THE JOURNEY
Early this year, a lovely couple friend invited us to their home to claim some freshly baked Ensaymada after the Sunday mass at St. Emile.
We could not refuse such a delicious offer.
Parking in their driveway ,we noticed a HOUSE FOR SALE sign across their street.
I excitedly announced to Giselle, that I longed to be their neighbor. I love their neighborhood and I love their beautiful house.
She promised to introduce us to their friend who is their mortgage specialist.
I was , as usual tongue in cheek…just wishful thinking, but when the nitty gritty had to be accomplished, I would buckle.
Meeting Meloi Guzman in zoom for at least 3 consecutive weekends worked like a refiner’s fire.
Threshing out the worries ,unearthing capabilities as well as the possibilities.
Ruel was all out eager to embark in the challenging world of home ownership via the mortgage contract.
From the onset, I declared I would be like a stumbling block. The dead weight because fears hang heavily for me more than anything else.
Quite a similar scenario for our coming to Canada.
I rallied the family for the novena to St. Joseph to help us every step of the way.
We gingerly started the house hunting upon Meloi’s go signal soon after.
It was 3-4 properties visited in each weekend for 3 weeks straight.
Joel and beautiful wife Marilou Solite guided us.
It was a whirlwind of inspiring viewing and disappointments when we lost in the bidding war.
On the last weekend, Joel added in the last minute the property in Silver Heights.
The places and distances and locations were all a blur to me.
Could not figure out heads nor tails of what I saw and where.
I just remembered that the roof was so heavy with thick snow and the kitchen sink had a big window looking out into the backyard and garage.
Ruel added CAD$1,000 to the bid for the 1962 built house.
I told him that during the first round, his bid of additional 12 didn’t win us the house.
On the 2nd house, he bid a higher amount, we lost again and now just 1k…hmmmm I said, after this, I don’t want to go through this “ rigodon” again for the rest of the year…
We were keeping this project under wraps…but could not help sharing it with a family who visited us that fateful Sunday. They helped us pray for favor and blessing on this intention.
By 6pm Father Ani Xavier messages us with a greeting while asking for the intercession of St. Joseph to grant our family’s petitions.
I held on to this.
As we reached the apartment after bringing home Hero, Liezl and Aubrey, Joel messages us with the good news… our offer to purchase was accepted on the condition that we change certain statements in the contract. Instead of two months move-in date, the seller requested that we make it to one month only.
Ruel and I agreed.
After an hour…the seller accepted and offered us to purchase!!!
Praise God Alleluia!
One hurdle was accomplished.
That Sunday was March 19,2023, The Feast of St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary.
The condition for possession was scheduled one month after and fell on May 1, another Feast day dedicated to St. Joseph the worker.
Quite a BIG AND CLEAR message of his help, isn’t it?
But, the bigger mountain to scale was next.
Mortgage Loan approval.
It took roughly around 2 weeks for this to be processed.
There were so many challenges for documentations and supporting requirements.
A million and one other things to round off like the apartment etc etc.
By God’s extra grace the knots were smoothened out.
We met our friendly neighbors on an April Saturday when we had another ocular of the vicinity.
It warmed the heart as the snow was slowly melting away.
May 1 came and we visited the house for the 2nd time and really had a much closer look at each nook and cranny as we were given the key.
Thanks to Atty Nueva Tagarda Mabilen and husband Cromwel who ensured all legal areas were covered.
Duct cleaning was at the top of the long list of TO DO.
The duct company guys somehow managed to damage 2 things in the house with their bulky machines. Oh well, write it off to FORGIVENESS challenge as we win some and lose some
May 4 Saturday, our household group mates wanted to help us clean, but ended up having an impromptu prayer meeting instead.
May 5, on Mari’s birthday, Father Ani blessed the place. He loved our new home.
May 13, Saturday was the scheduled move in of the rest of our major stuff.
Our MFC household mates helped us with the super heavy lifting.
I can never thank them enough for the super human effort they did for us.
May 14, Sunday, our neighbor Gord, helped us with mowing our lawn and lending us his power tools.
What a wonderful Mother’s Day gift it was waking up to the sound of lawn mower, smell of grass, and see Ruel mowing the lawn so early in the morning.
We had two sets of visitors next.
Our BCBP Action Group and one of the power couple leader of MFC and their kids.
WISHES GRANTED
The house which is now our new home is a treasure trove of lovely surprises that never fails to delight me almost each day.
The windows up front and at the back of the house is a source of wonderful morning and afternoon sunlight. It is so beautiful for the spaces to be bathed in glorious yellow golden light at certain times of the day.
We need no pictures to hang on our walls since the windows already frame beautiful scenes of nature…like now, one floor to ceiling window shows us the wonderful tree turning all yellow and carpet of leaves under it in our neighbor’s front lawn…such a beautiful sight this fall.
The other window shows me the heart shape of the wrought iron hand rail detail of the main entrance.
I love the shape of the heart. Many instances of natural made shapes from ordinary things surprises and gives me the message that I am LOVED by my Father in heaven.
Example the small pool of water under a cold bottle…forming a heart by coincidence.
The pale pink tile back splash of the kitchen counters show round grapes.
It reminds me of a gift from my sister Jennie who gave me this small pocket calendar organizer with the design of grapes in it’s fabric cover.
The symbol of abundance.
Timely, that year,( early 1990's) I also got the book called Simple Abundance from my sister in law Wing. Still one of my top 10 favorite books.
There are so many kitchen cabinets and drawers with awesome shapes and sizes.
One cabinet door can house kitchen sink sponges neatly stowed away from sight.
I love the coat cabinets. The doors slide side to side. Quite a space saver.
The storm doors.
The laundry chute.
The Harry Potter room under the stairs going to the basement.
2 fire places one real and the basement one is decorative.
The margarita glasses left for us in the wet bar.
The 2 bar chairs.
All these are material things that will eventually rot and decay.
But for now, they are my evidences of God’s favor and provisions. His restoration of things lost in favor of things much much better.
As the Divine design and plan is and will always be.
Thank you to the foster father of my Lord and Savior, who was entrusted with the care of the Holy Church and Word Incarnate.
Thank you St. Joseph.
Thank you for your Bahay ni San Jose which is on loan from my God Almighty, my Creator and King.
We claim the grace of good stewardship.
Your child,
Angelli Anne J
Sept 25,2023
1:33pm
