have been trying to spread the word on how to conserve energy and save our earth. I must say, I don't necessarily believe that global warming is real. What I do believe is that God gave us this earth and we should love and protect it, as we do our Lord. I feel that it is my duty as a Christian to protect the earth that God gave me so that my children, grandchildren, and generations to come can enjoy it as I have!

"The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth has been given to man." Psalms 115:16

Here are 13 ways that I can conserve energy, I hope you will try too!

1. I will use a reusable canvas grocery bag to carry them home. If I don't have canvas, I will choose paper. I will reuse and recycle all of the plastic grocery bags that I already have.

2. I will replace the air filters in my appliances on a regular basis. A dirty air filter causes my appliances to use more energy and emit more CO2 into the air.

3. Any new appliance that I buy, I will make sure it is marked with the EnergyStar trademark. This is a government funded agency supported by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. These appliances are more energy efficient and emit less CO2.

4. I will change all of the lightbulbs in my house to florescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. The florescent bulbs can last up to 10 times longer and use 75% less energy. Hal and I bought a pack of 10 at Sam's for about $9.

5. I will turn up the air condition 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees in the winter. It reduces CO2 emissions by 2%.

6. If I can, I will dry my clothes on a clothes line instead of in a dryer. I will save energy and my clothes will smell great!

7. When I do my laundry I will always use cold water unless otherwise necessary.

8. When I brush my teeth I will turn off the water.

9. When I eat I will use cloth napkins whenever possible. It will cut down on the amount of garbage that we have.

10. I will not make unnecessary trips in my car. I will run all of my errands and make all of my stops in one trip. I will save gas in my car, and cut down on the miles I drive in my car! (If I could have a scooter, I would!!) heehee

11. I will fill up my Nalgene from the faucet and drink that during the day. I won't drink bottled water. I don't have to go into the energy used to bottle water, you can probably guess!

12. I will fill up my dishwasher completely before using it. It will conserve water and reduce CO2 emissions.

13. When available, I will buy organic. Organic products are pesticide and fertilizer free. Pesticides and fertilizers pollute water. In my plants I will find other, safer ways to keep away bugs and pests!

There are also great products you can use around your home that are 100% biodegradable and natural. Method products are sold at Target and Bloom that I know of. Seventh Generation products are the leading environmentally friendly and safe products on the market right now.

You can also go to treehugger.com or DoSomething.org to learn tons of ways to save energy and become GREEN! You don't have to do all of them, but just doing one or two will really make a difference!

**All words written in bold are links to a website! If you have time, take a look at them!