(I took this yesterday morning. I think it looks cute with the red tree)
So Jake and I are feeling really blessed right now. As most of you know we have been looking for a house for the past several months. We have had a lot of ups and downs. Here in Elko houses seem to run 30 to 50,000 more than they do in Salt Lake. Add that to very little inventory and it makes one of the biggest financial decisions in your life really hard. We have put down 3 offers in the fast few months and none of them worked out. To say it has been a roller coaster is an understatement. As of last week we were really discouraged. Well this week the Lord lead us to the right place.
On Monday night I called our friends the Mortinsons and asked if they wanted to come over for dinner. Lyndsie told me that they were actually having some friends from their old ward over that evening. She then asked if we wanted to join them for dessert. I at first told her that we didn't want to barge in on their evening but she insisted so we ended up at their house. This is where we meet the Muelstiens (spelling is probably incorrect :)) The were a super nice couple and we had a wonderful time. As the evening went on the conversation turned to our ongoing house hunt. After we told the Muelstiens our situation they told us that they knew of a house that would be coming up for sale in the next little bit. They said a couple in their ward was moving to be closer to their children and they had already bought a house. As far as they knew their house wasn't up for sale yet. We told them we were interested to see what they were asking so they said they would find out for us. As the end of the night we headed home and hoped we would hear from them in the next week or so.
Well the next afternoon I got a message from Lindsey Muelstien (there are 2 Lindsey's in the story). She said her husband has gone by to see their neighbor and had talked to him. She told me the price and it was a lot and I mean a lot less than the houses we were currently looking at. I then wondered what the house might be like because a lot of the houses in our price range need major work. I ended up calling and getting the phone number of the Kukinhimers from Lindsey.
Joseph and Dawn Kukinhimer are a sweet couple and I knew it from the minute that Dawn answered her phone that we were dealing with angles. When I finally got ahold of Dawn that evening I asked if we could come over sometime this week to see the house. She told me that they were currently packing up but if we didn't mind the mess we could come over right then. Excited but nervous we went over. When we got to the house we really couldn't believe it. It was a house that was comparable if not better than the ones we had put offers on. Walking through Jake and I both though that the Muelstien's may have heard the wrong price. Well after we had gone through the house we talked with Joseph and he told us the price we had heard was right. They to had found it difficult to find an affordable house when they came to Elko and they felt that they wanted to give someone a break. He told us they were retired and had already purchased a house. They said they already have what they need in life so why not help someone out.
Jake and I were floored. We shook hands with Joseph that night saying we would get papers drawn up and ready. They were taking their first truck load the next day to their new house so he said we could meet up on Saturday evening after they got home and get the ball rolling. The rest of the week Jake and I were worried that they may want to change their minds or that we had dreamed it. Finally last night we were able to go over and sign the papers.
All I can say is that the Kukinhimer's are the kindest people in the world. Jake and I have felt so blessed. We are so excited to move our family into this home for the next few years. I only hope that someday Jake and I can be in a position to do something as kind and the Kukinhimer's did for us. I guess I need to remember that the Lord knows what is supposed to happen. I will keep you all updated with pics as we get settled in. :)
