New House

So... the house on the right in the picture is no 123 Aylesbury Place, Glengormley, and it's our's (or so I'm told. I don't think it'll feel like it's our's until we're into it, but according to the solicitor acting on our behalf it's our's). Isn't that great!! So how did this all happen I hear you chant. Well let me expand. It has all happened rather quickly. Approx 28 days ago we went to view a bunch of houses on sale in a new build estate on the outskirts of Belfast to the north (15 mins from city centre by car) in an area named Mayfield Garden Village (fancy name eh). For anyone local it's just off the Mullusk Road on the other side of the Sandynose Roundabout from Glengormley.
So we went to view for two reasons;
1 Sarah spotted an advertisment for new-build 3 and 4 bedroom properties, cut in price because of current economic conditions, going for upwards of £140,000. (a great price by most estimates).
and 2 because our dinner guests could'nt make it that night.
So of we trapsed off on a Thursday night leaving the chicken in the oven to cook slowly, not realising this was the first night these properties were being realised at these prices. We got there just before opening time, and in approx 1 hour you would have been certain the credit crunch was over due to the amount of people all over the place. It was quite an intimidating atmosphere. We didn't know what we could afford or which house type to go for and left a bit discouraged thinking this probably wasn't for us, as there were loads of people queuing to sign up in their booking office on site. So latter that evening (after chicken) we got to thinking about how nice all those houses were, what a great deal they were, and wouldn't it be great etc etc. So I purposed to give a financial advisor guy a call the next morning and see what we could afford and check with the estate agent to see how many houses were sold/left. So the next day I called both. The financial guy told us to go for it, but the Estate agent told us that the 30 houses on sale had been snapped up in that first night, as well as a further unfinished 20. However they did say that they were considering letting another 30 go on release on that Saturday if they could work things out with the builder . So to cut a long story short, they did release the other 30 on that saturday. We went up at 9.30am and queued to 3pm (when they were due to start selling) and at approx 4.30pm we signed on the dotted line and got the last 4 bedroom semi in our price range (no mean feat as there were many others behind us in the queue who would have been disappointed. It was not the £140 price, but it was £60k - £80k less than what they were going for). So there was still a few hurdels to jump through. The developer was giving us 28 days to complete (not the most comfortable time in which to get a mortgage arranged) otherwise they would keep you're deposit and try and flog you're house to one of the 300 people on the waiting list who had missed out first time round. But thankfully the mortgage offer came through last monday and on Thursday past we signed the official doc's with the solicitor and that was it. Especially good as this Monday is the 28 day cut off time.

The best thing about this is that we weren't even looking for a house as such. We had decided not to stress over house buying until Sarah's job got made permenant (which it did a week before), and having committed the situation to God, it has just happened and we're going with it. Why do things the hard way when God's about.

It's amazing, people (and the bible) tell you to seek first the kingdom and he'll add all the other 'stuff' on to you. And he does. Before the current house price slump, so many people were drawn into the temptation to get on the housing market and it seemed like the the only wise thing to do. And in a short time the whole situation is turned on it's head and to us it feels like an affordable house that we like, is just released to us when before the prospect of house buying meant trawling round all the old small inner city properties that you don't really want, but have no choice but to go for. So there you go. God is good. I'm going to stop typing as this blog is getting a bit long. If you want to know anymore leave questings in the comments box and I'll blog again on the subject.
OK thanks for reading.
God bless you and we love you, and come visit us after Jan 09 and hopfully we will be able to host you in our new home if all goes according to plan.
Bye.
Raymond (and Sarah).

One year married

Hello Everyone!

Wow what an amazing year it has been for me personally (Sarah). So much has happened since Raymond and I got married in August 2007. So many things experienced, so many firsts and lots of amazingly happy memories. I just wanted to share something that has recently happened.

We had Chuck Pierce and Sharon Stone come over to Belfast in May 08 and Chuck spoke of 2008 being the year of the gate. I was really excited about that because my birthday this year fell on the 08/08/08. I really sensed that Father was saying that this year would be "a new beginning". So I'm expectant to see what Father has in store for me and Raymond this year!

Well this month (August) has been full of lost of exciting things, first it was my 30th birthday and we went away to Edinburgh we had such a great time. I then had an interview for a job at the hospital where I have been working as a temp since October 2007. We celebrated our 1st anniversary and went to see Joseph at the Opera House, the day of our anniversary I found out I had got the job at the hospital. It was such a victory for me as I had struggled with previous interviews I'd had before, God was so faithful thoughtout the process. He really knows what we each can walk through, it has sometimes felt like a bit of a whirlwind but it has been very good! He had also promised me through a dream I'd had in June that the next interview would be very different to the previous ones. And it really was! We also become an aunt and uncle to which is very exciting!

So this year has been one of learning, growing, depending and seeking God. Learning to be a wife, growing together with Raymond in all areas of our life together, growing and depending on our amazing Father in heaven. He is so good, I can never stop thanking Him for all He's done, all He's doing and all He's yet to do. What an exciting journey we are on.

What else could I say, probably quite alot more but it would take hours to write it all down. Hopefully, I'll blog again soon.

Edinburgh Aug 08

An NI Summer

Hi,

It's been a while since a written post. So it's about time. We're 11 months married now in case anyone is interested, or is counting. Being married I imagine is a bit like having a baby, counting the months years etc. With both there is probably an equal danger of thinking everyone cares as much about the little details as you do. Anyhow, we're happy about it.

So, I (Raymond) just wanted to give you people out there a little view into our NI world. As with babies and marriages, it's probably another thing people on the outside are not so interested in, but hey when you're in it it creates the backdrop for your life so it's somewhat unavoidable. We've stuck some parade photos on here because the 12th and 13th July are public holidays here when parts of the country come to a standstill with parades and marches which date back to days gone by.

As you can imagine people have all sorts of opinions and experiences and even beliefs about these things, and just for the record we were somewhat dubious about the benefical impact of one 'side' of the community having a few days to 'do their thing' (for those that don't know, these marches are the orange order and the royal black preceptory parading. Both organisations are protestant and british loyalist. They are somewhat secretive organisations and are quasi-masonic. Obviously some see these as only serving to exacerbate the divisions here, which they probably do. One other fact about them is that there are loads of people in them). So anyhow I'm writing this knowing some people I know think this is all bad and some think it's great and cultural etc, so forgive me if I don't give my direct opinions here.

Anyhow, as these are protestant expressions, the other half of the community here tend to migrate to Donegal for 2 days to get away from it all, while the protestants stomp around singing the national anthem and making jokes about catholics and politians.

As for us, in fairness, we did make 2 attempts to be out of the country at the time, but circumstances conspired against us and on the 12th we ended up being hemmed into our home as a 3 hour long parade made its way past the end of our street. So we checked it out and this is where some of the photo's come from. The others come from a more civilised parade in a village called Scarva that my parents enjoy going to on the 13th. One thing we learned was that members of the Royal Black Preceptory or Black men as they are commonly known here, call each other 'Sir Knight'. I know it's weird . I'm not advocating it, just giving you a glimpse.

I suppose in all truth I should say for me growing up around this, I really enjoyed the family element of it and the music. That does not justify it, but it does somewhat redeem it, if you know what I mean.

So, what ya think? Leave us a post in response!!

Ireland Trip

Valentines and Our North Coast Trip

6 months

Hello everyone,

How are you all doing? Is that a collective ‘we’re doing great’ I hear. Maybe! Or maybe it’s the Belfast wind outside. Anyhow, for all you wonderful people who are interested, we’re doing well. Life is good, we are happy etc etc. Today is the 18th February. And I know you all know what that means. That’s right, Sarah and I are married exactly six months. How great is that. I know that’s as big a deal to you as it is to us, and I’m sure you’re good wishes cards are simply caught up in the postal system somewhere (or something).
Anyway, six months married also means six months through our first year married sabbatical thing. Thankfully Sarah and I decided we would take the first year married to do nothing except whisper sweet nothings to each other, and so far its going pretty good. We’re getting to know each other a lot better, and learn to have good proper arguments (about nothing really). Its like, you get to know people when you lean where their limits are of what they can tolerate, and then you begin to push those limits. Isn’t that the inevitable process of long term relationships. Well I think so, and its very good. Its fun and its enlightening, and you learn to love the other person so much more. My friend Richard advised me before getting married to never settle an argument by caving in for the sake of the peace. Its much better to preserve the feistiness and explore being ourselves. And that’s what we’re doing. So taking the year out, really was an inspired move. Several people mentioned to us before we got married about how Israeli soldiers have to take a year off when they get married (not sure if it still applies, probably just a biblical reference) just to spend time with their wives. For us that looks like not committing our time elsewhere in any regular way outside of our working lives of course. Obviously we commit to meeting people and having people going round for dinner etc, on one off’s, but its been more about trying to avoid those commitments to do things on a regular basis, or doing things that take us away from doing stuff together. So that’s where we’re at, and its great. We’ve been doing all sorts, from visiting friends in Lincoln to wandering round waterfalls in the Glens of Antrim (see pics). And we’re hoping our life after this year will just grow naturally from where we’re at now and God just continues using us together in the ways we see him using us now. Either that or we’ll get stupendously busy and be ships passing in the night (but I doubt it, I hope).
This attitude to life seems to be generally acceptable to most people, except it does seem hard to explain to church people sometimes. Getting married for us meant moving to a new place, and starting to go to a new church (which we’ve been at now for approx 4/5 months). And City Church is brilliant. Loads of young married types and trendy fun student types and a few fun older people types. Sometimes though we meet new people and one of the first questions is; So what are youse involved in? Or, what cell group are you in? And the answer seems to either confuse or disappoint (I’m not sure which). We’re not doing anything. Its funny, I think we in the church have a long history of making relationships activity based or project based. We get to know people through involvement and doing stuff together, rather than by just pursuing simple friendship. Hanging out for no purpose other than you simply like the other person/people and want to get to know them, and/or encourage them. And thankfully we’ve had some of that too. More Lord!!
This weekend we had my mum and dad down at the for dinner, and Sarah’s folks are over for a few days from now; so apart from in law hosting, that is our week. Hope you’re all well. Leave us a comment if you have the time. God bless. Love, Sarah and Raymond.