What fun this has been to read your comments and guesses. Perhaps every month we'll have to have a free music guessing game here at The Story Midwife.
Christine left the winning comment - Number 220! So Christine, head over to my CD store to claim your prize: any CD of your choosing.
So what's '220', anyway?
My house number! We are the proud owners of 220 "something" Street. But we hope soon it will be home to someone else. Thus, the news: We're selling our home.
As of TODAY (January 1st) Richard moves from aproximately 12 hours a week to aproximately 30 hours a week at the Big City Church located 1.25 hours from our home. We've added up the hours on the road, the gas mileage, the auto wear and tear, and the time apart from one another, and we've decided we want to be closer. If this was a job in an office or other sort of business, we might feel differently. But there's also something about the faith community that pulls us there. While I struggle greatly with Church in general and with this particular church, I am also aware of the gifts I receive from this community. And I hope the ways I show up and offer myself is Gift as well. For us, giving and receiving more fully means not traveling 2.5 hours round trip to be present in person.
And so the ripping out of carpet and laying carpet and refinishing hardwood floors and painting and curtain-hanging and wood pellet stove scrubbing ensues.
Our home is a lovely old turn-of-the-century, 2-story, 2500+ square foot home with hardwood floors, built-in floor-to-ceiling bookcases, two clawfoot bathtubs, a 3-season knotty pine porch, and a custom-made music/video studio that overlooks the hills of Iowa dotted with our neighbor's sheep. It's breathtaking. And we have loved it so much.
Saying goodbye will be challenging. But as I have cleaned and sanded and refinished the hardwood floors of our bedroom I have prayed that we might gift someone with this home. It's been a healing abode for us and I wish this sort of deep healing for another individual, couple, or family.
We invite your prayers, wishes, rituals, blessings, love, and St. Joseph plantings in this time of transition. There are so many layers to this goodbye/hello house and community journey, and I'll share more in the days to come. I'll also unfurl the locally famous and not-so-famous stories, and show pictures, too. One sneak-peek tidbit: this space has traditionally been home to artists/musicans/naturalists folk, and was once home to Marcey Alderson, music teacher, Lutheran church organist, and local eccentric. Ther's a sentence written about him on this website.
In close, I'll offer that if you'd like to move to Strawberry Point, or are looking for a small-town getaway space, artists' retreat quarters, or a place to midwife your own stories, we've got the house for you! And all for under $80,000 US. Yes, really. (Small town living comes with the smaller cost of living price tag, after all.) If you'd like to dream more, email me: breathingspaces@msn.com.
For now, sweet dreams and goodnight blessings,
Trish,
The Story Midwife
Hi Trish! Check your e-mail (or thanks if you already did) :D Love your news!
Posted by: Karla MG | January 02, 2007 at 07:06 AM
My strategy worked! Although I did cheat a little. :-) Trish, your house does sound wonderful, if I weren't so attached to the NW and living in the city it would sound very appealing. I'll let you know in a little bit which CD I want, how fun! And I love the contest idea, I may have to steal that too down the road.
Posted by: Sacred Art of Living | January 02, 2007 at 09:30 AM
Congrats to Christine....This is a fun idea :) Best wishes to you Trish as you sell your retreat abode and as you search for a new one. It is good you will be welcomed warmly to your new community.
Posted by: Bette Wappner | January 02, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Yes, yes, yes...all good blessings, prayers, wishes and hopes for you as you prepare your nest for new occupants and as you begin to "nest" in a new place, in a new way. I am with you in spirit! And I love you more than I can even say. -HMO.
Posted by: Heather Michele | January 02, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Congratulations Christine!! What a great story you will have to go with your CD!
Having been in your home Trish I can only pray with you that it will be a sacred and creative space for the next "nesters." And, that you will be drawn to your next new nest (say that fast 3 times!!) Oh what emotions come with all of this.... prayers and blessings for each of you!! Love, Cathleen
Posted by: cathleenmedina | January 02, 2007 at 06:22 PM