blessings out of the blue

I know I struggle with believing that God enjoys surprising us with blessings from time to time. This week, both my mom and another friend said, "We pray for things, then when God answers, we're surprised! Why are we surprised that He does what He says He'll do?"

So what blessing did he shower today? Some of you know my parents have been in the process of trying to move. Yes, trying. They have found several "dream" houses, yet as soon as they get their hopes up and the paperwork begins to flow, something falls through. On the other end of the spectrum, they've had a few good offers made on their house. Again, they all fall through. A couple weeks ago, they found the house I think they've been dreaming of for years (they thought the other houses were it, but this one is what I picture everytime they talk about a new house). They signed papers with a contingency on selling their current house...which has been on the market for 3 months with no luck. So they decided to take extreme measures.

For a little over a week now, they've been doubling as professional painters during every waking moment outside of work and church. The house looks amazing...with the exception of all the tape on windows and corners and the lovely arrangement of each room's furniture smooshed together in the center of the appropriate room. So like all other nights, tonight, they came home from work and put on their painting clothes. As soon as they began, there was a knock on the door.

A couple renting a house across the street had been eying ours for some time, but had yet to make a move. When they saw the "For Sale" sign come down (during renovations), they feared it had been sold. Over and over they made clear how desperately they wanted to buy our house. After 3 months of making sure every little thing in the house was in order each time we left, this couple was blown away with undone paint and absolute disarray.

They really want the house, they have the financial means to do it, and It appears that all their ducks are in a row. Please pray for this couple, my parents, and their precious realtor over the next couple days. Perhaps God will bless my parents by plopping a blessing in their laps.