God's Provision: Our Home Story, The Conclusion

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

 

One morning, my grandmother called and asked if she could stop by to give me something.  This is the grandmother who from the time I was a baby has sent me birthday and Christmas cards with red-haired girls on them.  Never mind that they are a rarity, she can find them and it has long been a joke between us.  When I opened the door, she handed me a dish brush with a painted face and red bristles.  “For your new house,” she said.  “By faith.”

The next morning  we went to see House C.  It was an older 2-story home on a quiet road and situated on 1½ acres of land.  There were three bedrooms and an extra room (den? playroom?) upstairs.  The older couple who owned the home had kept it immaculate, but their daughters who were selling the home wanted more than what the home was worth.  We discussed our options and decided to place an offer below the asking price.  Right there in the living room, though, Sharon said, “Are you still interested in House B?  I know the seller cannot afford to live there much longer and I’m going to attempt to contact her and see if she is interested in selling again?” 

We placed the offer on House C on Saturday morning, and then waited through an agonizing weekend to hear word.  On Monday evening, Sharon called and said the daughters were offended by our low offer and wanted to hold out for the asking price.  (The home is still on the market today.)  But the seller of House B was willing to negotiate again.  We didn’t have time to be disappointed about House C because  things began to move quickly from here.  Sharon talked to the seller and found out what she needed.  We got our income tax refund (putting us in a much better financial state than where we had been in November) and began to talk details with our mortgage broker, Norman. 

When God said yes, there was no doubt as things began to fall into place.  On Monday, February 21^st, we all gathered in the real estate office—the seller, Sharon, Brian and me (and Alaine)—and we signed a contract on House B.  The next few months were a crazy conglomeration of days as we had home inspections, signed paperwork for the bank, and set up utilities all while I continued to teach school and keep up with the house…and pack.  Brian started the spring season at work which is the busiest of the year. 

Posing in the side yard (before the lawn was cut!)

We were nervous through the entire process because it was such a huge step.  Whenever we had questions (or I began to panic), Norman was quick to e-mail or return our calls.  He made the process from contract to settlement smooth, and we felt very taken care of.  He and Brian developed a great working relationship as they talked kids almost as much as they talked money.  

We signed the final papers making the house ours on April 18, 2011, exactly eight weeks after we signed the contract and two years after our home search began!  The home and property appraised for over $30,000 more than what we paid, another sign of God’s hand. 

We had the luxury of two weeks between closing and the end of our lease on our townhouse so we moved slowly.  Friends brought dinner to help on those long evenings of moving.  Other friends gave us paper products so I wouldn’t have to wash or unpack dishes.  Different family members took the kids to their houses to play while Brian and I worked to clean the new house or drive over loads of boxes. 

Mowing his own grass!

Last Saturday afternoon, we took a break from moving to eat lunch at McDonald’s.  We ordered, dispersed the food, and prayed before eating.  A few minutes into the meal, a woman walked up to our table.  I was afraid she was going to complain about the kids being loud because we had noticed her watching us.  Instead, she tucked a twenty dollar bill in my hand and said, “The Lord wanted me to give this to you.  When I saw you say the blessing over your food, that was confirmation.”  Then she walked out of the building and drove away. 

We were reminded of the Lord’s provision that day. Looking back we can see the Lord’s provision through every step of this journey—in the choosing of real estate agent and mortgage broker, in saving our home for us until we had enough money saved, in the people surrounding us who helped and encouraged and prayed.  We thank Him today and we thank Him always.