Moving Day on Thursday

Well, moving day is finally approaching. This Thursday we'll be moving out of what has been probably our favorite and best house we've ever lived in and moving about four miles away, just outside of town on Cross Lake Road. The place we'll be renting is the former Crafter's Cottage scrapbooking retreat house. It's a wonderful house and a real blessing for us to be able to find something so nice this close to town.

Of course, it wouldn't be moving day for the Spahrs without some type of inclement weather. This time we're expecting rain but hoping it won't last all day long.

If you're in the area and want to drop by and give us a hand for some of the day, please do so. We'll have some food for you, too! We're starting shortly after 8 a.m. and going until we're done (which hopefully won't be too late in the afternoon, depending on the weather).

So good!

One of my new favorite things! Pepsi throwback, made with "real sugar". More info here. I just tasted the Pepsi I bought down at Cub yesterday ($3.50 for a 12 pack of cans). Don't know if Walmart or Nelson's here in Pine City has it or will be getting any, but if you like Pepsi at all, you have to get some! It will only be around for about eight weeks, so get it before it's gone.

The Pepsi has a very smooth tatse and none of the dry aftertaste the corn syrup sweetened pepsi usually has. Can't wait to try the Mountain Dew. (Coke has some "Coca-Cola Natural" coming out that is also made with real sugar, but I haven't found any yet.)

My Favorite Administrative Professionals

I have worked with some incredible church administrative assistants/secretaries in my years of youth ministry. Almost every one has become a dear friend, and none moreso than the one I want to highlight today on this Administrative Professionals day, and that is Jeanne Johnson at Pine City Evangelical Free Church.

She has given her all to the church through the years and does far more for others behind the scenes than anyone will ever know. It's not because she's a workaholic, but out of a sense of love for the church and people and desire to do the very best job possible that she is often there early mornings and late nights on various days of the week. She pours her time and energy into her job and works with a true servant's heart. She strives for excellence without being an unhealthy perfectionist. She always seeks to learn more so she can serve better. Jeanne is one of the hardest workers I have ever served with.

You don't have to work in church ministry for long before you realize that it is very difficult. You take all kinds of criticism and abuse - mostly unfair and sometimes even from the very people you work under. Jeanne has suffered more than her fair share of this and yet in spite of the hurtful and untrue barbs she has taken in the past, she continues to serve with a cheerful attitude, humble spirit, and open heart. She is always willing to talk with people and is one of the best listeners I know.

So congratulations, Jeanne, on this special day. I dearly miss serving alongside you but will always count it a privilege to know you and call you my friend. Have a great AP day!! We love you!!!

Garage/Moving Sale this Wednesday only

We're moving and want to get rid of as much stuff as possible so we won't have to move it! (And if you're planning to help us move on May 1, you'll really appreciate our desire to downsize!)

We are priced to sell. Seriously. It seems like everything is about a quarter. Come for great deals on...

• Housewares - Dishes, small kitchen appliances, decorations
• Clothes
• Games
• Toys - Lego, Yu-gi-oh, Iron Giant, Star Wars, etc.
  
• Video games - PC games, Gamecube, Gameboy DS, Wii
• Books - science fiction, graphic novels, books on tape, kids books, and home improvement
  
• Videos
• CDs - Contemporary Christian, worship, pop

... and much, much more!

1041 9th Street, Pine City, MN (just down the street from Grace Lutheran Church)
Wednesday, April 15, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 16, 7 a.m. - noon+

Update: Doing so well on Wednesday we decided \not to open Thursday. Things are pretty picked through. Awesome weather and great day.

Real Estate Update

I've got real estate on my mind, as you might well imagine, since we've been spending the last month working with various agents in addition to attempting to find rentals on our own. A few learnings...

If you're moving to the Bradenton/Sarasota area of Florida you couldn't do better than contactings Wendy Lynn at Keller Williams realty in Lakewood Ranch. She spent two days showing us rental properties in the area in spite of the fact that she makes almost no money on rentals and that's not even what their agency normally handles. Of course they are Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Providers so above-and-beyond service is what they always provide. She is one of the best Realtors we've ever worked with. (Along with Lisa Stevens in the Twin Cities area who helped us sell our Northfield house and buy our current home. She rocks, too!) Wendy really cared about us as people, not just clients (...unlike our current Realor in Pine City who can barely be bothered to call us back and has done almost nothing - okay, absolutely nothing - to help us search for a rental in the area, in spite of the fact that she is making a good deal of money on our current house sale. She will definitely not be getting referrals from us.)

Second learning: there is almost nothing in the Pine City area or surrounding communities for rent if you are looking for a house with at least three bedrooms. We saw one place the other day - the only one in the area on the rental marked - and it was pit. It would take hundreds and hundreds of dollars (or more) to bring it up to livable condition and they still wanted $1000 a month! Are you kidding me? I know that supply is almost nil, but still...

Some property manager or real estate investor could really do well by buying and fixing up single family homes with 3 bedrooms or more in the Pine City metropolitan area and putting them up for rent. It is a completely untapped market as far as supply, and I have to believe there is demand out there beyond just our family.

Fortunately for us we have tapped into the "underground" market/network (ie. friends and their friends and so on). Not that there is a lot there either, but we do have a lead we are pursuing. Right now we are trusting that since God seems to be calling us to stay in the area for now that He will provide both the housing and finances to rent it.