Always remember God is in charge

That is something I always have to remind myself of when things get frustrating or if they don't go the way I want them to go. I was taking a water aerobics class that I had to stop due to doctor's orders. Years ago, I was in a horrible auto accident in which one of my knees got slammed into the dashboard, causing permanent damage. I went through a lot of physical therapy but I knew it was something that I would have to live with for the rest of my life. I figured water aerobics was a great way for me to get exercise outside during the summer with little impact to my knee. Unfortunately, it was enough of an impact to cause me significant pain each day. Since the class met 4 days in a row, Monday through Thursday, by the end of the week, the pain was so excruciating that it left me crying from the sheer physical torment.

So, anyway, I went to see a doctor. He told me the first thing I needed to do was to stop the class. At that news, I nearly cried. I so love being in the water. The water made me feel weightless, like size didn't matter and I could have fun. I was starting to get to know the women and men in the class and just having a good time. However, I do know my overall health is what is important. I decided that after a period of resting, along with the meds and heat therapy he gave me, I'll go into one of the pools in my complex and do some exercises with less jumping around.

Meanwhile, on the house hunting front, things are just insane. Right now, it is both a buyer's and seller's market. If you've ever watched any of those shows on HGTV, like My First Place or Property Virgins, you really get a skewed version of what things are really like. Gone are the days that you look at properties and you put one offer in, waiting for a call back within a day or two. Beyond that, not all the places you tour are in such pristine condition. In fact, you'll see dirty dishes, used underwear lying around, so much work that needs to be done as well as some properties that are in move-in condition.

What's happening, at least in my experience, is that you have to act fast on things as soon as they come on the market. Here's an example: yesterday I went out with a friend and my realtor and we looked at 6 more properties. I found one I really loved and was willing to overlook the very pepto-pink and sunrise-yellow bathrooms. We get back to my realtor's office, within about 2 hours, pull up the comps in the neighborhood and I decide on my offer. She picks up the phone to call the listing agent and we found out in that span of time that 35 offers above the asking price had been made and now the house was off the market. The house had just been listed that morning! Insane, I'm telling you.

My realtor has told me not to be discouraged. Truly, and I really mean this, I am not. I have been having a good attitude. If it is meant for me to have a house in question, then I will have it. God knows my name, He knows what is in my heart and I am doing my footwork. That's the best I can do. It actually was a relief to not have to deal with those bathrooms!! In the meantime, I've got offers out there on 3 different houses, one a foreclosure and the other two are short sales. For the foreclosure, there are four offers on the table including mine. I should hear about that one much sooner than the short sales.

In the meantime, I'll keep moving forward. There's a certain peace about me that I have not had in other times in my life. That is due to OA and my faith in God. I'll keep working on getting a house, focusing on my 12-step program of recovery and enjoying my summer vacation (which I know I already am when I don't know the date or the day!).