A Twin Story . . . Part 1: The Brown House
The Twin's Story. Part 1: The Brown House
It was 2016, and we lived in a small, 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom house on East 3rd North. It was getting a little crammed with 5 children, 2 adults and only 1 bathroom. It wasn't horrible, no. We survived just fine. However, we knew that at some point, we would need a bigger house.
One day I asked Nick, "If you could live anywhere -- ANYWHERE in the world -- where would you want to live?" (And I made sure he understood I meant "anywhere" in the world.) He answered, "I'd want to live some place where I could see the Tetons everyday. Now, it doesn't have to be right out my kitchen window. Just so long as I can see them on my drive to and from work." I get it: the Teton Mountain Range is "HOME" to my dear hubby.
Well, one morning I was on a run and I took the road down toward the highway. On the way back, I asked myself the same question I asked Nick. "Where would I want to live?" Obviously, where ever Nick was. And he wanted to live in view of the Tetons. "Okay. So that puts us Sugar City and North -- Or Wyoming. But the Tetons are "backwards" in Wyoming -- at least to Idahoans." I really thought about it. #1 Criteria: I'd want to live where Nick would want to live. So, his one criteria: "In view of the Tetons." "okay," I thought. Then I figured, if we were going to live in view of the Tetons, then I would want to stay in the same ward. I already have dear friends. Our kids already have friends. Plus, they wouldn't have to change schools, or school districts, and they wouldn't even have to change wards. So, that was my answer: "I'd want to live in the same ward."
On my return trip of that run, I saw a brown house on a corner. I had never really noticed it before. But that morning I thought to myself, "That's the perfect place! The perfect location! If I could live anywhere, that's where I'd want to live." Interestingly. I've lived in this town for nearly 10 years now, and had never really "seen" that house. My eyes just overlooked the house. I guessed it just blended in with all the pine trees around it. Well, I watched the house for the next week or so. I pointed out the house to Nick and he knew exactly what house I was talking about. He even knew some of the history of the house and its occupants. He reminded me that we had looked at the house online at some point, and it was listed quite a ways out of our budget. And online it was rather vague as to exactly how big - or small - the house actually was.
Well, we watched the house anyways. Within a week or so it went back up on the market. For Sale by Owner. I had Nick stop by and we picked up a For Sale flyer out front. They had dropped the price! Significantly! I thought, "If they have dropped the price THAT much, maybe they would be willing to come down a little more -- then maybe we could afford it!" I called on the house and scheduled a walk-through.
Mary Lou met us at the house for the walk-through. Generally, we liked what we saw, however the house was very much out of date. We thought maybe that could be to our advantage. But more importantly, we loved the view! It was all about the location. I didn't love love the house. But I loved the location, the view out the back was absolutely breathtaking and fantastic. Nick liked that there was a lot of land and that it had water and water rights. I liked the location. When buying a house, you can change some of the things on the inside. But you can never change the location.
So, it appeared to us that the house was a good thing. We didn't really even look at other houses. That was the house we wanted. Or rather - that was location we wanted. We walked through the Brown House early in August of 2015. We were able to get our current small house on the market by December of the same year. We had an offer on our house St. Patrick's Day 2016. And we were able to close on both houses and move into the Brown House May 12, 2016.
Many more things happened in regards to us obtaining the Brown House. Perhaps I will review a few of those events.
In August 2015, we had basically decided we wanted the Brown House. We were in communications with Dave and Mary Lou. They knew we could not buy their house until our own small house sold. And our small house wasn't even on the market yet. In mid to late September, I was over at a friend's house, Ida. She had her two sisters visiting. As it turned out, they admitted they liked the area and were looking at houses. They even admitted they had put in a cash offer on the "Brown House down the street." I was devastated! They offered full asking price, and even had put in a very large cash down payment / security deposit. I asked them to take back their offer. I even offered to pay them to take it back. I just knew that there was no way we held a candle to cash down, cash payment for full asking price.
Something happened to me because of that incident. I phoned up Mary Lou and made sure she knew we were absolutely serious about the house. Dave had already made arrangements with Nick to take care of the yard. I think Dave and Mary Lou knew we really liked it and we were serious about the house. I also think they just knew that we just didn't have the finances for a down payment - or even a security deposit. When I talked with Mary Lou, I was sure to be honest, and translucent. I think, in the end, she and Dave appreciated our honesty.
Well, a week or so went by and I was talking to my friend, Ida, again. Her sisters had left and gone back to Colorado. They did not get the Brown House. And they did not move into the area. I asked Ida what happened with them and the house. She said Dave told her sisters that there was another young family whom they were already working with, with the house. They returned their down payment / security deposit, and said "Thanks anyway, but no."
I could hardly believe it! They turned down a sure deal. For us! Or, at least it seemed that way. I called my mom and she said the couple wanted Nick and I to have the house. Again, it sure seemed that way.
Additional history of the house. Mary Lou and Dave had a daughter. Only one. Tess. Tess was their only child. Nick and Tess were in the same grade and same school growing up. Nick knew Tess, and knew who she was. Sadly, in High School, she got involved with the wrong crowd, wrong things, wrong people. She grew depressed and sad and abused. And before her Senior year, she ended her life. A great sadness, I think, entered her parents' hearts. And entered their home: the Brown House on the corner. Her parents decided to open their home to other children -- foster children. Finally, Dave and Mary Lou grew older and decided to move. They built a house just West of the Brown House, out on the river. Across the Del Rio Bridge. The Brown House sat vacant. On and off the market for 3 years, and vacant for 5. And then Nick and I show up. He and I wondered if perhaps, maybe, just maybe, Mary Lou saw something in Nick and I that may have reminded her of her dearly beloved Tess. On our first walk through, I asked Mary Lou if she had any children. She said she had a daughter, but is no longer with us. Nick told Mary Lou that he knew Tess. Mary Lou nodded, then looked away and changed the topic.
Many people in our ward looked at The Brown House. One older couple said they liked the house, but it was too big, and they felt a younger family would benefit more from the house. Another sister, Liz, said she and her husband, also walked through the house -- before they put in carpet -- but decided the kitchen was just too out of date. Another couple, Rainey and her husband, said they saw the house, but it wasn't the right price. Interestingly enough, the house the older couple moved into is nearly the same size -- if not bigger -- than The Brown House. The house Liz and her family moved into, their kitchen needed some serious remodel / make over. And the house Rainey and her husband bought, I believe they paid the same amount -- if not more -- than what The Brown House sold for. Bottom line: the house just didn't feel right to so many people.
When we came to the house, and walked through, I think both Nick and I could feel the energy of the house. It was down. It was sad. It carried the sadness and sorrow of Tess's passing. The week before we closed, I couldn't take the sad, heaviness any longer. I was going to wait until we signed papers and the house closed and was official ours. But I just could not wait any longer. I think the house couldn't wait any longer. Nick, Cherise, and I helped clear and clean the house. We encouraged clearing of the sadness, the heaviness, and anything and everything related to and holding on from her passing. The day we signed papers, Nick and I came back to the house and he blessed and dedicated and re-cleared the house again. Only this time, he used the power of the Priesthood.
Time has come and gone since our signing of the papers. We have seen Dave in passing, in his car, or at the Hardware store. He smiles now. He has a lighter aire about him than he did before we moved in. Nick and I suspect -- or rather, hope -- that the selling of the house has had a healing effect on him. We hold Tess's name and memory in reverence and respect here. This was her home when she lived here on this earth. We know she is okay. We know she has moved on. And I believe that she knows she is always welcome to come visit, or check in on us as she feels necessary. However, I also believe that she will more likely visit her parents than visit us. But either way, we believe the transfer of hands on this Brown House, has had a healing effect. On so many than just one soul.
I believe The Lord has guided us to this house. And though we may not live in this house 'til we are both old and grey, I am grateful for it. And grateful for the service we have offered, and the service rendered to us in return.
It was 2016, and we lived in a small, 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom house on East 3rd North. It was getting a little crammed with 5 children, 2 adults and only 1 bathroom. It wasn't horrible, no. We survived just fine. However, we knew that at some point, we would need a bigger house.
One day I asked Nick, "If you could live anywhere -- ANYWHERE in the world -- where would you want to live?" (And I made sure he understood I meant "anywhere" in the world.) He answered, "I'd want to live some place where I could see the Tetons everyday. Now, it doesn't have to be right out my kitchen window. Just so long as I can see them on my drive to and from work." I get it: the Teton Mountain Range is "HOME" to my dear hubby.
Well, one morning I was on a run and I took the road down toward the highway. On the way back, I asked myself the same question I asked Nick. "Where would I want to live?" Obviously, where ever Nick was. And he wanted to live in view of the Tetons. "Okay. So that puts us Sugar City and North -- Or Wyoming. But the Tetons are "backwards" in Wyoming -- at least to Idahoans." I really thought about it. #1 Criteria: I'd want to live where Nick would want to live. So, his one criteria: "In view of the Tetons." "okay," I thought. Then I figured, if we were going to live in view of the Tetons, then I would want to stay in the same ward. I already have dear friends. Our kids already have friends. Plus, they wouldn't have to change schools, or school districts, and they wouldn't even have to change wards. So, that was my answer: "I'd want to live in the same ward."
On my return trip of that run, I saw a brown house on a corner. I had never really noticed it before. But that morning I thought to myself, "That's the perfect place! The perfect location! If I could live anywhere, that's where I'd want to live." Interestingly. I've lived in this town for nearly 10 years now, and had never really "seen" that house. My eyes just overlooked the house. I guessed it just blended in with all the pine trees around it. Well, I watched the house for the next week or so. I pointed out the house to Nick and he knew exactly what house I was talking about. He even knew some of the history of the house and its occupants. He reminded me that we had looked at the house online at some point, and it was listed quite a ways out of our budget. And online it was rather vague as to exactly how big - or small - the house actually was.
Well, we watched the house anyways. Within a week or so it went back up on the market. For Sale by Owner. I had Nick stop by and we picked up a For Sale flyer out front. They had dropped the price! Significantly! I thought, "If they have dropped the price THAT much, maybe they would be willing to come down a little more -- then maybe we could afford it!" I called on the house and scheduled a walk-through.
Mary Lou met us at the house for the walk-through. Generally, we liked what we saw, however the house was very much out of date. We thought maybe that could be to our advantage. But more importantly, we loved the view! It was all about the location. I didn't love love the house. But I loved the location, the view out the back was absolutely breathtaking and fantastic. Nick liked that there was a lot of land and that it had water and water rights. I liked the location. When buying a house, you can change some of the things on the inside. But you can never change the location.
So, it appeared to us that the house was a good thing. We didn't really even look at other houses. That was the house we wanted. Or rather - that was location we wanted. We walked through the Brown House early in August of 2015. We were able to get our current small house on the market by December of the same year. We had an offer on our house St. Patrick's Day 2016. And we were able to close on both houses and move into the Brown House May 12, 2016.
Many more things happened in regards to us obtaining the Brown House. Perhaps I will review a few of those events.
In August 2015, we had basically decided we wanted the Brown House. We were in communications with Dave and Mary Lou. They knew we could not buy their house until our own small house sold. And our small house wasn't even on the market yet. In mid to late September, I was over at a friend's house, Ida. She had her two sisters visiting. As it turned out, they admitted they liked the area and were looking at houses. They even admitted they had put in a cash offer on the "Brown House down the street." I was devastated! They offered full asking price, and even had put in a very large cash down payment / security deposit. I asked them to take back their offer. I even offered to pay them to take it back. I just knew that there was no way we held a candle to cash down, cash payment for full asking price.
Something happened to me because of that incident. I phoned up Mary Lou and made sure she knew we were absolutely serious about the house. Dave had already made arrangements with Nick to take care of the yard. I think Dave and Mary Lou knew we really liked it and we were serious about the house. I also think they just knew that we just didn't have the finances for a down payment - or even a security deposit. When I talked with Mary Lou, I was sure to be honest, and translucent. I think, in the end, she and Dave appreciated our honesty.
Well, a week or so went by and I was talking to my friend, Ida, again. Her sisters had left and gone back to Colorado. They did not get the Brown House. And they did not move into the area. I asked Ida what happened with them and the house. She said Dave told her sisters that there was another young family whom they were already working with, with the house. They returned their down payment / security deposit, and said "Thanks anyway, but no."
I could hardly believe it! They turned down a sure deal. For us! Or, at least it seemed that way. I called my mom and she said the couple wanted Nick and I to have the house. Again, it sure seemed that way.
Additional history of the house. Mary Lou and Dave had a daughter. Only one. Tess. Tess was their only child. Nick and Tess were in the same grade and same school growing up. Nick knew Tess, and knew who she was. Sadly, in High School, she got involved with the wrong crowd, wrong things, wrong people. She grew depressed and sad and abused. And before her Senior year, she ended her life. A great sadness, I think, entered her parents' hearts. And entered their home: the Brown House on the corner. Her parents decided to open their home to other children -- foster children. Finally, Dave and Mary Lou grew older and decided to move. They built a house just West of the Brown House, out on the river. Across the Del Rio Bridge. The Brown House sat vacant. On and off the market for 3 years, and vacant for 5. And then Nick and I show up. He and I wondered if perhaps, maybe, just maybe, Mary Lou saw something in Nick and I that may have reminded her of her dearly beloved Tess. On our first walk through, I asked Mary Lou if she had any children. She said she had a daughter, but is no longer with us. Nick told Mary Lou that he knew Tess. Mary Lou nodded, then looked away and changed the topic.
Many people in our ward looked at The Brown House. One older couple said they liked the house, but it was too big, and they felt a younger family would benefit more from the house. Another sister, Liz, said she and her husband, also walked through the house -- before they put in carpet -- but decided the kitchen was just too out of date. Another couple, Rainey and her husband, said they saw the house, but it wasn't the right price. Interestingly enough, the house the older couple moved into is nearly the same size -- if not bigger -- than The Brown House. The house Liz and her family moved into, their kitchen needed some serious remodel / make over. And the house Rainey and her husband bought, I believe they paid the same amount -- if not more -- than what The Brown House sold for. Bottom line: the house just didn't feel right to so many people.
When we came to the house, and walked through, I think both Nick and I could feel the energy of the house. It was down. It was sad. It carried the sadness and sorrow of Tess's passing. The week before we closed, I couldn't take the sad, heaviness any longer. I was going to wait until we signed papers and the house closed and was official ours. But I just could not wait any longer. I think the house couldn't wait any longer. Nick, Cherise, and I helped clear and clean the house. We encouraged clearing of the sadness, the heaviness, and anything and everything related to and holding on from her passing. The day we signed papers, Nick and I came back to the house and he blessed and dedicated and re-cleared the house again. Only this time, he used the power of the Priesthood.
Time has come and gone since our signing of the papers. We have seen Dave in passing, in his car, or at the Hardware store. He smiles now. He has a lighter aire about him than he did before we moved in. Nick and I suspect -- or rather, hope -- that the selling of the house has had a healing effect on him. We hold Tess's name and memory in reverence and respect here. This was her home when she lived here on this earth. We know she is okay. We know she has moved on. And I believe that she knows she is always welcome to come visit, or check in on us as she feels necessary. However, I also believe that she will more likely visit her parents than visit us. But either way, we believe the transfer of hands on this Brown House, has had a healing effect. On so many than just one soul.
I believe The Lord has guided us to this house. And though we may not live in this house 'til we are both old and grey, I am grateful for it. And grateful for the service we have offered, and the service rendered to us in return.
Comments
Post a Comment