They say that when searching for a house, you should never fall in love with one until it is yours. How that is done, is beyond me, if I did not fall in love with a house, I would not have made an offer on it.
Such was the case with the house mentioned in my previous post. Today however, after having our initial offer rejected, we countered with the highest offer that we felt comfortable giving, and we were outbid. Bummer.
On hearing the news, even though we have been preparing ourselves for it, we were both rather disappointed.
I have heard the phrase, "God has something better for you." a dozen times today and while I am sure that He does, I am not sure that expecting that the "better" that God has im mind will be material is a very good or safe world view. If it is a material "better" then, I cannot wait to see the acreage that is waiting to come on the real-estate market for us here in Carlsbad.
No, I don't know if "better" is always bigger, more, newer or even physically similar or tangible. "Better" is often beyond our comprehension or out of our current line of sight. God's "better" is more comprehensive than the circumstances that we can see. It may address another area of our life or a hidden vice that we have chosen to ignore. Better may be another month or year in our current situation, waiting for circumstances to change, improve, play out, or even crumble to the ground before He is ready to move us forward. Forward to something else that may be a new home or may make us better people through a challenge that will improve our understanding of Him, or draw us closer to Him. Maybe, "Better" is all in the angle you are looking at it. What I see as better for my prospective and what God see from outside of time must be so different.
I really wanted that house, and honestly, a few times this evening, I have questioned why God did not orchestrate us into that address. But He did not, or has not, and may not. As a father, I have seen how "better" for my kids is not always what they see as "better". I must say though that it is much easier to be the father than it is to be the kid. Over the years, I have developed a theology in my head, that assures me that my Savior has my best in mind. Maybe here today, I am seeing another example of when my "better" and God's better are not the same. Sometimes I wonder if God is amused or exasperated by our definition of better? I know in my head that His "better" is the best for me. It has always worked out that way and it always will. I suppose that I need to transfer that knowledge eighteen inches south of my head, to my heart.
In the mean time, we will continue to reside at our current address, in the little house that serves as a base for our big life. At least until it sells! Stop by and see us.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Small Town, Big House?
When we moved to Carlsbad in 2005, we purchased an amazing little three bedroom one bathroom house. We have enjoyed the house immensely, have sipped many cups of coffee on the small porch I built. I rebuilt my motorcycle in the garage and all three kids learned to ride their bikes without training wheels while in this house. While in this house, Kerri earned her Masters degree, I was granted Tenure, Nathan was inducted into National Junior Honors Society, Sarah was chosen for All City Choir and Ruthie has become an accomplished pianist. To make a long paragraph short, we have really enjoyed the last few years in our little green house.
Recently however, Sarah and Ruth have discovered the beauty of long showers and primping and have begun to linger long in front of the bathroom mirror. Throw our niece and nephew into the mix and all that can be said is that we need more bathrooms.
For the last few weeks we have been painting and repairing our little home, which, by the way inspired the name of this blog. Today, after looking at various houses for sale around Carlsbad, we settled on one that both Kerri and I immediately fell in love with. It sits on 1/2 an acre, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Add in a two car garage, huge laundry room, two living areas, two sheds on the huge back yard, nine large pecan trees and an additional workshop in the backyard, and we were sold.
And so, today, we met with our friend and realtor, Dickie Means and in one fell swoop, we both put our house up for sale and put an offer in on the house in the picture below. There are a few potential snags, which we would appreciate your prayer on. First, in order to buy the new house, our current one needs to sell. Pray for an offer soon on our house. Secondly, the house below is out of our price range. It is also overpriced for the neighborhood and so we have underbid. Pray that the current owners will accept our offer or counter with something close to it.
In the meantime, if you are into praying for miracles, pray that the seven of us currently living in our 1000 sq ft home, will be able to keep this small house clean enough for potential buyers to view. That will be an accomplishment equal to the building the Panama Canal, though hopefully without the Malaria.
With that said, I am off to Maul*Mart to buy plastic silverware, paper plates and other items that will help us in that task. Join with us as we pray for God's will in our next adventure.
Recently however, Sarah and Ruth have discovered the beauty of long showers and primping and have begun to linger long in front of the bathroom mirror. Throw our niece and nephew into the mix and all that can be said is that we need more bathrooms.
For the last few weeks we have been painting and repairing our little home, which, by the way inspired the name of this blog. Today, after looking at various houses for sale around Carlsbad, we settled on one that both Kerri and I immediately fell in love with. It sits on 1/2 an acre, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Add in a two car garage, huge laundry room, two living areas, two sheds on the huge back yard, nine large pecan trees and an additional workshop in the backyard, and we were sold.
And so, today, we met with our friend and realtor, Dickie Means and in one fell swoop, we both put our house up for sale and put an offer in on the house in the picture below. There are a few potential snags, which we would appreciate your prayer on. First, in order to buy the new house, our current one needs to sell. Pray for an offer soon on our house. Secondly, the house below is out of our price range. It is also overpriced for the neighborhood and so we have underbid. Pray that the current owners will accept our offer or counter with something close to it.
In the meantime, if you are into praying for miracles, pray that the seven of us currently living in our 1000 sq ft home, will be able to keep this small house clean enough for potential buyers to view. That will be an accomplishment equal to the building the Panama Canal, though hopefully without the Malaria.
With that said, I am off to Maul*Mart to buy plastic silverware, paper plates and other items that will help us in that task. Join with us as we pray for God's will in our next adventure.
The front view of the house, notice all of the shade trees in the front and backyard
The back yard, from about half way back.
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