Home, Sweet Home

1 marriage.
20 Years.
17 rented residences.
5 children.
5 exchange students.
2 dogs.
2 cats.
3 siblings living with us.
1 emergency surgery.
18 months unemployment.
5 years self-employment.
18 months of Brian being away from family.
And now I can finally add...................
Our own home!!!!!

We've been through a lot in 20 years of marriage.  Great, amazing, good, bad and downright ugly!!!  We've always wanted to own our own home but, for many varied reasons, we haven't yet.  A month or so ago, Brian and I were both feeling very strongly that his Dad should come live with us.  Mom is in a nursing home, probably permanently, and Dad has been living by himself.  His health has declined and it would be better for him to be with us where we can take care of him.  He will be much healthier with regular meals and reminders to actually eat!!
So, once again, I started looking at properties.  We needed very specific details such as space for Dad to feel like he has his privacy yet be part of the family without feeling like he's just a visitor in our home.  Several weeks ago I found a property that would work quite well for us.  There would have been some remodeling to do but nothing major or expensive.  We put in an offer for the house, they countered and before we could counter back, the bank let us know that there was another offer on the table.  They wanted to know what our best offer was.  I told them and they said the other party had made a better one.  So we didn't get that house.
I wasn't worried about it and wasn't even upset!  I know that the Lord has a plan for us and had been praying that He would guide us through this to the *best* place for us.  With that offer falling through, I figured there must be something better just waiting!!
And there was!!  I came across a listing that I hadn't seen before (I was looking several times a week online). It had only been on the market for 6 days!  Last Monday I went and looked at that house and 3 others.  It was the only one that would work for us.  The others were either too small (despite what was listed on the for sale page) or needed work before being able to be moved into.  So we decided to make an offer.  The bank (it's a foreclosure) countered and we countered back and they accepted!!!  I was so surprised!!!  We had put the offer in on Thursday, they countered Friday morning, we countered around noon on Friday and I didn't expect to hear anything until Monday.  Our real estate agent called me Saturday afternoon to let me know they accepted our offer!!
It's still a bit unreal.  We have a pre-qualification letter from our lender so I know we're good there.  We have a down payment so we're good there.  It's just been so long and we've been through the search phase so many times in the past that it's hard to believe it's really happening this time!!!!!
I didn't say anything to the younger children about looking for a house until Saturday evening.  They are so excited, too!!  They're even excited about moving to a new school!  I took them out to the house this evening so they could see it.  They were practically bouncing off the walls!!
Brian will be home on the 19th and we sign closing papers on the 20th!!  I just pray there are no blizzards to delay his flights anywhere!  :-)
Here are a few photos.

The house front faces North.

1.6 acres.  About 1/2 of it is in field grass.  This was taken at the very southern edge of the property with the house in the center of the photo.

The entry way.  Taken from the stair landing, looking into the formal living room.  Kitchen, dining and family room are to the left.  4 bedrooms 2 baths upstairs.

Kitchen and dining area.  Brand new stove and dishwasher!!  We'll be getting a new fridge as the one there is pretty old and worn (and it opens the wrong way!!).  On the left wall is a pantry (there are 2).  The open door on the left is into the garage.  The open door at the very back is a bedroom that we've dubbed "Grandpa's Room".  Straight back from the kitchen is a laundry room and full bath (that's Grandpa's Bathroom!).  Real hardwood floors!!  Love that!  An island.  Hate that but will live with it for now.

And this is Isabeau's reaction when we told her it was time to go.  She was sobbing because she wanted to stay in the house.  Poor girl didn't understand we weren't moving in today, just looking.  She's fine now.  

So, a total of 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, formal living room, family room, kitchen, dining room and laundry.  A small, closet pantry and a huge walk-in pantry!  Love that!  3 car garage, huge lawn that looks well taken care of, a fire ring already in place for summer s'mores, and lots and lots and lots of potential!!!!!