You can just go ahead and pick me up out of my puddle of happiness now because I seriously can’t believe it! HE GOT US A HOUSE!!! If you talk to Greg, he’ll correct that statement by saying He allowed us to buy a house but that is sooooo boring because HE GOT US A HOUSE! Even talking to our realtor, she said, it certainly seems like He moved heaven and earth for you guys to get this! hehehe Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! And what a fine house it is.

So here’s the story. I have wanted a house since I was mmmm probably about four? I would ride my bike around the neighborhood and pick out all the houses that needed some love, and then draw up what I would do to them. You think I’m kidding. I’m not. I’ve always been this weird. This has been my favorite thing to do basically since I came out of the womb. When all the other kids were watching cartoons and trendy shows, I was hooked on HGTV and had absolutely no one my age to relate to. I’d try to figure out how long it would take me to save my allowances, get overwhelmed and continue to drift away in my dream land where everything was possible. Once out of college, I’d sit in my car on my lunch breaks and try to figure out how long it would take me to save up for a place of my own. I think I calculated I would be 97 by the time I could actually afford the down payment for something here, so then I’d get overwhelmed and drift away to my happy place once again. I love houses. I’ve always loved houses. And I love to love on houses. Nothing makes me happier than fixing something up and making it loved and pretty again. Pasadena was SO ugly and gross but it was awfully satisfying to scrub the brown out of the sink and make it glistening white again.

Anyways, so we’ve been back in Santa Cruz for *gasp* nine. months. Oh. My. Goodness. It’s kind of comical that we thought we’d only live with my parents for a month or two. BUT as we watched the months tick away, it did allow us to save more than we would be able to anywhere else. We were able to be here for some really challenging family situations and hopefully be a comfort to my parents in that time. Sometimes I just do not understand His timing, but to look back and be reassured that He knew what He was doing, is such a source of faith strengthening for me. Once Greg got his job, we finally were able to get pre-approved again which meant we could start looking for a place to call our own! Talk about discouraging. There is nothing in Santa Cruz right now. Everyone kept warning us that inventory is low and the prices are rising. And it was, and they were. But that didn’t get me down! The jolly holiday inside of me kept saying I’ll take anything! and, we only need one! And that’s what we did. One of the first places we went to was a tiny little place just a couple blocks from the beach. And it was ugly. But to me it was a world of possibilities and although I had nightmares about it closing in around me since it was only 900 sq ft and smashed between two gargantuan residences, I reminded myself it was only blocks from the beach and we could just cure our claustrophobia by spending all of our time there! But… lemme just show you ;)

We looked at a giant condo that I was sure Greg would love – it was a great location and was new (he likes new, I like ooooold) and I was totally willing to compromise just so we could get into something, but to my surprise, he didn’t fall for it. Do you know how hard it is to walk away from something when there is a very good chance there will not be anything else for a while!? Very. It is very hard.

But I remembered back to when I was crying in my chair, completely out of patience and so ready to give up, and He whispered to me… don’t you worry Hilly. I’m gunna get you something. So when God whispers something to you, you have to listen! Because there are plenty of other thoughts that will say there is no way He said that to you, there is obviously nothing out there.. and then the discouragement comes yadda yadda yadda. SO since this was the only hope I had, I was going to cling to it with all my everything… And when my husband says to walk away from the perfectly good condo, we will walk… in faith, trusting He would provide and bring us together in agreement on such a monumental decision. Well, that night I reminded him of the little beach house that I loved so much that he HATED (please refer to picture above), and said please please please can we put an offer on it?? They could always reject it! That happens all the time! And considering every house we have looked at has had at least five cash offers on them, the chance of us getting anything is so unbelievably slim! And after much pleading, we decided with much heavy sighing and worried looks on his part, to put in an offer in the morning.

That morning, all these issues came up with the loan type we were going after plus issues with the house, sellers, basically everything. It didn’t look like it was going to work for us so Greg and Debi put their heads together and after much talking and trying to figure out all the options possible, came up with a new plan. And this is where things get fuzzy because I have no idea how any of this miraculous business happened. Our realtor (Debi) sent us a house to go look at which I just laughed at because it was so adorably gorgeous and there was just no way. But HEY we like to look at houses we can’t afford – it appears to be a hobby of ours ;) so we went to check it out. You guys. I have NEVER seen so many people in an open house before. It was flooded! I went in and just wanted to cry. It was so perfect and so old and so US! Many many months ago I prayed, Dear Jesus if there is one thing I could request in a house and if not it’s totally okay because I’ll take anything but if there is one thing, can you just let it have pretty windows? Oh my goodness were these windows pretty! They are HUGE and let in LOADS of light and they are old and beautiful and have the most glorious hardware. Greg can’t see it and thinks the hardware looks cheap and flimsy but NO! It’s GORGEOUS! So anyways, I didn’t even look around all the house because I was so overwhelmed with why our realtor would even show this to us when we clearly could not afford it. It seemed so impossibly out of reach but at the same time I had this weird unexplainable peace.

As this one guy stood in the corner and talked about how he’d like to knock down all the walls and open it up, my little heart was saying no no no! It’s so beautiful and charming and the history! They say it was built in 1886 but the previous owner thinks it might be older. We have the pictures of the family that lived there back then and the farm that surrounded it and ahhhh! It’s just so cool! It has so much character, it brings the squeals right out of me! Anyways, we left and Greg was like, what did you think?! and I just laughed at him. There were no words. I told him this was my Netflix of houses – something so perfect but totally unattainable without the help of our great God who apparently is still in the business of doing some pretty awesome miracles. He got Greg his dream job and I just knew if this wasn’t the house for us, there would be another one. So we put it in His hands and tried our best to not worry about an outcome that was so impossible anyways ;) But there were so MANY little things that said and this is for you… and this is for you…. like, the windows.. like, how when you looked out of the window upstairs, all you could see were trees – that’s the thing I loved most about my parents house and have wished since I was a little girl that I could find a property that had a similar view… the layout was my ideal… the backyard was HUGE… and did I mention it even had a detached artists studio!? AND IT’S MORE THAN 900 sq ft! AND IT HAS ROOM TO GROW AND AND AND. Anyways, I’ll spare you the whole drawn out process of how we actually came to put in an offer but we did! We submitted our little story with picture included and a couple days later, received word that we got it… WHAAAAT!? They had a full cash offer and our wayyy under listing price offer…. and they picked ours!? And not only that, they didn’t even wait another week for more offers to come in! That is unheard of in this market! Then there was the whole coming up with the funds bit that haha we had to use some shall we say, God math, because seriously, I have no idea how that happened. Seriously. No idea.

It came on the market the day Greg started his job. It has His fingerprints all over it. I cannot believe it’s ours. So let’s hold on to that happiness because today we went to get it ready to get tented and it hit us how much work it needs. hehehe… we both left just a touch overwhelmed but come three days from now, I’m rolling up my sleeves and diving headfirst into projects projects projects. I can’t sleep at night I’m so excited!!! To Him be the glory because seriously, wow.

^^oh back when we were just babies <3

Happy 2nd birthday little blog of mine! It’s such a silly thing to celebrate but I’ve been so glad I have had something to look back on and I’m really so humbled you guys have followed along! Thank you! It’s been awesome to follow along on your journey of those of you who were pregnant at the same time and to see your babies blossom and grow. Just last year we were a mere 12 weeks pregnant with no idea what we were going to do about anything. It’s so funny to look back on a time (that I so clearly remember complaining about, often) with such sweetness and to see all the things I was so worried about, being provided for. It’s nice to have all those growing baby pictures to compare to and think, is this new little pooch I’ve been sporting… a little sibling!? and then have to come to the reality that that is just my stomach now. ;) Literally everything last year was up in the air – Greg’s job, housing, cars, doctors, etc – and every single thing, we have seen Him help us with. I can’t tell you how many times I had to reread this blog just to remember everything was going to be okay. OK, I know that’s technically a different blog but it basically goes hand in hand with this one ;) I try to keep this one light and dump all my heaviness onto that one hehe but still. I am a very blessed woman and we serve a very faithful God and that is something to celebrate. Thanks again for following along with our little life! We love you guys!

As is our custom (well, as of last year ;) ) here are:

50 Things You May Not Know About The Nettles

1) she grew up in California
2) he did not
3) she is very glad about this
4) he is very particular about which mug he drinks his coffee out of
5) so is she
6) it’s taken them this long to find one that matched
7) matching mugs make her quite happy
8) they live with her parents. it’s not as sad as it sounds.
9) they had their baby at her parents house. when people find this out, they normally respond with, “on purpose?”
10) their child is exceptionally advanced and gifted. yup.
11) her goal in life is to get him to laugh every day
12) he’ll never know how happy she is when she succeeds
13) he has bet her she’ll never beat him at ping pong
14) she is determined to prove him wrong
15) they both talk about being more active. usually while sitting and eating.
16) her favorite place to be is next to him
17) he is ridiculously patient with her. like, ridiculously patient.
18) she likes to dance for Little
19) simply because the look of what in tarnation has already started and it’s basically priceless
20) his slippers have a magical way of escaping from the closet even when he’s not around! HOW!?
21) to say she’s obsessed with white would be an understatement
22) sometimes he takes her to say hi to their stuff in storage because she misses it so
23) she opens up like a frinkin flower around the ocean
24) he does not. sand. they are working through it.
25) she loves to daydream about their one day house
26) he is aware he will never have pocket change again ;)
27) she is convinced she can build anything
28) he is slowly convincing her otherwise
29) he likes to make the dog (oh and the baby) play air drums
30) this never ceases to amuse her
31) they get abnormally attached to characters on tv series
32) they go through some serious depressions when said series end
33) he always buys her popcorn and a cherry coke at the movies
34) she feels spoiled rotten every time
35) they love a good cocktail
36) Little reserves the best smiles for morning and for Papi.
37) she also gives the best laughs when she is: turned upside down, tossed violently in the air, or being bitten on her thighs. they are great parents.
38) they are rather proud they can still take her to the movies. they love the movies.
39) they love experiences over things
40) who are we kidding, they love things too
41) she could never kill a plant on purpose. she talks to them. she’s weird.
42) she loves when he plays his guitar
43) he loves when she sings
44) they rarely do either
45) they are amazed every time Little learns something new right before their eyes. they talk about it for days afterward.
46) they are still pretty obsessed with their dog
47) they love people who love dogs. especially people who love their dog ;)
48) she wanted to have all her kids 9 months apart…. that was before the labor experience
49) also before she knew breastfeeding made that very unlikely
50) Little is the joy of their lives