Downsizing

Since that official offer came in on 18 June 2013, we spent nearly every waking moment selling, loaning, storing, or packing ALL of our possessions.  Two people in their upper-20's and early-30's can acquire a LOT of stuff!  We hope to keep it simple in the future.  Our deadline was 31 July 2013, and it was barely enough time.  We posted many items on KSL Classifieds.  We held 3 yard sales. We found homes to store our children's library, heirloom furniture, sentimental items, and some of our other possessions we want again some day.  We packed what we were taking to Abu Dhabi (only the essentials) in two 50 lb. checked luggage, one 15 lb. carry-on bag, and one personal item (purse for Lindsay, laptop bag for Matt) each.  Pictures, old school work, letters, souvenirs, pots and pans, some kitchen utensils, tools, sports equipment, and things we just couldn't part with (mainly because they were irreplaceable or we didn't want to have to buy them when we come back) went into plastic storage bins.  We are so grateful that Lindsay's parents came down from Idaho with a trailer and are storing those things for us.  That saves us a storage unit rental of $50/month at least!

On 15 July 2013 Matt's parents drove off with our 2 cats, Jane and Dot. This was really hard on both of us. We really wanted to take them with us to Abu Dhabi, but after finding out the costs involved and other discouraging variables, we decided it was best to find a new home for them. Thank goodness we get to see them and be with them again.

On 27 July 2013 we had the last of our 3 yard sales. We packed up everything that didn't sell and hauled it off to Deseret Industries. It felt so good to close that chapter of our journey.

On 30 July 2013, Lindsay's parents arrived with their trailer and we loaded up!  Our house was getting so empty.  It felt so good!

On 31 July 2013 the four of us (Matt, Lindsay, Lisa, and Doug) cleaned for about 6 hours straight.  That house never looked so good!  We were pretty nervous about not getting a full refund of our security deposit ($1000), but our landlady was so happy with the work we did.  Actually, we had never seen her that happy!  She even said she wanted to move in there.  She asked us to write to her and let her know how things are.  Unheard of from her!

We moved in with our friends who are more like family, Cory and Robyn Anderson, until 3 August 2013.