“Scary Good”

Those are the words I use to describe an event that occurs in my life which is simply “too good to be true” or  which I think are “totally unbelievable”, but have taken place before my very eyes.

Time for a story…

Windy and I have been looking for a house. Our needs are very specific. As we are planning on moving her parents in with us, we require enough space so as to not feel cramped, but not so much that the place is impossible to keep clean. We prefer a single story house without stairs, at least 4 bedrooms, a fair amount of yard space,  etc.  Oh, and we also need a buyer for her parents’ house as well as someone to buy our place. And of course our new house needs to be “reasonably priced, centrally located, everything we could ever want in a house and more”.

Well, first thing we did was start praying. We truly believe God will provide for all our needs to matter how big or small. We just needed to ask. We prayed every day. We prayed consistently every day.  We believe “there’s no such thing as too much prayer”. We prayed “that when this whole thing happens that it goes quickly & easily…”  trusting that God would open all the doors and we would simply walk through them.

So, we started reviewing realty sites for Open Houses. We hadn’t decided between building on an empty lot, buying a previously owned house, or buying new construction; but as we searched for land on which to build, it became apparent we weren’t going to find the acreage that met our requirements. So, one “option” was taken off our list. Or as we said “one door shut by God”.

Since our needs were pretty specific, we continued attending Open Houses every opportunity – whether it was a 1 or 2 story wasn’t important – as long is met most of our “laundry list”. Very time consuming, but the more houses we toured, the clearer our “vision of our needs” developed and changed.

After viewing many homes, it became apparent what we really wanted was a single story house with a huge kitchen with an island that was open to a large great room big enough to host the entire family for holiday dinners etc. Add to that 4 bedrooms and a decent sized yard and “voila” we’d have the perfect house.

But did it exist?

Days became weeks and weeks became months. We were beginning to wonder if we’d ever find “the” house. It’s not that we were frustrated, it’s just that we were. We decided to attend yet another Open House “just because”. It was a nice two story with a master on main, but again, not quite what we were looking for…

Ah, but across the street were perhaps what we were seeking – newer single story houses on reasonable sized lots, backing to a grove of trees, but none of them were for sale. The agent showing us the 2 story said the single levels sold out fast and wished the builder had built more of them “…because that’s what buyers want right now.”

Then “scary good” began to happen…

One of the single story houses on that street we had talked about with the agent went up for sale! An Open House was scheduled for the next Saturday. So, obviously we made plans to check it out. Also, a second single level home cross-town had caught our eye and it had an Open House Saturday too! Thus, we would be able to do a “side-by-side” comparison.

Saturday arrived, and so did we – at the 1st Open House. It was a wonderful house. I was “ready to sign on the dotted line”. It “felt right” instantly and “felt righter” as we wandered through the rooms. We thought this was “the” house, maybe, as we still had the 2nd Open House to attend.

The agent sensed our interest and the small talk began. Windy began telling her our “story” and then the agent interrupted Windy by saying,  “I have been working with a couple for months who are looking for a house in your parents’ neighborhood…blah blah blah.  Would it be “ok” for me to stop by your parent’s house after this Open House ends and look around? I have a pretty good idea what my clients want. “But of course,” we respond. We then tell her we haven’t done much sale prepping so the house might not look the nicest…blah blah blah.

Details were exchanged. We parted ways and headed to the 2nd house. It was a slight letdown after seeing “the” house; so on our way back into town we decided to swing by the parent’s place to pick up Dixie and show her “the” house.

We return with Dixie and she also liked “the” house. More small talk ensued, ending with a time for the agent to view Dixie’s house. So, again,  we all go our separate ways. Oh man, we really wanted that house!

Later that same evening, Dixie called and said the agent liked what she saw. The agent in turn had called the couple she had been working with to have them come view Dixie’s house. After seeing Dixie’s house, the other couple were curious as to its price!

That Monday,  Dixie accepted an offer for her house – without it ever being listed! We placed an offer on “the” house. Oh, and we found (ok, God sent) someone to buy our residence!

Three things that needed to happen, happened. Quickly & easily. Prayers answered.

“Scary Good”, right?

Ah, but it gets better (Scary Gooder maybe?)…

Combining two households has not been easy. Many “big” items like dressers, book cases, dining room tables, couches, love seats, automobiles, bedroom sets, washers & dryers, etc needed to be sold..which meant we needed buyers – and lots of them!

Prayed some more, asking God to provide – AND HE DID!

Windy posted many of the items on an online marketplace. Her phone “blew up” with responses!  All that remains to be sold is an entertainment center, a roll-top desk, and a sewing table.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised that God answered our prayers.

Why?

Because God is Scary Good!

“The” house.