WE GOT IT!!!

Got the news this morning... we got the financing! The house is ours!
We're still trying to decide on when the possession date should be, but at the latest, we'll be in on the 25th of September.
Praise Jesus! He is so faithful! My verse for today was 'Be still and know that I am God.' And He gave me His peace that passes all understanding all morning... He is so good to me and my family.

Whirlwind

What a whirlwind this week has been. Four days ago, we found out that we had to move in no time at all and this morning, we're waiting for news about whether the 'counter-offer' game is finally over. On Wednesday, we found 'the' house... An old (1914) 3-bedroom house and made an offer. We're amazed at how far the owners have come down from their original price... It looks as though we'll be settling $20,000 below the asking price!
Sarah, since you're not on FB, you haven't gotten updates and I've been too busy to sit at the computer for more than a few seconds at a time, but if you want to see it, go to MLS.ca, click residential properties, then enter in 9284 in the MLS number feild. Let me know what you think.
I'll write in more detail once we get the final word today... We're hoping to head up there this weekend to show the kids the house, so I'll take my camera and show y'all more pics.
Please keep praying... Our only concern now is financing... The bank had no trouble approving our mortgage, but we have to wait on the big guns now... God's paved the way this far and we believe whole-heartedly that He will continue to do so.
Moving day - September 25!

Nothing we can do... Cliff's within his rights. T minus 22 days.

Oh My Gosh, Our Lives Are Insane.

So Sunday was my Sam's 2nd birthday. We decided to have a quiet family only celebration here at home, so when Sam went down to nap, we got to work decorating for him. I hung streamers from the ceiling and inflated tons of helium balloons. He got up from his nap and his reaction was adorable... His eyes widened like saucers and he said, "Whoa." No smile, no laughter, just "Whoa." So funny. A slide show to follow...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Unfortunately, Sam's birthday was over-shadowed by some rough news. As we were sitting in the living room, opening presents with Sam, our landlord knocked on the door and asked Trevor to step outside with him... in the MIDDLE of our little party! Anyway, he told Trev that if he(meaning Cliff, the landlord) can't rent our basement suite by the 15th of this month, he won't be renewing our lease... meaning we would have until the 30th of September to find a new place to live. We were obviously upset by this, but put it out of our minds as much as we could. Yesterday, at about 2 in the afternoon, Cliff showed up again to serve us with official notice that we need to be out by noon on the 30th of September. That leaves us 22 days to find a new home that we can move in to almost immediately, to pack, and to clean this place behind us. Over-whelming? Uh, yeah.

I'm hearing over and over that what Cliff is doing doesn't sound legal and so I'm going to call the Service Alberta Consumer Contact Center this morning to ask straight up whether or not he can do this. PLEASE pray that Cliff is in the wrong here and that we have more time. If we can just get the pressure off as to when we need to be out, that would be so helpful.

Yesterday was probably one of the hardest days of my life. I took the news very hard and spent a good part of the day in tears. Every time someone phoned, I was crying. I kept saying, "If it was just me and Trev, we could put our stuff in storage and live in the car for a few weeks, but how can I do that to my babies?" Time and time again, people reassured me that it won't come to that. I am so blessed to have dear friends and family who are willing to stand by us now.

Last night at 9 p.m., we received a call back from TD's mobile mortgage broker. Long story short, we learned that it will be no problem for us to get a mortgage... and the interest rate we'll be paying is 5.8% WORST case scenario. Easily doable. We felt like that phone call was 100% sent from heaven. A weight was lifted off our shoulders... not everything, but a big weight... and we could do nothing but praise the Lord! How many business people return a call on a holiday Monday and late at night when she first got the message? Most people would have waited till morning to call, but God knew we needed to have some answers in order to rest. We went to Him in prayer, crying and thanking Him for a glimmer of good news in the midst of our crisis. Please continue to pray that things will move quickly, that we will find a home that's 1. within our budget, 2. that we can move into right away, 3. that we can get everything done that needs to be done in the next month. Also pray for peace and the ability to rest at night. Pray that our kids won't be afraid and that we'll be able to control our emotions in front of them.

Last night, Trevor and I made a choice to pray for Cliff and his wife, Lucille. God tells us to pray for our enemies and right now, that's what I feel like they are. Would you join us in praying for them too? Pray that they will be blessed, that they won't continue to lose money on this house. Please pray that we will live lives honoring to Lord Jesus and that they would see Christ in our behaviour.

This is a hard time for our family, but I'm so grateful for you. Your prayers are being heard loud and clear and God has something big in store for our family. We don't understand His ways, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that all these things are going to work out for our good... Because that's what the Bible tells me.

My Baby is Two...

I cannot believe that two years ago, I delivered my baby Sam. I can't imagine life without him so it seems like he's always been around!

Anyway, I put together a quick slideshow of pics of Sam in the hospital... There were lots to pick from since he was in the NICU for almost a week! Hard to believe he started out so small... and so yellow!

Make a Smilebox photobook