So blessed...

I was remembering on Sunday about the different houses that Joshua and I wanted to buy in Sacramento when we first started looking to buy last spring. There were four homes that we really liked. The first one was out of our price range, but it was a great looking home, and we could picture ourselves living there for several years. It had a big backyard and the charm of an older home. Plus, it had been remodeled, and it had everything we wanted. We thought we had found our home. However, God said no to that house, and we didn't understand.

Then we found a home, smaller than the first one, but at a price that we could remodel the home ourselves. We were indecisive - it was smaller than we wanted, and it needed a lot of work. We asked some friends from church about it on a Sunday, and they suggested that we buy it, especially since the price was so good, and it was in a desirable neighborhood. So, we planned on making an offer on Monday, but before we could, the sellers accepted another offer. Again, we wondered why. It seemed like it would be great for us.

By this time, Joshua started looking at anything new that popped on the market. He called me at work about another home that had just listed, and it looked promising. So, we met with our realtor to check it out, and even though it was smaller than the second house, I wanted to make an offer right away. As it turned out, the seller had accepted an offer that afternoon. We knew the Lord was in control of the situation, but it really didn't make sense. Why was it so hard to find a house near our church?

The fourth house we found was being remodeled when we saw it. It needed a lot of work on the outside, and the landscaping was overgrown. What was done of the inside look great, and we made an offer. We were excited when our offer was accepted, and we started planning on moving. All the while, Joshua and I knew the sale could fall through. About 15 days after the contract was accepted, issues with the title to the house arose. We knew the Lord could be telling us no once again, or it could just be difficulties that would need to be worked through. Eventually, after being in contract for two months, we realized the Lord was closing the door. Thankfully, we were able to break the contract.

As this was all going on, Joshua was looking for another job. His current teaching position was ending, and he was investigating pharmaceutical sales as well as eduction possibilities. The doors seemed to be opening very slowly, and then at the end of June, the strongest possibility disappeared. We knew the Lord had brought us to California, and we knew that He is sovereign over every situation. So, when all job opportunities were gone, and we were no closer to finding a house, all we could do was trust.

About three weeks later, the job opportunity that had disappeared presented itself again but as a much better position. Joshua was offered the job with Eli Lilly in the middle of July, and we both recognized the hand of God. Since the job would involve driving, and the territory was south of Sacramento, we quickly looked a new home in Elk Grove. We had been interested in a particular homebuilder for over a year, and the company had one home left of the style we liked in Elk Grove! In God's amazing timing, He brought Joshua's job and our home in a matter of a couple of days! Joshua started his job in August, and we moved Labor Day weekend. We are truly blessed, and hopefully we never forget the lessons the Lord taught us about His sovereignty.

So, now we know why all of those homes were not the right ones for us. God had something better!