Nearing graduation, the Swan said she would like to work at a vet hospital for a few years under another doctor before moving to where we would finally “settle down.” If that were to be the case, the logical thing would be for her to get a job near where we live so I could keep my job. No sense in both of us looking for new employment right? Somewhere in the job hunting season we were at a Vet School function and a practice owner stuck a business card in the Swan's hand saying “I am looking to hire someone, keep me in mind.” A little bit later, a classmate informed her that he was recommending her to his boss because this classmate was going into the service after graduation. Turns out it was the same guy.

It also turned out that he happened to mix small animal and large animal, just like Swan wanted to do. It also turned out that he performed orthopedic surgeries; most do not but Swan wanted to do so. It also turned out that his practice was just about halfway between my job and the church we were attending. Can't get much better than that for God dropping a job in your lap can you?

After Swan signed on to take this job (you didn't think she'd turn all that down did you?) we began the house hunting process. Our condo is a bit small, now, after three years of marriage. And it's a bit of a drive for her, making emergency work impossible. Because my job allowed me to roam about the area, I scouted out several potential subdivisions and new construction and the like. We scheduled a Saturday to go and look. But before we left, we prayed. “God, if it is your plan for us to move, then you have a house picked out for us, show it to us.” He did. As we drove about we saw signs for some new houses. I had driven right past this community. Folks, there are flags out on the road; yet I had missed it. I had been blinded to it, until we prayed. We found the community and fell in love with it and a house in it.

Good deal. My life is covered with examples of God taking care of things. There are far too many items to recount here, but the pattern has been concrete enough that I did not have the least worry or fear of us selling our condo and buying the house. This would the the “presuming” part of the story. The condo was listed in March. It is September and we are still here. In between those two months is graduation, summer, dozens of open houses, looks nibbles, maybes, school starting back and the close of the selling season in a college town. It is enough to frustrate and enough to test faith.

We placed a contract on the house, contingent on our selling the condo. That had been extended twice and now the last extension's end was approaching. All evidence showed that we were about to lose this house we had both fallen so much in love with. Stress came to a head one Sunday a few weeks back. The next Monday afternoon I had a long drive with work, so I just turned the radio off and prayed. It was probably an hour, I don't know. then I called the man I teach Sunday School with and said “I hope you are alone, because I just have to unload.” As we talked, my friend shared a nugget of wisdom. They had given us twice extensions on the contract on the house, in all fairness they should not give us another. If the builder would give us another one, that would be a sign from God that we were still supposed to have that house. Within an hour, the Swan called me. She had just received word from the builder that they were offering us another extension without us even asking for it.

Again I think, “OK, now is when God's going to sell the condo.” Besides, it was completely out of the selling season for this area, it would be a “God thing” to sell it now. It still did not sell. Then this past weekend the sermon was on trusting God. Well, actually I think it was on something else, but all I could hear was the preacher repeating the word “trust.” All afternoon I pondered the option of going ahead and putting a contract on the house without selling the condo. This had not been an option for us for financial reasons; could it become one for faith reasons?

To be honest I was scared to death to even be thinking about doing this. I was afraid to even mention it to the Swan. When she some time for us to talk, I broached the subject. Her response was not quite what I expected. She lit up. Then she tells me that on Friday she had been gripped with the same notion. Not wanting to go far off the path, the Swan prayed that if that were the direction God would have us go, he would put it on my heart to say something about buying the house before selling the condo. Of course, I just had.

After more prayer we made the decision and both of us now feel a peace that we have not had for at least a month now. I have no idea what lay in store for us making this decision. Reflecting back on how I believed I knew what God was going to do, I think me not knowing is the point. Regardless, we are putting the situation in his hands, stepping out on faith. Tomorrow, we are going to meet with the agent and set a closing date.