AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: On the market DATE: 8/21/2008 09:48:00 PM ----- BODY:
Our house is officially on the market. When I saw the listing online last night I cried. I love our house. We have put so much time and work into it, planning to stay here for awhile.

That plan was derailed.

A new job for Kevin in a different city. It's just too far to drive, and as much as I love where we are, it certainly isn't fair for me to push to stay here when I'm not the one commuting. I know that moving out of Raleigh will also enable us to have something newer, larger, and nicer. I know these things.

But seeing our house out there, on the market, made me sad.

I followed the photographer around today, wondering what she saw through her lens. Did she see a house that was updated and ready to sell? Did she see the home we have created?

Did she see how we removed our disco ball and put it in storage for the time being so that people wouldn't get their chuckles from the pictures on our listing?

Some people won't like our artwork. It's modern. It's local. It's funky.

Some people won't like our paint colors. The family room actually has the word peach in the name. Yes, I know. The eighties live on in our family room and we like it.

Some people won't like our backyard. Because it is seriously neglected.

Some people won't like Lovely's bathroom. Unless Pepto Bismol is their favorite color. I should never be allowed to pick paint colors. Ever.

What I hope they see when they look at our house is a kitchen that is large and inviting. I hope they stand in it and can imagine how well a family fits there. How there is room for 2 or 3 people to be helping at the same time. How it is designed to cook and bake and to serve a family.

I hope they see a master bath that has been brought into this century. When they look at it, I wish they could see through the walls and the floor to know how much work Papa and Kevin put into transforming it.

I hope they can stand in the nursery and know how much love went into every board we laid. If they knew that, then they should also know that I was seven months pregnant while laying that floor. I wish they knew that it was a nursery that carried me through the loss of one baby and into the gift of another. That I sat in that Lemon Chiffon room and prayed and prayed for it to be needed for our child one day.

Beyond all of the things that other people will think are weird in our home, I hope that they see a family who has been happy here. Rooms for children. Rooms to make music. Rooms to cook together and eat together.

I hope they can tell there is a lot of love here.

And I hope, seriously hope, that it doesn't smell like dogs. Ha. Hahahahaha. Ha.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous kami DATE:Friday, August 22, 2008 at 2:22:00 PM EDT Totally understand the sadness, but just think, new home with the people you love...so exciting! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Friday, August 22, 2008 at 6:45:00 PM EDT Mercy...I've been there growing up. I always hated having to leave one house for another.

There's another house for you to love out there. Promise. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Friday, August 22, 2008 at 9:29:00 PM EDT Congrats! I know how you feel. I have a love/hate relationship with my house. I dream of owning one that will require less work but also couldn't imagine leaving it. Good luck with the house sell at least Raleigh has THE best housing market in the U.S. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Rosie : ) DATE:Friday, August 22, 2008 at 9:55:00 PM EDT Good luck on this new adventure! It sounds like a hard step to take, but one that you see as necessary. Change is tough. :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 7:53:00 PM EDT You have a great location. Your house will sell easily. Now, to find you a new one... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Amanda DATE:Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 10:21:00 PM EDT It will be loved again. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Monday, August 25, 2008 at 6:35:00 AM EDT And I hope pictures don't show up on some other person's blog... someone that likes to comment about things like oh, pink, and disco balls??? hee..hee..

I feel you. That house is a part of you and your life and little birds too.

Good luck. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jennifer, Playgroups Are No Place For Children DATE:Friday, August 29, 2008 at 2:56:00 PM EDT It's so bittersweet to move, I KNOW.

I still miss our home in Illinois. I had such plans for that home. Silly since the home we have now is twice the size and fancier, I'd rather have that house in IL.

Good luck with your home sale and search of a new place where you'll pour tons of love. ----- --------