Take Me Back to Martel Avenue

There she is. Our first home. Our first tiny, one bedroom home. 

I know. She doesn't look that tiny, but that's because we lived on just the left side of it. 

I remember the day we found that home over off of the M streets off Greenville Avenue. I was in heaven to rent that precious little duplex. It had a living room, an eating area, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. Everything a newlywed couple needs. I look back on it fondly and often wish I could go back to that more simpler time and live in my adorable little duplex again. 

Fast forward nine years, and we're moving out of what I thought would be our forever home. Call me crazy, but when we moved into it eight years ago, with three extra bedrooms to fill up it seemed SO big. It sits on a cul-de-sac on the corner and so much room and very little traffic. It was just ideal for us. 

Over the next seven years we managed to fill up all of the bedrooms with children, and even have one who is shacking up with us in our room. To say we're busting at the seams would be a silly statement. This house is wonderful and could accommodate all of us, even though we could really use a playroom (aka: somewhere to dump all the kids' junk).

But God has changed my heart a little over the last three or four years. The house I was certain I would never move out of, hasn't become so much my dream anymore and instead, we're wanting to be closer to our beloved elementary school I last taught at, and where AB goes and has established so many wonderful friendships. It's where we long to be. We prayed about this for a while. I specifically prayed for God to lead us in the direction HE wanted and even if that plan didn't align with mine, then to just give me a peace and an obedience to follow His plan and not mine. 

Luckily, this time my plan aligned with His and we've found our new home. 

And at this exact moment, I wish I could say that I've handled this whole process with grace, understanding and patience. Buuuuut I haven't. I've done an embarrassing amount complaining over the last week or two in preparation for the buyers to close and move in. We've lived in one bedroom (all six of us and two dogs) as our hardwood floors were being replaced. And we've been maneuvering around big pieces of furniture in the kitchen, while brushing away mounds of dust that settled from the floors being removed. It's been lovely. Just lovely. But I love how God can humble and convict us at these times of transition and frustration. 

As I was sitting in our bedroom that I was tired of being in for the third day in a row and feeling very ungrateful for my situation, Austin turns on a documentary about the Congo (a place I already knew about because men from our church go every year). But. Yeah. I quickly changed my thoughts as I realized my bedroom and all the things in it were a million times nicer, and probably bigger than what the people there have. Ok, Lord. I get it. 

Sorry. 

Anyway, I wish I could say that one instance has completely eliminated my complaining and ungratefulness...but I can say I'm at least aware of it and try and change my thought pattern. 

Last week the buyers of our home closed, and as of right now I'm just a tennant in what has been MY precious  home for eight years. It's very strange. I move a piece of furniture slightly across the wood floor and pray it's not scratched, because it's no longer our floor. I pray the kids don't put a stain in the carpet or hole in the wall, because they aren't our carpet or walls! But I guess this was a good transition for me. An immediate move out might of caused a bit of a lack of closure on my part. In fact, God thought "Hey, how about another two weeks in your home?? Sound good?"

Uh. What?

Yep. Our sellers fell through on the ONE thing they agreed to fix. The roof. Yep. They were supposed to have that fixed and didn't. So now, we wait. We wait for them to fix the roof, insurance to go through (since we can't insure the house without a decent roof), and we lease our home back for TWO. MORE. WEEKS. 

So as I lie here, on what would have been our original closing date, I'm trying not to think about the negative, but rather the positive...such as, with us being crammed in one room for nearly a week, and having little acces to the other parts of the house, I couldn't have had the house packed and ready to go. There you go. Silver linings. 

So yes, today I am thinking back on our sweet little rent house on Martel avenue. I'm thinking back to the simplicity of that time and kind of longing for it. I was in such a hurry to move on to bigger and better things. I wish I had stopped and enjoyed that tiny little house a little more. God taught us about being a married couple in that house. I'll always cherish it. 

I feel like that's what God is telling me now - stop what you're doing and soak in these last two extra weeks on Kimberly Court. One day, you'll long for the chaos of this time, for it is a precious time. It is an extra two weeks that you have to pay for, but it's an extra two weeks to enjoy your family here. 

Thank you, God. I'm humbled by your ways and I will be grateful for these next two weeks. Will you be there to scoop me off the floor, sobbing, when it's actually time to say Good-Bye? 

Of course you will. Thankful for your sovereignty.