The Miracle of the House

Moving time. 1989. Fred was hired as a temple engineer at the Portland LDS Temple. He left for Portland and I stayed behind with five kids to sell the house and pull the move together.

Money (or the lack of it) was a real problem. The house we were selling was purchased on a government low-income program and we had been in it less than a year so there was nothing to put down on another one. And the job in Portland paid very little (but had the potential for more). In fact, when I called around to pre-qualify for a loan I was told I could spend $35,000. Even in 1989 that wouldn't buy a house in the metro area. I was in trouble.

There was only one thing that I was certain of as we faced these realities. We had to buy a house. I couldn't afford to rent, not with five little kids. Houses for rent were too much money for my meager budget; and what apartment complex would rent to someone with five kids even if I found one I could afford! So I had to buy a house.  

I had no experience in such things and didn't know I was looking at the near-impossible. But, I had my new-found faith in asking God. (See previous post, I Didn't Believe It.) So I went to the Lord in prayer about my needs and desires regarding moving. Here is the list that I felt my family needed:

• 4 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• large kitchen (because all of my babies played around me constantly while I was working in there)
• I told the Lord the rest of the inside of the house didn't matter since I didn't really have much to put in it anyway
• large yard with no shade trees because I needed to grow a large garden in order to feed my family
• and could it be fenced, please, so I could contain my large brood
• a fruit tree, perhaps, to add to my food stores
• I also wanted the yard to be large and wide to put a little distance between me and my neighbors because people just aren't used to large families anymore, and I didn't want to annoy anyone.

Fred was working long hours and not available to help me house hunt so I asked Mom and Dad to go with me to Portland and help me find a house to buy. They had plenty of experience in such things and having them with me bolstered my confidence.

Well, long story short, my mother insisted that we look at houses right around the temple. Have you seen the houses around the temple?! Not $35,000. I had done enough research to know that if I lived way out of town I could find a fixer-upper for $35,000. There were a few out there. But, if you knew my mother, you would know that it is easier not to argue with her. So I humored her. There is an older neighborhood behind the temple so we drove around there. Still way out of my budget. But she spotted one for sale and insisted we look at it. Heavy sigh. Why waste the realtor's time? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS HOUSE! But, like I said, it is just easier not to try to out-stubborn my mother. So we called the realtor and asked to see the house. And the miracles began.

First miracle. Seeing the house. The realtor tried to call the listing agent. But no one answered the phone at their office. It was a large company in the metro area. What company doesn't answer their phone?! But they didn't. And good thing because it turns out the house was already sold and we never would have gone to look. But there was a lock-box on the house so the agent met us to let us in.

Miracle #2. I knew it was mine. The moment I stepped over the threshold of the little house I felt something inside tell me clearly that this was my home. It was strong enough that I wandered through the home and property thinking things like, "I wonder what my bedroom looks like." 

Miracle #3. Everything I asked for. I was amazed to find this little house had everything I had asked God for. Four bedrooms, two baths. A large dream kitchen that was newly remodeled with tons of storage and work space....and pretty. Oh, how I loved that kitchen! The living room was tiny but it didn't really matter because I didn't have anything to put in it anyway. But the yard. Oh, the yard! That was a miracle all by itself. The house was in Lake Oswego which touts itself the city of trees. This property was probably the one property in town that had no shade trees but one lone apple tree in the corner....plenty of sun available for the garden I needed! And a fence! Not a pretty fence, mind you, but a fence. And a large piece of property, plenty of distance to the neighbors. And to mute the noise of my joyful children, the property backed the freeway which produced a sort-of constant ocean sound in the back. The kids could run, whoop, and holler all they wanted without the sound carrying in any annoying way to the neighbors. I felt like God had wrapped that house with a huge red bow to present as a gift. And it really was a gift. A gift of a place to live but also a spiritual gift of increasing my faith in God, His Might and Mercy, and in prayer. Oh, the comfort of prayer!

Miracle #4. The money to pay for it. The house was listed at $59,900. That was an inexpensive house in an expensive area.  But it was still far more than I had the means for. After we finished our tour of the home we gathered in the kitchen to talk. Dad pulled out his trusty calculator and started doing some figuring. Finally he turned to me and asked if I could afford a certain amount each month. I can't remember the exact figure now but it was something like $684. That was within the budget I had planned and I told him I could. Then he told me that he would be the bank. He would buy the house and I would make my payments to him; and when we were situated well enough to be able to get a traditional mortgage, we could refinance and pay him off. We set it at the going rate of 10% interest. That was more than fair. It was a huge blessing and one I had not expected. 

Miracle #5. The house became available. The realtor called to make our offer (they answered the phone this time!) only to be told that the house was sold. What a shock and disappointment. And I was confused. I knew what I felt as I entered that house. I knew it was mine. So what was happening? We spent the rest of the day house hunting but found nothing. With only a half hour left before my parents had to leave Portland, we were back in the realtor's office hoping for more listings. The phone rang and our realtor answered. Then we heard her say, "Well, you're in luck. They are standing right here." We gave her our full attention. She put her hand over the receiver and turned to us to ask, "Would you still like to make an offer on that first house? Apparently the other people lied on their loan application and the deal has fallen through." "YES!"

We spent 15 years in that wonderful little house, adding two more children. Many happy years. So glad I asked.

 "Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."

2 Nephi 4:35, The Book of Mormon 

 How has God answered your prayers?