Roller Coaster

Kendal visited with our cousin, Rusty, today about the house. He is very well versed in Real Estate. He gave some good advice and helped with some of our questions. After speaking with him we decided to put a little more cash into escrow so the seller's would know we are serious. Kendal then called Kayce (our Realtor) and told her what we wanted to do. Through a couple phone calls, we did get a response from the seller's attorney. He said, if we can get everything taken care of with no more paper work (don't ask for anything else, etc.) he will sign. Yes, he will sign! Kayce is in the process of working out the details and writing up our contract. We hope to get a final signature to be in contract by early next week. Like we mentioned yesterday, the repairs of the wall and the sills are being finished today. The only thing we had to compromise on is the appliance package that we had to downgrade in hopes that we wouldn't have trouble with the appraisal.

...So now we wait...what a roller coaster this is.

Timeline

Wednesday, 10/12/2011, we received a memorandum stating the attorney would fix 3 of the 6 repairs needed if we put $4,500.00 into escrow. According to our loan terms, we aren't even able to put that much in. We responded with that we wanted him to go forward with fixing the 3 items but we can't put that money into escrow, because of the loan terms.

Thursday, 10/13/2011, the attorney responded with "let me sleep on it and get back to you on Friday."

No call on Friday. Original offer expired and he has not signed an extension.

On Monday, 10/17/2011, we finally heard back from the attorney and he does not want to work with us any more stating that he gave us ample time to get everything completed (appraisal). Here's the thing...we were always waiting on him to respond to our counters and addendum's. Our hands were tied with completing anything because we had to wait on him to get back to us to know if he was going to fix the house problems that needed to happen.

Tuesday, our Realtor sent a letter showing when everything was signed and sent back. Proof of getting everything in ASAP.

Wednesday, no response.

Thursday, we drove by the house, and the repairs we asked for are being completed. The message from the attorney is that after seeing the estimates, he would make the repairs because that is what it would take to sell. Neither our Realtor nor even the seller's Realtor knew of these repairs. He still hasn't responded to our extension or shown any interest in working with us.

So this is where we stand with the house. We don't really feel like it is a door that is completely closed. This attorney is not working for the best interest of his clients; The beneficiary or the estate. Our loans are ready, we just have to wait for the appraisal to go through. We are ready to purchase, I am sure "Safe Haven" and the Redmond humane society would enjoy to each receive $100,000, but this attorney isn't wanting to budge with us.

Please be praying for peace and for wisdom for us. Also, a whole lot of discernment as to what to do next and be able make decisions and whatnot.

We are seeking advice from those that know their stuff and are trying to be patient in the meantime.

Stay Tuned...

Denied

Our close date has been extended because we added a repair addendum to our offer. Just now, we found out they have denied it and we have to purchase the home 'as is'. That is very disappointing for us because A) we don't have extra money just floating around to cover these repairs and B) we don't have a bunch of time to put into these extras. It was going to be difficult enough just to work on the kitchen and painting and carpet. Now we have to add masonry work, reframing a couple windows and I can't remember what else that needs to be done.

Here's the second part to them denying taking care of these repairs. If the appraisal doesn't come back at what we need it to, we may not get the house all together. The way they are not willing to work with us, if the price doesn't add up to what they need, they could just walk away from the deal unless we come up with the difference...still more money. It feels highly unlikely that they would lower the price to match the appraisal.

Would really appreciate prayer for peace in our hearts and that all these details would be worked out for our benefit.

UPDATE: The seller's in all their "lawyer" speak, are needing us to deposit $4,500 into our escrow for the repairs so we don't walk away from the deal if they fix the busted in wall in the garage. The wall is literally knocked off the foundation and they won't fix it unless we come up with it. We don't have $4,500!

Martha, Martha, Martha

In 13 short days, we will own a house. Honestly, Kendal and I keep waiting for the walls of this dream to come crumbling down around us. How could we possibly own a home this awesome?

We put in an addendum to our offer for the sellers to fix a handful of things and are still waiting back to hear if they will do so. We also have the appraisal in our near future, so we aren't out of the woods yet, but so close.

I have done a lot of window shopping for rugs, carpet, paint, craigslist f

urniture, new furniture, appliances, and everything kitchen. I day dream about everything coming together, waking up in my morning sunlit master bedroom with the ri

ver rock fireplace, stepping onto the clean, new carpet, walking downstairs and turning the kettle on my new gas stove. Seriously unreal.

Like most of you, I really have never had new things. We buy used qu

ite often, we borrow when we can, we take your free chairs and kitchen appliances, buy from the mismatch paint table, clean that horribly stained carpet one...more...time, and paint or uphol

ster what we already own.

But this month, I get to experience something that I never thought I would get to. I get to go to a store, pick out what I want, in the shade I want and place

it in my new home. Can you hardly believe it?

We just got back from Home Depot and here are some choices that we are hoping to make official.

We are ripping out the lower cabinets and replacingthem with Martha Stewarts: Dunemere, in Ocean Floor.

We are painting all the upper cabinets solid white. I know, I know, those of you wood fans are booing me right now.

We are deciding between Martha

Stewarts Corian countertop in either "sea salt" or "shoreline"

(sea salt)

(Shoreline)

These are the decisions I enjoy to make, live for, really.

I think we are leaning towards hardwood in the kitchen (maybe do hand-scraped, wider planked) to match the majority of the main floor.

We are still trying to decide whether or not to keep the original faucet and tile backsplash. I could go either way, Kendal wants new, but we'll see. I am thinking we will go ahead and re-tile with a white subway tile if we do knock it all out. Using a grey grout to help with the look of the old cottage farmhouse. I want to paint the window sills to match the lower cabinets in that muted grey.

Oh man, I can't wait!

Better.

At 11:00 a.m. this Wednesday morning, the 7th day of September, we are putting an offer on the 2nd street house. Kendal is chill, and I am both excited and scared. This is so different from what we thought we wanted. Yet, we feel content at the idea of it all, the change of ministry, the change of a different part of town, the change of lifestyle.

We feel confident that the Lord is leading us into this home.

Monday, as we were driving home from our counseling time in Portland, we were talking about the house and the words, "For the Better" came to my mind. I don't know if it was because somehow our new youth group logo was somehow seeping through (which I had only heard a couple times a few weeks ago), or if it is part of a season we are going to be stepping into...I hope so.

Kendal talked to our lender yesterday and said that the loan we wanted to pursue wouldn't make sense for us, but she had something better, better, just as the Lord would want for us, yes, something better.

I know when we found our Kari Place home, it was more than what I thought I could ever have, God knew it was for our "better."

I have trusted all along that He would give us a home that suited us, I also had a feeling that He would give me more than I thought I could imagine, just like Kari Place, and here it is...something better.

Please, once again, I ask you to pray, pray that the financial stuff would work out for our "better."

Please pray for future inspections, that they would come out in a more positive way than we anticipate.

That this transition and possible upgrading would go smoothly.

Please pray that God's love, provision and sovereignty would be seen throughout this process by those that doubt. That they too would recognize something, someone, bigger and BETTER is at work.

But mostly, please Thank Jesus for this.

We've Decided

We are making a move, not the move, but one that takes a step closer to getting a home. 180 s. 2nd street is calling our name. Even more importantly, Jesus is drawing us to it. I don't know why exactly, but we can't deny the pull.

My dream for a house was an acre of land (at least) and a place to grow my pumpkins. I wanted a cozy place off the main roads, tucked back, more fortress like.

Funny. The place we are looking at is at a busy intersection on a main thoroughfare across the street from the Library, Catholic church, an open park and I can see Ixtapa, all from the front window. It sits on .25 of an acre, but a lot of that is house. Sure I can find a place to grow some pumpkins, just a smaller scale dream.

We feel that our ministry as a family is turning into something new. New is scary, but exciting! We are trusting that Jesus is leading us into this new home, ministry, openness, more community, more vulnerability and it is only He that can make me *comfortable* with this move. This something New.

This looks like it will be a long wait as we have a special loan to get and before we can start the work on that, we have to come up with 3.5% down. I am not seeing that chunk of change laying around...so...yes, it may be a while.

We are thinking of selling our Nissan. Our beloved, faithful Nissan. It has been a charmer for almost 12 years now! I also need to buckle down as much as I can with the couponing world. I am pretty good at it, just fell out of practice. That certainly could save us a couple hundred a month. Then there is the business of jewelry. If I could get my hinney in gear and make new pieces 4 out of our 7 day week, I could really start to bring in some cash. Not a ton, but you know, something.

Anyways, we are excited, we trust that God is in control of this whole entire situation and we will just wait on Him to open each door. Please pray for us as we start this next adventure.

"Eucharisteo-thanksgiving-always precedes the miracle." Ann Voskamp. This sentence is ringing in my ears as we take these first steps, it is resinating through my body, deeper into my soul. I want to place it at the forefront of my mind and more importantly at the forefront of my heart. I want to walk this path, adventure of buying this home, with full gratitude. He has provided all things, from the sell of our former home to providing the Wheeler house, to seeing us through to the place He has chosen. We will praise Him everyday for His grace, His sovereignty, and His ridiculous love for us. We are thankful!

Upstairs

If you start at the bottom of this post, I'll take you on a tour of the upstairs.

This is the North side of the house. So the windows you are seeing are the kitchen, dining, boys' bedroom and guest bedroom.
Here is one of the rooms in the basement. There are two larger rooms in the basement and a foyer, plus a couple rooms that would be great for storage and a great for canned items.
Built in closet. This is the hallway entrance to the Master.
There is a small sitting room off the Master. We would like to turn it into a bathroom. It shares a wall with the existing bathroom.

The doorway you now see is coming from the Toy room/master closet. This is what we would use as the Master Bedroom.
Toy room or Master Closet.
Standing in the corner by the built ins in the boys' room and looking towards the front of the house. The doorway you can see is another room. We would either turn it into a small playroom or a Master closet.

The doorway to the left is the hallway we just came down. More built-ins!

This is as you step into the Boys' room.
This is looking from the guest bedroom into the Master.
This is the "guest bedroom"
Another built in before you get to the boys' bedroom.


Cool shower.
Here is the bathroom.
From here, the doorway to the left is a bedroom that would potentially be a guest bedroom. Straight ahead (where my Mom is standing) would be the boys' shared bedroom, and there is a doorway to the right, straight across from where Jonah is standing, that would be our Master.

Once you reach the top of the stairs, the bathroom is on the right (left side in this photo).

This cool wood paneling stretches around the opening of the stair case. I am standing on the small landing.

From the foyer in the center of the main floor, you come up the stairs, to a small landing and then up a couple more steps.

Main Floor

Start at the Bottom of these photos for a "tour" of the main floor.

Staircase to the upstairs. The doorway to the right is back into the kitchen. We just went full circle ;)

To the left is the dumb waiter and where Kendal is standing is a laundry shoot. The room in the distance is the living room and front entrance.
Downstairs bath. Check out that cool door!
sunroom/boutique. Who knows, maybe it would be a tea room, or library, or workout room. So much potential!

The doorway to the left leads to the foyer, where the bathroom and staircase is.
Built ins in the main floor Master, AKA my office.
This would be my office and I would set up that back room (sunroom) into a boutique where you could come buy my jewelry! ;)
The door to the right enters into what would have previously been the Master Bedroom. I think I would use this for my office.
From the front door, you can hang a left and enter a front room that would easily become a smaller T.V./family room.
Standing in the front of the living room with the dining room to the right. The doorway in the center goes into that foyer area that has the staircase, bathroom and dumbwaiter. The front door is where Lucas is running to.
Living room fireplace.
Built-ins in the dining room.
From the kitchen facing into the dining room, and on into the living room.
Large, super cool, banquette.
Staircase to the basement.
The dining room is through the doorway straight away. The doorway to the right goes into a foyer area and the staircase upstairs.
The kitchen with the banquette behind me. The entrance from the breezeway is to my left. To my right is the staircase to the basement.

This is the back of the house. The garage is to the left. There is alley access. The bay window (set of windows on the left bottom) is the banquette in the kitchen for frame of reference. We start by entering from the breezeway between the house and the garage into the kitchen.

What's Next

What a Whirlwind! We got moved out of Kari Place and into our new abode.

We were under contract on our two lots as of a couple weeks ago and so we pushed forward with plans to build. Yet, we feel we came to our closed door. We received a phone call from our Adair liaison and we just can't make the financing work. To receive 100% financing the home has to appraise for $300,000. That will NEVER happen.

Luckily we didn't have to pay for an official appraisal, or anything else for that matter.

We have basically walked away from our Adair "dream" and have viewed it as a closed door.

After I took the call from Adair, I looked at the MLS online and saw a home that we have been thinking about looking in for quite a while now. I didn't want to pursue it because I didn't care for the location. But, since we have been living on Wheeler St., our viewpoint has changed in regards to location.

Even more importantly, we have visited a lot about how we feel God is changing our focus on ministry as a family. Not that we are leaving church ministry, but we are adding to it by engaging the whole family. We have been working really hard on becoming more open, vulnerable and truth-tellers. We feel like God is steering us in a direction to welcome folks into our home to be open with, be vulnerable with and to speak truth. Hoping that people will feel that they can do the same. Our home will be a "fortress", a place to put their feet up, to relax, to feel safe and be loved. To do life with us.

When I saw the house at 180 S. 2nd street, I called my Realtor to go have a look. I just wanted some encouragement and to start moving on from the Adair house. You could look at it as going through a break-up and then headed out on that first date with the "new guy."

It is such a cool house.

The location puts us in a place of allowing for people to just swing by and be welcomed. Plus, we are right across the street from the Library and a park. Could be pretty great.

We looked through it again today with my Dad, Mom, Sister and Grandma. I could totally see all of us there.

Tonight at dinner, Kendal and I talked about it and it is going to take a bit of a miracle to make it work because of some of the upgrades we will need to do, BUT, we serve a Big God.

Application

We started the financial application process to put an offer on the two lots. I guess Adair has some specific wording that has to go in the offer, so it takes a couple more steps to get started. We are excited, no closed doors yet, so we move forward.

We just looked at the Adair website again and can see that Dave Ramsey endorses Adair. That is a good endorsement to have! Plus they have an A+ rating on the BBB.

This is such an exciting process and I just pray that it all works out how we desire...and quickly too!