It's a done deal!!!

Well, today we got word that our home is 'officially' sold. All parties involved in making this purchase happen have gotten their mortgage approval letters, and are set to go! Now all we have left is to finish packing and have our closings. Yahoo!!

God is good...He not only has taught us so much through this process, He has clearly shown us why we had to wait on His timing. All along we kept questioning 'why'. Why would God allow the first sale not to go through? Why would God cause us to lose the home we originally wanted to purchase? Why is God making us wait? Why? Why? Why?

The answers are simple...something which my 'oh-so-little' brain couldn't figure out (or handle) months ago. When going through difficult times, it's always good to let go and let God lead. It's NOT easy, but it ALWAYS pays off. There is always a reason, and many times we don't know what that reason is, but in our case, we know!

If we had sold our home that first time around earlier on in February/March, these things wouldn't have happened:

• We wouldn't have be-friended the couple who are buying our home from us. We never would have known how sweet they are, and how excited they are to be moving into this house. We never would have been able to answer the many questions they wanted answers to...ones you generally don't get answered when buying a home. We wouldn't have been able to take some of the things in the house that we really wanted, yet should've been sold with the home...things they don't mind us taking.
  
• We wouldn't have purchased the house we were meant to have. What we are buying is actually so much better than the first home we had a deposit on. We didn't think there was a better home for us, but God knew better! The new home has more rooms than the first home. The new home is a 'green', energy efficient home which will save us a TON of money each month. The new home is further down the cul-de-sac than the first home which is safer for the kids. The new home has an alarm system, a bigger deck, a nicer yard and the inside is unbelievably nicer than the first!!! God totally knew what was better. The same month we listed our current home on the market was the same month they broke ground for the home we're buying. It's a God thing! We just needed to wait until it was completed. We didn't know that though, but God did.
• The most important thing we wouldn't have done, was start a relationship with one of our current neighbors. This neighbor has lived near us for 12 years, but we never ever talked. I began talking with her only days after the first sale of our home fell through and was able to share Christ with her right then and there. We have talked numerous times since then, and she is excited to learn more. I gave her a new Bible and a couple other items to help get her started. She has a long way to go, but she's definitely searching and had we been able to move, this relationship would have never happened. I am hopeful that we will continue this new found relationship once we move....we'll only be a 15 min. drive away. Please pray for her. She just went through a messy divorce. She was abused in her marriage and she is worried about the outcome of her teenage son. Praise the Lord for keeping us here long enough to befriend this sweet woman and share the love of Christ with her!!

So there you have it...3 great reasons why God had us wait. I do admit though, that since hearing it's a done deal on the phone this afternoon, we've all been doing the happy dance!!

We are moving in only 18 days!!
Is it time to panic yet? We've got lots of packing left to do!!

Here are a few more photos of our new home:

The foyer...






The family room. Anyone have ideas on how to dress these very tall windows?? We want privacy at night, but light during the day. I'm not a huge fan of 'drapes', so it's a challenge.


Closer view of the windows...


View of the kitchen from the family room...


The beautiful kitchen...appliances are in now, but we don't have photos of them yet.




The craftsmanship in this home is beautiful. There's lots of crown molding in the foyer and dining room, and in the kitchen all the doors have crown molding...it's very pretty. You can see a tiny part of it above the pantry on the left just beyond the cabinets.


Dining room...


View of school room from the dining room...


School room...a bit smaller than the one in our current home, but it's still a school room which we're privileged to have. Not all homeschoolers have a separate room to school in.




So, there you have it, our new home. We're very excited and feel so blessed to be moving here. This is a transition home for us though. We're hoping to move to Colorado sometime soon after Lionel graduates high school...in God's perfect time though!!!