Friday night, Peter and I dragged our tired, frustrated carcasses back into the apartment he keeps in Alabama. An afternoon of scoping houses had turned futile and we found ourselves in a Mexican standoff.
I’d fallen in love with a gorgeous house full of natural light, sprawling open space and a kitchen to die for.
On a behemoth of a piece of property that would require an entire league of lawn service professionals to keep it in check because of the ridiculous incline and the rock outcroppings.
Peter was giddy over a fabulous property that was perfectly flat, tons of room for a future pool and a dog’s draeam habitat.
The house was pretty, but claustrophobic and I couldn’t wipe out the memory of MY house.
*sigh*
Granted, we had a bit of GIMMEGIMMEGIMMENOW syndrome. Neither house was going to work and after one day I was already prepared to just give up on buying a house and buy a double-wide somewhere.
On Saturday morning, we had renewed spirits and a resolution to be open-minded to each other’s opinions on the house options (which translated into “I will snark uncontrollably about any house I don’t like until you realize that I will make your life an unending blistering hell if you try to make me live there”) and concentrate on the good of each place.
We give new meaning to the phrase EPIC FAIL.
Can I just take this moment to tell you how absolutely gorgeous our realtor is? Totally unfair. Skin like a pool of milk, bouncy hair, tall AND thin, Angelina Jolie lips and really freaking nice. I hate her. Unless she gets me the house of my dreams and then I’ll make sure to hide my resentment for her under a shiny cloak of gratitude. Lucky her, she’s extremely good at her job, or I’d have to run her down with the van.
ANYWHOOOO!
On our drive up to start another day of house-stalking, we decided to just ask God to lead us to the right house. We had a group prayer that we’d find it with as little difficulty as possible.
We saw the first house.
Then the second.
The third barely registered.
Number four and our enthusiasm began to wane.
Eat! We’ll eat and then we’ll be happy and the rest of the houses will be better.
Right?
RIGHT!??
Jessica talked us into checking out one last house before we went to drown our sorrows in waffle fries.
And we drove into a totally unglamorous driveway.
We walked up a perfectly non-exciting sidewalk.
The door opened.
Now, I’m prone to a little bit of exaggeration when I’m really excited about something. I can go overboard in my wild infatuation.
This next part really happened.
The door opened and a choir of angels FREAKING sang!
Yes, sang. A chorus of angels greeted us at the door.
I think the song was something by Van Halen, I’m not sure.
This house was everything we’d hoped to find. We all loved it instantly and found it’s quirky personality a perfect match for our family.
The essentials were all there: huge closets, storage space galore, a kitchen that made the singing angels choir weep, beautiful hardwood and almost an acre lot.
The unexpected grabbed our heads and shook us into complete submission: a full finished basement, a second two car garage, enough room that the Jolie-Pitt clan could come and visit and there’d be no threat of overcrowding. *although, on a side note, if Brad did ever decide to visit, there’d be no worries about a place for him to lay his pretty head.
I love.
I love with big pink puffy hearts and scribbling Mrs. Anissa New House on my binder!
So, I’m strolling through the house, checking out all the giddy-inspiring goodness and thinking to myself, “God, if this is THE house, please just make it clearly obvious and give me a sign.” What kind of sign does God give a househunter? I’m not sure, but I was pretty sure that something would happen.
You doubt me?
Almost immediately, Peter starts yelling for me.
The house was vacant but it had been staged, meaning that the sellers had someone come in and throw in some pretty furniture and decorations so it wouldn’t look so empty and vague.
In the basement, in a forgotten corner of the house, on a wall in a storage room was our sign.
SIGN, I tell you!
Five feet tall…in full living color…is a poster…Barry Sanders.
That’s all we needed to know.
That house is OURS!
**I have photos of THE HOUSE, they will be coming shortly!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Folks…please tell her that this is by no means a done deal.
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Fingers crossed that all works out and you get your house!
Hugs,
Steph
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 10:27 am
SCORE! I can’t wait to see pics, and I am praying the process goes flawlessly for you!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 10:50 am
the pics are awesome! I hope you get it – it’s gorgeous!!!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 11:56 am
So very awesome. I haven’t been to Sharpsburg in ages but love thhe general area. Newnan & PTC are great family towns & Senoia has become a funky little place too. Welcome to the ATL & congrats on finding a house without bloodshed.
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Fabulous news!! Who knew Barry Sanders would seal the deal! Best wishes!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I thought you were going to say you found Santa’s cane in the corner.
Congratulations! We looked at 100 (one *hundred*) houses before we opened the door to one and the angels sang. I know exactly what you’re talking about.
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Yay! I hope everything works out for you. We had the same feeling when we found our first house many long years ago.
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Awesome! I hope everything goes fabulously Anissa!!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
YAY!!! Let me know if you need someone to come paint fabulous rooms for you…I know a good painter!!! ;O)
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
YEAY YOU! So happy and excited. Sounds like a fabulous house… So… When are you inviting us all over? 😉
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
GREEEEAAAT. Now I have “Panama” stuck in my head. Thanks.
Hope the house is all that it seems!
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Yay! I hope it all works out, it sounds fantastic!
xo
on Jan 4th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Can’t wait to see pics! Now go hit Ikea and fill that perfect house up.
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:17 am
So happy you all agree. Praying this all works out.
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Congrats! I’ll say a prayer that everything goes smoothly. You’re so lucky to have found your house so soon! We were looking for a bit but have stopped momentarily, giving birth in a week will do that to a family, but when we were looking and looking and looking we didn’t find a thing! I’m sure our realtor at the time, she’s our property manager at the moment but no longer our realtor so you can see how well she did her job, probably hated us b/c I’d like something but my husband would find problems and not like: “Oh this house is too small,” but more like “This house has water damage and the yard is so sloped that when it rains it’ll cause more water damage and never be able to be fixed.” So, again CONGRATS!! Need pics AND here’s to a great year for y’all!
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 9:26 am
How Wonderful! Having moved 7 times in our 21 year marriage I can totally relate! My DH loves to make spreadsheets and almost had an anxiety attack in Pennsylvania where they don’t disclose square footage. Oh My! So glad you found the dream home! 🙂 teri
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 11:36 am
OMG! I can’t wait to see pictures of your new house!!!
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I hope that the whole process goes smoothly for you and that you are able to get the house.
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
How exciting! I can just picture it….although it would be easier to see the real picture. 🙂
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Wow be gone for a month and your moving. I am so sad. I will miss you dear friend and all your crazy ways. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family, esp. holding my hand during the hardest day in my life. I will love you always… Congrat’s on finding the perfect house and I hope/pray nothing for the absolute best to come.
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I can’t wait to come stay with you, with my boyfriend, Brad, of course.
can’t wait to see pictures, either! HURRY UP!