So I know I probably left much to the imagination with that title. It is hard to comprehend, I know. But really, GOD GAVE US A HOUSE for the next five years!!! Here is the story behind all of that and the details about how awesome God is!
Brent and I were trying to be responsible and adult-like and plan ahead because our lease on our current apartment is up in January. We thought if we started praying about it now and searching for a house now, God would give us one by January. Little did we know, God was going to literally GIVE us one. We looked at a couple of properties, both of which were for sale and just could not get peace about them. We talked about it and prayed about it and Brent said he just didn't have peace about either so we would just wait. See, God really blessed us with our current apartment. Remembering that time that God graciously supplied our needs, Brent said, "I'm not doing anything until I know for sure that God put it in our laps, just like he did our apartment we are in now." That statement was probably amusing to God given He knew exactly what He was planning to do just a few short weeks later. Brent's job is in Russell county and I hope that a year from now, after graduation, I will be working in Russell county, as well, because of that, we were primarily looking in Russell county.
Anyway, so we kept driving by a house that was extremely run down by the previous tenants and decided to call about the house. The landlord said that she would be renting it but that it needed serious renovation and she was not sure when the property would be ready. Regardless, we met her to look at the property. The house was an adorable little farmhouse, currently seated on a farm, with hay fields all around and only 30 seconds from the highway. For any of you that know me, you know that all of that is right down my alley! We walked through the house with her and realized that yes, it needed lots of work. She told us her budget for remodeling and when she estimated it might be ready. Brent's dad asked if she would be interested in trading some rent if we would do the work that needed to be done on the house...we were expecting maybe six months to a year if she was interested in this at all. She asked us if we would sign a 5 year lease, a little puzzled we looked at each other and I responded, "well maybe." She then said, well if you will then I can give you the money and you can design it so that you will love it and live here for free for five years in exchange for your labor. What?!?!?!?! It took me a second to comprehend all of that and once I did, I almost had a shouting spell all over the porch right in front of her! God is literally giving us a house to live in for five years, on a beautiful farm, with a wonderful landlord, and is giving us the money to make it our dream little farmhouse for the next five years! God is SOOOOO Good! But then it gets better...the water bill is included in that...for five years!
My whiz of a husband did the math and at what we pay now for our current apartment (which is much cheaper than it would have been had we moved anywhere else in Russell county) we will be saving about $20,000 at the end of five years!
I can't tell you how this happened but I can tell you who made it happen and that is none other than God! My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you but to give you hope and a future." That so applies here! HE LOVES US! HE WANTS TO DO BIG, BIG, BIG THINGS FOR US! HE WANTS TO BLESS US! I believe that nothing pleases God more than when we are obedient to him (especially in the waiting) and HE gets to bless us for it! He has already planned all of it out. He knew that on a particular day in June 2015 he was going to bless mine and Brent's socks off and I think he was excitedly waiting on the time to come so that He could. He is just awesome and He loves us so much! He loves us so much that He does huge things like "put it (a house) in our laps!"
Pictures of all the renovations are to come! :)
xoxo,
Em
