There's no place like home!

It's true! The owner has accepted our offer! Here's the little bit longer story... over the weekend we had our typical interaction with the owner. "Not today. Tomorrow. Later." Finally we were to go over to the house.

From the way he talked on the phone it sounded like we might finally be moving forward. After we had tromped in with all 4 kids and sat down the owner just stared at Josh and finally said, "Well?"

Josh asked him if he had considered our offer. He hemmed and hummed and then again asked, "Well?"
He wanted us to make a higher offer. He shook his head at Josh and said, "It'd be a shame to lose this place for just 5 or 10 thousand more euros."

Josh sagely answered that you can't offer what you don't have!Then he went on about what a great place it is and how we won't have to do anything but give it a little paint in order to move in. (I decided not to jump in at this point and tell him that when we showed photos to my mother she started crying thinking about her "babies" living in such a place.)

A business friend of ours had told Josh that after you make an offer the next guy who speaks loses ground. I guess someone had said this to the owner as well because there were awkward moments of silence as he and Josh waited each other out.

Finally he told us to go home and think about it. Josh said, "We've done our thinking. We'll go home and pray." He promised to call in the morning but not before Luke asked innocently in English, "This our new house Daddy?" Josh translated and the owner chuckled, bent down and told Luke, "It will. It will. You're the boss aren't you?"

Well, the morning came and went and no phone call. Finally while I was making lunch we discussed the possiblity of sending a text message. Josh was scheduled to get on a plane the next day for a JV board meeting and we really were hoping to know before he left. After we prayed we felt the Lord leading us to really wait for Him to lead the charge. I went on with making grilled cheese sandwiches and not 10 minutes later the phone rang and it was the owner saying he would accept our offer. Josh got off the phone and gave us the news! I couldn't keep from shouting out! We danced around the kitchen and then took the kids bowling to celebrate!

I'm reflecting now on just how personal the Lord has made this. A year ago I was so impressed by the verse in the feeding of the 5,000 that says, "Jesus already had in mind what he was going to do." That really went into my heart and I've held onto it. I know you have something in mind Lord. This is not about this man or the economy or my doing things right or my husbands ability or anything else. This is about You. This is about me trusting You to provide in whatever way You see fit. And this is a chance for me to practice resting peacefully as you decide what is best and not fight against you but receive whatever you have for us.

Oh, there's more to write but that's all for now. We'll keep you posted as we start painting and preparing our home to be a safe place for our family and a place of ministry for whatever else the Lord has in mind!