Dream home

You probably don't remember, but a while ago, I wrote about how we were trying to get into a co-op housing development nearby. Well, we're one step closer to living there. We've passed the pre-approval step--which is the financial approval from the bank. Apparently, that can be the toughest step, and according to what they told us, we passed with "flying colors." The next step is the interview process. First, they interview us up there--we'll get to see the unit, they can meet all of us and we can meet whatever residents feel like showing up. Then the second interview will be at our place. I guess they just want to make sure we're not total slobs or freaks or something. Then after that, the committee votes, and as long as that goes well, we're in. So please please pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top pray that this works out for us.

Here are the main reasons this move would be so awesome...

1. Though it's only a 2-bedroom apartment (same as our current one), it has a one-car garage and a finished basement. In a word... STORAGE. Which means Ari could have a room all to herself, instead of sharing her room with extra bookcases, a computer desk, and various boxes and piles of junk.

2. It has washer/dryer hookups, which means we can finally get our own washer and dryer. Sure, we'll have to put up with the laundromat for a little while so we can save up money, but the thought of being able to do laundry in my own home is pretty exciting.

3. It would be a little bit closer to work. I'd still have a long commute, but I might be able to shave about 10 minutes off of it.

4. Most of the people in our church live in this town. And since Tony is the youth pastor at the church and we are both heavily involved with the church, it will be nice to be closer to everyone. Plus, we can have teen meetings at our place, instead of always having to have them at someone else's home.

5. It's in a nice neighborhood, on a cul-de-sac, which means it will be a great place for Ari to play, to learn to ride a bike... all that great childhood stuff.

6. The monthly rent would be less than half of what we're paying now. Yes, I said less than half. Which is obviously the biggest and best reason to move there.

I'm not thrilled at the thought of the actual moving process--all the packing and unpacking and cleaning--but then again, who ever is? I was telling Tony the other day that it feels like we've been in this apartment forever. Really, it's only been 5 years, but considering that in our first 4 years of marriage we lived in 4 different places, staying put for 5 years seems like a lot.

So while you're at it with the praying, here's another thing you can pray about. In order to get in, we have to make a $3500 deposit. Well, I'm not sure if "deposit" is the right word, but you know what I mean. Basically, it's like equity--it goes into a community fund and collects interest. Then, someday in the future, when we move out, we get it all back, plus interest. Right now, we have about $1000 saved up. So I have no idea where that other $2500 is going to come from, but I have faith that it will come. (But if you wouldn't mind keeping that in your prayers also, that would be much appreciated.)

I'm off to bed, to dream of my soon-to-be dream home.