Another Showing

After our disappointing showing on Monday, our agent texted us on Tuesday afternoon that she was on her way to the house to meet another person and their agent for a showing. (I think she had turned off the alerts for us so that we wouldn't be so stressed out over more showings that didn't pan out.)

Krissy arrived at the house and met with the agent at 4:45 pm. The potential homeowner, Brian, was late and didn't arrive until after 7 pm. Krissy left around 5:30 and the other agent waited around for Brian at the house for about an hour and a half.

Brian finally arrived, and shortly after, one of his friends arrived. They all stayed until well after 8 pm. 

The next morning, Krissy texted that we had an offer in our inboxes. I watched and waited and nothing showed up, so I asked, "What is the offer?" fully expecting a lowball offer.

We were all amazed when the offer came in as a FULL PRICE, CASH OFFER. Seriously?

Chris was in Chicago in a meeting via phone. He happened to notice the message exchange between Krissy and I, put himself on mute, and fell to his knees and cried. 

We looked through all of the documents, noted that the guy—Brian—wanted to close November 14th. Chris and I would both be out of town then and asked if we could close before the end of the month. It took a little time for Brian to hear from his financial people to know if the money could be in his account from a trust by the end of the month.

Yes, it could.

We signed the offer. An inspection was planned for the following Wednesday.

An offer. We have an offer.

It is Good

The last time I attended the temple, I noted the frequent yet simple comments of Heavenly Father following each day of creation with "It is good." Noting what has just happened in the creation of the world—light illuminating the heavens, water bursting forth from cracks in the earth, the creation of life—the simple phrase "it is good" seems like an enormous understatement. 

After researching the phrase "It is good", I discovered that it is so much more than just being a good thing that is acceptable to God.

The word is often used in legal codes, poetry, the Bible, prophecies, and wisdom. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ if Latter-day Saints and one who makes covenants with God, it is more than just a pleasantry but a daily living reality within covenant life.

I decided to look up the meaning of this phrase in Hebrew. "It is good" is translated as "tov" (טוֹב); the use of tov can be used to express a variety of meanings pertaining to life and more specifically, a covenant-keeping life. If something is deemed as good, it:

• Aligns with God's perfect design and will
• Is action that conform to God's standards
• Links obedience to life and prosperity
• Is a model of leadership that seeks the good of others
• Something that is perfectly suited for its purpose
• Fills the measure of its creation
• Reflects moral goodness and righteousness
• Is something pleasant to look at or experience
• Is pleasing
• Has complete functionality
• Offers a sense of being life giving
• Celebrates motives that honor God
• Can refer to something that is beneficial, prosperous, or advantageous
• Can be compared to Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 
• Something that is good does not conform to the ideals of the world
• Suggests a genuine goodness demanding obedience, not simply admiration of something that is beautiful. "It is good" creates a future where the land and its inhabitants are "better than they were at first."

The depth of meaning in this small phrase can be compared to the phrase used in royal courts “If it pleases the king” (see Esther 1:19; 5:4; 7:3), the nuance of the phrase "tov" טוֹב suggests satisfaction and consent; human plans succeed when they are in alignment with God's will and pleasure.

Getting Desperate

Chris and I have had two mortgage payments over the past couple of months. It was running our savings dry. 

We finally reached the point where we were willing to do anything. We kept the Firestone house for sale but also put it up for rent as well. We also put our Monument house up for rent and figured that we could move back to Firestone for 6 months or so while hoping that the Firestone house would sell.

We planned to leave our furniture in Monument and offer it is a fully furnished, short term lease. If we had to sell Monument, we were even willing to do that.

We were at rock bottom. Was it breaking our hearts? Yes, but we were done. We had done all that we could do.

Crazy Showing

We had a couple come visit our property today. They spent about 40 minutes looking through the house. They sent feedback to our agent, Krissy, later stating that they weren't at all interested. They were hoping for a house that had a modern farmhouse theme, wanted to change out all of the cabinets, wanted to change the texture on the wall, etc.

I am sure if they had tried to make an offer it would have been a nightmare of back and forth and lowball offers.

We took it in stride as this was just one showing in a long line of showings over the past year and a half that didn't work out.

Kristen's Mission Emails - Week 68

Hey party people!! 

Transfers this week WHAT THE!! (last one best one)... anyways stay tuned for that, and pray I don't have to pack my things😭😭 it's too much stuff.

Here's my week! 

It's starting to warm up here in south Oz #nojacketnoproblems and my soul is HAPPY (Hymn 227 vibes)☀️🌞 

Music devotional 3/3 completed!! It was such a good night (minus the zoom sound being broken the whole time😭) and I'm SOOOO incredibly proud of my choir. They did so well and put in so much effort and the spirit was so strong! I love that my mission does these events and I have gotten to play such a big part in them!🗣🎻 

Felt like we were running around out of our area all week for STL stuff, but it's okay because exchange miracles are real EVERYTIME!! Modbury Zone on top🔝 

It has been a running joke that Sister Cutler has had a different malady every day of this transfer...unfortunately we joked a little too close to the sun and ended up taking her into the doctor, and back the next day for extensive testing. The bright side of it is she will get answers!! Wahoo!! (P.S. I will never be a phlebotomist)

If I had a nickel for every time I got a flat tire on exchanges, I'd have two nickels! My stomach sunk when that silly light came on, but we went and aired it up, checked for a nail, and lo and behold😭 I was very calm and collected as the vehicle coordinator insisted the zone leaders needed to help us. We said no. He called them anyways. They called us. We said we didn't need them. And hung up. And then drove to the Newton's (my favs) to ask for help hehehehe😊😻 I'll die on this hill, I KNOW HOW TO CHANGE A TIRE.....but I'm too scared to drive on a tire I'VE changed, ya know? Sorry dad 

I finally got to listen to conference yayayay! I LOVE the emphasis on our new members! The work is hastening and we have got to follow the counsel of prophets and apostles as this wave of new members continues to grow. They need "a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing by the good word of God."

I didn't realize until I was a missionary how stinking hard it is for these brave souls. They enter a world of new lifestyle, culture, vocabulary, the list goes on. It can be incredibly frustrating to feel like such an outsider, and as the person teaching some of these amazing new members, it hurts my hearts to see them sit alone in those pews. So my invite this week is don't let them!

If there's a new member in your ward, be their friend. You have no idea what it will mean to them! Nobody sits alone!

Love yall!! 

Sister Kline🤏

48 Days left for Kristen

It is amazing how fast these last 100 days of Kristen’s mission are flying by. Today, she has only 48 days left!

She will be released on Saturday, November 29th in Australia and will arrive home a day later but still on November 29th in Colorado.

Another Day in Firestone

Chris and I spent another day at Pelican Shores doing yard work and tidying the house after a Fall Open House last Friday. We had thought we could be done by noon and have the rest of the day to do something fun, but with all of the weeding, house cleaning, mowing, edging, and fixing the shorted wire for the garage door, we didn't actually finish until after 4 pm!

Fall is putting on a gorgeous display.

I also worked on moving some rocks to clear the drainage, fixing the path on the east side of the house, and fluffing mulch. I didn't take a before picture, but there have been some strong rains this summer and the overflow of water likes to create its own path.

If you look closely in this pic (click on it to enlarge it), you might spy Chris on his hands and knees pulling weeds down at the beach.

It rained on us from about 3 pm on. At first it was just sprinkles, but Chris was totally soaked after he finished mowing the lawn.

When you don't have a ladder, you use the next best thing at hand—your "new to you" utility trailer. Maybe not as convenient as a ladder, but doable. 

Chick-fil-A in Firestone is about ready to open.

Evening Hike at the Garden of the Gods

Chris finished work a little early on Friday afternoon. Since we were going to be busy on Saturday working at the house in Firestone, I suggested that we go for a hike after he finished work. 

It takes about 30 minutes to get to the Garden of the Gods from our house. Even on a Friday evening it was busy with lots of people. 

We drove around to the far side of the park and started on a short hike on the Cabin Cañon hike that took us on a round about path through the scrub, across the road to the Siamese Twins rock formation and then back again to the parking lot.

The Siamese Twins

We happened upon a couple taking their wedding photos.

Life may be challenging right now, but we are better because we are together.

Not a hard hike, but a nice way to get outside and enjoy the weather and beauty of the garden before the sun set.

Cool Sunrise

On lots of days, Chris and I wake up to a morning with our home surrounded by clouds. On this morning as the clouds began to clear, I captured a cool picture of the sun rays through the trees.

Student Athlete Career Fair at BYU

Amy went with her boss and another coworker to represent Glia at a BYU Student Athlete Career Fair on BYU campus. Amy thought it was kind of a little weird being on campus. 

It wasn't really the best career fair for Glia to be at because most of the athletes who attended want to play professionally in their chosen sport or into a career-related job.

New to Us Trailer

Chris has always kicked himself for selling a small utility trailer about 12 years ago. 

He’s looked at a few recently and finally found one that wasn’t the newest and shiniest, but was made sturdily and had metal walls that made hauling stuff for our yard (or moving stuff) much easier. 

We have a lot of spots in the back yard where we should be able to tuck the trailer into the trees so that it is not readily visible to passers by.

Misha Concert at Red Rocks

Misha and her friend, Ella, attended a Conan Gray concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Golden. Misha and Ella work together on campus and Ella was able to score some super cheap tickets. 

Unfortunately, it was probably one of the colder nights of the week. Misha planned ahead and put sticky heating pads on her legs and chest to help keep her warm

New Living Room Rug

Chris and I have been looking for a living room rug for awhile. I found one on Amazon, crossed my fingers that we would like it in person, and waited for it to come on sale.

It arrived Saturday evening. After unrolling it on Sunday (and putting some soup cans on the rug corners to help them lay flat), we like the look. 

It is a stone color and dark blue.

Kristen's Mission Emails - Week 67

General conference FOMO😱😌 

This week slayed! 

• We put my Spanish friends on date for October 19! They're literally amazing and came to church by bus, and one of them had an ear infection and I just couldn't love them more!! Pray for the Falcón family
• Found 4 people who want to be baptized in the future!! God is definitely consecrating our efforts.
• Had general conference FOMO (FOMO-Fear of Missing Out) 
• Had daylight saving time start and two days above 80° so it's literally summer mwahahah 
• Mowed so many lawns (dad would be proud)

It was a much happier week (which was much needed). These lakes are awesome. 

Here's my favorite quote from conference from what little bit I've listened to! “The simple secret for happy living is to just follow God’s recipe as detailed in the scriptures. I call it the ‘Good News Recipe.’” John D. Amos 

Love you all!!! 

Sister Kline

Chris Mountain Biking

Chris was so happy to get back on his mountain bike on Saturday. A first since May of this year. He drove just 15 minutes away to the trails around Monument Rock. He had a blast.

After not riding for a couple of months, he may have had some pretty sore muscles!

Heart Attack from the Sister Missionaries

Chris and I weren't home on Friday evening as the sister missionaries came to "heart attack" our front door. 

However, we saw it all on the doorbell camera and the cameras on the house as they tried to be sneaky!

Fall Color in Monument

I love how the sun hits the mountain through the morning and afternoon and highlights the fall colors.

The scrub oak has changed from green to colorful just in the past couple of days.

More brilliant right after a hail storm!

Misha's Cool Art

Misha created this art piece for an upcoming soccer game between the USA and Australia.

It is hung all over the CU Denver campus.

Beautiful Sunsets

While Chris was gone last week, I took walks after dinner to help pass the evening hours. Since it gets dark by 7 pm and there is lots of wildlife around here, I try to walk at 6:30 pm and enjoy the sunset as I walk.

The sunset was spectacular!

I might have been stopping and taking pictures more than walking!

Flower Pots

I have been trying to find this flower pot, but have been unsuccessful thus far as I search Facebook Marketplace.

I found these two matching pots and figured they would be good for now. I will keep searching in hopes of finding the other pot as well. I think it matches the wood work on the house better.

Go to the Temple!

After listening to a podcast about attending the temple, I felt the impression very strongly to go to the temple on Tuesday afternoon, even though I knew Chris and I would be going on Friday evening.

So, I made an appointment and arrived in about 45 minutes (about 15 minutes faster than I figured it would take).

Pretty sure I needed to be in the temple more than once this week!

Hail Storm

The rain, and now the hail too, seem to come on suddenly and strong here in Monument.

I watched as it gained in strength, though the size of the hail pellets remained mostly small. This was just after I had finished potting the mums. Luckily they were under the front porch and weren't damaged.

Kristen's Mission Emails - Week 66

PILIPINA🇵🇭🇵🇭 

Hello!! Here's what you missed on Glee... 

• Zone conference!! It was sooooo good and everyone down south was there and president had a bomb training on repentance and improving our teaching (and I got a shout out in the middle of his sentence for my new hair do. Thanks Prezzy)
• We celebrated Elder Utt's birthday with a surprise district council bash 
• Had a lesson with a guy who, when we asked his age, just said small boy (he looks at least 28). I joked and said he's secretly 45. He said, how did you know?😱😱 WHAT THE. I said to share the skincare routine and he said an angel changed his age to 0 decades ago.....okay!
• Exchanges w/ Sister Garrett and Sister Pratt...running it back with my baby (Sister Pratt was my first trainee)! It was fun to say the least 
• Ate "balut" without throwing up!! Y'all if you knew me pre-mission, you wouldn't believe this. I wouldn't even eat onions bruh. I may have cried and gagged but I got it down which is what matters because now I'm a true PILIPINA PILIPINA🇵🇭🇵🇭 
• And a very long miracle made short, some Spanish friends I taught and loved way back in Marion now live in the district where I went on exchanges in this week. We went to see them and it was a joyous reunion. They came to church the next day and were enveloped in love from their fellow Latinas in the ward. It made my missionary heart so happy when one of the daughters said, "Thank you for finding us again." 

What I've been learning recently through my studies, other missionaries, family, and from my Heavenly Father is how terrible we are at gauging our own impact on people. A few weeks ago (and probably still a little still), I felt like I hadn't done anything significant on my mission. But in the last few weeks, I've recognized how false that is. 

God uses us in SOOOO many ways and we rarely see the end result of that. It would probably be too long of a highlight reel to do that anyways. But I just hope you all know what a difference your actions make. 

In the words of our beloved prophet, "Think Celestial!" Think of how many souls you will be reunited with in the next life and they'll say thank you! 

Love you all, have a great week!

Sister Kline

Glee - TV show reference

PS Balut is a fertilized duck egg embryo, boiled or steamed and eaten from the shell, commonly sold as street food in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is typically seasoned with salt and vinegar, and the experience involves sipping the warm broth, then peeling and eating the yolk and the partially developed chick, while the egg white is often discarded.  

PPS When Chris served as a missionary in the Philippines, the missionaries in his mission were forbidden from eating Balut!

Hiking to Finch and Pear Lakes

Chris and I had to be in Firestone on Friday afternoon to accept delivery of our new "used" snow blower. We bought it from a family in our old stake who are moving to North Carolina.

After we finished doing yard work, we drove to Boulder where we met up with Misha. She rode the bus from Denver to Boulder. We planned to use a coupon for a free night at the Boulder Hyatt before hiking in RMNP the next day. The bus dropped Misha off right next door to the hotel. Good thing, 'cause we didn't get to Boulder until 20 minutes after Misha arrived.

We had hoped to get RMNP reservations for the park in the Bear Lake section, but when reserved tickets opened up at 7 pm on Friday night, we were not successful in getting any tickets. So we made a change of plans and opted to get an early start on Saturday morning and be in the park before 9 am when reservation tickets were required.

After eating dinner and then enjoying some frozen yogurt, we returned to our small room and set up Misha's bed on the pull out couch. 

This room would have never fit our family of five!

There was no comforter for the bed, so Misha was happy to just pile on jackets.

On Saturday morning, we were up around 6 am. After getting ready and having breakfast (sadly no waffles for Misha), we were out of the hotel by 7:30 am. Instead of driving to Estes Park and then to RMNP, Chris changed our plans to park above Allenspark and hike to Finch Lake, no reservation required and no park entry kiosk here. The hike to Finch Lake was about 4 miles one way. During the hike, we decided (maybe not Misha though) to continue hiking to Pear Lake since it was only 2 miles further.

We stopped at Finch Lake for a brief snack and then continued on. 

Finch Lake

Snacks

Hiking on

Pear Lake

We were happy to finally reach Pear Lake and rest for a bit. No one else was in sight, so we enjoyed the peacefulness of the area. We stopped for lunch for about 45 minutes before turning around and hiking back to the car. Ughggh! 6 miles to go!

We hiked 12 miles and over 2,000 feet in elevation. My sore feet! Not sure if Misha will be so keen to come with us again.

We dropped Misha off at her apartment, but not before stopping at Domino's to pick up some dinner for her. Chris stopped in Castlerock for a Chick-fil-A sandwich. I wasn't too hungry and just had a protein shake at home.

We picked a great weekend to be in the park. The colors were fantastic.