UNshort Sale

There's been a lot of chatter on our part about this housing process we are going through. (Mostly via Facebook.) To be clear, God has provided us with a house that we love. After MONTHS upon MONTHS of searching, HOURS upon HOURS of looking houses up online, and COUNTLESS discussions with Chuck, we both finally landed on the same house. Lest you forget, we did put offers in on two different homes, but they both fell through. We're hoping the third times a charm.

After finally agreeing on the same house, it ended up being a short sale. Or shall we say UNshort sale. It's an incredibly tedious process, but our realtor gave us the best and worst case scenarios, and we made the decision to put an offer in. The house has everything on our wish list except the location. Waa waa. Chuck will have a 25 minute commute (NOVA friends, please stop laughing), and we'll be about 4-5 miles from the nearest grocery store. That may not sound like a big deal, but we've had the luxery of being within walking proximity of a grocery store for the last SIX years. I am a walker. I love walking. I love walking to the grocery store.

Speaking of walking, that is one of the reasons why I fell in love with the house! It's in a beautiful neighborhood covered with sidewalks, a play groud, and it's right next to the elementary school! I could walk the kids to school if we're still living there in 4 years.

Anyway, with our particular short sale: we made an offer, the seller accepted - including leaving us with the washer, dryer, built in storage shelves, and outdoor shed, which were not originally included- and now the offer has to be accepted by the seller's bank. This is the annoying part because the bank doesn't have to respond for up to 90 days. That would take us into November, which means we wouln't move in until December, worst case scenario. We've been believing God would allow us to hear back from the bank quicker than 90 days, and we've been asking Him to allow the bank to approve our offer now so we could move into our new house by the end of Septmber.

Unfortunately, our lease on our rental home ends at the end of September, so we were really asking God to move on our behalf. I am learning to pray and ask God for things, BELIEVING them to happen. I get so discouraged with people when we tell them we're asking God to let us hear back from the bank before our lease is up, and they say, "Well what's your Plan B?" I don't pray asking God for something, and then give Him an ultimatum. Like, "God, please give us this house, but if you don't..." No way! I am crying out to God believing He hears me, and my desires. Of course He doesn't always answer the way I desire, but that's for Him to decide.

In actuality, God did not respond to our request the way we had asked, but today He PROVIDED. We did not hear back from the bank in time to be able to move out of our rental by the end of September, but God always provides. Our rental company was supposed to charge us $250 extra a month if we stayed an extra month or two, but they are just charging us the raised rent price, which is "only" $25 extra a month. He's got us covered, even though it wasn't what we asked or desired. But now I don't have to pack for awhile, which is fabulous because I HATE packing!

We continue to pray and BELIEVE God is giving us this house- whether in September, October, Novmeber, or December. He has made it clear every step of the way that we are to keep moving forward with this house. He has provided in miraculous ways! And I know He will continue to.  A friend of mine shared a great verse with me today, "Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18

MAY GOD BE EXALTED.