Love, Doug and Rochelle: More life changes

This past year has been such a whirlwind for us. We got pregnant in September, Doug started a full time job in October, and now we're buying a house. We've been on the hunt for a long time (it seems) for the perfect house at the perfect price for us. We've been praying and seeking God's will. We've had a few times where we thought that we had found what He was providing, but it ended up being a dead end. I've heard it said that you shouldn't be waiting for green lights from God, but for red lights. How can he direct you if you're not moving? So we had quite a few red lights on our search for this home.

We found the models of this home when we were looking at re-sales in Riverpark in January. We were walking through and looking at the ones that were for sale and then saw that there were open models so we decided to walk through those as well. They were really nice, and still being built. The price for the one that we could afford was less than the re-sales that we had been looking at, and it'd be for a new house. Also the ones that we liked that were re-sales were three story townhomes, something that I wasn't sure that we would like. These are two story and have a lot of windows so they're really bright. Ours is more like a one story. You come in the door and go up a flight of stairs to the rest of the house.

We still weren't sure if we wanted to live in Riverpark since they have a mello roos tax. But the house kept coming back to us in our thoughts. It'd still be cheaper than the homes that are for sale. The ones that we could afford were either complete fixer uppers (which then we could NOT afford to fix up), or were going to be tiny shoebox homes that we would outgrow in just a few years. We wanted something that we'd be happy in for 5-8 years and never feel stuck in.

So two weeks ago we showed our family the models and they were in full support of us trying to get in one. We discovered then which lot we would want to own. It is on the complete end of a row of homes and has terrific views. It also had a driveway and is on a big lot. Last week we went back again and showed my dad and found out when the next phase would be released. We were told it'd be the following Saturday.

All week we were so excited and nervous to see if this was what God was providing. We had no doubt that he would provide and that if this wasn't the house for us, then he had something better in store for us, something that we would love even more. It was never a question of whether we would be provided for, we were just hoping that it would be this house.

On Saturday Doug went to put the deposit down to take the home off the market for us. There was a priority list for buyers and we weren't sure where we were on that list or how many people would show up wanting the same property. Six other people were there but we were the only ones wanting that lot. So we got it! It's estimated that it will be ready in July or August, which is perfect for us. It will be a little difficult moving with a newborn, but we have so many friends that have already volunteered to help us move. If the home were ready before the baby came it'd be really difficult for me to do anything in the process (and I'm the packer). So it's really really good timing.

And who knows, between now and then something else may happen and the whole thing could fall through. But God will still provide for us and take care of us. Of that I'm certain!

Here are some pictures of what the house looks like now.

The front