Wandering in the desert. . .

During this whole househunting affair our friend Daryl compared us to the Israelites wandering in the desert. . .honestly, it wasn't nearly that bad. It has been a long journey and we did learn a lot about God and our relationships with him, but, really, staying at my parents' house for 6 months was way better than wandering in the desert.

Most of you know the journey that started almost a year ago when we began actively searching for a house, but really the journey began about 6 years ago. It was then Jon and I first considered buying a house. We didn't considered it long because my grandparents' rental house became available and it was just too good of a deal to pass up. We decided to live there for about a year to save some money and then look into buying our first home. Well, that year came and it was 2004. . .you know, the "Year of the Hurricanes." And then the real estate boom. During the next few years we were so priced out of the housing market we could have (maybe) afforded to buy a lot and pitch a tent. So we stayed at my grandparents, which was a huge blessing. Along comes 2006 and the boom is still going strong, we have two little boys, and a pretty decent sized 2 bedroom house to consider buying. My grandparents had decided they really just wanted to deal with owning one house and were going to sell the rental house. It was an older home but with two good-sized bedrooms and bathrooms it was a house with what they call "good bones" and we had pretty much decided to buy it and make it our starter home. We knew the boys would be fine sharing a room for several more years and we were ready to be homeowners. That decision was made early November 2006 and then, about a week before Thanksgiving 2006 we find out our little "unexpected blessing" Rylee is on her way!  Well, while 2 boys may be able to share a room just fine, 2 boys and a little girl could not share a room for very long.  So on to another rental (one street over from my grandparents') which we were also considering buying eventually.  It was a great house for us for those 2 years but we are sooooo glad we lived there before buying.  It was older and not something we wanted to own (can we say money pit????).  

So last February, thanks to Jon's parents, we began searching the MLS listings for our first home.  At that point I was worried about the timing of finding a house and our lease ending in June-Ha, Ha that worry seems so silly now.  8 months, 5 houses/offers, and one long emotional roller coaster later we've moved into our house and we own it!  It was a long journey but this house was the best one by far for our family.

Here's what we've learned along the way:

• God's timing is not our timing (I've always heard this but this was the first time I really got to experience it.)
• Just because you think you've found exactly what you wanted God knows there's something much better right around the corner. (well, maybe not right around the corner, it could be 8 months around the corner but still.)
• Short Sale = Very Long Wait!
• People who call themselves short sale specialists really aren't all that special.
• God's timing is not our timing.
• People can work in a very secular field of business and still conduct themselves in a way that glorifies God-Thanks Paul T., Uncle Bob, and Mr. Rider's office.
• Knowing that you have so many wonderful family and friends praying for you and supporting you makes it easier.  And I know our sunday school class is happy to get "the Spencer's house search" off the prayer list!  
• My parents are wonderful, patient people. . .but, I already knew that!
• Did I mention. . .God's timing is not our timing

This was a test of faith.  Faith that God would provide a home for us to raise our family in and to share our faith with others in.  I'm not taking that test lightly. . .we worked hard to pass it.  

P.S. Pictures to follow. . .when it doesn't look like quite such a disaster.