Lost Our Lease!

Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner. I had made a homemade German Chocolate Cake (yum!) with delicious coconut-walnut frosting to celebrate Keileigh's birthday but waited until we had company to help us eat it. Our landlord Leonard moved in next door and I had mentioned to him that I would be sending some cake over for him and his roommate Ray. After dinner I cut some slices for the elders to take home with them and then asked if they wanted to take slices to the neighbor. They went with Eric to deliver them but came back moments later still laden with chocolate delight, saying that there was no answer. Right then the phone rang and it was Leonard on the line. We thought 'Wow that's wierd, does he have ESP or a camera on the door or what?' He asked to speak to Eric who took the call in the back room while I visited with the missionaries. When Eric came back out he said that Leonard's Mom would be moving in. I said 'Oh really, is Ray moving out?' and Eric said 'No, into our unit. We have 90 days, through the end of summer, to find a new place.'

We numbly listened to the Elder's message then saw them on their way, after which Eric & I sat in shock and began to plot our future. Eric said Leonard was very apologetic, but with a Mom in her 70's who just retired and is struggling, he had to make a hard decision. He assured us that we were the best tenants he'd ever had. Eric reassured him and said we sympathized since we have parents and concerns of our own. We got in the car and drove down to Selva Beach to walk, talk and soak in the ambiance we moved to California for three and a half years ago. We passed two For Rent signs - and called both. We have been doing lots of soul searching, long range forecasting and short term decision making.

We feel OK with things - we know that when a door closes, a window opens. We have been richly blessed in this home. We hate change and probably wouldn't have ever left without a catalyst, so we'll roll with this and work to create the future we want to have.

In the meantime - this may be the last summer we can host company in Dana Point, so book your trip early! There's a limited number of sunny days in our corner of paradise...