Heeere's the House

To date we have visited the house (that my husband has this feeling about) at least 5 times.  I mean we have actually walked through the home 5 times.  The community sales agent has to open it up every time.  I am sure he is wondering when we are going to make an offer.  We are wondering the same????   Just letting God do his thing (not sure the agent would understand that) . 

• The Coach and I with our two youngest (the princess 5yr, and the prince 6yr) walk through
• The Coach and I with the princess and the Fashion Diva (our 9 year old)
• My mom, the fashion diva and myself walk through
• My friend Susan and myself
• The Coach, and I  with the princess, the prince and our 2 great friends, Nita and Steve

We have driven by to many times to number so I won't get into counting those visits.

So without further adieu here are some pictures of the house.  Stay tuned because there are more to come.

We CAN"T buy and house and we have NO intention of doing so!!!!

We moved to NC from Florida this past summer (2010) and a decided to rent a house for us to live in.
Reason #1- We had no clue about the area or the traffic patterns (primarily the area, well and.....I hate driving so the traffic patterns too)
Reason #2- Way to complicated of a rental property portfolio (portfolio makes it sound so "rich"- HA)

• rental property number 1- we had to evict the tenant (due to lack of paying rent) right after moving to NC.  We had  $10,000 of damages to the unit and several months to get it all ready to rent again.  (that meant no rental income for 6 months to help pay the mortgage, and many many bills to fix it)
• Rental Property number 2- no problems, great tenant.  She is a nurse and mails me the check without fail every month. (but its still another property to worry about)
• Rental Property Number 3-  We  did not even try to sell our home in Florida when we moved to NC.  When we bought that house 4  years prior (at a great time in the real estate market) we had every intention of living in that home for the rest of our lives.  It wasn't a big house but it was all we needed so we did EVERYTHING to that house.   Kitchen with granite counters, Bathrooms, New tile and wood floors in the entire house, new ceiling (originally popcorn texture and that's not my cup of tea), 5 inch crown molding and baseboards in the entire house,  replaced every window, painted every wall, bought new appliances, built a salt system pool with a paver deck ( there were cheaper options but hey i was going to live there forever and lets not mention what i really wanted was marble pavers-glad my husband talked me out of that one), white vinyl fence (wood would have been cheaper but I didn't want the maintenance in my forever home).   So we have our totally redone (made us penniless) home in Florida rented.

Reason #3- After reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" our views of finances have changed and we wanted to save up a large down payment and  also pay off property #2 which still has a mortgage.  We knew that would take several years.

We rented a great house and were content with the status Quo.  Of course the "I love everything about houses"  person in me enjoys driving through beautiful neighborhoods, touring homes, looking at home magazines and things as such even though we have no plans on purchasing a home right now.

One fine afternoon my husband drives me through a new neighborhood that he had previously viewed with our very fashion conscience,hip 9 year old daughter "K1".  He informed me that she had approved this neighborhood.  So "just for kick" we get off and take a look at their model and 2 other inventory homes that they had already completed. 
I walked out of one of them and said "I love this house".  My husband emphatically agreed (weird for him because he really doesn't care about houses- he is so humble and easy going that he could live in a cardboard box if God called him to do so).  Later on that evening He drives me by the house AGAIN.  Double weird for him.  So here is how that conversation goes.
Me:   "What's Up- you aren't into houses that's my job"
Coach:  "I really like that house"
Me:  "yeah, me too BUUUUTTTT you know we can't buy another house right now, things are way to complicated with property #2.  I would love this house but it isn't realistic right now."
Coach:  "I know but it this gut feeling, I think God has plans for this house and our family"
(let me mention that my husband has this great gift of discernment- when God speaks (not audibly) and he (my husband) listens we have experienced miracles, blessings and amazing life altering events.)
Me: "Well,  if that is the case lets just see God work, because it will take a miracle"  (inside I was jumping for joy and shouting YYYEEESSSS!!!!-For if God impressed this on my husbands heart then God was going to work this out and  I REALLY liked this house)

This is our 3100SF rental home (not the one that we rent out but the one we currently live in) which is in a great neighborhood, full of kids and in close proximity to everything in our lives. 


Come back and visit us for the continuation of as the House Turns.

Our Story

I (Alicia) am first and foremost a Child of God, Wife and mother.  I was born and raised in Miami, Fl -"Welcome to Miami, bienvenidos a Miami"-  those lyrics parade through my mind as I introduce myself.    (Do you remember the Will Smith song? )

I graduated from the University of West in Pensacola, Fl (After having attended Pensacola Christian College for 2 years-  if you know me and know anything about that school you know its a wonder I didn't get kicked out.)  I have a degree in Physical Educationa and a minor in Science Education. I taught until 2001 when I had my 1st child (the Fashion Diva) and became a full time mommy and wife.  In the meantime I pursued an interior decorating passion and also a Florida Real Estate license.  I completed the latter but then had my second child (The prince) in 2004 and four months after he was born found out I was pregnant with the princess (born in 2005).  Yes, you read correctly 4 months after having my prince I was pregnant again.  We never planned for 3 but the Lord knew our kids would would need each other for the days that were ahead of us. 

The Coach and I were married in Wilmington, NC, in July of 1999 at the Graystone Inn.  The coaches mom was originally from Wilmington so when his parents retired they moved back to NC.  At the time of our engagement his dad was very ill and would not be able to make the trip to South Florida for the wedding so we moved the wedding to Wilmington, NC.  It was a great, small, wonderful, dream wedding.

The Coach  also born and raised in Miami and is 8 years my senior.  He is a fabulous husband, dad, and mentor and most importantly Child of God.  He spent 16 years at his high school Alma mater as a teacher, then dean of students and always a Football Coach.

In 2006 (the princess was 6 months old) the coach felt the Lord calling us to a small Christian HIGH school in Clearwater, Florida.  We obeyed His calling and left our family (my parents and sister lived 3 doors down from us), our beloved school (husbands Alma mater, my former employer, FREE TUITION for our kids, free health insurance because of time vested in the school) , took a job at a fairly new school with a fairly new Football program and the coach went back to the classroom (no more administration for him).  Because it was only a HIGH school my kids were enrolled at the local k-8 Christian School.  
We quickly fell in love with both schools and the area.  We found a fabulous Church with fabulous friends, and a great life group. The move to clearwater brought on new adventures for me such as a refreshed passion for sewing, embroidering, digitizing and thus Uniquely Monogrammed and Applique Frenzy were born. WE were living in our dream place.

........THEN (4 years later)........

GOD called us again

This was the hardest move ever.  The circumstances  and happenings for this move are miraculous and would require pages of writing.  We left our home, friends, church, beach, boat, great schools and  life as we knew it to move to NC.

We are currently at a phenomenal Christian  School with amazing facilities,opportunities and academics for our Children.  I would venture to say that there are only 3 or 4 other Christian schools like this in America.   For the first time in 14 years my husband is not the head Football Coach (he is the offensive coordinator).    It has been a interesting journey thus far but we KNOW that God's hand is guiding the steps and we eagerly await to see His plan unfold.  The adventure is tough at times but "His Mercy Endureth Forever".  We are currently looking for a home church but haven't found the right one that fits our family.