SOLD!

I'm a home owner! It feels GREAT accomplishing this goal. I wasn't sure if this day would ever come, since we had been searching for 6 months. We looked at MANY houses online and in person. Our Realtor was great with not pressuring us and giving great advice when we asked. (If you or someone you know is looking for one, I HIGHLY recommend ours - contact me for info.) My husband and I went through many phases where we were excited, picky, impatient, willing to compromise, frustrated, loosing hope, didn't think we had the funds, calm, patient, peaceful, confident, and thankful. Well, I can't really speak for my husband, but the phases are pretty much the cycle of my feelings through the process.

It's quite interesting looking back at my blog updates on finding a home.
January 4 - we began the process searching for a home
January 17 - approved with our chosen lender
February 1 - we met with our Realtor
February 14 - we were settling for a house we didn't love (thankfully didn't buy)
February 24 - I was encouraged by our Realtor
April 7 - the house market died

My updates on my blog then stopped. In April, I had a break down. I was doubting SO many things. I didn't think we could afford the type of house that we wanted, and I didn't think we would ever find it. And then, my focus changed. My mission trip to Africa was quickly approaching, and I didn't want to "miss" out on anything that God wanted to teach me. (and He did, you can read about it here ) It's hard to describe, but I felt this softness inside like God was saying just wait, I've got a house for you after Africa. I had this peace about all this searching. The funny thing is that even with this feeling, my husband and I still looked at a few houses here and there, and one by one it was a definite no. But it confirmed what I was "feeling."

Don't you know that 2 days after I left for Africa, the emails came pouring in of houses on the market. When I returned, I went through the emails, and compiled a list of houses that my husband and I wanted to see in person. The following week we set out to see 5 houses, and after the 2nd one, I didn't want to see any more. We had found "the one" and didn't have to compromise on anything we were searching for. It had it all - what an answered prayer! So we reacted fast. The next day we put in a bid. After a week of back and forth and a few complications, the owners accepted our bid. After another month of waiting - setting up inspections, appraisal, etc. aka a lot of waiting. We finally have the keys!

What a roller-coaster of a journey to look back on. I'm not the most patient person in the world, but I'm happy that I waited. I'm very thankful for the peace that God gave me. Looking back, I couldn't imagine being in the middle of purchasing a house while on the mission trip. I'm sure my focus would have been off some...ok maybe a lot. :) What's crazy, is that the house we bought, was put on the market in January - the exact time we began our search - but we didn't receive an email about the house until I left for Africa. Coincidence? I'll let you decide...

So I want to encourage all of you that are waiting for something big or even small in your life. Enjoy the roller-coaster of the journey! Even if you think you have it all together, don't miss what God wants to teach you during this time. As much as being patient sucks, I'm sure whatever you are waiting for, it is worth the wait.

I can't wait to see how God will use this house of ours...besides, He's the one that blessed us with it.
-Miche

Cupcakes!!!

I love baking cupcakes, and not the store bought icing and cake mix stuff. Lately I've been making everything from scratch. It's been fun expanding my horizons and baking skills. So for my husband's birthday, I made chocolate peanut butter cupcakes (or what I like to call Reese's cupcakes since I added Reese's cups and pieces to the recipe). I found the recipe randomly online and decided to give it a try. Well, they came out really good - not heavy. Since so many people raved about them, I decided to share them with the blogging world.

Ingredients for the cake:
1 2/3 cup flour
3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of sour cream (this keeps them moist!)
2 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
8 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
1 bag of miniature Reese's cups (optional)

Directions for cake:
Preheat over to 350. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Stir sour cream, milk, and vanilla in a measuring cup. Mix butter and sugar - beat on medium high. Then add eggs to butter mixture one by one. On low speed, add your dry and wet ingredients, alternating, and ending with the dry ingredients. Fill cupcake liners a little over 1/2 way. Bake for about 15 min. Check for doneness with toothpick - it should come out clean. Optional: After 10 min insert a miniature Reese's cup into each cupcake - the middle should be jelly-like. Finish baking for 5 min.



Ingredients for Icing:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 Tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter, creamy
3 1/2 cups confection sugar
1 cup of frozen whipped topping
Reese's Pieces (optional)

Directions for Icing:
Combine cream cheese, butter, peanut butter with mixer. Slowly mix in confectioners sugar beating until smooth. Mix in whipped topping. Optional: Mash up Reese's Pieces and fold into the icing.



I hope you enjoy them as much as my friends did!
-Miche