Happenings.

01. Small group is going really well. Last Monday we did a service project together and then went out for sushi and fried cookie dough.

02. Last Tuesday we played doubles tennis with our small group. So fun!

03. On Wednesday Garth and I went to the bank and got pre-approved for a loan for a house. I know we have been really wishy-washy on the house situation but after a lot of prayer and discussions we decided we want to stay in Michigan. We have family and friends here, a church we love, and good jobs. Maybe Michigan isn't so bad after all. So for the next 5 years or so we think we would like to stay here. We love the ocean and warm weather, but you can't beat summers in Michigan. There is nothing like them. And the winters, well they aren't so bad. I mean, what are vacations for, right?;)

04. We are officially house hunters and it's been a bit overwhelming. Our lease is up at the end of June and the tax credit for first-time home buyers expires at the end of the month so we feel a little pressure. But we aren't buying a house for the tax credit, we can still take advantage of the market with the low interest rate and low price. As for our lease, we can always go month to month or sign a six month lease. We realize this is a huge decision and we don't want to rush into anything.

05. This weekend was so restful, yet productive. Friday night we drove by a few houses we really liked. My dad gave us great advice to drive by houses we liked before taking our realtor to make sure we like the area first so we don't waste the realtor's time. Best. advice. ever. The first house backed up to a major road that had huge corporations right across the street. The second house was right next door to a trailor park. The third house was in a run down subdivision. We scratched those houses of the list and felt really bummed out.

06. Saturday we slept in, grocery shopped, Garth grilled a yummy dinner and we watched The Blind Side. I loooooved that movie!

07. Sunday we went to church and out to lunch with the family. Afterwards we went to drive by some more houses we liked and this time it went better. But it started off bad. We drove to this house that was big and gorgeous and I was writing down notes about the backyard when a car came down the street like a bat out of hell and almost hit our car...and pulled in to the house across the street. He got out with a cigarette hanging from his mouth, his hair in a pony tail, dingy clothes on and an angry look on his face as he made his way into his house. Ummm I don't think I want this guy as my neighbor. He almost hit my car the way he was driving so fast. That could of been my dog or my CHILD. I know all too well from our first apartment that bad neighbors can ruin a good thing. We crossed the house off the list.

08. We drove by both my parents' old houses which was really fun to show Garth where I grew up. Then we hit the jackpot. We fell in love with five houses in two different subdivisions that we really felt like we could raise a family. The subdivisions had sidewalks, were a short walk to a great downtown, and had huge trees along the road. I was imagining walking the stroller downtown for coffee and Garth was imagining teaching our son to ride his bike down the streets. It was the feeling I always wanted to get when I saw houses that I just wasn't getting from the other places.

09. We are going to see these houses this week with our realtor and I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I know it can't be that easy...We shall see.