as we come to a close...

we are definitely closing on friday. well, i should say....it looks much better than it has i feel as though i would like to briefly share the struggle that has been our existence for the past two months....

• we were pre-approved for our mortgage on july 31
• we looked at a billion houses and the one we finally chose, we had seen in our second night out
• we made a bid on the house and found out that night, that the program we had been selected for had been cancelled. we would now have to come up with $x for closing costs. that is not a lot but it's $x more than we were told on july 31. driving home, my sister broke down and in the span of an hour and a half, waiting for a tow truck,  our alternator went. ($x later...) not to mention the $x we had just given for "hand money" for good faith on the mortgage.
• accepted the bid after some haggling we went through the crazy 15 day rush to get this, that and the other done. 
• everything was completed but with the credit crunch, the simple paperwork become super complicated and quite arduous....
• then we plan to go to IKEA one night and our brakes went!!! it was the worst grinding you've ever heard....(X million dollars later) we still haven't made it to IKEA...
• the day before closing, we realize we can't close yet but now have to wait one week for a last minute issue. 
• chris in the midst of the chaos found out he had two stress fractures and is forbidden to run til january and that his bank was boughten out (that was for yins locals) by PNC...thus placing his future at the bank in jeopardy...
• now here we are closing, painting, and moving in two days...

many tears have been shed, mostly by chris :)...but it's over. we are moving to a great house. and His faithfulness is new every morning and we are living in sheer grace right now. overwhelmed and horrified but dearly loved...