Monday, August 31, 2009

Monday Musings


For Today...Monday August 31, 2009

Outside my window...a HOT sunny day.
I am thinking...about how much I have to do today.
I am thankful for...our new house!!!!  Escrow opens today!
From the kitchen...breakfast, dishes that need doing.
I am wearing...shorts and a t-shirt.
I am creating...as organized a schedule as I can.  Life is busy.  Thank God for calendar's. 
I am going...to my ultrasound appointment today.  Hopefully we can confirm the sex of the baby!
I am reading...Midnight Sun (I'm sick, I know), and the book of Esther.
I am hoping...and praying that escrow closes by the 30th of Sept.
I am hearing...Emma talk about silly things.
Around the house...mess.  Gotta clean up before Stacie gets here in a few hours.
One of my favorite things...the holidays!!!  I'm already so excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study, crochet/knitting with the gals, Stacie visiting for a few days, going back to our new house for the inspection, ultrasound.
Here is a picture that I'm sharing: Me and my sweet Brody last Christmas.  I miss him being my little baby.  He's getting so big.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

House Details

It is amazing how God works.  I know that God's hand has always been upon our life, but many times it felt that He was working behind the scenes and we had to really pay attention to see what He was doing.

This is not one of those times.

He has been so present and so blatant in this situation that we cannot help but see Him all over it.
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We began looking for a house in mid-April.  We had a big list of everything that we "needed": detached home, at least 1700 sq.ft., 4-5 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, office, family room, living room, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, large master bedroom with large jacuzzi garden tub and separate shower, large backyard, attached garage, AC, in a newer part of town, etc.  

After about 2 months of looking and going through 20-30 homes we were humbled.  We realized that we were not going to get everything we wanted.  Actually, we realized that we weren't even going to get half of what we wanted.

We (I) got frustrated and decided to put our house-search on hold.  Mark was especially uncomfortable looking for a house when we weren't certain of his job security/pay (for those of you who don't know, Mark is in the military and on shore duty but will be done in November at which time he will take a job in finance, where he currently works).  We emailed our realtors and told them we'd continue our search in the fall once we knew what Mark would be making.

In the beginning of August I sent our realtors an email just to let them know that we still planned to resume our search in the fall.  They emailed back and asked for our new search criteria.  We thought hard about this and drastically reviewed our true needs: at least 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, family room, office, nice backyard for the kids, attached garage, no bars on the windows. ;o)  However, I forgot to email them back for a few weeks.

I got back to them 2 weeks ago.  One of the first listings they sent us was for this sweet little white and yellow home in an older part of town.  We decided to see it because it was so cute and from the pictures the backyard looked fantastic.  We went to see it last Thursday (8/20) and as soon as we walked in I whispered to Mark, "I think this is the one".

The house was cheerful and quaint.  A cozy 1352 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, an office, nice sized family room, garage with workbench (Mark loved that), and a fantastic beautifully manicured large backyard.  We LOVED it.  It absolutely met all our new criteria.

We met the owner, Pat, in the backyard and his "girls", two little Shih Tzu's.  We told him that we also had a Shih Tzu and there started a great conversation about the home, our kids, our pastimes.  After 10 minutes we left.  We put an offer in that night.  

We were told the home was a short sale (if you know anything about short sale's you know that the are NOT short) and as our realtor was on his way to our house Thursday evening to pick up our offer I prayed to God and told Him that I couldn't handle a short sale process.  I am too impatient.  "Please God, if there is anyway this situation can change, I will be so thankful". Mark came back in from running the papers out to our realtor and said, "You'll never believe this!  The home is for sale by owner.  Its not a short sale after all".  

Wow.  Quick answer to prayer.  Thank you God.

Monday we received a form from our lender that provided us with our estimated mortgage - and it was nearly $300 higher than we anticipated.  We were so discouraged and I spent most of that day in tears, knowing that we couldn't afford that.  

Mark and I prayed that night that if this home were God's will for our family that somehow that number would be lowered.

The next morning we got a call from our lender.  He made a mistake on the mortgage estimation and it was $100 less.  

Another answered prayer.  Thank you God.

We prayed again that night that our mortgage would somehow be lowered even more.

The next day we looked over an insurance form and noticed an error of $40.  

Another answered prayer.  Thank you God.

During this time the owners countered the offers; ours was the strongest so they didn't ask for more money, just terms of escrow, which we agreed to.  We were told we'd have an answer by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

We prayed to God that if this was the home for us that our offer would be accepted.  We prayed that Mark would know about his job soon (we were still uncomfortable planning a future mortgage around an uncertain salary).

Friday morning Mark called me soon after he got to work and told me that we were going to get the house.  I asked why and he said, "My boss just called me in to her office and told me I'd be getting the position with the pay we need".

Another answered prayer!!  Thank you God!

Two hours later our realtors called and asked if we were ready to buy our first home!!!  

THANK YOU GOD!!

This entire process has been amazing to us.  The market down here is crazy and we honestly doubted that we'd ever find a home...and certainly NOT in two weeks.

To make the whole situation sweeter we went over to the house last night to meet with the current owners, Pat and Cheryl.  We learned that they are also Christian's who had been praying for God's guidance regarding the selling of their home 30 days prior to putting it on the market.  Cheryl told me that we really made an impression on Pat when we met in their backyard during our first viewing of the home.  They told us that they wanted the family with the Shih Tzu! :)  We hit it off with them and feel so blessed to have met such a wonderful, Godly couple!

So thats the story thus far!

Prayer requests:

1. We open escrow Monday and pray that we close by September 30th.

2. We pray that we are able to lock in a 5.25% interest rate (or lower).  That would bring our mortgage down another $100.

Thank you friends and family for you Facebook love after our announcement, texts, calls, etc. We are so stinkin' excited!!!  God is so good!!!

-Alison

Monday, August 24, 2009

Impatience

UPDATE: The owners of the cute little house have countered a few offers ours included. Luckily they didn't ask us for more money, just terms regarding closing escrow and some other minor stuff.  All counters have to be responded to by 1pm today (Thursday 8/27) and we should know by this evening.  Please pray that we'd be content either way.  Especially me.

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We found a cute little house that meets all our needs.
We put an offer in on Friday.

We have been waiting to hear if it was accepted or not (last we heard it looked good).

Waiting is one of the most difficult things in the world for me to do.

The suspense is killing me.  I pray we get this house.  I pray that I will find peace in God's will for us either way.  

I would love it if you would pray too.

Thanks,

Alison

Monday Musings


For Today...Monday August 24, 2009

Outside my window...roses close to blooming.
I am thinking...about baking.  Its been a while since I baked a pie.
I am thankful for...opportunities.
From the kitchen...breakfast in about 20 minutes, then mopping floors.
I am wearing...my pj's.
I am creating...nothing at the moment but that will soon change.  Crochet, here I come.
I am going...to try to be more patient.
I am reading...Beth Moore's Esther study.  
I am hoping...that we buy a house soon.
I am hearing...the tv...Emma woke up a few minutes ago and is watching Noggin.
Around the house...The smell of coffee.
One of my favorite things...family visiting!  
A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study, consults with brides, site walk-through with bride, playdates, church, dinner with friends, etc.
Here is a picture that I'm sharing: my sisters.  I miss them.


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Will it ever happen...??

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Because I have neglected you...

Our family and friends who live far away use this blog as a way to keep up with us and the kids.

And lets face it...I have been really slacking lately, and for that I am sorry.

So in an attempt to get back into it I will try to post at least twice per week (as if I didn't have enough on my plate...why do I do this to myself?!). :)

And in turn, I am requesting that each of you (Lindsay, Kari, listen up) start your own blog so that I can keep up with you too!
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I am knee deep in Beth Moore's new study "Esther: Its Tough Being a Woman". I am leading this study through our church and so far our group is really enjoying it.

I have read the book of Esther, but true to form (or so I had heard) Beth Moore has really gone so deeply with this that its as if I am reading Esther for the first time. Luckily, one of my mentors, Judy, lead the same study a few months back and gave me some great advice before I began our study.

Its not as intense as I thought it would be, but I still have to get up 2 or 3 times a week at 6:15am to devote an hour and a half to it to stay on track.

And ya know what? I don't even mind.

I like that quiet alone time with God, Esther, Beth and my cup of decaf. Its a great way to start the day. To remember that we have a Sovereign God who moves behind the scenes and uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect will.
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A few of my faves from the summer:





Monday, August 17, 2009


For Today...Monday August 17, 2009

Outside my window...a typical San Diego overcast morning.  I love it.
I am thinking...that once again we have a busy week ahead of us.
I am thankful for...everything I've been given.  
From the kitchen...its breakfast time but soon it will be school time. 
I am wearing...my pj's.
I am creating...a successful business and love it.
I am going...to take Molly to the groomers today.  She needs it badly.
I am reading...WAS reading Breaking Dawn...I got totally addicted to the Twilight Series and loved it!
I am hoping...that Mark gets his job offer SOON.
I am hearing...Emma go on and on about how badly she needs a cat.
Around the house...Things need straightening.
One of my favorite things...crocheting! I am getting in the mood to do it again.  Fall must be near! :)
A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study, consults with brides, playdates, etc.
Here is a picture that I'm sharing: Here I am 4 months pregnant.  The bump just started to show.  I'm almost 5 months now.

Friday, August 14, 2009

A Cabin in the Woods....

...Sounds so lovely right now.   I need a vacay in the worst way.





Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Yes, I'm Alive....

Hello everyone! I am alive. No need to worry. I have just been extremely busy. Between homeschooling and my business, I have had little time for anything else.

Homeschooling is going great! We school for about 2 1/2 hours every morning and we're staring to get into our own groove now. Its so rewarding for me to see Emma learn and I feel God's hand all over this. We meet our homeschool group on Friday and are really excited to connect with other families in our same boat (although we have several friends who are homeschooling). Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement! We are going to have a great year!

My business is doing so well and I am so busy now! For those of you who don't know, I am a Wedding Consultant and started my own business here in SD a few years ago. I took about a 9 month break when Brody was born and started my advertising up again this past spring. I am getting lots of business now (huge blessing) and even brought on an assistant to help out.

For those of you who are interested you can visit my website at www.oneandonlyevents.com. I have a blog there too (mom, those pics you've been wanting to see are up....) if you'd like to follow and you can even become a fan on facebook. Also, if you haven't already done so, please vote for me in the Channel 10 News A-List Competition for Best Wedding Planner!

Oh, one last thing to share (for now)....we went and visited Faith (our former foster baby) this past weekend!!!!! She has gotten so big! Of course I cried when I was loving on her and she was just smiley, like always. I'd like to think she remembers me, but she is only 4 1/2 months old... I still think she knew who I was. Hopefully we'll be able to keep in touch with her for a long time. We really miss her. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.