This year has been an absolute blur... we've been working on moving closer to our new church, Brett's school and work (and of course, Nana and Papa), and put our house on the market the first part of february. Prayer Answered #1: we had a contract on it after only 4 days (it's really because the market is so good- but I'm going to tell myself that it was because it's so cute :)) (but really because the Lord took care of us not having to keep the house clean very long for showings!) After haggling back and forth, we made the closing date March 12th. One month to pack things up. We can find a house in that amount of time...right?
This was my first experience buying a house, and I had no idea that this house buying thing could be so hard. So after many tears of frustration, we loaded (with the wonderful help of our OVBC SS class) our pod and packed things into storage, and moved to my parents house.
When you're picky like I am, and don't have a ton of money to spend (note: Brett is still in seminary....), it was getting downright frustrating. We probably looked at 50+ houses. So many houses that the boys would groan if I drove through a neighborhood or told them we were going to look at homes...again.
Fast forward to the middle of april....mom and I saw a house in february (the first one I looked at, ironically), that was about to come back on the market again. I called (and annoyed) the agent until she told me we could look at the house before it went on the market. I liked it just fine, and thought we could do some stuff to it to make it a home. I was headed out of town to spend the weekend with some wonderful friends from college, and asked Brett if he liked it to have our agent put an offer on it.
So, we're on our way to san antonio, and I'm anxious to hear how Brett liked the house. I called him, and he said he liked it okay, but that he and my dad saw a different one in the same area that was a good price, and had the layout that we'd been wanting. So, I asked Brett if we could go ahead and put an offer on the house, and he asked me if I'd lost my mind. I called the agent and she asked me if I was really sure, (I'm sure she thought I lost my mind as well!)
So sight unseen (at least by me), we put an offer on this house, only to hear that the seller had received two other bids and was deciding the next day which offer to accept. I was a basketcase to say the least. Sherri, Amanda, Kristin, and Lacy prayed over the situation with me, and anxiously awaited the news. (love you girls!)
Fast forward to saturday...we got the word that they accepted our offer (answered prayer #2!)!!!! So excited!!!! We had a great rest of the weekend, and got home on sunday. Our agent told me the seller had said he would fax over the changes on sunday and the deal would be finalized.
Fast forward to monday....went with the boys to see the house for the first time, and our agent got out of her car, fuming. The seller had just called to say he wasn't going to accept the offer after all (basically, he wanted it to go into a bidding war.) Sad day in our house. I went and looked at the house anyway (hoping that I'd hate it), but I loved it- loved the potential it had, and the layout was great. So, our agent just said she'd let me know any updates.
I've never prayed harder in my life. I don't know why, but I really felt that this was the house the Lord had for us. So I prayed, Brett and I prayed, and we prayed with the boys. And then....on tuesday morning, our agent called back and told us the seller changed his mind and was going to sell it to us (Answered prayer #3)! I don't know why, but I firmly believe the Lord changed the seller's heart. After I got the call, I called the boys in there and we prayed together- thanking the Lord for our miracle. It was really fun telling Papa and Nana our good news when they walked in the door!
Fast forward 2 weeks, and we have now signed on our house, and are making plans to refurbish and update our house-- a little overwhelmed, but so thankful how the Lord has provided!!! Praise the Lord!
