03

Here is the deal. 2 years ago we moved into this mobile home on a 2 year lease with option. (2003). Well a week ago tomorrow we got a letter threatening us with eviction if we did not pay 2004 back taxes. According to our contract we are still leasing as of now, nothing has been filed in our name to say we have bought the house.

So I called the county tax people, and they said I had to call an attorney. So I did, and the attorney says no way are we liable for the taxes. They told us to write a letter outlining our stand, and if the guy goes to evict, the JP should dismiss, if not the attorney will help us fight.

All this got us to seriously looking at this house and thinking seriously if we wish to keep paying on it until we are in our 70�s. MJ will be 73 before its paid off, I will be turning 71. A couple months ago I saw something in the master closet, my contractor friend agrees, its mold growing down from the ceiling! The front door and living room windows leak horribly in storms, and now water damage is evident, even though we have tried to fix it.

Nope, this place is not worth the $63,000 give or take the guy is asking. No, we have decided we do not wish to purchase it. The tax folks value it at $21,000, including the land.

So we talked to our contractor friend, who also got the eviction threat letter, and is only 8 months into his first year! Plus they are moving out of state in August and have prepaid their rent until then!

He contacted a buddy of his who has a smaller home, 2 bd 1 bath on 1.001 acre for sale. The gentleman wants $1,000 down and $475 a month, which includes current taxes being escrowed in, if we get the tax lowered when we homestead, the payment will be lowered as well. Plus, the home is valued at $42,000 and he is going to sell it to us for $39,000! The deed will be registered with the county with us as buyers, which the guy we have now won�t do.

Contractor friend also has a studio apt building he is going to put on as an addition for us, for $200, plus what ever we need to spend to plumb and power it. We can do that in spurts once we get settles, as long as its done before he moves in August, cuz any other contractor would charge us tons to do it!

While it is true this house is much bigger, with Drew going into the Marines, we will only have Chris at home, unless he decides to go too. We do not need this huge house even with the 4 of us; no way will we need it for the 3 or 2 of us!

The smaller home is God�s provision. He knows we do not need this big house that is not even a real house, but a fancy trailer. It shakes when the washer does its spin, the new smaller home does not, it is so solid MJ did not even cause the floor to creak! Plus, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE old stuff, and this home, though only in its current place since 2001, is I suspect from the 40�s or 50�s! It has a huge pantry in the kitchen, and built in cabinet in the hallway, plus a large linen closet. The bathroom is tiny, but the addition will eventually give us a 2^nd bathroom. The kitchen is small, but I can learn to deal with that! Large gatherings will now need to be out door affairs!

So now with, writing articles (I really do try to be on time!) sitting for little bit, reading and monitoring my message board, working on building an online mall, and sewing aprons to sell in said mall, I will now be finding boxes, packing, deciding what is to be sold to help cover the moving costs and such! Plus I am already into� 4 swaps I need to finish up with too!

So the view from my place is about to change, but I know God has this planned as a step towards our goal of becoming simpler and less thing oriented, and more self reliant!

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all"
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Always tell the truth. That way you don't need to remember anything!

Come visit us at

MJsWorld

Mel's Place