Our love, our life, our all...

(and no, it's not another child... hee hee)

I'm going to write this and a lot of people might be like, "I cannot believe she didn't share this with me!" or "What? Was I totally out of the loop? She shut me out?". And I can promise you, I did not. The last time we talked I had no idea this was going to happen. God has surprised us, blessed us, and knocked our socks off in the speediness in which he did so! This has all went from dream to reality in just 10 days!

We have bought a home!

What? Jawdrop? Gasp? Utter disbelief? We would understand if you have those reactions, because we have them too!

The whole process has been utterly and completely overwhelming. And not because it was hard or difficult, the very opposite in fact. God opened up doors wide and the process could not have been smoother. I have cried out to God continually to through these past 10 days, praying earnestly and openly that we have no desire to go outside His will for us. With honesty, I was completely content living at my parents, the Lord has blessed us and grown us here. The kids are thriving. We were able to pay off our debt and get ourselves in a more comfortable position financially. I have been able to be a full time stay at home mom. We thought we would continue living with them for years and I had made peace with that. After we were done paying off debt we were going to begin to save for a home. Yesterday, at noon, I was able to completely pay off my school loan (our last debt- we were debt free!) and at four in the afternoon we received word that our offer had been accepted. We laughed about our debt free 4 hours, they were glorious!

So, how did this all happen? We are only 2 years out from our foreclosure mess so it wasn't even in our thoughts to begin the house searching process. (You need at least 3 years). My mother in law heard a rumor that one of their neighbors in the court was moving. We have longed dreamed of being able to move into their court, for many reasons, it's a nice, family centered area of town, my cousin and his wife and their kiddos are over there, and being close to Dave and Mary Ellen would be convenient if I needed to go back to work at some point, because they are retired and available and willing to watch the kids. A myriad of wonderful reasons we WOULD love to live there, but honestly, we didn't think we would be able to afford it, at least not within the 5++ years.

So when Mary Ellen heard word about the court neighbor selling, she went over to talk with them and see the home. They were astonished that she knew of their moving, they hadn't even told anyone yet! But their teenager had told another neighbor, and they told their parents, and news spread. They welcomed her in and let her tour the home, and she resolved that it was the perfect home for us, was just Brooke’s taste, and wanted us to see and see if we felt the same. This was Saturday, July 30.

That night Josh was hanging out at his parents after a car show he went to with his dad, and they approached him about the possibility of owning it. They talked a lot that night and Josh woke me up the next morning, Sunday, with this idea. I wanted to just tell him "NO!". As the financial guru in our relationship the whole concept was completely overwhelming and scary to me. How could we do it? And, could we REALLY do it? I couldn't fail at home ownership again, especially at a home that was so, exactly what we wanted and where we would want to raise our family. The pain of losing a home and the failure of that was... like no other. It is not an experience I would ever want to repeat.

But, I discussed it with him. And then later on, with Mary Ellen. That night was Dave's retirement party and we went over a bit early to hang out and Mary Ellen arranged so I could see the home with Josh and the owner gave us a tour.

It was perfect. My thought was "this is too much! It's too nice. It's beyond what I would even ask God for.” It's 2 story, formal living/dining, family room, 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage. They've updated it through out the bottom story (kitchen/floors ect). And the backyard, it's gorgeous!   Did I mention it has a pool? I mean, I'm looking at it and I'm thinking "no way. no way. this is too nice. there's no way, I wouldn't even ask God for this. Nope."

Mary Ellen and I talked a bit after that about what we could afford and what my concerns were. I was completely freaked out about the whole process... we are only 2 years out of our foreclosure we couldn't have the house in our name. We didn't have our downpayment saved. Dave and Mary Ellen said that they would talk and we'd see if we could work out the details.

The next day, (Monday) Mary Ellen was in the car driving. My mom (Laurie) had spoken the day before at church about how in order to have your "spiritual muscles" you have to work them! Just like how if you want to be a fit person, you have to work out. Spiritual muscles have to be developed just like physical ones. So, Mary Ellen was driving in the car and decided to exercise her "prayer muscle"- something that she has been hoping and trying to develop since she has been appointed director of prayer at our Bible Study that we attend. She prayed specifically, "Lord, if you want us to move forward in this, you'll have Boon (their realtor) call me." and then continued her journey and prayer. When she got home she decided to google Boon's number (because she joked, of course I prayed that and then took things into my own hands!). And on her way down the hall to the computer room, the phone rang. It was BOON! She hadn't put in a call or an email or any sort of indication that they would need to talk to him, especially after living 15 years contentedly in the same home. Mary Ellen said she was screaming and asking him "Do YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?!" and then told him the story. She also shared the story with a financial guy that called her later and with several others, it was so touching to her that the Lord answered her direct prayer in such a tangible way :)

So, meanwhile I am crunching numbers and trying to see what we could afford. I would want to have 0 debt by the time we got into the home so that we wouldn't have any unnecessary obligations, but at the same time, I don't know we would do so and cover moving expenses and I'm freaked out. Then I remember that my Grandma Dean had sent me savings bonds over the years when I was little and that a lot of them were reaching maturation. I took them into the bank and they were worth $740! I was able to pay down my school loan so that we only had $159 left to pay. It was awesome, and I knew that even if we didn't get the house that was an awesome move for us.

I budgeted and budgeted and knew that it would probably be necessary for me to get a part time job. With Josh’s income being variable every 2 weeks, we needed to be prepared for the worst case scenario and anything better than that would be savings. I started to look for part time working, thinking that I could always go back to Starbucks… but remembering that schedule and how tired I always was and how much it took out of me to open, I just couldn’t imagine doing it again with kids this time. I knew I’d be a wreck and they would suffer. I applied at a few places and looked around eagerly, but hadn’t really heard anything. Mary Ellen heard of a job through the pregnancy clinic that she volunteers at and encouraged me to send my resume over, so I did. I didn’t hear anything for a while and thought maybe the opportunity had passed.

But during this process, I'm anxious. I think I've actually lost weight—and I haven’t slept more than, well 6 hours? (That’s so not me, I’m a 10 hour girl!). I slept some nights only 5, it’s been crazy, my mind is just running and running and I am constantly having to turn it back over to the Lord!

The process continued and we continued to work through the details with my inlaws. For some help, Thursday night we went over to our friend's house who had just purchased and talked with them about all of the costs involved in home ownership (it's been awhile and I'm just trying to think it all through...)   They recommend that we go and talk to a guy in our church who works for a mortgage company and can work through the details.

It just "so happens" that Josh is off of work and Dave and Mary Ellen and I are available to meet with Mark the next day, Friday. He runs all the numbers and talks us through all of the scenarios and it's really encouraging and looking like this might ACTUALLY happen. I’m still nervous, but once I’m dealing with the facts, I feel a lot better.

On Sunday, we went and saw the property again with our agent. It was actually better than I remember it being. Seriously? I don’t want to want this house so much. It’s painful to think it might not happen when I can see myself there and having dinners with family and pool parties and my kids running through the grass and know the color I will paint “my” room… it’s crazy and I don’t want to be this hopeful. And then, that night, the owner tells Mary Ellen that they are thinking a higher price and letting it ride that out, and when she tells me that my hopes are pretty dashed… I’m thinking it isn’t going to happen.   But that night, after looking at comps and talking with our realtor, we make an offer. Our realtor takes it over to the home owner and he says that their realtor was coming over that night at 5 anyway.

And we wait. Monday we wait. Tuesday we wait and wait and wait. We finally hear at 6 pm! We counter offer RIGHT back. We don’t hear. I’m thinking they’ve rejected it… why wouldn’t we have heard?
Wednesday, I have my job interview with the clinic. I love love love the director and hit it off with her and LOVE what they do there. I would be estatic to be a part of the ministry they provide. I feel good about the interview but worry, what if we don’t get the house and I get the job? Or visa versa??
That Wednesday afternoon, while I’m shopping in Walmart and attempting to check out, with the absolute worst cashier and one kiddo who is pushing the cart into me as I’m trying to get this guy to price adjust my items, I get a phone call. It’s Mary Ellen so I answer it and she’s telling me “YOU OWN A HOME! Yippee!” And I’m trying to be excited and balance that with not losing my child or my toe as she assaults me with the cart and I end up hanging up and not being able to celebrate until I get home.

When I got home I just stood in the driveway for a minute and looked up and praised God. He has been so very faithful to us and good to us, no matter our material circumstances, He has worked things together for His good. He blessed us beyond we could’ve hoped or dreamed of… and in all of the perfect ways and in His timing.

It worked out that today (Thursday) we went in to complete loan paperwork and rates are lower than ever… we were able to get a fantastic rate on the loan.   And this afternoon I received a call from the director, and I got the job!!!!!!

I know this is long winded and a lot of details, but I wanted to document how incredibly the Lord worked through this situation. I had a lot of journaling and prayer time and time in the Word the past 12 days… and have been so blessed by His presence during the process! He’s been so very very near to me.

The kids have a CD in the car that they are listening to, and one of the songs has the lyrics: My God is SO big, SO strong and SO mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do! And I’ve just been singing that over and over again. If God can take our situation, where we lost our home and where even 13 days ago, I would’ve told you there would’ve been no hope for us to own in the next 10 or so years- and now we’ll be in a home once it closes in nearly 30 days. It seems impossible but God works with the impossible and makes it possible. He works with the broken and makes it whole. He works with the mess and makes it clean. He works with the trash and makes it treasure. He’s the God of restoration and He’s a Father who enjoys blessing His children. There’s nothing we’ve done to earn His favor or blessing- we could never be good enough to do so. It is only through His grace that we have anything at all. I don't understand it and could never comprehend it, but I am so very grateful for it!

I haven't had time to edit or update it, so I hope this makes sense and am going to post it anyway because a lot of our family doesn't even know yet!

Here's a link to the photos:
http://s1000.photobucket.com/albums/af123/mrandmrsodg/The%20House/

And yes I took pictures of every closet and forgot to take one of the kid's bathroom... I live in a closet-less home, closets excite me!

Chet is doing amazing with potty training! Around the first of July I decided to begin the process with him, and I figured it would take us about 2 months before he was fully trained (no accidents and no more struggles). Chet proved to be the easiest boy on the planet to potty train- and trained within the first week and had no real struggles or accidents, and has absolutely NO desire to ever go to the bathroom in his pants again. I seriously cannot believe he trained so easily and completely at only 25 months old... and if you ask me what my secret is, I have NO idea! He just took to it! We finally just put away the "little potty" so all business is on the actual potty, which is very nice to not have to clean out that yucky little potty! (and even nicer not to have to clean a diaper!)

Evie is getting ready to start preschool at the end of the month, and is quite ready for it! She's had her cousins over quite a bit in the past couple of weeks and when they are not here, she keeps telling me she's "bored.". (Uh, hello 13 year old Evie!). She's ready for the morning of play and socialization with other kiddos! She absolutely loves playing "pretend" and "princess" and when her and Tay are playing pretend they are often playing that they are "getting married" or that they "have babies". I love it! :)

Josh is back on "the road" for work and traveling/working quite a lot! And when he's not home, he's busy helping me around the house with chores and honey-do projects that are waiting for him :) He's such a great husband and I cannot believe that next month we will be celebrating 7 years of marriage!

Me: Well, my updates really are the kids updates! I love my job is full time loving and caring for them! I'm excited and sad for Evie to start preschool and the changes in our days that it will bring. It will be bittersweet for me having her grow up and have her own little 'life' that doesn't include me! It's insane for me to think that the baby that depended on me for every single thing, is a big girl who is going off to school and to have a life and experiences that don't include me... and that will only continue to grow. I love her so very much and I'm excited for her and I know that she's ready, but I don't know that I am!