The House
Because of what happened w the Volvo and my apt, I was annoyed! I joked about moving. My dad said "I wish you would." I was surprised. It didn't seem like I'd really be able to afford moving. I barely got by on my own at the apt and surely a house would be more expensive. My pastor said "You know, it would be good for Nate to move to an area and stay there for longer than a year. It would provide more stability." And two different friends within two days of each other said "You should look into the area around Stonewall, I've heard great things about that school." It was (not so) random comments like these that led me to where I am now. It created another BHAP.
My BHAP for a house was this: I want a safe place where Nate can play. I want a backyard. I want a home where I can entertain and host parties. I want a small garage or storage of some sort so I can get my stuff from my parents. And it'd be awesome if I could have an ice maker.
It was a HARD 4 months as I asked God for this new home. It was faith building, but it was gut wrenching, it was discouraging, it was hopeless at times, it was tiring, it was scary... but in the end - it was so worth it.
I told people what I was looking for. I talked to realtors. I looked at places. I prayed about roommates. I asked people. I searched online. I had a friend that went with me one day up and down every single street in the Stonewall school zone and we called every single house with a sign out front. None of them were valid possibilities.
Two years earlier before I got into the Apt, I had seen this adorable house at the end of a cul de sac - just down the street from my pastor. It had roses out front and a lamp post. It had a porch and a back yard. It was adorable. I fell in love with it instantly. BUT we called about it then and it was $1450/mo for a 2 br 1 bath. WAY out of my price range. When I started searching again, I kept driving down by this house. It was still for rent but it was 1350. Still too much. The day we drove up and down the neighborhood, this was the only house we could look at as the key was in the mailbox. I still loved it. IT was PERFECT. God can I PLEASE have this house?? PLEASE? I hear: This will be your home.
The Process:
So I began the process of applying, packing, etc. I turned in my notice at the Apt and my move out date was set. By Jan 10, 2010, I had to be OUT of my apt - there was no going back! However, there was a problem... we didn't "have" the new house yet. IT took forever to get applications reviewed, talk with landlords, work out pricing, etc. Christmas and New Years were in the midst of that time and just made things take longer. Also, with my bad credit (from the years in commission and struggling to make ends meet), I wasn't the best looking renter. But I was determined that was my house- the Lord said so. We made plans like we were moving there even though we didn't get the "Ok" from the landlord yet.
On New Years I was recruiting friends & family to come move us. "Where are you moving to?" they would ask... I'd just say "Not sure yet.. but I know I'm gonna have to go somewhere that day!" I'm pretty sure they all thought I was crazy. It was kinda funny to me. In my heart I was still believing for this house- but it was also fully submitted to the Lord and I knew that he could say NO or Not right now, or do something different than I was expecting. STill, I kept planning, packing, and recruiting. I kept claiming his goodness and tried to keep the anxiousness and tears at a minimum. I knew he initiated and orchestrated the whole thing (from the day at home where they put the note on my car about towing - all the way to Jan 10th - whatever it would entail!) I knew he would provide for me.
The Move:
Jan 10 was a Saturday. The Wednesday before that, I got an email from the landlord saying we were not approved for the house based on my credit and my offer for rent (I offered him 1050/mo and apparently their lowest number was 1125). My heart sunk... but I still felt peace and like God was saying it was still my house. It didn't make sense. I kept packing, praying and planning to move.
Thursday we emailed back asking if we could do 1125 and pay 6 mo up front to lessen their risk since I did have bad credit. He FINALLY said ok. We were going to have to borrow the other 5 mo rent from a friend so that was a whole other ordeal. Thursday was a SUPER stressful day. We got the house, but it wasn't all that joyful because of all the crazy details. Friday we keep packing and getting everything ready. Saturday morning we were set to move in. My family & friends showed up, I told them where we were headed and we got to work loading. My roommate and another friend went to the house to clean, etc. We still hadn't even seen the lease or gotten the keys, but the landlord said it was fine.
Saturday mid- morning he calls me. As he's fixing our paperwork, he asks "Are you sure you want to pay the 6 mo up front?" I quickly say ... "well... no... but don't we have to because of credit?" He says "no, I think its fine. Just give me the deposit and first month today and we'll go from there.
I was so excited I cried!! We got our house and we didn't have to borrow any money and it was OURS!! My God never fails me. The ICING on the cake was when I got there to unload the first load and checked out the kitchen... THERE WAS AN ICE MAKER!!!!!!! Oh how my Jesus loves me! :)
This house has been a place of safety, its been a place to host parties, its been a place to develop community and friendships among neighbors, a place for Monday afternoon play dates with 4 other kids Nate's exact age.. and I have room for my stuff from storage! And I even have an ice maker! BHAP answered!
The Moral:
He is teaching me how to trust Him. He is showing me that he WANTS to provide for me. He is showing me that he wants to meet my concrete needs as well as my needs for community, for security, for a HOME. He even wants to give me the silly stuff that I don't need- like a cool CD player in the Camry and an Ice Maker in the car. (and even my camera that he gave me - see the post titled Good Gifts for that story)
So after stories like this that are mine... not even someone else's story that I overheard... but a story I LIVED...WHY do I still have a hard time trusting that he has GOOD for me or that he will REALLY answer my BHAP? Its really silly! I have more proof in FAVOR of an answered BHAP than NOT in favor of it. The odds are on my side! :)
Stay tuned for part 4...
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