The Party That Never Quits

Again.

But this time? This time it's into our own place.

It's not built yet,but it will be by our time here is up. It's been such a wonderful story of God's grace and provision.

We have purchased a 1.8 acre block of land in a highly desirable area of town, that would normally sell for twice what we paid for it.  We first noticed it about 3 years ago. It sat on the website for all that time. We kept our eye on it, because for some reason, it spoke to us. Well, mostly it said "you'll never afford me, but dream away", but that's neither here nor there.

About a month ago, Adam and I applied for a home loan. We were told we had too many children. No lie. Those exact words. Nothing wrong with our financials... just that we have too many children for them to give us any sort of money that would help. Apparently, we feed them caviar and dress them in Armani.

So, my mother decides to go see if she can get some money on top of her mortgage. She can.

So, after a little back and forth negotiating on the block of land we had been so drawn to, our (mum's) offer was accepted.  Settlement is in a month. We are currently designing a house to be built in part, but enough for us to live in, by December.

The best part? Always wanting to know we were doing what the Lord wants, mum prayed for a sign that, yes, this was the right path to be going down. The next time she called the realtor for the land he told her, quite offhandedly, that as soon as he had hung up from her confirming that the owner had accepted her bid, three people rang enquiring about that particular block. After not one single bite for the entire three years it was on the market.

So. We have us our own little patch to set down some roots. While it might not be in our name yet, we are so very grateful to my mother, and to the Lord of course, for blessing us in this way. The way the market is, and with, you now, so many children, there was no way, bar a huge lottery win, that we were ever going to be able to purchase a home. We knew it would happen; we had prophesies telling us so, so we know this is totally God. I may go and hunt them down tonight, and have another listen to it, to remind me of how God goes before us in all matters of our life.

After it was all done and dusted, I was reminded of the first part of a verse in Proverbs that friends of ours pointed out to us about 2 years ago. We were talking with them about our desire for our own home, and how so far out of reach and reality it seemed for us.  They shared that they too were unsure of how to purchase a house, when they started to stand on this verse regarding it.

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents ....(Proverbs 19:14a) 

God is good and faithful :)

The Christmas School holidays have begun.

Otherwise known as The Ultimate Test of Sanity.

One has bled profusely. Already.

It's going to be a long six weeks.

Have you ever wondered if God looks at us and thinks to himself that we're perpetually like kids on an extended holiday?

For example, today, the very. first. day, my children have been
*Argumentative
*Bored
*Fidgety
*Testing
*Loud
*Unhelpful
*Disobedient

They've hit each other, lied, yelled, broken things and thrown tantrums.

Isn't it great to know that our Father God doesn't get snappy like I do, or shrill, fed up, short tempered or longing for the day when "they'll be gone all day".

My kids are a handful. I will be relying on Him a lot.

I went Christmas shopping yesterday. Every year, Target has this humongous toy sale, where most things are half price, and you only pay 3 dollars to put it all on layby no matter how much you buy and they will store it there until Christmas eve.

Winner.

As I compiled my list of things for the kids the night before, I am reminded again just how expensive everything is getting over here. Most items at half price were still around $20. We had to quickly revise the $100 per child thing we've had going. At most, they'd get 5 things. I'm a gift giver. That just don't cut it in my book.

Or Santa's, for that matter.

Of course, the smallies could get away with less. As my brother would say, they barely know they're alive.

I understand that having 5 kids will always bring up these issues, so I wasn't too fussed about it. I have about 18 weeks to pay it all off (I like to have it all in the bag by the end of November. Then I don't stress out.)

Last year, Adam was able to come with me, and we filled two trolleys. Granted, we had some big stuff in there, skateboards, and Tonka trucks and doll prams and the like. No one really looked at us, because, well, we could just be two people who didn't know each other with a full trolley each. No biggie. There were lots of people like that.

This year, Adam couldn't get off work. So, I had the smallies sat, and after the three older ones were at school, armed with my list, the catalogue and a pen, I braved it on my own.

I had to stop three times to repack my cart. I also managed to stick a blackboard under it and use it as an extension to pile more stuff on. I did well, I got all but a few items on our list. This year, we also got the kids bikes and I had to get a staff member to carry them to the layby counter for me. I was prepared for all this. It comes with the territory.

What I wasn't prepared for, were the condescending looks that people kept giving me, obviously thinking I was completely over indulging my kids. 10 presents each, they had in my cart. That's 50 items people. With boxes bigger than necessary for the small thing inside it. I had also bought gifts for my niece, my mother, and a couple of things for Adam.

I decided, by the end of my 2 hour trip, that next year, I'm wearing a sign that says I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN... DO NOT JUDGE ME. I was sick and tired of explaining myself to people, either because of they way they looked at me, or because they actually felt it was their place to comment. And then of course, I had to cope with the "Oh my God, you're crazy" comments.

So, peoples, next time you're shopping at Christmas time and you see a parent with their trolley piled impossibly high, please realise that they may not just be shopping for 1 spoilt child. There may be another 4, 5, 6 kids that you don't see.

Also, read this. You might get where I'm coming from.