The Perfect House

Monday, August 13, 2012

The Perfect House

Buying a House Part III - continued from The Search Begins

On the Friday night after we started looking with Terry, I saw a LOVELY yellow house listed. It wasn't a short sale and the listing indicated that they were priced to sell. Terry had an obligation the following morning and we had a soccer game for Peter, but we planned to go see the house as soon as possible - Saturday afternoon. One of our goals in our move was to be closer to family, and though we were trying to keep an open mind to do what was best for us, we really kept coming back to the idea that what was best for us WAS to be closer to family. We just love having easy access to the people that we enjoy sharing so much of our time with. This house was not only adorable and beautifully landscaped, but it was in the most ideal location of anything we had looked at. I was giddy over the possibilities! I nervously sat through the soccer game, showing pictures to my brother and sister (who each had a child on Peter's team) and anxiously waited for our chance to go see the house.

We went to see it and I was immediately in love. It was everything I had thought I wanted. It had great curb appeal and was just adorable. We LOVED the backyard with a large wooden deck and beautiful trees and paths around the house. There were some seemingly minor flaws to the house, but I couldn't acknowledge them - I was so set on wanting to buy it.

From the showing we went directly to Terry's office to write up an offer. We had burst a little above the price range we were shooting for, but we could still make it work. And for this house, we decided, it was worth it.

But the bad news came. An offer had been made - and accepted, that very morning. Still, we could try to be the back up offer because sales fell through all the time.

So that's what we did. We put in an offer on a house for the first time in our lives. It took a little while to get everything going. We had to put down earnest money and sign all the papers. Andrew was so nervous. I wasn't nervous at all - it didn't seem real since it was just a back up offer and I was positive I wanted this house if we could possibly have it.

I think this is when the prayers really started. I was extremely emotionally invested. There were things that were completely outside of my control. I wanted what was best for our family. And so I began to pray fervently that we would be able to progress with confidence and be able to be blessed with the house that Heavenly Father wanted us to have. I have such a strong belief that Heavenly Father leads us to different places in our lives and that His plan for us is always better than our own plan for us. I wanted to see His plan fulfilled in our lives and I knew that miracles could happen to make things work out exactly as they should.

The following Monday we learned that we had been accepted as the back up! That news felt like we were just one step closer to having His miracles fall into place for us. It was an exciting time and I just continued to pray my guts out. And while we waited for the situation to unfold, we continued to keep our eyes on the market and to go out looking at the houses that were available.

To be continued in Nevermind...

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.