TOO SOON TO SAY <---> post 14

We moved to 431 Turrentine Ave. Apt. A in the first week of March 2007. The building is an English style apartment building built in 1929. There are many wonderful features of this apartment like ten foot ceilings. I rag washed the walls and reworked the bathroom with my paintbrush. But we are longing for sunsets that we had so enjoyed that we almost took them for granted. Ever looking for a place to settle, we kept asking for direction. With no answer we decided that we would do the part we could do — keep moving. Spend the time and energy, learn the parts of the county that we felt attracted toward.

Slowly we came to a decision. There was this sloped lot in South Ridge. It was wooded, quiet enough, and close in to the city. We put a contract on it and the owners accepted with no counter offer. Wow! Okay! We start designing and planning. Darryl Cox, pastor of the Albertville Vineyard, came down to see it. Yes! No signs, dreams, symbols, words — just peace. Still good.

A family member's wedding in Birmingham on 7-7-07. The drought breaks. Patsy had heard about the rain and drought and God's grace for the spiritual change marked by the rains.

Tuesday morning July 10 I'm going down Rainbow Drive at 6:30a and look up at the mountain. The top is in a cloud and a faint impression comes to drive up there later in the morning when I am free. I start up the mountain and a new realty sign is posted. An L.A.H. Realty sign. My daughter-in-law's new mother-in-law is an agent for LAH in Birmingham. Never seen a LAH sign in Gadsden. The sign points up the mountain. I smile. I guess God is saying our lives are connected with Birmingham at a greater level. (Already my only brother and Patsy's only sister live a block away from each other in Birmingham.)

I go on up the mountain.

Back in late Autumn we had made a list of things we like. One of the items was a place on a mountain that faced the setting sun. I did my research thing with maps and aerial views. One of the few places in our county that fits the bill is one on this mountain. I had driven over the streets that my research revealed and one of the houses that I thought would fall in our budget (if it ever went on the market) was on this mountain.

I drive by the house with a sign in the yard. (not a LAH sign but a sign just the same.) We already have a lot under contract. We have peace. We call Lisa our agent and make an appointment for the next day. We walk around the outside of the vacant house on Tuesday evening to the back yard as the sun is setting. It has a view. We drive back and forth that night comparing the lot and the house. In a kind of whirlwind we choose the house after walking through it the next day. It needs TLC as they say in the realty books. The lot owners let us out of the contract. Little signs begin. I come across 23 cents as I have to watch where I step (dogs). The contract writing starts on the 11th and finishes on the 12th. (11/12 split as we call it — occurs often in our relationship since dating days). YES, to our offer with no counter on Friday. Went to see Evan Almighty in the afternoon. Had multi encounters with Holy Spirit at the movie. Hard to explain but I knew the movie and the house thing were connected. Waiting for an inspection report coming up this Friday. We walk it out, waiting in peace but weakness and listening for understanding. Expecting direction and confirmation. I'll let you know what happens.

ED. NOTE: 1-3-11 We live in our "as is" house redesigning as we go.