OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED: Closing and Ceiling

OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED

In the beginning, JD adamantly only wanted two children. I thought that four would be perfect. Once we caught God's vision of putting orphans into families, our plan was multiplied by God. We are currently blessed with 12 children; five biological, six adopted and one more waiting in Ethiopia. Our first adoption was from the U.S., the next three were from Liberia, West Africa, and our last two were from Ethiopia. We are supporting our 12th child in Ethiopia after her adoption could not pass court.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Closing and Ceiling

We are still in the midst of trying to close on our home. It looked very promising initially when we got back our much higher appraisal than last year, but still have issues in underwriting. Since we have not actually closed on the home (we are paying on a building loan), we should be able to finance the entire appraised amount as a normal house closing. However, the underwriters came back and declared that they had to treat our closing as a re-finance since we have been living in the house. The big deal about that is that a re-fi can only be for 90% of the appraisal value, meaning that we have to come to the table with considerably more cash. That would be just fine if the amount that we had to have for closing wasn't already enormous.

As I was sinking into house-closing despair, the head under-writer decided that she didn't think it was fair for us and would adjust that judgment to allow it to be an initial closing again! So, we are again hopeful, but waiting. At this point, I will not assume anything until the last paper is signed and we are on our way to victory dinner! Once before it all fell apart the day before closing. So, we wait a bit more... but I'm waiting with hope.

Of course, this house closing is far bigger than just a house. It's the house that we already live in, that JD built much of with his own hands. It's also the finality we need to be able to begin our Ethiopian adoption. It's hard to believe that the lives of two orphans also hang in the balance of men in suits at a local bank, but that's the reality right now.

As for the adoption, I'm still talking to people and collecting information, but we aren't starting our home-study until closing is behind us.

And while we wait, JD continues to build. Here's ceiling phase two - the playroom. We've pretty much cleared the room to get ready for the new ceiling.

As for our little Bob the Builder? He went and got the little blue ladder to be able to climb up on the scaffolding. He was pretty pleased with himself too!

The good news is that he doesn't go off on his own to get into things. He likes to be with people, so generally doesn't attempt too many dangerous feats unless someone is fairly close by.

That's my boy.