It is official...

I think it has been almost two months now that we decided to put our house on the market and test the waters. Now it has been 24 hours that we officially have been on the market. (if you want to us look us up on realtracs to see the wonderful pictures the man took let me know and I'll send you my street address - don't want any pervs who might be reading this to know what my bedspread looks like!) hee hee

When Nate and I bought this house it was our first house purchase. We were 29 and 30 years old. We had a four and two year old. We were so excited to be back in Murfreesboro after being gone for the past four years. But we both had mixed emotions.

Nate thought the house was too much. Some of our family thought there were 'things' about it that turned them off. I thought it was perfect, although a lot smaller then the house we were renting, and I had a clear vision for it.

Before we moved in Nate, my dad and his dad all came up for a week and camped out on the floor. They laid wood floor, painted each room and cleaned up a bit. Then we moved in. I remember looking at the neighborhood and the backyard and that big old fence and just knowing I had finally achieved the American Dream. We owned our first house. We had been patient, we had been smart, we had saved, and we didn't buy too much house. It was perfect.

I have had many many moments of sheer jealousy towards friends in the larger houses while I lived with my family in such tight quarters. But I have learned so much from living this simpler life. I have learned that less is truly better. The kids don't need so many toys. The boys have learned so much by having to share a room and all that it entails. As a family we have learned to truly 'live' together in these close walls and not run away from each other to do our own thing (although that was wished many times). I have learned to be smart with organizing things and have learned to donate many, many things when no longer needed. I have learned that the smaller the house the less time required to clean it! (my favorite one!)

But now...I am almost embarrassed to admit that my jealous desire to have a larger house might come true. Not that there is anything wrong so to speak with having a larger house but I honestly feel Americans have spoiled themselves to such a degree that they don't understand what it truly means to live a more simple life. In searching for a new house Nate and I agreed that it can't cost us much more then we are paying now and that we will be in prayer the whole time so as to keep control over our selfish desires to want more then we need. I would much rather be able to give still the excess I have each month then to pay more for a giant house! (but I have to tell myself this over and over as I view these beautiful houses for sale)

So...to the present day.

We have now fixed the house up to perfection in my eyes. We replaced the ugly light fixture over the kitchen table and over the bathroom sink. We replaced the bathroom floor that had water spots for all these years. We fixed the holes in the wall. We painted (that ugly green color in the kids' bathroom finally). We (I) have cleaned till my heart is content. And now we must wait. I truly am praying that the perfect family will move into this tiny but loved home and find such joy and happiness that we have found while living here. I also pray that God will lead us to a house that our family can grow and stretch in together in the years to come and still serve Him to help and bless others.