Our Walls
We are a growing bunch! A table of six now. Most days I look at our small, but cozy, condo and wonder how on earth we are doing this?! It is getting cramped up in here! But it honestly makes me reflect on the 5 almost 6 years we've lived here. I never would have guessed we would have had all our babies here! When we moved in I was pregnant with Emalyn, working full time, Joel working full time and in school full time. Life is so different now!
These walls to our home are very special to me. If they could talk they would speak of the many gatherings of people that have come and gone; new friendships and old. The hard conversations and many, many prayers that have been spoken. They would tell of the crazy children running round and round, the singing voices when we have family dance parties and the many holidays and birthdays celebrated. They could also tell of the arguments, sadness, brokenness and life obstacles that have been overcome within these walls. They could speak of Hope, of Christ, His provision and how much God is apart of our every day life.
New Walls
These walls bring me so much joy because this is our home and your home is wherever you live life with your family. But we have decided to start on another journey: A new set of walls. We are looking to buy a house, Lord willing. As exciting as it is for me to think about having more space (before I lose my ever-blessed mind), I am a little sad. We've made our family here. God has provided and shown us so much by living here, part of my heart with always remain within these walls. This is the only home my babies have ever known. It is especially humbling for me to think back to the beginning of our home because God provided in truly magnificent ways! We developed an amazing relationship with our landlord, who is a youth pastor, and his family. Both our families have continued to pursue the Lord as our relationship grew. Through the years of famine and plenty, they graciously helped us and continued to pray for God's provision of a full-time teaching job for Joel. I cannot speak of a more humbling and God-centered business relationship that I have witnessed first-hand. His words when we first started renting "We are thankful to have believers living here. We see it as God's money just exchanging hands". What a testimony they have been to us!
God's House
As I think about moving and where that will be, I have been praying already for quite awhile. I saw God hand-pick our condo. He gave us so much to be thankful for while living in our condo. He gave us our close church community. He gave us an amazing location for our condo, so that while we spent a handful of years with only one car we were able to walk to countless places on a daily basis from grocery stores to parks to church and more!
I want Him to hand-pick our house.
I obviously have a list (ehem, long list!) of things I want but ultimately, I want my family to be moved where God wants us to be. I look forward to a neighborhood to minister to and spread the love of God. I even think about the entire house-buying transaction and how God will be intimately involved in that and the people he will hand-pick to help guide us. I already see him providing our necessary funds and opportunities to save what we need. I pray about all the impossibilities that can really weigh on us, or what seem like impossibilities in the real estate market, and know that it is NOT impossible for God to find us the right house for our family. I think of the gatherings, over-night guests and hospitality we will have in our house, and pray for God to show us the best place where we can invite others into our home. My mind is FLOODED with so many thoughts and dreams of our future home!
I want to look back over this entire journey and revel in every big and small facet of the entire process and see the beauty of God's provision, timing and will for this new home!
Small Spaces, More Love
There is one thing from these walls that I believe we have received far better than anything else--a closeness and deep love for our family. When you don't have many other rooms to go to, other distractions or have to share a bedroom with your sibling, a deep closeness develops. When you have an argument with your spouse but aren't separated by many other walls--a closeness develops. When you need to clean house but only takes 20 min or so, then you can spend more time with your children--a closeness develops. I'm not saying it's all roses every day, but I will say I have witnessed many sweet moments among my children that I know is fruit from living in such a small space. We get creative, whether by necessity or not, and it really helps bring our family to a whole new level. I will miss that. I do pray we can continue and keep this closeness no matter where we live!
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established through knowledge. Its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24:3-4
God bless our home today and in the future!
