This Old House

   It’s funny the things you can find online.  Recipes, coupons, jobs, books, old friends, and even free old houses.  That is just how we found our new home, online at one of those now infamous bartering sites.  Never in a million years would I ever have thought it could even be remotely possible, yet here we are.
   We went to see the home after dark one evening just before spring.  My daughter had found the house online, and we were curious.  When we arrived, I was a little down because there was a farm gate at the opening of the driveway which, of course, was locked.  Daniel-my ever adventurous, always pushing the limits kind of husband-assured me that he had spoken to the owner earlier that day, and that we would be fine to jump the gate. "No," I told him, "because as soon as we jump it the cops or someone will show up."  But somehow that darling man convinced me it would be just fine.

   And it was.  Until I was purched precariously on the top half of the gate, wearing a skirt, trying to figure out how to swing my leg over it in a lady like fashon, and a man pulls up, gets out of his car and asks, "What's going on?"
   Turns out that he was a deacon at the church that was advertising the house.  Apperently one of their vigilant church members saw us sneaking around and called him.  It could have been worse.  I could have seen blue lights.
  The deacon was nice enough.  He even called another deacon to ask for the keys after we explained why we were there.  According to the ad, the house was first come first serve, and we just wanted to be first.  Simple.  Daniel had called and talked to their spokesperson that morning.  He was told that we needed to find a house mover and fast.   So that is just what he did, but we wanted to see the house before we made any firm plans.  There was a sense of urgency because the next day there was to be an open house, and Daniel didn't want to take any chances.
  The house was perfect.  It had hardwood floors, and a large country kitchen.  The porch was almost ten feet in depth and spanned the entire front of the house.  It was built in 1935, and had been owned by one family until they owners passed away and it was donated to the church which used it for after school programs and such.  The land it was on was needed now because of new building plans.  That is why they were giving it away.  They just didn't have the heart to demolish it.  I just say it was a God thing.  Needless to say we loved it from the start. 
  They canceled the open house the next day.  Plans were made for house movers to come and measure it.  Calls were made, dates set, and contracts signed.
  We finally had our house.