There are a lot of things in life that I find stressful. However, no high school bully, college class, or sporting event ever prepared me for the stress I would find in buying my first home.

Edwin and I have been fervently searching for a home since we became engaged in 2016. After being married for a month and us living together in his apartment, the house hunt became more fierce and we starting meeting with realtors, seeking out property information, etc (Insert terrified/crying face.) Meeting new people, venturing into new things, give me anxiety. There’s no other way to put it. I get so nervous my stomach gets in knots; I mentally shut down and want to vomit. Readers, I’m sure you’re thinking, what a drama queen. I write this with a serious face, my nerves get the best of me when it comes to spending money. I’m a tightwad. I like to save money. I like to use my Dave Ramsey envelopes to get my hair done and to pay all my bills on time, but outside of that, I do not want to use money I’ve worked hard to save, on something so intimidating. A house? Me. Am I ready to commit to a mortgage that says, “hey, you’ll have major wrinkles and no longer be wearing a two-piece in the summertime when you finally pay me off.”

Well, Dave tells me to pay for everything in cash. I might sound crazy, but I don’t have $100,000 laying around ready to spend on a home.  I promise, if I did, the remainder of my student loans and last little bit of my car payment would be long gone.

We found a phenomenal home that was a bid/foreclosure. It came with 10 acres of happiness, a wrap-around porch of joy, a swimming pool of smiles, and more storage space than my little heart could handle. It was perfect. The price was affordable. We jumped on. Edwin and I started the paperwork. Long story short, our hearts were crushed five days later when we discovered what the purpose of a “bid out process” was. Although the asking price was said amount, people could bid tens or even HUNDREDS of thousands more than the asking price. I always try and act my “wage”, and with the realization that there is no way we could afford my barbie dream home.  I cried, called Edwin, and we started from scratch.

Now that I’m through sharing my ultimate fears and the anxiety that often follows me, I can share how God works through simple blessings.

We knew it was going to be tight to afford that home, but gosh we wanted it. Jesus knew we were going to struggle and prevented our availability to get it. It wasn’t 24 hours later we found what was Christ’s blessing through a lesson.

Edwin and I found another house. We loved it. Everything from the colonial, antique look, to the front porch swing and old-timey door knobs in each room. We loved that the kitchen has clear cabinets and a teal, long countertop. I love that it has upstairs bedrooms, even though the ceilings are tiny (it’s fine because we’re both short.) Literally the house is everything I want and need at 27, just married and with no children. It’s also everything I need for if in 593275 years I decide I want to bring a dark-skinned, blonde hair, blue eyed child into the world.

After the seeing the house, communicating about it (thanks Pastor Andy) we decided to make an offer on it. Because of Christ’s timing and will, we found out 48 hours, our offer was enough to get the house. While Edwin cried, I stood there dumbfounded. I finally got my little house with columns and a wrap around porch. Now, we just have to paint it white.

Don’t second guess God and his plans or His timing. He always knows better, for whatever is in God’s control is never out of control.

So, readers, I did a thing. I bought a house today.

Lauren Estes-Velez is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.