I decided to wait to start hunting houses until after the New Year. It seemed smarter given that we're in a lease through July. But right around January 2nd, I started to get antsy. And that's when the house hunt began. Mostly I'm antsy to find a place of our own, to build a HOME...so, I hunt.
I've seen all kinds of houses out here. Remember the elk head in the kitchen?
For real. Right in the kitchen.
Then there was the masseuse who told us we couldn't see one of the rooms if there was a sign hanging on the door: "Massage in Progress."
Massage can mean so many things to so many different people.
I've been through new houses (which are almost always really small) and old houses (that are huge and roomy with beautiful kitchens but need new roofs and updated everything.)
And this isn't our first time to the ball. This will be our fourth time buying a house. God has never let us buy the wrong one. So, while I've been tired and ready to give up, I've also had peace, knowing that God would bring the right one. And I've prayed that he saved it for us.
And yesterday, we may have found it. I say may because there's a lot that has to fall into place before a house is truly yours.
Let me just tell you that it's not even close to what I thought I wanted.
Our first house was a ranch. (I loved that house)... but we didn't want a ranch. We thought we wanted a two story. But two stories don't live the way we want to live--at least not the ones I've seen. So, halfway through our hunt, I started to look more carefully at the ranch.
They really have so much space. And thanks to our rental, we've come to really crave space.
The living room:
I have visions of making that into a window seat. (Can I do that?) If we do get this house, I plan to repaint everything (which is what I'm so looking forward to!) and hopefully find furniture for this room. (We have none.)
I love that it's not really our taste yet. We can make it our own...
The Kitchen:
Pretty boring, right? This room will need paint too. What would you do in here?
The downstairs family room:
This photo does this room no justice. First of all, you can't see the glorious sponge-paint on the wall. Uh-huh. But really. It's huge. And spacious. And I can see our kids with an art table and homework desk and "Book Nook" (as Ethan said.) I can see us comfortable here.
This is the other side of the family room: (Tons of storage.)
Down that hall is a bedroom and an office. Holy darn! I'll have an office again! Or a "studio" if you wanna be all fancy about it.
And I do.
But this is what sold us...and you can't see the best parts...
The back yard:
I LOVE the yard. It's fenced in and opens to what's called a "green belt." We don't have those in Illinois. It's just open space.
Look:
So here's the truth.
I tend to agonize a LOT over what I should do. What am I supposed to do. But especially in the last year, I've watched God save me from doing what I'm NOT supposed to do. If we put a toe in muddy water and he wants us in a babbling brook, he's made that really, really clear. Practically picks us up and moves us. Well, he kind of did that, I guess, huh?
So, we never make a big purchase without sleeping on it and praying on it. And that's what we did. Last night, we brought the kids through and they loved it. We explained they would be changing schools again, and they were okay with that... so we prayed about it and asked God to let someone else snag it if it's not our house.
So now, I trust. And truly, I'll be okay either way.
In the meantime, it IS hard not to dream of colors and paint and new carpet...
The best part is, randomly last week our landlord emailed and told us that he knew we were looking for a house and if we need to get out of our lease early he won't charge us for it. Pretty nice, no? I know it's better for him that way because the rental market will pick up at the beginning of the summer, but still.
I don't think we'll know anything until next week, but for now, I'm really enjoying the dream...
