Well, if all goes

according to plan, we'll be closing on the new house two weeks from today.  All the paper work is in, but now it's in the hands of the Title Company.  I am thinking things will be a lot more emotionally "settled" for me once this move is over and done.  I don't think I've ever signed so many forms in my whole life!  But what I cannot for the life of me do is to picture what life will be like in that new space.  It was the same, I suppose, when we came to St. Paul's all those years ago.  But it's been so many that I don't recall a lot of it.  I do remember that the parsonage was (compared to our old home) rather homely on the outside, but very, very comfortable on the inside.  More storage than we could ever have imagined.  The new place is much prettier on the outside again, but the storage does not come close to matching the parsonage - unless you count the attached three car garage.  I can't even imagine what we'll end up doing with a three-car garage.  For now, I'm sure Bekah is planning on putting it to good use.  She's moving back in with us as David is moving out.  Musical children, I suppose.  I will confess that I am ridiculously pleased with a real wood burning fireplace in the living room.  Cindi would have preferred a gas set up, but to me the smell of a wood fire is still the smell of home - my grandparents' home in any case.  And a fenced back yard rather excites me too - after we plug a hole or two - because it means the dog can do its business UNACCOMPANIED.  Yeah!

The dining area is so small though.  That makes me sad.  There was nothing like the dining area in the parsonage.  We'd sit twelve around the table in a pinch.  I'm thinking there's no way that will happen at the new place - and now it will be even more (counting my little grandson!).  I'm sure we'll make do.  Certainly most of the time it will just be Cindi and I, and then the kitchen counter will likely work just fine with two stools.

Odd as it sounds, I'm glad I don't have to listen to the parsonage grow all quiet.  To me it was the place of growing little ones and boisterous teens and their friends.  I hope it may be that yet again for another pastor.  Meanwhile, counting down to two weeks on the house and trying desperately not to let this being my final Holy Week and Easter at my beloved St. Paul's dampen one iota of the joy these days bring us.  "For behold by Your cross JOY HAS COME into all the world!" (Good Friday Liturgy)