Like a river

In March 2021, Justin and I were asking God about our living situation. God knew our heart, but we didn’t know how moving out of the city during a hot market to a home with a little land would ever be possible. Ever. And with 4 kids? Forget it. We figured it was a dream we’d put on the back burner and maybe one day, years down the road, it might just happen. Maybe. Probably not. But we can dream, right?

After a conversation about not looking anymore, we went to our church for a “welcome to our church” kind of thing. Little did we know, that evening we would receive our first prophetic word from them. Two minutes into them praying for us, Missy asked, “Are y’all moving?” With us mouths open, we said we had just been talking about that. She went on to say that this home that we would be moving to would be a blessing and that the way it will happen will be like us being in a river just being moved along. We will wonder how in the world everything is happening.

I thought, that’s cool, but, I mean, let’s be honest. Isn’t this kinda like a horoscope where someone takes anything said and applies it to their situation? I feel foolish looking back that I ever had that thought, but I did. At the same time though, I held onto that promise that we wouldn’t have to worry about it. If we were to move, God would make it abundantly apparent.

Fast forward to October. We were no longer talking about moving and were practicing being content in our home.

So here we are out of town camping with friends and I randomly look at Redfin. And I mean randomly. I see a home that went on the market that morning, is 5 acres, in our budget, and in the right location. I laugh and jokingly show it to Justin (with maybe a twinge of hope). He says he’d love to see it, wishes he could talk directly to the seller, and hands me back my phone. I suggest calling the Realtor and see if that’s possible. 30 minutes later, we leave our kids with our friends and head back to town to meet the homeowner and see the house. An hour later, we are shaking hands with the homeowner agreeing to buy it at an even more discounted price (his suggestion) if we can get our lender to even work with us. Few hours later, the lender says we are approved and good to go. Another conversation with the homeowner and he’s taken even more off, and by the next day, the home is under contract.

At the end of the weekend, I just stepped back in awe and say, “What just happened? Surely He’s going to close a door on this, right?”

But He never did and we see this home as truly a blessing. And just as we were told, we were moved along as if in a river and saw it all come together.

But that was just the beginning. The house was not in good shape and was terribly depressing. Our family came together and worked on the house, prayed over it, and welcomed others in on our journey. Today it is a space that is full of laughter, lots of love, noise, and a door that is always open to a friend. Our community of friends gather here regularly and our home is beyond blessed by their presence month after month. What Justin saw in the home has become a reality and I grow more in awe of what God is doing here every day.

making a house a home