As I started up the walk to take the mail and water can inside, I paused as I began to remember our first days here.
After a few weeks of intruding on our son, my mother called me; her voice was full of excitement.
“There is a cabin, cozy cottage, and acres for sale in Paradise Falls, Kansas. I know you have always dreamed of owning and operating a bed and breakfast and museum. I thought this might be your answer to your prayers.”
My husband and I were quite nervous about the possible new future and doubts started to form. So, my parents-Mr. and Mrs. Stoneridge and Mr. Snuggles’ bachelor uncle, Cryus Clarence Potman, went with us to Paradise Falls, Kansas. The lady real estate agent was a nice person with red hair, lively, and well tailored. She let us wander while we toured the property; cabin, cottage, 20 acres accommodated with a creek. The views were spectacular and the creek is quite deep but relaxing!
On the north side of the property the adjacent 10 acres was also available which we could add to the contract an option to purchase at a later date. The local Catholic Church agreed to bless the land, creek, and homes. The agricultural office located in the center of downtown of Paradise Falls advertised wildlife preserve option with income in the paper. Reserve part of your acres for wildlife and wildlife birds then the government will pay you a small supplemental income.
The agent had already arranged a meeting at the community bank downtown. She escorted us to the bank and as we entered she introduced us to the loan officer. We all agreed that this was the opportunity we were looking for even though moving would be bittersweet as we would be traveling from another state. We’d already had family scattered to different areas to live and work; now we’d be doing the same.
At the end of the meeting, my husband handed the loan officer a pre-arranged cashier’s check extracted from our sweepstakes winnings account. Papers were signed, copies were made, and the keys to the property were handed to us. We are strangers to the community, no home, no income except odd jobs, very little business experience, nothing. I silently prayed and wondered. “Are we doing the right thing?”