On this day a year ago, my biggest dilemma was that I blurted out "I love you" to Richard as we stood in line for the Wicked Twister at Cedar Point after an exhausting day of walking to a bunch of broken down rides with 30,000 jr. high band kids and all we wanted were nachos from TGI Friday's (which they didn't have). I said I wanted nachos, he said he loved nachos, so I said I loved him...I guess it made sense to my brain.
This year, my dilemmas feel a bit heavier. Tomorrow I start my new position as a neonatal intensive care nurse. If that's not intimidating I'm not sure what is. I never saw myself as any kind of intensive care nurse. I liked giving away my train wrecks, not receiving them. And I can't help but remember how difficult my last transition was and worrying just a little bit if history might repeat itself. I'm excited for this new venture but also a little guarded. I pray I fit in, I pray I am able to make friends quickly, I pray I can catch on to what I need to know. That I am cut-out for this very sensitive area of nursing.
But the impending start of this new position is not my only dilemma today. Yesterday Rick and I did a marathon of house-seeing. The most we've ever had an opportunity to see at once. Eight homes in three hours. I got frustrated last week when I would inquire into seven or eight homes and before we could arrange viewings, they would accept offers and be off the market. A potential list of houses would dwindle down to two or three. So we went crazy beefing up our list and included homes that were on the top of our budget and outside our desired location just so that we could actually see homes. Well, we got all eight in under three hours. At the end of the day and considering our luck with offers, we decided to throw a bid in on this one at the top of our budget.
When we got out of the car to see this house, I nudged Rick's arm and pointed to the tree in the front yard: white birch, kind of our thing. Rick sighed and said we were doomed, he was already considering the price tag. The house was just as cute inside as it was outside and I was pleasantly surprised by the upstairs despite my distain for bungalows. The backyard was deep and fenced, perfect for Tybee's high energy levels. In the driveway Rick hawed over the price and the high probability that someone can easily outbid us knowing we were essentially out of wiggle room. A scenario we were becoming quite used to. My mom was quick to retort, "God works miracles, Richard!"
After crunching numbers with our lender, we signed paperwork yesterday evening. Last night I prayed, "Lord, if this house is going to sink us financially, if it will destroy our relationship, please protect us. Don't let this offer go through. If this house will bless us, if by the struggle to make the payments strengthens our faith and trust in your promise to provide, if it will glorify you by the family we will raise and the love we will share in it, if you will be honored and presented to the individuals we invite into it, then I pray we hear quickly and your will be done. That is all I want for our home. Please help us endure this challenge."
In 6 months we've viewed countless ads online, walked through 26 homes, submitted 5 offers. This afternoon we received the news that our fifth offer was accepted and it appears we have bought a home...and in our desired location! To be exact, it's 0.2 miles from my parents' and big brother's house. Only a 4 minute walk to our new home. I'm so hesitant to actually say that: our home. We still have appraisals and inspections to go through but this is the closest we have ever been.
This feels like the biggest thing I've ever done. Bigger than my move across country. It solidifies our impending marriage. This is the place our story will begin. This little three bedroom, one bath starter will become our ministry. My deepest desire is to fill it with the love we share for each other and for God and that it may be evident to anyone who steps inside. That they may be surrounded by the love God has for us. So in faith, we're stepping into our first home.
"So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do." 2 Thessalonias 1:11
One thing I've learned for sure in this process: I do not belong in real estate! Thank God this is over!
