Technically, we aren’t homeless, but by definition, we also don’t currently possess a permanent residence. This paradox might suggest a mind-numbing level of stress and panic, a state we perhaps *should* be experiencing. Yet, the remarkable truth is, despite making what many would consider an absolutely crazy and illogical decision, we find ourselves enveloped in a profound sense of happiness and hopeful peace—a tranquility unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
With so many questions swirling and precious little time to elaborate, let me guide you back to the genesis of this extraordinary journey. I’ll illuminate the events that have shaped our lives over the past year, explaining precisely why we chose to sell our cherished family home without any immediate prospects for a rental or a new purchase. You’ll learn why we wholeheartedly entrusted our future to the incredible real estate professionals, @utahrealestatepaige and @whitneykimballrealtor, a decision that proved to be one of the most beneficial, both financially and emotionally, we’ve ever made. Our story, in its essence, began with an unexpected whisper of Nashville…
The Persistent Feeling: A Family Relocation Was Coming
Where to begin this intricate tale? For the past three years, an increasingly powerful conviction has settled within me: our time in Utah County was drawing to a close. By last fall, this feeling had solidified into absolute certainty – this would be our final Christmas in that house. I cannot articulate how I knew; it wasn’t based on logic or external cues. It was an intuitive, deep-seated knowledge, cultivated through years of attentive listening to quiet promptings. We were going to move. But the crucial question remained: where to? This was the beginning of our profound family relocation journey.
We immersed ourselves in prayer, seeking guidance, yet nothing concrete resonated. Last fall, Cade once again had an opportunity for a career promotion, a prospect we had previously dismissed as unsuitable. This time, however, it felt unequivocally right, almost destined. We received an extensive list of potential locations, spanning the breadth of the U.S., from the sun-drenched coasts of California to the historic landscapes of Pennsylvania, and from the vibrant music scene of Nashville to the rugged beauty of Nevada, with numerous states in between. Our prayers intensified.
While the idea of choosing a new home from such a diverse list might sound exhilarating, the reality was a weighty one. The decision of where to uproot and relocate our entire family was monumental, a choice we approached with utmost seriousness and fervent prayer. How does one even begin to navigate such a significant life change? It was a blend of daunting fear and thrilling anticipation, a truly wonderful yet intimidating prospect for our family.
We eagerly awaited clear answers, prepared to embrace wherever we were needed and could serve our community. Yet, the only definitive message we received was that we would be leaving Utah County. The specific destination remained elusive, leaving us in a state of unsettling ambiguity. The lack of clear direction was, to say the least, frustrating, and I found myself grappling with the temptation of discouragement. Our family relocation was proving to be more mysterious than anticipated.
A New Approach to Prayer: Finding Direction Amidst Uncertainty
I recall a particularly poignant visit to the @churchofjesuschrist temple with my parents. I confessed to my mother that I felt suspended in limbo, a state that always proves challenging for my nature. It was then that I declared, “I’m changing my prayers.” This shift in perspective proved to be a pivotal moment in our real estate journey and family relocation planning.
Instead of merely asking, “Show us where,” I began to pray for three distinct things that ultimately made all the difference:
- Where do You truly need us to be?
- Instead of revealing a destination, would You kindly “hedge up the way” and clearly show us where not to go?
- Please let this entire experience be something that deeply involves our family, transforming us for the better. Help us all to grow closer to each other and to our Savior through this process.
Almost immediately after this rephrasing of our prayers, our quiet hope of a move to Colorado dissipated as that particular office opportunity was offered to another team member. Remarkably, there was no crushing disappointment, which was a significant indicator in itself. This newfound peace allowed my heart to then explore Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a place I adored for its beautiful lake. It felt like a tangible step in our ongoing search for a new home.
The Tennessee Chapter: A Test of Trust in Our Home Selling Journey
The clarity was almost instantaneous; shortly after considering Idaho, work confirmed it wasn’t the right fit. We were back to the drawing board, navigating the labyrinth of potential locations. As a teenager, I never anticipated that adult life would be an endless series of decisions. Even simple choices, like what to prepare for dinner, can sometimes feel overwhelming. Can anyone relate?
One by one, the places on our extensive list were gradually crossed off. While it was reassuring to narrow down the options, the absence of a final answer still left us feeling unsettled in our home selling journey. Then, after what felt like the longest licensing test ever, Cade called from Arizona with the good news: he had passed! Finally, the gears truly began to turn, bringing us closer to a decision about our family’s future and where we would find a new home.
Our options were now distilled to two clear paths: A) Embark on a move to Nashville, or B) Remain in his current role, eventually taking over his building in Orem when his boss retired. The prospect of moving to Tennessee, specifically Nashville, resonated with a profound sense of rightness, inviting us to let go and fully embrace trust. It felt like a significant step forward in our quest for the perfect family relocation.
Just as we were mentally preparing for Nashville, Cade received an unexpected directive from work: “Cade, we need you to find your replacement.” In a moment of pure intuition and trust, Cade felt compelled to call a friend. With a blend of faith and a touch of awkwardness, he posed the life-altering question: “By any chance, would you be interested in a significant career change? Like, a really big one?” That story, in itself, is a miracle deserving of its own telling another day.
With another leap of faith, Cade made the call, and Nashville officially became a concrete possibility. Yet, as soon as we had put it out there, a curious silence descended from work. This left us feeling somewhat confused and deflated, stuck in a perplexing limbo despite our efforts to move forward.
The Unexpected Turn: Staying in Utah and Selling Our Home with Nowhere to Go
Let me be transparent: I am a planner, a doer. While not one for endless lists, I actively make life happen. My drive isn’t about rigid control, but about efficiency and creating the freedom to enjoy life and be happy. When tasks weigh on me, I feel tethered, not free. This ingrained personality trait made our evolving situation particularly challenging yet incredibly transformative for our home selling journey.
Cade’s company is truly exceptional, and our loyalty is unwavering. However, this past year saw him frequently away, leaving Peyton and me to navigate much of life together. Though still a child, Peyton’s maturity and willingness to step up amazed me, setting a wonderful example for her younger siblings. We initially believed Idaho was our destination, but quickly realized it wasn’t. My planning personality was constantly being stretched, learning to be fluid and adaptable. I am profoundly grateful I didn’t push for my own agenda, because then came the call that shifted everything.
Cade’s work contacted us, explaining that just as he was considering Nashville, an administrative position in Ogden, Utah, became available. They felt a strong inclination to keep us within Utah. And to our surprise, we accepted. This meant no California, no Nevada, not Pennsylvania, Tennessee, or Idaho, nor any other state on our original list. We had been so certain we were leaving the state, but life had other plans. In February, my dad finally found an essential doctor right here in Salt Lake City. My family, Cade’s family—they are all out West. In a peculiar but profound way, it felt like we were meant to be near them, or at least in the same general region.
Then, in a rapid succession of events, our older daughter set a new standard for adaptability, and our younger daughter was about to provide an unexpected solution to a looming problem: our house. In an act that seemed utterly illogical, we sold our home with absolutely nowhere to go. There was no new house to buy, not a single city designated for our search, no rental property secured, and no family ready to host us. Was this the biggest mistake of our lives? Absolutely not. I distinctly remember rolling over in bed, whispering to Cade, “We felt it, right?” He whispered back, “Absolutely.” This shared conviction became the anchor in our unexpected and exhilarating real estate journey.
The Urgent Imperative: “Sell Immediately”
We are currently living through a period that is simultaneously soul-stretching, bewildering, miraculous, beautiful, and utterly insane. It is, quite frankly, nuts. Cade’s new role would involve taking over the Pine View Transitional Rehab building in Ogden, Utah, necessitating a move an hour north. That very week, we began searching for homes. However, with school letting out, me hosting a huge 50th-anniversary party for my parents, and my dad facing important medical appointments, every logical indicator screamed for us to pump the brakes. Instead, we felt, and continue to feel, a profound “peace that passeth all understanding,” as described in Philippians 4:7.
Cade and I both experienced an undeniable urgency and absolute clarity that we were to sell our home immediately. The instruction was overwhelming and incredibly confusing, especially given our lack of a clear next step. Yet, I have never before felt such a powerful, internal push to act. This clear, compelling directive initiated the most extraordinary phase of our home selling journey, a true testament to trusting divine guidance amidst a whirlwind of practical challenges. This decision, seemingly impulsive, became the foundation of our unexpected relocation story.
Claire Saves the Day: A Divine Connection in Real Estate
The sheer weight of our responsibilities hit me hard on the second night. Exhausted, Cade and I had just sat down when our daughter, Claire, walked in from babysitting. The pressure was immense, and I blurted out, “This is too much. We need a real estate agent who’s the perfect fit, and I don’t even know where to begin!”
From the kitchen, Claire casually called out, “Oh, Paige, the lady I just babysat for, is an agent!” Some might dismiss this as a mere coincidence, but we knew better. It felt like windows had been flung open, allowing the calmest, most refreshing breeze to settle into our chaotic lives. It was an actual, palpable peace. This feeling was crucial because we were about to step into the craziest, most unexpected tornado of events, and @utahrealestatepaige and @whitneykimballrealtor navigated us through every twist and turn. I genuinely cannot praise them enough. Seriously, save their contact information, because I would never sell a home without them—and we’ve known countless agents over the years. Their expertise in the Utah real estate market and their ability to guide us through this unprecedented home selling journey was truly invaluable. Finding the right real estate agents became a cornerstone of our unexpected life changes.
In fact, they were poised to accomplish the work of a hundred in just three days, without a single explicit instruction from us. This was a blessing, as I sat at home, agonizingly awaiting news from my dad’s doctor appointment and frantically preparing for my parents’ anniversary party, which was just one day away. It was a sobering reminder of life’s unpredictable nature, as we also confronted the reality that our parents, like all of us, don’t live forever. This reflection added another layer of emotional depth to our already complex relocation story.
A Whirlwind of Action: Swift Home Selling in Utah
Despite not seeing a single house worth considering in Davis County, we pressed forward with unwavering conviction. This is the essence of truly feeling something: you start walking, taking steps even when the path ahead is unclear. You repeat to yourself, over and over, that you felt it, until all doubt dissipates. This is the moment you step into the water with trust and stand still, allowing the current to guide you. This philosophy underpinned our entire home selling journey.
Thursday and Friday were consumed by doctors’ appointments. On Saturday, our incredible neighbors rallied, sacrificing their day to rescue me, and together we hosted the most beautiful anniversary party for my parents. Meanwhile, @utahrealestatepaige and her dedicated team were at our house, adding those crucial staging touches to enhance its appeal. Their proactive approach to the Utah real estate market was truly exceptional.
By Sunday, Cade and I both knew with absolute certainty: the house needed to go on the market immediately, that very week. Thursday was chosen as the listing day. On Monday, Paige dispatched an outstanding photographer to capture stunning photos and create a virtual tour. A videographer followed, and preparations for an open house on Saturday were meticulously made, including booking a soda bar and charcuterie spread. We’ve been told countless times it was “the best open house ever,” a testament to the exceptional efforts of @utahrealestatepaige and @whitneykimballrealtor. It was an absolute whirlwind, a testament to what’s possible when you embrace unexpected life changes with faith and the right team.
More Than Coincidence: An Unannounced Buyer Changes Everything
By Thursday at 10 AM, merely four days after our decision to list, our home was officially on the market, and appointment requests to view it began pouring in. The momentum was palpable. Then, on Friday, an unexpected knock at the door completely altered the trajectory of our day, and arguably, our entire summer. I found myself in the awkward position of having to answer the door in a bathing suit, camera around my neck, as I was in the middle of shooting a recipe before heading to the pool.
I’ve been teased a bit about that encounter, but I assure you, and Whitney can verify, I had the strangest, most profound feeling that this was no mere coincidence. This unannounced drop-in, this unexpected visitor, was about to change everything for our family. It was a pivotal moment in our swift home selling process, a clear sign of divine guidance in our real estate journey.
The Man at the Door: An Instant Knowing
There I stood, in my swimsuit, my small table meticulously set up with a bounce board, styling raspberry white chocolate cookies for a photo shoot. Claire awkwardly interrupted my focus, “Mom, there’s a guy at the door; he wants to come in and see the house.” I honestly had to bite my tongue. My immediate instinct was to say, “Well, he’ll need to call our agent.”
It wasn’t about being difficult. I had a final load of laundry running, I was deep in a photoshoot, and all of us were in our swimsuits, ready to dash to the pool the moment I finished with the cookies. It was simply not a good time. Claire’s friends were all streaming into the house, preparing to join us, and we needed to leave to make way for the scheduled appointments to walk through the house. Moreover, our big open house was the very next day. It was absolute chaos.
Yet, through all the madness, I was enveloped by the WEIRDEST feeling. It was an inexplicable sense of certainty, a profound knowing that defied logic and the surrounding commotion. This moment became a defining point in our unexpected home selling experience, challenging all conventional wisdom about how to navigate the Utah real estate market.
An Unmistakable Feeling: I Knew This Was Our Buyer
Our home had been listed for less than 24 hours, and we already had a pile of appointments scheduled. Yet, as I rounded the corner to the front door, I looked at the man and woman sitting in their truck, and an immediate, undeniable certainty washed over me: they would buy our home. So, I let them in. Unannounced. Bathing suit and all. It was an intuitive leap of faith, an action completely outside my usual structured approach to life, especially when selling a home.
Sure enough, by that very night, we had received multiple offers, including theirs. And by Saturday evening, we had accepted the offer from the very couple I’d felt would be the ones. Looking back, especially during those moments when I completely fell apart, questioning “Oh my gosh, what on earth have we done?!”—I realize how much that initial feeling mattered. I would desperately need that reassurance big time, just 10 days later. Like, *really* big time.
I suppose we all try, don’t we? We try to trust what we’ve felt, to move forward with faith. But I would be lying if I didn’t admit to having a truly rough day of doubt on a random Tuesday, just two weeks ago. “What did we do?! We aren’t finding anything, and maybe we acted too quickly, maybe we were too impulsive and didn’t think this through!!” Just 10 days later, we were already signing our home over to someone else. Closed. Sold. Done. And not a single house on the market had even piqued our interest enough to walk through. What had we truly done? Perhaps it’s time to openly discuss the perceived “mistakes” in our family relocation and home selling journey.
Not the Plan: Navigating Post-Sale Doubt and Unexpected Life Changes
It’s truly remarkable how swiftly one can transition from “We’ve got this!” to “What on earth have we done?!” Our initial plan for selling our home was meticulously laid out: we would list the house, anticipating it would take some time to sell. Then, we’d have a comfortable 30 days to close, during which we would negotiate a leaseback agreement. Throughout this entire period, we’d actively search for and purchase a new home, moving in well before school started, giving our children the entire summer to settle in, make new friends, and register for their new school. It was a perfectly logical and stress-free home selling strategy.
However, reality unfolded dramatically differently. Our house sold immediately, and we closed just 10 days later. #NotThePlan. We’ve only walked through five homes since, none of which stirred any genuine excitement. This stark deviation from our carefully crafted plan led to my inevitable “fall apart” moment. I found myself on my knees, looking skyward, questioning and wondering. I was even tempted by anger and annoyance: Why did we feel compelled to do this? Had I truly felt it, or had we been impulsive? Why did we sell with nowhere to go? These unexpected life changes were profoundly challenging, forcing us to re-evaluate every decision in our real estate journey.
Silence Everything to Hear Everything: Finding Clarity in Faith
In moments of profound hurt or confusion, the wisest course of action is often to silence everything external in order to truly hear everything internal. It requires you to journey back to the very beginning, to become still and receptive. In these moments, you must state the facts, allow yourself to remember the initial promptings, and steadfastly cultivate faith. This reflective process became our anchor in the stormy seas of our home selling journey and family relocation.
Here are the facts and reassurances that emerged from that quiet reflection:
- We had felt an undeniable peace AND a compelling urgency to sell. This wasn’t a fleeting whim but a deep, shared conviction.
- The buyers, who were relocating from out of state, appeared that very weekend and needed a place ASAP. Their answered prayers were just as important and divinely orchestrated as ours.
- The following Monday and Thursday saw a significant rise in interest rates, coupled with growing fear in the real estate marketplace. We barely “skidded” into our sale just before panic began to grip potential buyers.
- If we were still in the process of selling our home now, the additional stress from market shifts would be immense.
- Current prices are showing a slight decline, suggesting that we might actually secure a better deal on our next home than if we had purchased a month ago.
- Above all, the decision *did* feel profoundly good and right. There are likely countless other miracles we haven’t even recognized yet. But most importantly, I know what I felt, and I cannot deny it: selling our home when we did was absolutely the right decision, a testament to trusting the process and divine guidance.
The Wait: A Chapter of Purpose and Growth
Sometimes, repetition is essential because you cannot convince your mind of something your heart doesn’t yet fully embrace. You must say it, feel it, and repeat it until it becomes an intrinsic part of you. Each day now is a countdown, one day closer to the end of our leaseback agreement, with three children relying on us. Yet, I feel it deeply—I feel there is a plan, a clear path forward. I sense a profound purpose woven into this period of uncertainty. I am already witnessing its transformative effects in our children, observing their resilience and adaptability. Something far more important to me than merely finding a new home is how this entire experience is changing and shaping us as a family.
If I were to title this current chapter of my life, it would undoubtedly be “The Wait.” And I absolutely love it. This phase of trusting the process, navigating unexpected life changes, and embracing the unknown is not just a delay; it’s a period of growth, revelation, and strengthening faith in our family’s relocation story.