The Greenup Family

Today was an important day; or at least I have been thinking so. Today was the day that we met with our building consultants to do our cost-out. The purpose of this was to discuss all of the bids and estimates on all of the parts of our house to see if we were going to be able to build it. I had been dreading the results, since our initial estimates had shown that our house would probably cost $HUUUGE_BIGNUM and our banker had said that we could only borrow $BIGNUM. Now, in the mean time, we had come up with some additional resources that the banker said we could dip into without trouble (Borrowing from my 401K and IRA) but even the projected base mortgage payments are going to be tough. (twice as big as our current rent/housing costs)

We made it through our meeting. The initial total was as bad as the estimates had predicted, $HUUUGE_BIGNUM. Since max available cash came in at about $REALLY_BIGNUM, we had to find ## THOUSAND DOLLARS to cut out of the plan, despite being pretty careful throughout the planning stages. We managed to do it, first try! I’m not very happy with some of the changes we had to make, like for instance eliminating the insulation under the basement slab, (I am concerned that this change will make it uncomfortable to lounge around in the basement… Someplace I REALLY want to be comfortable) but cuts had to be made. It’s too bad most of the things we cut weren’t “late” things, that we could keep if the budget seems to be going better than anticipated.

After the meeting, at home, I was still hyper/stressed. I was amazed that we had “made it”, to a possible configuration, but also concerned about the steps necessary to accomplish it, like the huge payments. In all of the preparations for building, I have been trying to strengthen/use my faith; it’s not something that comes naturally to me, but without faith it is impossible to please God, so I’ve been trying. After Michele went to her meeting this evening, I noticed that I was still worried about these things, so I realized that I needed to focus more on God and less on this silly stuff, and picked up my bible and opened randomly… to Ecclesiastes 6. It was so good; I praise the LORD for these times when I need Him, and he provides insight for my troubles. The quick summary is this: Enjoy your blessings. Woe is the man who has many, yet doesn’t.

The complete section: (Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:6)

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him — for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work — this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God kees him occupied with gladness of heart. I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

A man may have a hundred children and live many years, yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man — even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
(ok, maybe a little bit of that is “ignorance is bliss, but it’s a gift of God”. Oh well, sounds good to me.)

Praise the LORD!!!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 at 9:35 pm and is filed under God, house. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Today was an important day; or at least I have been thinking so. Today was the day that we met with our building consultants to do our cost-out. The purpose of this was to discuss all of the bids and estimates on all of the parts of our house to see if we were going to be able to build it. I had been dreading the results, since our initial estimates had shown that our house would probably cost $295K (more) and our banker had said that we could only borrow $220K (more). Now, in the mean time, we had come up with some additional resources that the banker said we could dip into without trouble (Borrowing from my 401K and IRA) but really that’s only borrowing from peter to pay paul, since the 401k plan says you have to pay it back, SOON, with INTEREST, and truthfully even the projected base mortgage payments are going to be tough. (twice as big as our current rent/housing costs)

We made it through our meeting. The initial total was as bad as the estimates had predicted, $290K. Since max available cash came in at about $265, we had to find *25* THOUSAND DOLLARS to cut out of the plan, despite being pretty careful throughout the planning stages. We managed to do it, first try! I’m not very happy with some of the changes we had to make, like for instance eliminating the insulation under the basement slab, (I am concerned that this change will make it uncomfortable to lounge around in the basement… Someplace I REALLY want to be comfortable) but cuts had to be made. It’s too bad most of the things we cut weren’t “late” things, that we could keep if the budget seems to be going better than anticipated.

After the meeting, at home, I was still hyper/stressed. I was amazed that we had “made it”, to a possible configuration, but also concerned about the steps necessary to accomplish it, like the huge payments. In all of the preparations for building, I have been trying to strengthen/use my faith; it’s not something that comes naturally to me, but without faith it is impossible to please God, so I’ve been trying. After Michele went to her meeting this evening, I noticed that I was still worried about these things, so I realized that I needed to focus more on God and less on this silly stuff, and picked up my bible and opened randomly… to Ecclesiastes 6. It was so good; I praise the LORD for these times when I need Him, and he provides insight for my troubles. The quick summary is this: Enjoy your blessings. Woe is the man who has many, yet doesn’t.

The complete section: (Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:6)

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him — for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work — this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God kees him occupied with gladness of heart. I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

A man may have a hundred children and live many years, yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man — even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
(ok, maybe a little bit of that is “ignorance is bliss, but it’s a gift of God”. Oh well, sounds good to me.)

Praise the LORD!!!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 at 9:34 pm and is filed under God, house. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.