Multiples of Threes

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was having a rough time...she had heard that things often happen in multiples of three, and she had already had two bad things happen to her at home...what would be the third thing?

I posted, "Never ask what's next or say it can't get any worse! But I always wondered why we don't count the good things that happen in threes ... Maybe because we are more blessed than we realize!"

SO...to show that I can count to three in good times and in bad...here is our story of how we ended our time in East Texas.  These are a few of the things that happened to us:

The first week of December brought us three separate potential buyers to our house.  We were excited about the interest because the house was last seen in September prior to this interest.  We were very hopeful that something would happen this time around!  Imagine the let down when we did not hear back from any of the realtors (including our own!) for over a week!  We had come to the conclusion that it was just not meant to happen this time either.  However, I am a persistent seller and called our realtor once again!  I happened to call just as she was getting off the phone with a buyer's realtor!  We had an offer on our house!  

Then the banter back and forth to agree on a price began!  After three attempts, we final came to an agreement.  We now waited for all the hoops to be jumped through for the seller.  One such step was the inspection.  I was not too worried about this as we had passed inspection when we bought the house and we had done many improvements.  However, on the evening of Christmas Eve we got a call...the inspector determined a new roof would be needed!  I was a little upset for three reasons...this 'bad' news should not have been given to us right before Christmas (ba humbug and all that!)...the roof was less than ten years old...and we were treated as if we were hiding a problem (which we were not...we had never had a concern about the roof!).  

We decided to enjoy our Christmas and not worry about the issues at hand....nothing would take us away from our holiday.  Then, I began making phone calls the day after and decided the best thing to do was to make a trip back to meet with our own roofer to inspect the roof. I decided it would give me an opportunity to make another trip for the things we left behind.  Also, to determine how to sell what we were not bringing back!  

I did meet with a roofer and found out the shingles put on the roof were defective and would need to be replaced.  This was a hard moment for me but God was there to guide me.  I stopped after a good cry and asked God for help.  I looked up to see a neighbor pulling up on his ATV.  I should mention that this neighbor does not actually live by us...and I have only seen him two other times the entire time we have lived here!  Yet, there he was and he brought me some news that would help me make a decision.  He told me that he knew the family who was buying our house and they really wanted to live here.  He also looked at the garage door that was given a deficient rating on the inspector's report and told me there was nothing wrong with it and that I should refuse to adjust the price for this item.

I felt so good about the situation that I took the children to the zoo.  They had worked hard and I wanted them to have a little enjoyment in this trip back to East Texas!  It just happened that we got there at the same time as one of our friends which made it even better!

The third item of concern in this group of threes was the drive way...after our experience with the utility company on our last visit the drive way had a LARGE rut that was getting worse due to the rain.  I worried about this so much that it almost became a bigger concern then the roof!

After discussions with Michael and realtors, the decision was made (and finally agreed upon) to have a roof allowance for half the cost.  The other concessions were dropped and we agreed to find out about a way to fix the drive way.  Thankful that the contract was still moving forward, I was able to return to San Antonio.  

Also, I was given an amazing plan for selling items from the house to help others!  I had seen a wish list on Facebook from our beloved non-profit group and I decided to do the unthinkable in a new and creative way...I was going to have a Facebook virtual garage sale!  I took pictures of all the big items we would donate and posted them as a photo album.  I gave descriptions and prices as well as a pick up date upon my return in January.  I contacted the center and asked if the director would like to have additional items donated to the sale and set a date.  It was so great to see the items sell quickly!  

I returned to complete the final phase of our move and have the sale.  I brought Sean, Henry and Zaira with me to get the job done.  We decided the best thing to do was move all the furniture and other items to keep upstairs or in the master bedroom.  All the garage sale items would be in the open area down stairs or in the garage.  Once that was accomplished, we were ready for the sale.  

We had a day for early sales and pick up on Thursday and made about $500.  Also that night we went to our local beekeeper meeting and (thanks to our ingenious friend Marie) we auctioned off our excess bee supplies for three times the price we thought to sell it (It was worth twice as much but we were try to sell quick.).  Then we had the first garage sale day and made an additional $500.  We then ended our three days of selling items with a final $500 profit.  Add to that the joy of sending some excess items to a consignment shop to continue to bless the center...giving several items to a family who was kind enough to help us clean out the house (It took them three trips as well!)...AND still giving three van loads of items to the Women Shelter thrift shop...I think we truly are blessed and were able to bless others...an awesome set of threes overall!

We were also blessed with time with family and friends.  My brother and his family came to pick up a riding lawn mower and stayed throughout the day to help us with crazy things like mice in furniture we stored in the garage and taking a few extra items at the end of the garage sale day and taking car of Zaira while I worked with the bees.  I also got to spend time talking to my friend Paula who stuck with me throughout the entire garage sale!  She even let me wash clothes at her house and enjoy a meal with her family! I was very thankful for that opportunity!  I also saw many of my friends to day good-bye...not forever...but you never know...and so it is good to have a big hug from a friend when you are moving!

Then we were asked if we would like to have a little fun with the money we raised for the center.  The boys and I were excited to learn that we would be going to the store to purchase the items needed for the center!  What the director did not know is that we did three things...we went to the manager of the store early in the day and told them what we were going to do and he agreed to pull some items back for us that were clearance items...we gathered coupons to help stretch the money further...and we added an additional sum of money to even out the donation just because we wanted to bless them as much as possible.  The best part was seeing the wish list be fulfilled and still have excess to give for future purchases!  A priceless moment!  

However, I am convinced that when good is being done, the devil cannot stand to see it go without trouble!  I thought I would make the transaction easier by using my credit card (one swipe of the card and we are done!) so I deposited the money into my bank and was going to just pay the card down at the end of the day.  Easy, right?!  Well, I did not think about the credit card company considering this an unusual purchase!  My card was denied!  Still...no big deal...just call the company and get it approved...I am a loyal customer...I am one of the few customers that pays my bill to zero balance every month...it would be fine!  NOPE!!  By the time it was all said and done...I was beyond embarrassed and so mad!  The most they were willing to do is give me a pre-approved amount that was below the cost of the items purchased and told to find another way to pay for my items.  Thankfully, I had a check book (We only have one credit card to keep purchases to a minimum.) and it all worked out in the end.  I even understand why the company did what they did...it was to protect me!  But at the time, I was so frustrated.  

To add to the situation, the next day, I found out my card was put on fraud alert!  I had to call the company AGAIN!  However, this time I got Charlie.  It was so nice and he apologized a million times!  He assured me that we were valued customers and that it was all cleared up.  He even asked if there was anything else he could do before ending the call.  I told him that he could deposit a million dollars into my bank account and his response was...that I did realize he was working in the fraud department!  LOL!  Well...he did ask if there was ANYTHING he could do...I figured I should aim high.  

With that cleared up we had two days until closing.  The boys and I moved all the remaining items to take with us AGAIN!!!!  Now everything we wanted to take was placed in the downstairs area.  The upstairs was cleaned thoroughly and we were set...except for the next set of threes!

The closing date set for Thursday was pushed to Friday.  Michael needed to change his days off work and we had to reschedule the moving truck as well as all our plans to leave town.  Did we panic?  Only until we were assured Michael could change his days off.  Then we realized it would all work out better.  We originally were going to struggle with three cars and only two drivers....but with the change, Amanda was off work and able to drive a vehicle.  Also, we would not need a hotel room for the last day.  And to add to the bonuses given the change, we were able to attend a birding event the morning of closing (This is one of Sean's favorite activities...Henry enjoys it as well.)

However, once again there were problems...the utilities were being turned off a day early and there was no way to change it.  We would need to work fast to load the moving truck before it got dark (try as we might, we ended up packing the last of our items in the dark!).  Also, it was getting cold, so we would need warm blankets (thankfully we had some) and no way to cook food (We ate out!).  In spite of the chaos, I think we came out on top in the end.

This was all figured out on Tuesday and we were feeling pretty good about the situation.  Then our set of threes began working on our vehicles!  Michael had purchased an OLD car (20+ years old...and not in an antiquey sort of way!) from a friend when he first started working in San Antonio.  He had a long commute and no vehicle but I did not want him to buy a new car to put a lot of miles.  So this was a good solution for us at the time.  I told him that the idea was to make the car last until we sold the house in East Texas.

Well, he got to work on Wednesday without any signs of problems.   This would be the last day he worked before closing on the house.  When he came out of work, he drove off the lot and it immediately started smoking!  He pulled over and upon examination realized a belt had broken.  Since there were not any stores open that late at night, he called roadside assistance and was towed to an auto supply store.  Amanda picked him up and the plan was to come back to get it fixed the next day.

The next day...Thursday...when he was supposed to be heading to East Texas to help me load a truck with all of our things!  But that was OK because it was an easy fix and he could get there early in the morning and then still get to us without any trouble.  So, the second thing that happened was he realized he locked his keys in the car!  He had to call roadside assistance a second time.  Then, he fixed the belt and the vehicle would not start...the starter needed to be replaced!  And, to make things even MORE interesting...as he was calling to tell me this, I went out to our van (I was supposed to be picking up the moving truck) and discovered that I had locked MY keys in the van!  The strange part of that is that I NEVER lock my vehicle!  I am not sure how this happened but I refused to call roadside assistance.  Something about three calls in less than a 24 hour period did not sound good to me!  So, I called my neighbor and he came to help get into the van.  I was only a few minutes late picking up the moving van.

Now...the situation with Michael seemed unbelievable...but the auto supply store allowed him to leave his car until the following week. Everything was moved to Amanda's car and they were on the road to East Texas as planned.  They would arrive by lunch time and help us finish packing the truck.  Michael was upset about the car but I told him that I was excited about what had happened!  The car lasted just the right amount of time and we did not sell a broken car to anyone.  I told him that I did not care if donated the car because it had served its purpose!  He laughed...just as they were getting into Amanda's car to come to East Texas a commercial to donate cars to charity had come on...he thought it was funny but that is what we ended up doing!  We called our favorite Catholic radio station in San Antonio and donated the car...it was gone within a couple of days!  This allowed Michael the opportunity to look for his "new to us" car when we returned from selling the house.

It got a little hectic as we began to ran out of light.  Then trouble with our realtor began again...our last set of threes!  She called us mid-afternoon to tell us we had not turned in the addendum for the roof allowance (We had done this two weeks before!).  Then she told us that we might not close on the house the next day...when asked why...she told us, "You never know when something catastrophic might happen!" (Nice way to calm our fears the day before closing!)  and the final straw was having her show up knowing we were not going to have electricity an the temperatures were dropping...our things were not loaded and we were trying to find places to leave some of belongings that would not fit in the truck...she comes to the house to get the paper we had turned in signed a second time.  I had finally had enough!   I told her that she would need to wait....I did not have time to sign the paper until the truck was loaded.  I moved the rest of the kitchen items to the truck before telling her I had a counter to sign the paper!

I could tell that I was losing my mind at this point.  All focus was gone and I was not doing well with the stress.  I kept thinking...I need to stop and re-group...but I did not have time!  That is when I got a call from a friend who wanted to meet me for an early breakfast and prayer session.  I had asked her to meet with me earlier in the week when I thought we were closing on Thursday...I thought all the chaos of moving would be over (My plan was to stay the night in East Texas before heading out.)  I never thought to call her back when the closing day changed.  BUT it was a good thing because that is exactly what I needed!  I need to be with her and another friend in prayer.  I needed that calming that only prayer could bring.  Yes...I could pray alone or with family (and we did!) but there is something about gathering with friends for the sole purpose of prayer...the focus is amazing and that is what I needed.

Also, I have been helping a young friend with her discernment to the religious life.  We were supposed to meet early in the two weeks I was in East Texas but it never seemed to work out.  She calls right as we are trying to determine what to do with things that would not fit on the truck.  She graciously stayed and helped us take items over to our neighbor's house (thankful for him also...I will need to make a trip back to get those items next month!).  She just watched us as we move in the dark.  I told her that our move could be a catalyst in her decision making...maybe seeing us move WAY TOO MANY things would be a way for to see the joy of the vow of poverty!  LOL!

Everything else went well, except a slight hiccup with the transporting of our bee hive!  We wanted the hive to be the last thing on the truck, so we set aside a space for the bees in the truck.  Michael and I woke up at 5am and began the final move to the truck (We had closed them up with our beekeeper friends...Marie and Roger...the week before...only needing to add a screen front to the opening).  Half way across the field the bees decided to make their escape and Michael (being allergic) bailed on me!  I was heartbroken...I really did not want to leave the hive!  I tried to convince him we could make it work.  Time was running out and I finally said that we should just let them settle down and try to come back after we closed on the house.  I called Marie later in the morning (I am sure she is glad I did not call her at 5am!) and she said to duct tape the entrance since there was a screened bottom.  She assured me that the job could be done and to call if we had more problems.  After closing, we returned to the house to find Marie there waiting for us with bees secured and ready to go on the truck!  Praise God for good beekeeping friends!  I could not have been happier to see her and I know Michael felt the same.  And, I was so proud of Michael who unloaded the hive in San Antonio by himself (I was with the boys at a 4H event so did not return home until Saturday night!).

I am not sure if anyone has anxiously waited for this post but after our MANY multiples of threes over the last two months, I felt I needed to share...the good, the bad and the ugly!  There were other silly things that happened in between these events.  It was a wild time for us, but most of all God's grace was there through it all! God is good all the time!  All the time God is good!

One final thought to end this long post...Our family started praying for our house to sell and to ask God to help us in the search for our new home in San Antonio when this adventure began back in mid-August.  We prayed a novena dedicated to focusing our prayers on selling a house.  For those of you who do not know what a novena is...it is simply a focused prayer that is prayed for a special intention for nine consecutive days.  When we mentioned to Amanda that we were praying in this way, she jokingly said that we would need to pray a novena of novenas (nine sets of novenas!).  I told her that this was silly...but guess what?...We continued praying our prayer to sell the house for exactly NINE sets of novenas...and on the last day of the novena we were told our house was under contract...just as Amanda told me!  Just one more multiple of three...God-sense...I just love it when HIS plans come together!