Sometimes walking in on something is the greatest thing in the world!

Friday night we got a call from our realtor that the buyers of our home wanted to know if they could walk through with family that was in town to show them the house.  Mark and I said, “absolutely!”, knowing that we’d want and ask the same thing if we were in their position.

Dying to meet them, but knowing they would probably like to walk through privately and talk freely with each other about the house, we left to run errands and get breakfast.

When the allotted time was up, we drove back home, only to find there were still cars in our driveway.  We hesitated for only a minute and then decided to walk in and see who these people were that were buying our beloved home.

And here’s where the goosebumps begin…

What greeted us when we walked in were not strangers, but new friends.  Hearty hugs and handshakes were exchanged.  The first thing they said after introductions was, “I LOVE YOUR HOME!”  To which I naturally said, “It’s not our home.  It’s yours. :-)”

If you remember, over the past weeks of waiting, I have been preparing and praying for the people that God would bring as buyers.  I told them, “I’ve been praying for you guys for weeks!”  With tears in her eyes, this God-sent woman said to me, “I’ve been praying for this house for years!”  More goosebumps.

Get this – They just now sold their previous home which was set on five acres of land after THREE YEARS on the market.  That is how long she has been praying for the right house.  THREE YEARS ago, we moved in to this house.  Her home sold at the exact time that ours went on the market.

In those three years, we were able to do things to this house with the stone and barn wood that spoke to this couple in ways no other house had been able to.  She had to wait three years for the prep work to be done.  Three years for us to be called to another location to start a new adventure.  Three years for our paths to cross and to “unintentionally” meet and thank each other with emotional, heartfelt joy.  Bigger goosebumps.

I had also prayed that God would send the buyers that would walk in and know that it was their home.  That it would speak to them. That they would sense and feel the love that has lived in these walls.  The laughter that has been shared and the tears that have been soothed.  She, in nearly exact words, said all of those things to me – that the house “spoke to her”, that she “just knew” and that she sensed the warmth and love that lived here.  Goosebumps on my goosebumps.

Both she and her husband said they didn’t want to change a thing and that if they could, they would have bought everything in the house, too.  Since I had my big sale, that wasn’t possible, but she and I walked through the house marveling at how both of our prayers were answered so specifically and picking out things that were still available for purchase.

Did I mention that they were originally from Iowa?  (Which was an added blessing for our neighbors across the street who are also from Iowa and share that sweet midwest demeanor.)  So both were thrilled with the barn wood throughout the house.  Which, of course, thrilled my heart, knowing that my barn wood would be left in very loving hands :-). Little personal goosebumps.

I felt like I walked into my home and met myself today.  Someone who will love this house every bit as much as I have.

After they left, Abby said, “See mom?  I told you – God had this.  The exact right buyer at the exact right time.”

Well said.

And the goosebumps continue…