Estate Sale...

We woke up at 6:30 with lots of people outside our house.  The people didn't bother us, they did however bother our puppy.  Bark, Bark, Bark.

At this very moment- there are 25 cars in my cul-de-sac.       Why?

An estate sale at the house next door.  I was pretty excited for a couple of reasons.  First, curiosity has been getting the best of me since we moved here the end of January.  I wanted to see inside this house that seemed so mysterious.  Secondly, we are in search of a new headboard, bed frame so I was hoping to get lucky.  - note -this is a figure of speech, I KNOW that God is in control :) and there is no such thing as luck)

From what we know, the mother and father who once owned the house are both deceased, he died a year or so ago, she died shortly after.  The daughter, who never moved out was recently "kicked out" by her other sister.  A family feud is in full swing. 

Rex and I headed next door. This was my first estate sale.  I learned very quickly they are different than yard sales, and shopping at the Goodwill.  Basically, most of the items for sale were in the same place they were a few months ago.  Clothes in the closet, pictures on the walls, dishes in the cabinets.  Linen closets full of sheets and towels, paperclips and new boxes of staples in the desk.  Couch in the same spot- only difference is that it was now displaying a hand written sign, SOfA 100-

I walked through the first time and looked simply for the bed.. no luck.  Oh well  We began to wander through the house and look at the other items. 

I stood in the master closet, just looking.  I thought I might find some gold slippers for my mother-in-law.    The little man next to me, who needed a bath- which is really irrelevant-anyway, he was trying on suit coats and sizing pants that still hung on the hanger.  I was enjoying looking at the things I wouldn't buy but was intrigued with.  Like the cocktail purses.  One silver, one black, one white. All three with the tiny little chain neatly tucked inside.  She was ready for any occasion. And the dinner gloves, one pair, white with beautiful little pearls that would cover to her wrist, and then the longer, simple ivory pair to the elbow.  Lots of "walking" shoes. 

A hand painted portrait of their three daughters still hung on the wall.  A box, in the bedroom contained multiple brass frames, all with family photos still peeking out from the glass.  Tossed into the box, obviously no longer wanted or special - .25 cents apiece.  

I couldn't help but notice the little oak frame next to the closet in the office holding a hand-cross-stitched little quote.....
"If a Mother's place is in the Home, why am I always in the Car?" 

From walking through this house, we could discern that he worked for the railroad.  She knitted and sewed.  One or both of them painted- lots of paint by numbers sets.  Some yet to be touched, some completed.   They enjoyed working puzzles- LOTS of puzzles.  I imagined the hours and hours spent on the hobbies.   It appeared she enjoyed cooking- even her spice rack was for sale.  She had all the fun kitchen appliances- an egg cooker, George Foreman, Blender, some things I didn't even know what they did.  We could also tell they owned cats.  No offense to my cat loving friends, but if my immediate allergic reaction wasn't telling enough, the unique "odor" was.  OH, where is my Benadryl?

Now there are 31 cars in my cul-de-sac. 

As I walked through the house, checking sheets for sizes, looking at the paintings, reading the certificates of accomplishment, I was reminded, and a little saddened to think that what was once so important and precious to these people, is now just stuff.  Stuff that strangers are rummaging through and deciding for themselves which of it is worthy of parting with their own dollars to take, to one day be rummaged through by other strangers.

Ok, I must confess that while we didn't find our bed we did purchase a few items ourselves:

a Lane solid wood dresser
a set of TV tables
a unique set of measuring cups

and an always useful Pyrex serving dish with a lid!    
Grand total- none of your business.....
I'm just kidding $31 

And, in love for my children who will one day have to deal with our stuff, we walked away from several other items that we liked, but just didn't need. 

Current count in cul-de-sac.... 33!  We do love stuff, don't we.

Psalm 39:4-7 (NLV)

"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeing away.... human existence is but a breath.  We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.  We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.  And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?  My only hope is in you."