Sometimes in life, instead of 3-strikes-you’re-out, you are blessed with 3-strikes-you’re IN! The journey of buying this ranch is definitely one of those times!

When my husband first saw the place listed online, I didn’t even stop to look at the information or pictures. Looking at real estate in our own locale or wherever we find ourselves, is somewhat a hobby or pastime of ours, so I wasn’t surprised when he mentioned it to me. Several months later however, he announced there had been a price reduction – and because it was conveniently located on the corridor we traveled every weekend from ranch to home/business, I decided to spend a bit of time reviewing the listing. The following morning, someplace between sleep and waking, I felt I “heard” God say we were supposed to buy this ranch. I told my husband…and arrangements were made, in early September 2019, to meet the realtor and tour the place.

Long story short, we made an offer and after multiple counteroffers that were going nowhere, in early December of 2019, we pulled our offer and walked away. Or so we thought. As I mentioned, we drove past the ranch “headquarters” on a regular basis so one Monday morning in March 2020, we decided to stop by and see if the place was still for sale. The owner told us attorneys were now handling any offers, gave us the contact information and said another offer was expected that day. What are the odds that 4 months after we walked, we would learn it was still for sale AND another offer was being made that same day! After a call to the attorney, we spent time that day and early the next working on our new offer. On Wednesday we called to submit a verbal offer only to be told that the other offer had been accepted and we were out. Foiled again!

As we traveled by the place over the next weeks, we witnessed preparations being made for a farm auction. I forgot to mention earlier that the entire place was very rundown – equipment, shop, scales, corrals, fences, the house – they all needed LOTS of attention. As many locals have said to us since the purchase…”this place hasn’t seen any love for a long, long time!” Anyway, we happened to run into the auctioneer one day and chatted about who had purchased the place, the upcoming auction, and that we had made 2 runs at buying it. Although we had planned to go to the auction, we ended up unable to attend. If we had gone, we would have known sooner…

It was late May 2021, when we crossed paths with that auctioneer again. We asked about the auction and were almost bowled over when he said the auction was good but the other buyer had walked!!! What?? I looked at my husband and said “Either God wants US to have this place or He’s testing us!” We called the attorney, made an offer for the 3rd time…it was accepted…we were IN! A little over a year after our first offer was made, we closed on the ranch.

We believe God wanted us to have this place and we look forward to discovering how He will use it…and us.