We sold our farm we have lived on for the past twenty years. The farm we raised our kids on. The farm that fulfilled my boyhood dream of owning land and raising horses.
It was a big place. Over 4,200 square feet of living space on 7.8 acres. It was a big place that was a big blessing - and then it became too much to keep up with. Donna and I have been living on it as empty-nesters for 7 years. It was a BIG empty nest. We have been so intent on selling we had not really allowed ourselves to process how it would feel to walk away from it. We had it on the market in 2018 for over a year and barely got any interest in it. We took it off the market and did some upgrades like putting a new roof on it and new wood floors in the living room. I asked my friend Kerry Emanis to market it for us and we had more showings in the first two weeks than we had the entire year it was on the market before. It is a buyers market right now due to low interest rates and there is a big demand for any kind of property, so all the sudden our niche property was a hot commodity! By God's grace we more than doubled our initial investment we made in the property back in 2001.
We spent the entire day on Monday cleaning and preparing it for the new owners and that night Donna and I stood there in that empty house and prayed - thanking God for providing it for us and for all the wonderful things we have enjoyed there on that property. We prayed for its new owners - that the place would be as big a blessing to them as it has been to us. Waves of emotion crashed over us and I was not prepared for the grieving that ensued. I got up the next morning and wrote a letter to the new owners to leave on the kitchen counter. I think it sums up how we felt.
Dear Brisco family,
Welcome to your new home.
We spent twenty of the best years of our life here and we have prayed that you will love this place as much as we have.
If you listen well, two little grade school kids will tell you the big live oak in the back is the perfect climbing tree. Several of our horse friends will let you know the pasture grass will make you fat. An old Welsh Springer Spaniel will tell you that right in front of the fireplace is the perfect spot for a long winter’s nap. Many childhood friends will tell you the big room upstairs is the perfect place for a sleep over and cousins will tell you they always looked forward to a trip south to swim in that pool in the summer. You will hear music, laughter and the sound of a family sleeping securely even through the worst of storms - this old house is built well.
What you won’t hear is cussing, complaining or criticism. It wasn’t allowed here. We have tried to fill this home with gratitude and as we stood here Monday night after a long day of mowing and cleaning, preparing her for her new owners we expressed that gratitude to our loving God who provided such a wonderful place for us to raise our family. We prayed for you to feel the same way about your new home.
Best wishes,
The Ables
