When I moved into my current home in Suffolk, it was my intention to stay in this house until I breathed my last. And it did work out that way - sort of. On September 5th, 2018, I was carried out of my house and transported to a local ER when - despite the efforts of the medical staff - I bled out, had a heart attack and died.

The heart attack had nothing to do with my heart - except basic hydraulics. When there’s not enough hydraulic fluid in the system, the pump shuts down.

When my heart stopped, I popped out of my 59-year-old body like toast out of a toaster. As I floated away, I had the time of my life - literally. Nonetheless, as my buddy Dales says, heaven sent me back.

Subsequently, I came to realize that I wasn’t living my life the way God intended. I had been miserable. Lying in the hospital bed for five days, I had time to think and reflect and I decided that I had to make some big changes. And I did.

Now I’m planning to move to the Midwest, and as part of this new life, I spend way too much time looking at Midwestern houses for sale, and I have found my dream kitchen.

Enjoy the pictures below, and if you are in the Williamsburg area on Saturday, come to my talk about my “temporary death experience” at 11:00. More information here.

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This is an actual image of my heart when I ran low on hydraulic fluid.

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Abso-galootely - the most perfect kitchen that I've seen in my house-hunting zillow-loving searches.

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From every angle - perfection.

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Whoever designed this kitchen should have received the Nobel Peace Price for "Perfection in Design".

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The exterior of the house that contains the World's Most Perfect Kitchen™.

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Link to the house shown above.

Click here to see another blog on beautiful kitchens (of the 1950s).

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I died. But apparently, it was only a “temporary death experience.” I’m hesitant to use the word “near-death experience” because I was good and dead. No vitals for more than 10 minutes. Seriously, completely gone. Kapoot. Out-of-town with no forwarding address.

Good times. (Actually, it really was a great time!)

I’ve shared the wonderful story with a handful of friends, but now I’ve been invited to share this story with a group in Williamsburg, Virginia. I’m in the midst of moving out of the area, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, you might want to attend.

The talk is Saturday, February 23rd at 11:00, at the Williamsburg Mennonite Church, 7800 Croaker Rd (near the library). Seating is limited, so come early!

In the meantime, I’m scurrying to complete a book that offers details on this heavenly preview.

And in case you’re a faithful reader of this blog, this explains (in large part) the many, draconian life-style changes. Once you get a view of what’s coming, nothing on earth seems quite the same.

Want to learn more about what happens when a loved one has an NDE? Click here.

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I didn't see this in heaven, but I do hope that when I get through that door, and see what awaits, that it's going to look a lot like a sunflower field in Alabama.

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Want to buy a book? Best hurry. :D  Two titles are now sold out and “Finding The Houses That Sears Built” will soon be gone too.

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When I started the “Sears Kit Homes” group on Facebook in 2009 (thanks to Rachel for remembering!), I dragged 12 friends into the group just so it wouldn’t look so pitiful. As the years passed, the group grew in numbers and I was gobsmacked when we passed the “1,000 members” mark.

In Fall 2018, when Sears started circling the drain, interest in the old kit homes was renewed, and I was doing 3-4 interviews per week (with the media) and that’s when membership in the Facebook group exploded.

As of today, it has 3,234 members and is still growing by leaps and bounds.

Yesterday, I mentioned (within the group) that I didn’t have many books left, and when these went, that was the end of it. Within hours, I sold more than 50 books (several different titles) and stayed up last night until 2:30 getting them packaged and ready for Monday’s mail.

As I said in a prior blog, I’ll always love the old kit homes, and I’ll still spin my head around when a pretty one passes me by, but the days of staying up until the wee hours inscribing, signing and packaging books are behind me.

Soon, I’ll be packing up my house and moving to the Midwest. Perhaps once I’m settled, I’ll revisit the question but for now, I’m done.

There are still 18 books left in my basement. It’d be swell to sell those last few before I head out! (Hint, hint!)

To buy the book, click here.

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And if this book has brought you a blessing, please leave a comment below.

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In 2011, I snapped this photo in Edwardsville, IL and it still takes my breath away. I was there to do an architectural survey, and I stumbled upon this view and it reminded me of why I love the Midwest. Edwardsville has become a beautiful community, filled with shops and history and bucolic beauty. It may be where I land.

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The group now has more than 3,000 members and is still growing.

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Saturday night, I stayed up until 2:30 am, signing, inscribing and packaging books. I'm still not sure how I'll get these to the post office.

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First printed in 2002, this book has taken me to many wonderful places. It's been a fun run, but for now - for the first time in 17 years - it will be out of print. It would take another book to explain the many blessings of this book but in short, it was published just as my mother died and my marriage of 24 years came to an end. This book (and the grace of God) not only saved me, but transformed my life and gave me a purpose. Best of all, it introduced me to hundreds of wonderful people, some of whom became lifelong friends.

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Want to learn how to identify kit homes? Click here.

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