How to buy a House

"God ordained!"

How I did it: I lost my job while in escrow on my first house.  So I stopped the entire process altogether.  I was frustrated because I'd prayed so hard before beginning the journey to make sure it was a part of God's plan for my life before I even began.  See, I've learned that when I try to make things happen that aren't in His plan, I go through a lot of frustration and disappointment for no reason...

Anyway, I kept praying and I really felt like this was still in His plan for my life.  And lo, and behold, when I thought my job as an educator had no future in California, He brought me to another school in my district (teaching 8th Grade English instead of 3rd grade), not only do I love it, I have made a ton of great friends, my job is more secure than ever, and I found a great house just 10 minutes away.  He then brought me the sweetest little dog ever, so I wouldn't have to do it alone. :)  I love Him and am forever grateful for the blessings I received.  Can I get an Amen?  :)

Lessons & tips: Just look, look, look.  Don't get discouraged, and don't settle.  I wish I'd held out for a bigger kitchen, but I was tired of looking, and was running out of time for the first time homebuyers tax credit.  In the long run though, I think I will hold out next time.  Also, I didn't want to pay closing costs and I lost out on a few great places because of it...and in the end, I had to pay them...So, I'd say, if you have it, don't ask the seller to pay them.  You'll get a better deal if you pay them yourself.  Also, you won't get any of the bank owned properties asking for closing costs.  

Resources: My realtor, Pat Sargent.  She's the mother of my oldest friend.  I've known her for 25 years.  She's incredibly patient and looks out for what you really want in a home. She's all about you, and not about the sale.  Let me know if you want her info. :)

It took me 2 years.

It made me

See more progress on: Buy a house

What happened to our leaders?

I've decided why Edward Cullen is so attractive to so many women. I think it's because he's always the one forcing Bella to do the right thing. He watches out for her moral center, her honor, her well being: emotionally, physically, mentally, etc. He weights out the pros and cons, and determines the best course of action. He doesn't act on raw emotion, but rather considers the consequences of his actions. That's the way it was meant to be. The man as the leader. I think we (women) innately want that. We want the man to be in control, to be able to trust him in the decisions he makes. He should be the one guiding us and protecting us. Edward protects Bella physically, but he also works to protect her honor, her feelings, all of her. We've lost this in our society. Women have become the ones who have to say no, stop, it's too far, too much...why? What has happened to the men? It isn't our job, yet we've been forced into that role. We're not effective here...We have a different role to fulfill, and we're taking on too much. I don't want a man I constantly have to say no to. I want him to say no. I want him to be in charge of what's wrong and what's right. I want to trust him with all of me. That's how it is meant to be.

disappointed

I am very disappointed in my behavior lately: letting myself jump into things without thinking; letting my mouth run without a filter; allowing "little" things to slide, and then they end up creating big problems. This isn't the me I want to be. This isn't the girl I want people to think of when they think of me. I have not been presenting myself well. The bummer part is, I've been presenting this girl to new people in my life. My old friends would say, "Hey, what's up with you?" But, these new friends don't know better. They think I AM this girl. I have some damage control to do...

I'm going to start now. I'm going to pick up the book I was reading, leave the TV off, do some reflection, and spend time with the One who can change me, mold me, and make me new. :) The One who won't judge me for being a moron. The One who will love me still. The One who will forgive me for acting like a fool. :) I <3 Him.

For my sisters:

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God, that a man needs to seek Him to find her."

Oh Lord, help me to be that woman. Help me to not jump without looking. Help me to seek You in ever choice I make.

I was listening to a song by Barlow Girl yesterday. The first verse in the song that was like a punch in the stomach:

"Oh, tragedy has taken so many
Love lost cuz they all forgot who You are
And it scares me to think, that I would choose my life over you
Oh my selfish heart, divides me from you. It tears us apart."

I have made choices over and over again that tear me apart from God. As I hook myself in closer with Him, I find it easier to resist the temptations that draw me away from Him. However, I fear that I will do it again. I probably will. I am human and weak after all. It's easier, not easy. However, I'm a bit stronger now because I've learned that I need my friends to keep me accountable. I haven't allowed that in the past. I've lived my life hiding my weaknesses, hoping no one will know. (Ha, I've also learned, I wasn't hiding a THING!) I've learned that by hiding, I simply allow myself to make bad choices.

I have learned that I can't do it alone.
I need friendships with women who are hooked into God to throw up red flags,
to give gentle reminders of truth and wisdom,
and if that doesn't work, to grab my face and turn it back toward God!

I know that all of you have tried, and I love you for it. Thank you for your unending patience and acceptance. You have been the best friends a girl could ask for. I am so blessed to have such amazing women in my life.

I hope that I can do the same for you. Ladies, it is together that we can overcome obstacles in our lives. He designed us for fellowship. He didn't ask us to do it alone. Yes, of course, we need to live out life walking with God, but we need to walk with other Christians as well. So, I'm going to work on honesty and openness with my friends. There is fear in this for me. But, I know it's worth it. :)

Love you ladies!

Kelly

Romance with a Savior

I ended 2009 by reading the Twilight Saga. It awakened in me a deep rooted desire, a desire for romance in my life. It has always been there, but I shrug it off every day and try to go about my daily life, afraid to think of it for too long, for it might pull me under and I might never leave the state of depression awaiting me there. I spent a few weeks in that depression while reading the books and for a while after. I know in my head that the romance in those books are nothing compared to the romance of real life, but my heart longs for it regardless.

I picked up a book a few months ago called, "Settling for Less than God's Best?" I started reading in the other day, and it revealed to me some truth I'd heard before. I can have a perfect romance...with my Savior. Which is funny, because after reading the Twilight Saga, I remember thinking, "No man on Earth can love the way Edward does...well, except for Jesus." But I've always shrugged off this idea too. Isn't he my "Father." That's weird. Besides, He doesn't have real arms to hold me, or real hands to brush my cheek...or does He? But truly, Jesus is the only one who can love me the way I long to be loved. He is the only one who will love me despite my shortcomings, despite my constant rejection of Him, despite my wickedness and shameful displays. So, because He loves me, and I long so much for that deep, meaningful, never-ending perfect love, I have made a decision. I will dive-in, head first into that love, and will do my best to make Jesus my first love.

Jesus, I pray that you give me a heart after your heart. Give me a passion for you so strong that no earthly man will be able to shake it. So that when my earthly husband shows up in my life, I'll be able to hold on tight to you and make the choices you would have me make. Guide me in the areas of my life that need healing and pruning. Give me the strength to come to you instead of run away when I fail. Give me a love so strong for you that I brag about you everywhere I go. I love you Jesus. Thank you for loving me first.

Forgiveness

I wrote this back in October and never posted it. So, here it is...I think it's a good way to start the New Year.

I tell people all the time, that God forgives everyone. That we, as believers who have given our lives to the Father, and asked for His forgiveness

We should not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)

If we delight in the Lord, he will give us the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

If we ask for forgiveness, we are truly forgiven. He does not see our sin, we have been washed clean. I tell other people that their sins are forgiven, and that God will bless their lives and provide for their needs, and comfort them, and answer their prayers, and hold their lives in His hands in such a way that no harm will come to them...but I never believed it for me. I thought, God loves all those other people more than me. They haven't done the things I've done. They deserve to be forgiven. It wasn't until recently, that I realized...I was calling God a liar. Did He not say, come to me and I will forgive you? Why, even though I thank Him everyday for forgiving me, did I think that He would not then treat me as if I was forgiven? Do you forgive your friend, and then treat them poorly, or do you love them and treat them as your friend? If I can forgive others, certainly God can do a better job than me. Certainly He wants to love me and knows I'm sorry, and will treat me like His child. Sure, I'll slip up and have to ask for forgivness time and time again, but I am His child. Why would he bless the rest of His children and not me? It's pretty dumb, now that I think about it. I need to forgive myself and quit looking backwards. All that does is leave me standing in the road facing the wrong way. I need to turn around, face forward and start walking with Him. Imagine what can be up ahead!

Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

I don’t know that I agree with this statement in its entirety. Some mornings I say, “Good morning, Lord.” I feel great, and I’m ready to attack the day with fervor and passion. Other days, I am beat down by the wear and tear of the daily grind. I feel worn and ineffective. These days I say, “Good Lord, it’s morning?!? Can’t I just sleep a little longer?” I often feel guilty about that, especially when I see quotes like these. I enjoy reading quotes, and welcome their words of wisdom and inspiration. However, I resent their need to make me feel inferior, or as if I’m doing something wrong. I work hard, as many women my age do. Occasionally, we’re going to get tired. The victory comes when we’re still looking to the Lord to get us through the day. So, on days when you say, “Good Lord, it’s morning,” focus on the fact that you turned to our Father for a little help and guidance, and don’t beat yourself up for it. Focus on Him and He’ll pull us through all of our trials and tribulations…and don’t be shocked if He teaches you a thing or two along the way. J