Home for Christmas

About this time last year, Jeff and I began the journey of trying to buy a home in Paso Robles.  The housing prices were lower and we hoped and prayed we could have a home of our own. Most of the homes we bid on were short sales. So even though we would get the "yes", we would have to wait for months....only to be told "NO, the buyer was not qualified."  This happened more than once. Here is a part of my journal after one of those heart breaking times:

July 11, 1012
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick..."
I fell like I have learned this verse over and over in my life. Make me wonder "why?" I always feel "last" in life--everyone else gets to have theirs first.  2 Sundays ago, we got word that the house we wanted and had waited on ...after 3 months would NOT be ours. Seller was not approved for short sale! And he was going to raise the price 35,000!! We sat in silence in bed.
We cried. In my heart, I was angry-disappointed with God-with life. I thought finally He would "wow" us with his favor.  He did not--not on this home. sigh...Hope. Trust. .....

Sounds silly really..its just a house. But for us, it was more. And it was heartbreaking for us.

Long story short. Last November, we got the call from Georgia Brown (the only dual immersion school in Paso) that they had a spot for Josie. This was on a Friday. I asked if I could call her on Tues and let her know. I shared with Jeff and to my surprise, he said, "Lets do it" We can rent and make it happen.

So I called Georgia Brown on Tuesday and asked, "When do we need to start?"
"November 26" was her response. WHAT!!???? That was the Monday after Thanksgiving break meaning I would have only days to inform her current school and teacher.

On Wednesday, Jeff called to say his boss had quit. Meaning he could office out of Templeton and not have to drive to Gonzales everyday!

Side note: All the while we have looked and prayed for a home. I would show the girls the mustard growing on the hillsides....and we would pray MOVE that Mountain and give us a house and two kitties...one for Anna and one for Josie. Anna wanted an orange kitty.

Thursday:  Well a home had come available and we were bidding on it. I had told Josie and Anna about the house.  And Josie had prayed in the car for the mountain to get out of our way and give us a house and two kitties. When she finished she asked, "Mom are we gonna get that house by Addie?" I answered honestly, "I don't know honey. I don't know if we have enough money." (We had been outbid often.) And her simple response, "Mom, I have money. I have alot of money. Will that help?"
Touched by her offer, I replied with tears in my eyes, "Of course, it will..."

So that night when Jeff got home. Josie ran to him with her yellow purse full of change and said, "Here Daddy you can have this to buy the house."  Such a sweet moment.....she gave all she had to give. She asked, "Do you think its enough?" Jeff's hugs her, "It just might be."

That night we got the verbal "YES" for our home. =)

From there it has been crazy. We had Paso Thanksgiving and relished in the joy of telling them...."We are in esgrow!"
The next weeks...3 of them...the girls in I lived with different families each week. So that Josie could start Georgia Brown. We would be gone during the week and then go home on the weekends. It was very hard. Josie sobbed most days...and as soon as the classroom door shut...so did I. At the end of the three weeks, we went on a preplanned vacation. To come home and pack and move just days before Christmas. Sweet friends cleaned our home while we were on vacation.

So when Jeff and walked into our home. (by the way we bought a home I had never been in)...I felt like I was on a TV show. Not only had our sweet friends cleaned our home. But there was a tree...and presents....and food...and wine....just some odds and ends....I cry now as I write...remembering the joy of it all. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick....but a longing fulfilled is a tree of Life."

And despite that our whole family got the stomach bug and Jeff and I spent our first night in our home throwing up in separate bathrooms.  My joy could not be snuffed out. I was throwing up thanking God for friends who cleaned my bathroom. So I could be sick in a clean bathroom. Details. God delights in details.

Oh and those kittens....a lady in Santa Cruz happen to have kittens who would be 8 weeks old on Christmas day. I told her our story and she gave us first pick of the litter. For FREE! And yep you guess it, one was orange. Our daughters who have been told, "No", forever on having a pets...got their Christmas wish. Two kittens in their very own home.

Feels so good to be in our own Home for Christmas.
Thank you Jesus for moving big and small mountains for us! I pray we never take this home for granted. It is a gift.

Makes me wonder, did God get as much JOY in giving us this home as I did being able to give my kids their kittens.