Oh, you're doing a load of towels? I have one to throw in.

I am finished. Just done.

Finished dusting.

Finished wiping tiny finger prints off three sets of French doors and an obscene built-in, mirrored shelving unit.

Finished magic erasering crayon scribbles.

Finished disassembling, stowing away, and reassembling two different pack n' plays.

Finished picking small pieces of dirt, lint, and bug carcasses off my stairs by hand because I don't know how the vacuum attachment that might do that works.

Finished rearranging the shampoos in my shower so as to cover the spot where the grout looks icky.

Finished hiding dirty dishes inside the dishwasher with clean ones just to clear out the sink.

Finished checking to make sure the blinds are open in a uniform fashion and not clumped in any spots.

Finished opening the upstairs curtains "just so" to let in the light.

Finished wiping the hairs off the bathroom floor.

Finished filling the back of my van with clean and dirty laundry, Bub's craft command center, and anything else I don't know what to do with.

Finished clearing and cleaning every flat surface in this house.

Finished turning up the heat and/or turning down the air conditioning.

Finished fiddling with the child cabinet lock so I can hide the dish soap and sponges.

Finished living without a toaster oven on the counter.

Finished turning lights on in every room of the house.

Finished straightening duvets and plumping pillows.

Finished carrying a vacuum up and down two flights of stairs.

I am finished doing all of the above seven, eight, and nine months pregnant.

I am finished doing all of the above with a new baby in the house, plus her two busy brothers.

I am finished losing patience with my kids who don't understand what all the cleaning and tension are about.

Finished being afraid to make a mess in the kitchen.

Finished being nervous to host any playdates or do any entertaining for fear that a showing might need to be scheduled during or immediately after.

Finished cleaning up until the last minute and joining my family in the "getaway van" without having had time to shower.

Finished treating the van as a second home.

Finished nursing Sweet P in the front seat of the van while checking to make sure the lookers got in the house and then timing how long they are inside.

Finished trying to analyze the relationship between length of showing and interest in house.

Finished hungering for every single piece of feedback that might be able to be gleaned from a showing.

Finished analyzing any morsel of information we receive about a potential buyer.

Finished checking the other listings in our area and trying to make sense of the market.

Finished answering the question, "How's it going with the house?"

I am finished with the never-ending cycle of hope and rejection that comes with each showing. And, NTB (??????), we have had many showings.

I am finished spending money on fast food, treats, the indoor play place, and extra babysitting to occupy the kids during showings or preparation for them.

I am finished wondering where we'll be when the school year starts or how I'll get everything packed.

I know where we will be: right here.

And it's okay. I'm sad that it did not work out for us this real estate season. I'm disappointed, sorely disappointed. At moments, I am pissed off. But mostly, I am exhausted.

I have to trust that if we were supposed to move this summer, things would have worked out that way.

I have to remember that in the grand scheme of real estate sob stories, ours is not all that sad.

I have to focus on what really matters: the family inside this home.

Are we looking forward to starting the whole process over again in 2011? We are not.

We are ready to stop wondering and stop worrying and to start living again.

I can't wait for "when we move" to enjoy life, to be my best self, to achieve some illusory state of family bliss. There's plenty of joy and happiness to be had without a front porch, a double oven, a large finished basement, built-in bookshelves, and offices for mommy and daddy.

We're closing the door to potential buyers for now, but we're keeping it open wide for all the joy and happiness and fun and friendship that can be found.

I have might have to reminded of that from time to time.

P.S. -- In case you are wondering, I have been praying to St. Joseph every day and have done the whole bit with two different statues as well. Please do not leave that piece of advice in the comments or I will weep.

P.S. #2 -- Also, I said the door is closed to potential buyers, but if you know anyone, send them our way!

P.S. #3 -- I could use a little encouragement right now. Thanks.