Tuesday, August 31, 2004

More News from Eugene

It's been a busy week! I went to my first day of school on Monday and came home to news that grandma and mama had signed a deal for sale of grandma's house. It appears to be an OK deal that is scheduled to close Sept. 21, though that is rather fast. We plan to move the big items for both grandma and ourselves this Friday/Saturday, then have a few weeks to deal with the smaller items and clean up the place. The buyers are a young couple with three children, about age 14, 5, and 2. There may be some items available after grandma and her 'kids' have a chance at what's left - we'll try to keep you informed. Our offer in Roseburg is moving along OK also.

Day one at school went well. I have 16 in my 5th/6th class so far, with at least two more possible. Preparations are going well so far.

God bless you all!

Monday, August 30, 2004

Done Deal in Roseburg?

Mama and I went to Roseburg and signed a counter-offer on the house. Since it is much the same as the original offer, we expect it will be accepted today. If all goes well, it will close Sept. 30 (Joann's Birthday!). We ended up with two offers that were about the same. We chose one because it came in first and our agent knows the people and is more confident it will go through. If not, we can fall back on the second offer, unless they move on to something else quickly.

I start school today - work week. Also will be moving 'stuff' into the new house, then Friday/Saturday moving grandma and ourselves (with help) into the new places. Again, keep grandma covered in prayer - it will be a hard emotional move for her.

God bless!!!!!

Saturday, August 28, 2004

Good News! (maybe, hopefully, sort of . . .)

We have an offer on the Roseburg house (sorry, Tim, but you may not have the house to yourself for long . . . ). It seems to be a good offer that we will probably accept unless something changes our mind. Mama and I know the lady from the couple who made the offer - she was head of the Roseburg foster care program when we had Ricky. They want the house as an investment - would use it as a rental. Mama and I will go to Roseburg Sunday afternoon to talk to our agent about the offer details and decide whether to accept or counter. No news about grandmas house except it will be put on the regular multiple listing this week - it has been basically a by-owner with agent assist up until now. Probably several agents and lookers will come by next week.

Our new house has much of our 'stuff' in the garage and shop area. The storage unit is empty, the new 'den' has been painted, the carpets shampooed, the bugs bombed - now a bit of cabinet clean-up and cabinets can be 'loaded'. We may be moving next Friday/Saturday, moving grandma to Kris's (pray for her - that will be a tough one for her, leaving this house) and moving us to Junction City. We hope to have Bruce and Dave and families helping - perhaps a few others if we ask for more.

Time to go - God bless you all and thanks to God for moving the situation along in Roseburg!

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Eugene update

The purchase of the Junction City house is now final and the garage and shop room are filled with 'stuff' (thanks for the great help, Andy and Kim!). Mama and I plan to paint a room tomorrow and have the carpet cleaned on Friday. More visits to the Roseburg and Eugene houses for sale, but no new offers. Keep praying! God bless - Dad

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Moving Right Along!!

August 21, 2004

Today (Saturday) Daddy went to the school to help paint in the morning. Grandma and I went to Kris and Bruce’s and worked on getting Grandma’s rooms ready. Dave was there, too, and helped Bruce moved all the remaining furniture to the upstairs, the garage and/or the living room. Then Jim arrived and Dave left. Bruce and Jim took the carpet out of the bedroom, and then we all started working on taking off the wallpaper. It was a real chore since there were two layers of paper and the bottom layer was adhered so well to the wall that it took hours to get it off. But finally the walls were clear. The next step is that Kris and Bruce will wash all the walls and then get someone to come tape the corners in the bedroom (seems it was never done), and maybe texture in the family room since the top is textured, but the bottom of the walls are not textured. Then Grandma and Kris will have to go pick out paint so that can be done. Next Monday the carpet is supposed to be installed, and then it will be ready for Grandma to move in….

THEN we can move ourselves to Junction City! As far as that goes, we’re hoping to sign papers and get the deal closed on Monday so we can start unloading the storage unit (into the garage until the house is ready for everything), get in and wash cupboards and maybe get the carpets shampooed before we move everything into the house. We’re not sure if shampooing is necessary, but when we see it again without anything in the house, we’ll be able to tell. It would certainly be easier to do it before we put the furniture in.

I look forward to seeing most of you soon. I love you! Mama

Friday, August 20, 2004

Invite

Bethie, I'm getting an account set up for Betsy, but can't give her access to this page (I don't think) without you sending her an invitation email. Please send one to her: flight_following@yahoo.com

Thanks!

To the rest of you, there will be more to see on our site later this evening, we are going to be uploading some more pictures and information!

Love you all tons!!
Danny

Monday, August 16, 2004

A MOVING UPDATE

The appraisal of the Roseburg house went well ($140,000), so my loan official said all looks good, that he would know for sure if the loans pass the second approval tomorrow, and that closing would probably be next Wednesday or Thursday (August 25th). Since that doesn't leave us much time for moving before school starts on Monday the 30th, I'm hoping they will let us start moving boxes, etc. into the garage by this Friday - I will know more by Wednesday.

We had at least two very interested couples come to the open house. One couple came both days and the second day were measuring, etc. to see if they could make the house work to their desires. We're hoping to hear of an offer today - the couple who did measuring had already sold their home, so could be good buyers. Mama and I will talk about the Roseburg house and may adjust the price to reflect the appraisal - we'll work that out later today.

Hope all is well - we've been thinking of you, Danny, as you start school. Will try to call at an appropriate time soon to hear about it.

GOD BLESS!

Sunday, August 15, 2004

So Tired!

Saturday the 14th started out at 3am for me. We had loaded everything Friday night, but still had to get up, pack a lunch, and be in Aurora by 5am for dealer registration. It was a long, HOT day selling antiques with Jen (Matt's sister), and Lori (a friend). We had fun with each other, but unfortunately, the shoppers this year were what we call "tag flippers". In other words, there were lots of people looking, but very few buying. All told, I only profited around $250 after countless hours of preparation, and an 18 hour day. I think I would have much preferred to spend that time in Junction City for Norwegian Day! But at least now my focus can turn to other things, like mowing the lawn and catching up on laundry. Hopefully soon I will be travelling to Eugene to help with the big move!

Friday, August 13, 2004

Eugene update

This is an update from the one earlier today - you may want to read it first.

The young couple did make an offer on grandma's house, but it was low with too many contingencies, so our agent recommended we not accept and we followed her advice. Perhaps they will be able to make a better offer, but I'm not sure they are able. We hope the ads in the paper and the open house will bring more and better offers. Dad (on mama's computer)

NEWS from EUGENE

No big news on the real estate front, which is to some extent good news. As far as we know the purchase of the Junction City house is moving along - I was told that if all goes well, we could close in a week, or perhaps early in the following week (Aug. 24 or so). I'm hoping to start some moving next weekend with the main move Aug. 26 -28, depending on helpers schedules. The Roseburg house has no news other than a few more showings and two people who have expressed interest to the current renters. I hope to get the results of the appraisal today and hope it will be in the $130,000+ area. The Eugene home has a sign and brochures in front - about 30 of the brochures have been picked up. We have an ad going in the Saturday and Sunday register-Guard and have an Open House Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 PM. A young couple came to see the place last evening and seemed interested, but we haven't heard back from them. We'll see how the Open House goes, then re-evaluate our direction - perhaps go with the Multiple Listing Service, which means a much higher cost to sell.

This week is the Scandinavian festival in Junction City. Mama, grandma, Kris and kids went on Thursday and since Saturday is Norwegian Day, hope to return some then. So far I've gone frisbee golfing instead . . .

Hope all is well - would love to have you come to the Sandinavian festival and our Open House! But perhaps waiting until we move would be better . . .

God bless!

Monday, August 09, 2004

Off to Indonesia

Hey guys, just saying hi! We are heading to Indonesia for two days tomorrow and Thursday with the staff for part of the orientation. We're pretty excited!

News Connections

Check registerguard.com for the article I told you about. The article was in Sunday’s paper. There was also an article in the same paper is called “The Blog Connection”, which is interesting in light of White-House-on-an-Acre. You can get into the archives for seven days without charge. After that there is some sort of charge. I don’t know how that works. I guess the library here has newspaper archives, too – as far back as the 1950’s, and they probably don’t cost anything.

Mama

Sunday, August 08, 2004

HOUSES AND THINGS

I love the picture, Beth! I didn’t take any group pictures, and would love a copy if you would email it to me.

(This is my second time to write this. I had a nice long message done and lost it! I hate it when that happens!!)

For all of you, check out http://www.oip.net/10788 to see Grandma’s house that just got listed today. Some of the pictures aren’t very good. I emailed some better ones that I took to the realtor today. I think she will change some of them.

So, as you can see, life goes on. I’m trying to get the clutter around here to a minimum since the house is on the internet, and people could be wanting to see it as soon as tomorrow. There was an article in The Register Guard today (8-8-04) called, “Seller’s market Sizzles” about the housing market in Lane county. (You can probably access it if you want to). It’s interesting and encouraging, though the realtor told us it was sensationalized. Things are happening, but its not always like they said. We’ll see what happens on this place.

We could be moving in two weeks if things go as our banker tells us they might. So the focus now is getting things packed and ready to go. At least that is one of the focuses for this week. The other one is helping Kris get her place ready for Grandma. If we move in two weeks, she will too. Today Kris, Grandma and I went looking for carpet and paint. Kris and Bruce have moved a lot of their things out of the family room and the bedroom for Grandma, but there are lots of things to accomplish if the floors and walls are to be done before she moves in (which is the plan).

Grandma has mixed emotions about the whole process. She hates to leave this place, but knows that staying here alone isn’t an option (for several reasons). She doesn’t begrudge us the opportunity to have a place of our own, but isn’t excited about it. I’m trying to be sensitive to her feelings and am not showing my excitement about our new house. But I AM excited! After living here for a whole year (we moved in August 15 last year) it’s going to be so nice to have our own place and our things! It’s also going to be so nice to have a place big enough that all of you can visit at the same time!! Hopefully it will feel like home to all of you, too. (I have to admit, though that it’s also hard for me to leave this place knowing that it will be sold. There is still something of my Daddy here, you know.)

I love you all!
Mama

Saturday, August 07, 2004

Changes

Okay, if you scroll all the way down to the bottom, you will not only find some new additions to the menu (which is now out of the way!), but you will be able to see the family photo in all of its glory. Keep checking that menu and the links within it- you never know when I might change things. :)

REAL ESTATE plus CALLING DANNY UPDATE

Before getting to the housing news, a bit about calling Danny . . . we worked through a couple of 'bugs' before finally getting through. We bought a $20 + $2 processing fee card with 667 minutes - it's the last of four on Danny's link to phone card sites. We chose it because of no maintenance fees and other better side issues. If you get one, you call an 800 number, then add your pin, then dial 011-65-6274-9387 (this is a change from the number Danny put on the blog - one digit was wrong on the blog).

I'm thinking of becoming a real estate salesman! Not really, but with three deals going, it gets interesting! We received good news on the Junction City house - both the main loan and the 'bridge' loan have gone through. Just need an OK appraisal on the Roseburg place and all is go - that should be done in the next 10 days. After that, we should get a better idea of a closing date and move time.

As far as the Roseburg house is concerned, it is being shown a few times this weekend plus the renters know someone who has looked at the house and may be interested - would be nice to get the right person to see and want it soon . . . our renters will be moving in mid-September, so a buyer would be nice so it isn't empty and draining our resources.

We just listed the Eugene house this morning - it is a partial listing where the agent will help do a deal, but it is not on multiple listing yet. If we can sell it without full agent pricing, we save mom about $8,000. If no quick deals, we will go to full pricing.


Guess that's about all for now. Hope to have some good news about the housing situations soon. We'd love to show off the new place if you come down - we took some friends plus Tim and mom to see it this weekend.

God bless to all!


Thursday, August 05, 2004

Pictures

Hey all, check out my site for a bunch of pictures! (and don't forget to start from the bottom!) Love you all!

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

A very merry unbirthday...

...to all of you, but especially to Danny whose birthday I missed because of my silly computer and it's retarded battery:(

I'm keeping busy at work and spending my free time catching up on reading, movies, and trying to make some sense out of the thousands of pictures floating about my little apartment. I love you all and really want some blackberries right now, but unfortunately we only make coffee here, not berries:(.

Monday, August 02, 2004

Happy Birthday, Danny!!

We tried to call you today, but I guess your phone isn't hooked up yet. Maybe tomorrow? Anyway, at the time I'm writing this, we haven't seen August 3 yet, but you are already half-way through it. You know since you were born in the States, you really shouldn't celebrate your birthday there until August 4 anyway! That's when we'll be celebrating it.

To all of you... Daddy and I will be going to the coast with Kris and her kids and Grandma tomorrow. It's a good way to get Grandma doing something else on that day. It could be a hard one for her.

Things seem to be progressing on the house front. 'Nothing new in Roseburg, but paperwork being signed on the Junction City house, though we're still waiting for final approval of our financing. We have a realtor working on things here in Eugene, too, but are waiting to see if my cousin, Sheri will be able to buy it before we actually list it. We told her we need to know by the end of the week. So if they can't do it, it will be listed next week.

Lots of Love to all of you!! Your Mama