by Harriet
Well, BMWK, the end of a thing is always greater than its beginning! I want to thank you for your prayers and support. I really do. The first article I wrote about our home being in foreclosure was heart wrenching. We didn’t know WHAT we were going to do, but we knew we were going too believe and trust God.
First, let me give you a run down of what happened leading up to this point:
- My husband was laid off from his teaching job in May of 08. They didn’t have enough money to cover his job for the next school year.
- Our home was in foreclosure by June of 08. I was the only one working, and I had taken a huge pay cut (I’m being paid less than 50% of what I was making while in the Air Force) from my salary as a military officer.
- We put in for a loan modification in July of 08 and got it at a 6.3% interest rate (the same as it was before) and paying $100 less than what we had been paying. The first $1000 was due in September, and our first home payment was due in December of 08.
- September of 08, my husband became a restaurant manager (yes, y’all…my baby was a manager at McDonald’s, doing what he had to do as a man to keep food on the table).
- December of 08, we paid that first modified mortgage, and I started writing for BMWK…a fire that kept me warm during what arguably was the coldest winter ever for my family and I. You all are a Godsend!
- January of 09 rolled around, and tickets of traffic transgressions past began to rear their ugly heads. From January to May of 09, we must have dished out $2-3000 to keep my husband out of jail. Tickets from 10 years ago came up! It was CRAZY!
- In the meantime, April of 09 came around, and our home was in foreclosure AGAIN. You all got wind of THAT unfortunate incident in “The Reality of Foreclosure.” The same month, I turned in an application for a loan modification.
- May of 09, our names were in the paper, stating our home was going to be sold on June 3rd. On May 29th, our mortgage company contacted the lawyers and told them to hold off on selling our home for 30 days.
- June of 09…waiting game. No information, no phone calls, no love from the mortgage company. BUT, we were getting calls from so-called friends about how they saw our names in the paper and hearing whispers in the night about how plans were being made to purchase our home from under us. Oh…and because our truck broke down and there is no public transportation here, my husband was fired.
So here we are today. July 13, 2009 the sheriff came to our home and told my husband that the sale date was now July 22, 2009. The man that wanted to purchase our home last month came by at the same time asking to do an appraisal. As my husband was telling him that wasn’t going to be possible, the Fed Ex truck came bumbling up the street looking for 2209 Desiree. The delivery man found a gaggle of men outside the address discussing legal issues, and asked for my husband.
My husband signed for the package, and lo and behold, it was the paperwork for our freshly approve LOAN MODIFICATION!!!! Knowing where we were, you won’t believe where we ARE right now:
- Our interest rate dropped from 6.3% to 4.1%!
- Our mortgage payments dropped from $1,100 to o$800!
- We didn’t have to pay anything to secure the loan modification!
- They don’t want us to pay our first NEW mortgage payment until September 09! Did you read that? This means that we will have been in our home for NINE MONTHS without making ONE PAYMENT!
- Mr. Restaurant Manager just learned that he got his teaching job back, so in August he starts work again in the school system!
And through all that drama, all that heartache, all that determination to maintain our marriage, our sanity, our belief in the King of kings and the Lord of lords, we have found that God is STILL good and STILL in the miracle working business! We give Him glory for doing this for us, because He knows we made our fair share of mistakes. Here’s the deal, though: NOTHING is impossible for God! NOTHING.
We have come full circle in this situation, only this time, things are finally turning around in our favor. I can’t thank you all enough for your prayers! They were answered, and we are so grateful! I’d like to know this, BMWK: what kind of impossible situations have you been in that spun way out of control? From sickness to divorce to financial difficulties, how did you see your way through them? If you’re in a situation like that now, how does this article make you feel about your circumstances? We’d love to hear from you!
God bless!
~ Harriet
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Incredible testimony! I am crying tears of joy for your family! Our God is a way-maker, and a miracle worker! God is Good, All the time!
This is truly a moving and powerful story. I almost couldn’t read it but was glad I did by the time I got to the bottom. A true testimony to having faith and looking past your current situation.
Amen, amen, amen!!!!! Soo thrilled for you guys, although I knew (really, I did!) that everything would work out. I know you guys knew it too!
Tara Pringle Jeffersons last blog post..Diva
dang near brought a tear to my eye…
but i’m ok now.. sooooooo happy for you two HH and Mr. H!
yessir.
good stuff
King Jamess last blog post..with the LINES
I’m new to BMWK and so I hadn’t read the first foreclosure blog entry until today. I want to not only congratulate for being able to stay in your home but also thank you for being so open and candid. Your testimony is a true inspiration and another reminder to me how I must be more faithful. I don’t know you, but I know you deserve your house and your husband deserves his job. God bless your family.
Yay!! Praise God! He is soooooo good! I knew it would work out for your good, cause I know you love the Lord! Amen!!
Harriet, You are going to make me shout girl!!!! GOD is able!!! I love this! Whem Prayers go up Blessings come down. GOD is SOOOOOO GOOD. Thank you so much for sharing your testimony. If we just stop worrying and start trusting and believing GOD will always work it out. You are such an awesome sister!
Tiyas last blog post..Take Care of You
Wow…isn’t GOD good…no matter what he always works things out somehow…
God is good all the time…. I know that in moments of despair alot of us forget about his powers but only he knows what his plans are for you. May God continue to bless your family and keep you safe !
I’m also new to BMWK and I didn’t get a chance to read the first entry. But after reading this post today, it reinforces that God is God and he will make a way out of no way. How amazing is it that when all hope seems lost and things are at their darkest, God will come in and change it all in your favor! God Bless you and your family and I pray that you continue to receive His blessings. Thanks for sharing this story with everyone.
Oh Harriet! You have been blessed.
African American Moms last blog post..You know what else happened in June?
GOD IS GOOD! I am so happy for you and your family, Harriet. Girl, I’m sitting at my desk doing a happy dance for you! The prayers of the righteous availeth much and you are truly favored. Congratulations.
Harriet,
I am so happy for you. God never ceases to amaze us. Due to divorce and my ex-husband left me in a bad situation. I filed for bankruptcy to rectify his nonsense. I fought with the bank to try and come to some solution they didn’t want to because my name was not on the loans the bankruptcy trustee worked hard advocating for me but when the bank refuse to cooperate they discharge my bankruptcy and I let the house go into foreclosure to have a peace of mind after 3 years of this. I don’t regret it one bit. You are courageous for sharing your story so that others who are embarrassed or ashamed because of this won’t have to be. I am sure this whole experience has made you both stronger.
Um.. so can me and a random boo come stay ?????? when we in town???
why we down to one topic a day.. we getting lazy folks??
King Jamess last blog post..Heaven’s High
You’ve got this, an interview, some daily inspiration and a contest with two prizes that only two people entered. Good grief, can’t please some people. LOL
Amen!!!! Glory to GOD, God has not stop his blessings for you guys there will be more to come…God never forgts his children…I’m so happy for you guys!!!!Glory to GOD!!!
I’m still in awe, you guys. I really am! We believed, and we kept pressing. We stayed together, I was my husband’s #1 fan during this time. Things have been rough…we still have a lot of loose ends to clear up in terms of our credit, transportation and jobs.
…But GOD! He has ONCE AGAIN proven that He is able to keep us from falling! He has sooooooooooooo glorified Himself in this situation! No one else can even think about taking credit for it…not even Patrick and I.
Once again, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your encouraging words! Thank God that those of you that are in the thick of the storm (RJ) can see a light in the midst of your own circumstance.
Happy dances all around! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pUAnrVWUkk
Harriets last blog post..The Seed
God is totally awesome Harriet all I can say is you are such and inspiration and each time I read an article of yours I just get a fresh burst of strength. I love you sooo much and I thank God for you!!!
This brought me to tears…of joy!!! Thanks for sharing Harriet. Thank God!!
Ronnies last blog post..Todays Inspiration 7/14/2009
I am DYING off the happy dance link!!!!!!!!!! Harriet you already know how I appreciate your ability to display how faithful God is to those that believe
**I miss yall! Grad school has taken over my life**
oh, and KJ…we don’t do “random boos” in our house. you gonna have to get a hotel…motel…holiday inn for all that. LOL
Harriets last blog post..Look Up!
Slight correction:
My husband read the article, and he said that’s not how it went down this time. That’s how it went down the FIRST time the loan modification went through.
This time, he and a friend were driving back up to the house after running some errands, and at the door was a sheriff’s notice and a Fed Ex package. One said our home would be sold, and the other trumped it and said our home loan was modified.
My apologies for any confusion.
Harriets last blog post..Look Up!
Is there ANYTHING too hard for God?
Girl didnt he say that he would rebuke the devourer for your sake!?! I thank God for your testimony and example of God’s absolute sovereignty over any and every situation!
And like the motherboard used to say “Keep on keepin on baby”
Harriet it don’t matter in what order it happened it happened!!!! Glory to GOD for your wonderful blessing!!! I will continue to pray for you. After all we still need blessings to go on from day to day!
Wow Harriet I’m soooooo happy for you!!! I don’t always comment on here, but I did keep you in prayers with your other posts. GOD is oh so good and your testimony just further proves it. Congratulations to you and your husband and I wish you both nothing but peace and blessings for the future.
CSs last blog post..Saying Goodbye…
<— Knew Harriet was a liar
King Jamess last blog post..Heaven’s High
LOL at King James *getting a belt*
About time Harriet wrote somethig that actully got some comments. All that steam from the beginning died down eh?
Jonesi.. what’s ur program of study?
King Jamess last blog post..Heaven’s High
@ KJ…you’re a HATER! (but the “steam” thought did cross my mind) LOL
@ LaKeysha…NO, nothing is too hard; YES, He did that thing; and I sho ’nuff will! LOL
@ MissJay and CS your prayers definitely helped! Thank you so much for your encouraging words! And Miss Jay, I’ma take those blessings where I can get ‘em, girl! This is just the beginning!
Harriets last blog post..Look Up!
@KJ – masters and teaching certificate in communication *I’m going to be that annoying professor that teachers Public Speaking 101 and tries to make it FUN!!* haha…and prob teach some other courses until I figure out what to so with my life
My goal is to figure out a career by 26 (two year count down has begun)
oh cool.. i’m so glad i’m done with school… well.. real school. I may take a class next semester.. but for side stuff..
good stuff. communications eh? lots of writing you’re doing eh?
are your writing about telling how how you balancing family life and school?
King Jamess last blog post..Heaven’s High
Harriet .. are you writing about how to balance ur huge head on them lil shoulders.
King Jamess last blog post..Heaven’s High
What an awesome testimony! You see the key was hanging in there and you both did (even as the devil tried to throw his best punches). Giving up may have been an option, but YOUR FAITH kept you and God honors faith! May God continue to forever richly you both; goes back to “late in the midnight hour”, God can turn things around.
OOPS, typed too fat. Last line should’ve read: May God continue to forever richly bless you both!
Last thing & I promise to spell check this: Divine Favor ruled on your behalf too. The devil may have thought he had you, BUT GOD!!!
@ KJ…yeah, I’m writing about that. I’m featuring in the article how you taught me so many lessons on how balance like that successfully. Remember the interview? You said you learned it from yo’ mama! LOL
P
@ Tammy…girl, I was excited, too! There were so many typos in the original article it was a shame! LOL If our marriage can survive this kind of crisis, NOTHING can tear us asunder. I know without a shadow of a doubt that our union is eternal, and as the stars are in the sky, that’s how our future generations will be. God bless, sis! Thanks for the WORD!
Harriets last blog post..Look Up!
I am so happy for you! God is so good!
Awesome testimony! Didn’t He work it out. I am a soldier in the United States Army, I deployed in March 2004-2005 as a platoon leader, in charge of a tank and scout platoon. Over 700 combat and recon patrols in Baghdad, back when it was HOT both literal and figurative. Isn’t God faithful! I can gladly say that because of His grace and mercy I can sit at the keys and type a message with both hands and put sentences together with a sound mind. I am heartened by testimonies of people who go through life’s opposition and persevere long enough to get to the other side. I call it triumph! There is no question that God can deliver, the question now becomes can we hold on in faith until He does? One important lesson I’ve learned that I use to escort me through “Come What May” is that God already worked it out, now we must walk it out. My attitude is if God can bring me through the literal valley of death, He can bring me through anything else! While I’m in it I don’t concentrate on the valley or death I focus on the end result and the One Who’s authored and finished it!
AWESOME! lOVE IT!
God is so amazing! Im going through something almost similar to your story. I recently graduated from college with a teaching job (including benefits) in NY! Exciting, right? Of course, but as the month of August gets closer I still don’t have enough money to move to NY. You know an apartment lease, utilities, transportation, and groceries. I am working at a summer day camp but money is terrible (at least I have a job) but it still is not enough for my big move. Yesturday and today, I felt a little discouraged. But after attending Bible study and reading your story, I know God can make a way. He has done it before. I will contiune to keep you in my prayers. God bless!
This is the best testimony of a miracle I’ve heard sense this storm of foreclosure began!
I have a friend who is a real estate in Dallas. She is amazed how so many people jump ship from struggling to pay a mortgage to struggling to pay rent because they moved out of their homes as soon as the bank said “foreclosure”. She informed me the process usually takes 8 to 11 months before the sheriff comes with an eviction notice.
Conclusion: don’t move out! If your money is funny, then stay in the house. Save what you have so that when you are forced out you’ll have a cushion. Or, just maybe, you might experience a big fat miracle.
This story has made my day.
KJ and Harriet…yall are too funny! KJ I actually dislike research but today I decided to create an awareness summit for a final project based on my findings of whether ethinity plays a role in students’ perceptions of instructor caring (teacher caring is the concept). I plan to be finished COMPLETELY with school by august 2010! Keep me in your prayers
THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SAY IS WOW BUT GOD WHEN MAN SAY NO GOD SAYS YES. GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY! I WOULD LIKE TO CHAT WITH YOU ON THIS. U HAVE GIVEN ME HOPE FOR WHAT I`M DEALING WITH IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW! TALK TO U SOON VIA FACEBOOK EMAIL!
Well said Harriet, our faith will always manifest through the process of time…resulting in your patient (virtue grown in you then and now virtue through you). Be bless and thumbs up to the founders for giving you the opportunity to share…Jesus our Christ.
@ worshipper
amen! i thought you were saying you left a comment on my blog, but this is what you were talking about! i really appreciate that wisdom: “our faith will always manifest through the process of time.”
Harriets last blog post..My Thank You Letter