Above all we can imagine

Back in November Justin accepted a job offer from BP for the Houston campus. We have been working on getting ready for the big move to Houston in August. Since the beginning of the year we have been preparing our house to be ready to be sold as well as looking for a new house/job for me/school for Claire/church for all of us and numerous little things that go along with a family relocation. The first of the big things that God provided was a job for me. I am still excited about the prospect of the job and all that it will involve come August 11. Then He provided a school for Claire there at BP, Justin's work, so that he can go and visit her on his lunch break, be close to her and spend some daddy/daughter time that is so precious. Now, once again, God has provided again for us in a new home. We went house hunting this week in Houston. FINALLY. I say finally because since the day we got the offer (not accepted but got it) I have been scouring the internet and tv for houses. We were specifically told not to talk to a realtor, and I followed the rules but searched seemingly endlessly for that one house that could be ours. We looked at budget calculators, followed the stock market, and of course the new tax laws in order to make sure that we were doing the right thing for our family. We had settled on older homes because we liked the charm and character they had to offer as well as the fact that typically they were more "economic" and we could do some work ourselves. I enjoy remodeling and renovations and although Justin doesn't like that, he's able to see the potential and profitability of them in the long run. We have taken several trips to Houston to look at neighborhoods, houses on the market, etc to get ideas as well as internet forums, etc. You name it, I've done it. At the beginning of July we were given the go ahead to get a real estate agent to help us find a home. YIPPEE! We were so excited. I again was searching daily to see updated listings, which homes we liked, ones that went under contract. The real estate agent contacted us but still seemed in no hurry. That really frustrated me because I had been waiting since November and it just wasn't happening fast enough for me. She explained how older homes while a good deal and potentially profitable may not be our best option due to the relocation possibilities in our future with BP. We decided that we wouldn't rule out older homes but would include newer ones as well. I wasn't too sure at first especially since most of my research had been on older homes but I trusted her judgment. We emailed back and forth a few times about what we were looking for and we gave her very little information in order to keep our options open and really find something that would fit. All we told her was 4 bedrooms, at least 2 bathrooms, and around 2000 square feet. We preferred a gas stove, and we had a baby grand so we would need a place for that in addition to a living room or den/game room. We went looking on Tuesday for the first time. We viewed 7 homes and all of them were spot on. But we also knew they weren't the right one for us. Especially since at the end of the day, Justin was leaning on one house and I on another. I was worried one of us would have to compromise. I prayed that evening on the way home that whatever happened we would have the peace of Christ in our hearts and that He would lead us to agree without compromising. Wednesday we went back to look some more. We started off looking at 2 houses in an older subdivision that we both absolutely loved. Mature trees, beautiful homes, each unique, and yet unified as a subdivision. Our dream subdivision. It also happened to be a subdivision that had a lot of sentimental value to me due to memories as a kid. I was just sure we'd find our dream home here. Both homes while beautiful, were not what we were looking for. We knew immediately. It was disappointing. We so wanted that subdivision and even as we left I mentioned we should keep praying that a home would list soon there that would work for us. We saw 2 more beautiful homes, but again ones that just weren't THE one for us. The 5th home of the day was a surprise. It was next door to a house that we'd looked at on Tuesday. I asked why we hadn't seen it Tuesday and the real estate agent said it must have been a mistake--she wasn't sure. When I stepped out of the car I noticed the price had dropped and immediately started thinking of why it might have dropped. We had seen some houses that needed some work and I was assuming that was the case with this one. We walked inside. Justin immediately pointed out that this layout was different than any of the other houses we'd seen and would be perfect for the baby grand piano. We walked in the kitchen (my first stop in every house) and i was trying to pay attention to details. I liked it, but still wasn't set on it. We were about to leave and i mentioned how that the only thing that was missing was a fireplace. Justin had specifically requested a fireplace to me months ago as the only MUST in a house. (Why a fireplace in Texas is a must? i don't know, but to him it was so I put it at the top of the list) His response was that it was okay with him because it had everything else we were looking for. We left and debated about it. He was sure immediately. There's this thing about his gut feeling. When he gets them, they're 99.9% of the time right. He doesn't get them very often, so I've learned to pay attention to them. I started rethinking the house in my mind. I wasn't crazy about the house, but I didn't dislike it either. As I rethought it, I realized that it was the best one we'd seen for the price and had all the things we really needed and lots of things we wanted and even better yet a lot of things we hadn't known we wanted! We decided to talk it over at lunch and then go back for a second showing that afternoon. At the end of lunch we were pretty peaceful about it and ready to go back and see it. We looked it over the second time in a few hours and immediately as we walked in, I had a peace about it, knowing it was the one for us. God had given me the peace of mind to know this was His doing. We looked for every problem and couldn't find any. I mean not one problem. Another neat fact is that about a month ago I told Justin that in the new house I wanted to paint the kitchen green to match our dishes and the "apple" theme. We have red apples in this kitchen and I am tired of the red, but still love apples, so I figured I'd switch to green. This kitchen is green. I couldn't believe it! We signed all the paperwork for the offer, but wanted to go home and pray about it some more and get some counsel and sleep on it to make sure it wasn't an emotional decision, but a godly one. We asked the real estate agent not to submit the offer until we gave her the permission to do so. She understood. The next day we submitted the offer. We heard back from the seller and they countered. We still were really not satisfied with their counter so we countered back to them at the end of the business day on Thursday. We were prepared for their counter since we really didn't think they'd accept ours. Friday morning we got an email saying they had accepted our counter! We were ecstatic! We never talked about the scenario that they would just accept our counter! We were sure they would counter back again. Praise the Lord for all He's done in this blessing. He truly went above all that we could ever ask or think or even imagine. I know He says He will, but I am always surprised at just how good God can be. To sum things up, we are moving into a furnished apartment for a month before we move into the house. So we leave Beaumont August 16th and will be in Houston until mid September. Then we'll move into our new house and wait for His next step for us.

Claireisms

Claire told me the other day, "When I get a dress, necklace, and earrings on, I'll be married!"

Then tonight, as she was going to sleep, she said, "I wish I was a superhero to save people from their monsters. In Jesus' name, Amen!"

the month of May

Has it been a month already?? WOW! So much was happening this past month, it just flew by! Justin graduated May 18th and we all celebrated his wonderful accomplishment. My parents flew down to attend the longest graduation in Lamar's history and Claire was very good during the whole thing. Claire finished up at her day care here in Beaumont at the end of May and her friends and teachers threw her a going away party. It was so sweet, but Claire really had no idea what all the hubbub was about. It hit her on the way home how much she was going to miss her friends and she started crying. She is such an emotional gal. Gee, I wonder where she gets that from? =) As soon as we got home though, the girl from across the street came over (1st time ever) and asked if Claire could come outside and play. It was a reminder that God cares even over the little sparrow and how Claire's need for a friend could be fulfilled so quickly. A week later, I finished up the school year uneventfully (Thank you Lord!) and so now we're into summer! A few stories I want to document though so that I don't forget them later on.

Sunday, Claire and I were in a department store getting ready to check out. I was getting her a yellow shirt that said "Gymnastics" on the front since that is so Claire. She was walking through the store holding it up to her like she was wearing it already and dancing around (as usual). We were standing in line and a lady comes up behind us. The following is my best recollection of their dialogue.

Claire: Hi! How are you doing?
Lady: Good, How are you?
C: Good. Do you like my shirt?
L: Yes, it's very pretty.
C: All of Mommy's friends are going to like my shirt.
L: I'm sure they will.
C: Where do you live?
L: Thomas Road in Beaumont
C: I live in Beaumont too! That's in TEXAS!
L: Yes, it is in Texas.
C: What are you buying today?
L: (starts pulling out her things) Some straps for my luggage, and these suitcases.
C: Are you going on the ark?
L: The ark?
C: Yes, the ark is a BIG BOAT!
L: Oh.
C: That's where we used to live--the ark! It was a real zoo in there!
L: What was on the ark?
C: 2 Elephants, 2 giraffes
L: Oh. Who else was on the ark?
C: Oh this guy named Noah.
Me: It's time to go Claire. Say goodbye.
C: Goodbye. It was nice talking to you!
L: Goodbye.

I couldn't believe it! I mean, it was the first true conversation she had with an adult. She reminded me so much of Grandpa being able to just see someone in the store and strike up a conversation with them so easily. I'll admit at the time I was a little nervous. The cashiers were snickering and amused the whole time. The lady loved it (she must have been a grandma). Claire thought nothing of it. I mean she enjoyed it, but she had no idea what she'd done. On the way out to the car, I started chuckling to myself and claire asked why. I told her because she is so precious. And ya know what? She absolutely is!

Today we also took our first family trip to the movies. We saw UP. It was good. I was surprised by how moving and sentimental it was. I cried at several parts (what else is new?) But the funny thing was at one point Claire got down off my lap and buried her head in the seat next to us bawling. We asked her what was wrong and she said she missed her cousins. But it was at a really sad part in the movie, so i'm not sure if it was really the cousins that had her upset. She sure is a person who picks up on emotions so quickly and they really matter to her. I hope that doesn't change as she gets older, but I do hope that she will be able to control them a little sooner than I was.