Adam and Penny Lain Hensley: October 2011

Short sale wasn't so short...

7:20 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Months ago, Adam and I put our faith in a short sale. Most of the homes in California are short sale or foreclosures, so we didn't have much choice as "available now" homes are hard to come by. After months of dealing with 3 lien holders on this home and renting it for $1 a month, banks will not approve what the lien holders want to do. Now what to do???

Earlier this week, I looked at a home that was ok and on the bright side was an "available now" home. Adam and I went back and looked at it today. We decided to discuss it over Chili's beer and margaritas. We had to come to the conclusion to make an offer on the ho hum house if the lien holders wouldn't drop their craziness.

Then Adam had a brilliant idea to go look at some new construction, "move in ready" homes not far from our rental house. Come to find out they had put the model homes on the market today. That wasn't the best part. The most amazing thing ever was that they came fully furnished. Yes, every fancy nancy piece of furniture, bedding, window covering, everything was included. I felt like I had stepped into a magazine. After hours of deliberation between the two of us and our realtor, we made an offer on this gorgeous 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 car garage, with guest suite home. Hopefully by tomorrow we receive a counter offer from the builder. If all goes well on this home, we will be selling all of our current furniture and moving just our clothes, dishes, etc. into this beautiful home by the middle of December!! I feel like finally something is going our way!! Please keep us in your prayers that this works well for us! We miss all of you everyday!! Love y'all <3

Headin' off to the West Coast

5:51 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

We loaded up the truck with tubs, suitcases, and the boys to head off to the West Coast with tears in our eyes (maybe just mine) as we left my family and home in Memphis. The trip started out hopeful since I had the brilliant idea of using a water bottle to keep the boys in the backseat. The first day and half this worked beautifully. Then day 3 began the jumping in the front seat, moving nonstop, heads on our shoulders, etc. Finally I moved to the backseat and the boys to the front. This was a much better arrangement!

Adam and the boys took a break from riding to play on the Salt Flats!

I couldn't pass up this picture! There was a small puddle of water on the flats. I was able to capture the reflection of the sky along with the mountains.

Once we arrived to our new home, Adam headed off to work and I headed to scrubbing and painting the house. I had 3 days to clean and paint the entire house. Did I mention we bought a home much larger than our last one?!? And also did I mention the home has been empty for 2 years?!? Those of you who know my history of anxiety attacks know that this was an anxiety attack waiting to attack...literally!! After lots of Easy Off Oven Cleaner that I used on most surfaces, I was able to successfully clean the kitchen and bathrooms--YUCK!! Then on to painting the curved edged, textured walls. Luckily after several phone calls from a panicked wife, Adam hired a painter to help me since he couldn't be at the house helping!

Fast forwarding ahead, house is painted and cleaned just in time for the movers to arrive! I used Post-It notes to tell the movers where all furniture should go as well as to tell myself where I would put all my dishes and towels. In addition, I used sidewalk chalk to write in the garage where all boxes should go. Easy...right??? That's what I thought until the movers continued asking me where items went and mixed up where to put the boxes. I wanted to give them a quick reading lesson to refresh their brains on how to read!

Adam is in place ready to start checking boxes in while I begin to unpack!

After broken furniture, mixed up boxes, and trips to IKEA, our house is beginning to look like a home. The garage is still full of miscellaneous boxes and Adam's office is far from being put together. All in all we are adjusting well out here.