For the last three years, soon to be 4, we’ve been renters. Very happy renters. Renters with no intention of purchasing a home until we felt reasonably certain we would be in one place for more than a couple of years.

For three + years we rented. Not something we’re used to, as we’ve been homeowners every stop along the way.

For three + years, we enjoyed the shoes we were in and it felt good to be free to go at a moments notice.

But we also had dreams to be homeowners again one day.

Our dream to become homeowners developed into a plan right before Easter. It’s then when the hubs and I were discussing the possibilities of becoming homeowners by the end of summer.

Things at the hubs work made a giant shift, for great things to happen. And it looks like we could potentially stay in beautiful Southern California for some time.

I’ll never forget that weekend. It’s the weekend I started searching Zillow. The weekend when I put the search for a home in full swing.

Yes, that was the weekend I found our home. It was a home listed “by owner”, of all things. I made the call, left a message. And sent an e-mail to the homeowner as well.

And don’t you know, the homeowner and I finally connected.

Now normally, I’m the scout and do all the leg work. Then when I “find” the place that I “think” we can call home, the hubs is brought in for a look-see.

Not this time, I said to the hubs “Honey, I can already tell that I want you to see the home.” I knew by looking at the pictures, (on-line) that I wanted him to see it too.

The hubs agreed. We would go on his Friday off and have a quick peak.

Good Friday, that’s the big day I’ll never forget. It was a day we had a major list of things to do. We had a road trip planned, and wanted to be on the road by 10AM.

So our appointment to look at the home was scheduled for 9AM. That should give us plenty of time to see the house and be on our way.

At 9AM sharp, we rang the doorbell. ~ I get choked up thinking about it.

The homeowners greeted us with genuine warm smiles, shook our hands and welcomed us into their home.

A lump developed in my throat at once. And I knew before looking at the house that it felt right in every way. I just knew.

But what was the hubs thinking? I had no clue.

We went from room to room and I felt “this is too good to be true”. The home had a brand new concrete roof, new copper plumbing all the way thru, granite counters in the kitchen and baths and a white kitchen.

I had dreams of a white kitchen here in the south. It truly was a little dream come true.

The home was naturally light and bright in the daylight and I felt a cheerfulness about it that tugged at my heart.

Since we were constantly with the homeowners, I was not sure what the hubs was thinking. After all, we had big plans for the day and buying a house was something we just started talking about.

And then we were escorted out thru the double sliding glass doors that led to the covered patio.

The garden was more than just a dream come true, it was my very own personal miracle.

Back up nearly 14 years ago. Then is when the hubs and I toured Asia. And it was then that I fell in love with Koi ponds and gardens.

And for the nearly last 14 years, I’ve jokingly asked the hubs for a koi pond one day. I’ve torn pictures out of magazines for nearly 14 years. And I have a book with clippings of beautiful koi ponds. And goodness knows how many koi pond ideas I’ve gathered from Pinterest and my Houzz app…

While I’ve had really big dreams of a koi pond “one day”. I never thought in a million years that my dream would come true.

Well don’t you know, this place came with a koi pond that far exceeded my wishes and dreams. Yes, dreams do come true. But this time, it’s bigger than a dream, it’s a miracle.

Since living in So Cal going on 4 years, the hubs and I talked on and off that one day if we did buy, that it would be nice to have a yard with no grass to cut.

And don’t you know, there is not one blade of grass. It comes with beautiful plants and trees. And lovely winding stone paths with a series of steps that lead up and around the garden. Yes, dreams and miracles do come to pass.

But still, I wondered what the hubs was thinking. As you know, we had big road trip plans that day. And buying a house was not on the list of things to do. Just a quick peak.

Privacy was one of the key factors on the top of our list. And this is the view from the sliding glass doors in the master bed.

The view we see without lifting our head off the pillow.

In fact, our first night in the new home I woke at 3AM and was wide awake looking out on this scene glowing in the moonlight until 6AM. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Once we finished looking at the property, the homeowners gave the hubs and me a chance to have some alone time.

The hubs looked at me and I looked at him and we knew we found the place.

And do you know we made an offer right then and there? But the funny thing the hubs said that I will never forget is this “well I really didn’t come to buy a house today, I just thought I was coming for a quick peak.” It’s something the homeowners will never forget either, as they remind us of those words every time we see them.

And we dropped our road trip and list of things to do in an instant. And enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and visited with the homeowners for 3 hours. 3 HOURS!

And made an appointment to be over to the escrow office, that afternoon, along with the homeowners.

And do you know, the homeowners fell in love with us. And we just adore them. And we have become friends. And the hubs had lunch with the homeowner before we bought the house. And they made brownies for us when we visited. And she stocked our freezer with meals and dessert as a treat when we were moving in. And we have an invitation to their upcoming housewarming party.

But before we became homeowners, I felt the shoe was going to drop. It all felt too good to be true. Even the day of closing, I was worried.

I suppose I worried they would sell it to someone else, as they were offered more than what we offered. Yes, they had another offer in shortly after us. But the couple liked us and wanted us to have it and told us flat-out that they would not engage in a bidding war. But I was still worried, as the bidding wars out here are killer! Especially now. And even tho we had a written contract, I still felt the shoe could drop at the last min.

When the closing finally took place, it was hard to grasp it all. After we moved in, it was still hard to grasp. But I’m finally coming around. And the hubs told me that I had better get used to it. Will it ever sink in?

It’s taken so long to tell the story and truth be told, I’m no longer waiting on the shoe to drop. Dreams do come true as we are blessed to be the caretakers to this place we now call home.

We’re grateful for the many blessings we’ve received.

Blessings – Debbie