Oh, my beloveds! I am still here! I have not abandoned you! Yes, I have been absent for a few weeks — but it’s because we’ve been busy! I’ve been riding the real estate rollercoaster of prepping a home to sell. We’ve been painting and packing and cleaning and purging and panicking! Have you heard of this thing called “staging”? Alexa tells me it sells a house at 10% higher. My realtor says it helps with “a house like ours”. Like a lived-in one? With teenagers who leave their socks on the floor and milk drips on the counter? Not to mention the zoo which also lives here. We now have pristine white duvets and throw pillows fluffed on beds. “Art” on the walls and nothing left on the counters. We flush and wipe the bowl. We pack up the cats, and the dog, and the kids, and drive around aimlessly in 33-degree Celsius weather while strangers peek in my closets to see what kind of soap I use.

I’ve given away my children’s childhood book collections and cried when the sign went on the lawn. Neighbours who we talk to twice a year are messaging to say “How can we leave them – we’ve been such good friends?” I secretly ask the pastor if it is okay to pray for profit because we need to make some money. We are at the mercy of friends who host and feed my large and hungry crew because we need a place to crash. The dog joins us. Heaps of blessings on my mom who is hosting the rats. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see rats in their potential new house? 🙂 My children are tired. My husband is stressed. I’m an emotional basket case. And yet, we press forward. We take offers tomorrow.

It’s really no wonder people say moving is one of the most stressful events that happen in our lives. It’s true. And everyone has an opinion. Don’t settle for this. You’ll get this. Do this or that to improve your chances of a good deal. Wait. Move fast. God must have a sense of humour though. Every time I go to “tidy up” or clean out a cupboard Lauren Daigle has been my go-to playlist. Coincidence she sings titles like “Look up Child” and “Trust in Me?” The kids say she has been my “theme music” for the last few weeks. We’ve also been studying the story of Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous as you embark on a new and promised land… but first, you must tackle these big scary giants that lay before you. Like surviving a weekend of open houses.

It’s funny how we often white-wash things to cover them up, isn’t it? Sure, a fresh coat of paint really does make a difference. Clean and tidy hallways and fancy decorations in my empty bookcases look great! But it is no longer “my home”. People comment about how different it looks. So clean the family says! Admittedly, not sure how to take those comments. My house was clean – enough. We all know outward appearances don’t always dictate what’s happening on the inside. Jesus commented on this on more than one occasion. People are fickle. We are wooed by pretty shiny things. Myself included. Yet, I love a house with character! Wonky walls and squeaky floors. Neighbourhood kids who played in your backyard and made messes in your kitchen… and then message you they’ll miss you.

Too many times we “hide” behind a mask in order to impress. So many times we get away with it, too. Alexa tells me it’s true for real estate, at least. Still, those who truly know us see the white-wash staging and laugh because they know it’s not the “real us”. God knows too. I’ve given it over to Him. At least I’ve tried to. He sees beyond the walls and knows exactly what we need, and when.