You know when you know

Two days before I left for Hawaii, a new listing popped up in my house search. The instant I saw it, I had that gut feeling. I knew it was the one. I even emailed my husband and agent, telling them so :)

Our first problem, was they were not showing the property until the first open house on Sunday. When I would be 6000 miles away. But our agent was able to get us in for a private showing on Friday night .... turns out sometimes it does matter who you know!

As my agent was unlocking the door, I said to her "I have a good feeling about this one" and she just kind of chuckled. She knew from personal experience what it feels like finding your home, so she just agreed with me. We ran through that house like kids in a candy store. Opening every door and closet, falling more and more in love with the house as we went.

Keith arrived a few minutes after we did, and as he walked in the door, I yelled "welcome home!" his response "can I at least see the place first?"

Would you like to see it too? Here are photos I took:

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Brand new kitchen!!

Living Room

Upstairs bathroom

Finally I get a fireplace!!!

Upstairs bathroom vanity

Master bedroom

Master bedroom -- it's huge!

Fireplace again :)

Finished basement

Keith's man cave :)

Future patio and backyard

Isn't adorable? LOVE the red door!

Back of the house, Keith and Julie our agent :)

Side view

The house is a little over 2000 sq. feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a finished basement. Everything is new .... it has been completely redone from top to bottom. Brand new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as roof, electrical and heating system. The sellers are even building a new deck, patio and professionally landscaping the backyard.

The house was everything we wanted, and standing in the kitchen that night, knew we had to have it. Since I was leaving less than 12 hours later, we quickly agreed on what we would offer and I left the job of getting the house up to the two of them!

It took a couple if days -- a very busy open house, two other offers and a little bit of panic -- but on Monday morning we found out that we got the house! They accepted our offer!!!

The whole week that I was gone, Keith was hard at work -- getting our mortgage lined up, arranging dates and appointments. He got it all done, so that when I came home -- everything was all set. We went straight to the home inspection, and then from there, we drove around our new town and called our families to share the exciting news.

We looked at probably 50 houses before we found this one, and after every disappointment, I tried not to lose hope. I knew it was a matter of timing, and luck. And it seems, that both are finally on our side :)

Aloha!

I am back from my week in Hawaii, and I can't wait to recap and share photos.

My flights were long and exhausting in themselves, but so incredibly worth it. The flights back? Not so much....I stepped off the plane yesterday to 27 degree weather. And I was wearing flipflops. Whatevs.

So first things first, an update on my grandma. She was in great spirits when I got there, but then again, she always is. She has a very "whatever will happen, happens" kind of attitude. We didn't talk much about her surgery or diagnosis those first two days, choosing to focus on positive and fun talks. And man, can she talk! (I guess I know where I get it from!)

Her surgery Monday went well, and she was home in time for lunch. I pampered and spoiled her and my grandfather all week -- cooking for them, running errands, and making tea :) She had very little side effects from the surgery -- no soreness or pain, which was wonderful. And then Friday came, and we went for her follow-up appointment. And it turns out, the tumor was almost three times as big as they expected it to be. They needed to do another surgery, as soon as possible, to make sure they got all the cancer. It was a tough afternoon, and really brought us down. She is in surgery as I type this, so fingers crossed it goes exactly the way we want it to!

All in all, the doctors know she will make a full recovery. She'll do a month of radiation, and be on her way! We are so fortunate that they caught it when they did.

Now -- on to my photo recap of the week:

Heaven on earth.

How cute is my grandfather? Love him so much!

My beautiful grandmother. I love her smile :)

Their garden in the front of the house

Home

Reading his paper, relaxing and enjoying the breeze

On my morning run (ok walk) I love the sun glistening off the ocean

The Pacific ocean in the distance

I want a house on that mountainside :)

The back yard, corner garden

Wearing the gardenia "aunt" Lala brought me!

Back of the house, and the mountains in the distance...from their garden on the hill

 

 

 

Thick "vog" covering the mountainside -- coming from the volcanic eruption on the Big Island!

Even though the reason I was there was not a fun one, I still had an incredible week. My grandparents mean everything to me, and it isn't often that I get to spend time with them one-on-one. We had so many great conversations, there was lots of laughter and millions of hugs and kisses. I truly felt blessed to be there.

Before I left for Hawaii, I was feeling guilt over being away from home. We were in the middle of buying a house, and I am swamped at work. The whole flight there I couldn't get rid of the feeling -- of wanting to be in two places at once. But the second I got there, I knew in my gut that I had made the right decision. There was no where else I needed to be.

It's easy to get caught up in the craziness of everyday life. It was nice to dial back for a bit, refocus on what is truly important and count my blessings. Who knew that I would get so much out of this trip, when I went to give everything to them?

God IS good, and works in mysterious ways. He always knows exactly what we need, and is constantly finding opportunities to teach us. We just have to stop and listen.

trust and faith

The saying goes "when it rains it pours". This has proven true for most of our relationship.We experience times of completely calm, and have a relatively boring life. Then one day, BAM, it all unfolds and our life gets pulled in nine million directions. The last crazy time period was right before the wedding -- there was chaos with all the planning and then of course on top of that, Keith had multiple surgeries to go through. It was a crazy stressful period. Then we got to the other side and settled in married life, enjoying the last few months of quiet.

And now, we've listed our house -- sold our house -- and are in the process of finding our next home. That in itself is a fulltime job, on TOP of our fulltime jobs and Keith pulling crazy overtime hours at work. I felt we were at our max limit, but as usual, there was more. They also say that God never gives you more than you can handle, and I do believe that. In times of deep stress and anxiety, those are the times when we notice that we are leaning more on God. We pray harder and more frequently. Not because we are asking Him to take away our stress or pain, but because we need more of His strength to get through it.

About three weeks ago, I received news that my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. My grandmother is my person, she is my rock and my sounding board. Even though we are separated by the entire continental United States and 3000 miles of Pacific Ocean, we are extremely close. Finding out this news absolutely shook me to the core. I had never experienced this kind of pain. No one in my life had ever been really sick, and I found myself grappling with new emotions.

On my wedding day, 9/1/12

Despite the fact that it was the worst possible time for me to be away from home, I booked a plane ticket to Honolulu. I knew in my gut that I needed to see my grandmother, to sit with her and talk stories, and to help her through this time period. I knew my job could wait, hell, finding a house could wait too. There are some things that happen that shake you and make you realize what is truly important in life -- for me, it's faith, family and love.

My grandmother's prognosis is good. They caught the cancer early and are removing the lump on Monday March 11 and then doing a quick month of radiation. We are so very fortunate that she will make a full recovery. I know that not every family that gets this diagnosis is as lucky.

I always try to look for the good in things .... yes this was an awful, scary situation, but it's allowing me 7 precious days with my grandparents. Since we live so far away, and when our life gets crazy again, I'll be grateful for these memories. My faith is constantly being renewed, but seeing my prayers answered makes me ten times more appreciative that I have faith, without it my life would be nothing.

I leave for Honolulu on Saturday and can't wait to spend this time with my family, and come back here and share photos and memories of our week. 

Tonight, hug your loved ones a little closer and never take one minute for granted.