Serindipity

It's safe to share our exciting news!!!!!

When we first put our house on the market last August, we didn't really think it would sell. We hadn't done many updates or put a lot of time and money into super charming curb appeal. There were several other houses for sale on our street and even more of the exact house for sale throughout the neighborhood. Months and months went by and we had showings but no offers. Then the holidays hit and even the showings stopped. We had a 6 month contract with our realtor and were starting to talk about what we'd do in February when it was up. Then it happened. In late January we had 3 showings back to back and boom. Cash buyers put down an offer with a contingency that we had to be out in two weeks.

We didn't really have a plan as to what we were doing next. Build? Rent? Buy? How do you rush a decision like that??  Our answer was to temporarily move in with family (my parents) while we made big decisions, paid down debt and saved as much as we could. We have been so lucky to have the time we have really needed to make a decision that truly *feels* right. We did a lot of waffling and talking all of our ideas out with friends and family. Getting opinions and feeling out all kinds of possibilities. Having so many options to consider has been both a blessing and a curse. We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful avenues to choose from but it is hard to know which is right. 

We finally sat down and made a list of our priorities. Then we wrote out those priorities in order. 

1) Overall happiness and contentedness 

2) Becoming debt free

3) Building/Farming (though we still plan to slowly build the farm endeavor all along the way)

In a sense, we decided that we needed to really focus on one priority at a time. We have been living with my parents for 4 months now. For what it is, we have a great set up. That being said, our things are on top of or beside their things (we did not move into an empty space as their basement is finished and fully furnished), we are taking up half of their fridge and always seem to be using the washer when they need it (how do we dirty so many clothes??) and putting forth the effort to keep my mom's house looking like a toddler does not live and play there, while respectful and necessary in my opinion, is tiring sometimes. On nights when we might be tired and feel like leaving the dishes until morning, we muster up the energy and do them so she doesn't have to come home to a messy kitchen. My parents love having us here and I will always cherish this time we have spent with them; but in order for priority #1 up there to be met for me, this homemaker needs her own home to make.  

We started exploring options for getting out on our own again and once more were faced with oodles of possibilities. Take out a mortgage and have our house built as quickly as possible? Build a garage or barn with an apartment on top to live in for 4 or 5 years? Buy a mobile home to put on our property that we can resell once our house is built? Rent?

After making that priority list then weighing our options, we decided that renting would be the best path for various reasons.  We also decided that we should rent something near where David's work since we'd still be coming out to the farm to work in the garden every night. Being close to his work would at least be close to the same commute time he already has. David found us 2 houses (one with a fenced yard!) just 2 minutes from where he works. He would be able to come home for lunch even!  He set up a showing after work the next day and we decided that if we liked one, we'd take it on the spot.

 The next day, showing day, David got a call from the realtor that was going to show us the homes. She said that BOTH of them had gotten rented out that morning. We totally missed the boat. Having made the decision to go with it, then having it taken away, really showed us how we felt like our lives have been on pause while we have been living here, waiting to take the next step. David got back on the internet first thing the next morning and found this gem:

A sweet little country cottage just a HALF MILE from my parents farm listed FOR RENT!!!  We could not believe it!  What are the chances of the other houses falling through and us finding something so perfect just a hop skip and a jump from our land?  Definitely a serendipitous moment! Not wanting to miss such a great opportunity, we made arrangements to see it during David's lunch hour that day. As soon as we drove up, we knew. It was what we had been waiting for. It *felt* right. The cottage is nestled back into a neighboring farm. It has a huge fenced yard (yay for Mav!) and trees that provide privacy from the road. It is close enough to my parents house to walk if we want and it has so. much. charm. When we went inside and saw exposed beams in the kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, a laundry room and a built in desk in the sizable kitchen we told them we'd take it!  They worked with us on the rent and we got it down to an amount that will still allow us to work towards all of our remaining priorities. We plan to follow Dave Ramsey's 7 steps to financial peace and because of everything we've done so far we will complete step 3 in 4 months and move on to steps 4 and 5!  

We sign the lease to this beautiful county cottage tomorrow and we'll be moving in next weekend.  We are so excited and can't wait to finally push play on our lives again!  

Here is a little video tour of our new home (with some Ayden cuteness sprinkled in as usual). Enjoy!

~Sarah

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