Scripture, and change of plans

Fyodor and I met with our wonderful realtor, Faith Fleming, about getting our house ready to sell. She sure knows her stuff, and it was so helpful hearing from her what we should make sure to do, and what not to bother about. Helpful, because I am attached to this house and I want certain things, for my own enjoyment or maybe my pride when people come after us. Anyway, after talking with Faith, things became clear and we decided not to move right now! We were both pretty surprised by this, but very sure, and very peaceful about it.
And this is confirmed by the goodness of the Lord and the scripture passage he drew my attention to the previous week:

4 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. ..
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." (Jeremiah 29)

So, we have decided to go ahead and finish the projects we were working/planning on. We can enjoy them ourselves; and when it's time to actually sell, we will be in good shape! I am so, so happy about this. Happy to not be moving, and happy to enjoy all the improvements.

Here's one example of some of the work:

before

after shutters and porch trim painted. i trimmed the shrubs, but they already need it again!