This Is Not Our Home!

Paul and I have had quite the number of adventurous moves throughout our short 5 years of marriage. First, we lived in a condo, owned by his parents. Then, for a month, we lived in the basement of some dear friends before departing to Romania for a few months. While in Romania for 5 months, we lived in two different apartments. I do have to note that it was the EASIEST move ever because all that we owned fit into suitcases. It only took one trip in a friend's van to haul our stuff to our 2nd apartment. Upon returning to the States, we lived in the basement again for 4 months. We are so thankful our dear friends let us do this for free, for it enabled us to scrap together enough money for a down payment on our first house. We moved into our very first home on March 28, 2009 (I think). It was our home. We put more elbow grease into that home than I hope I ever have to do again. I didn't have a "real" job at the time, so my full time job for a month, was to take wall paper off the walls, oversee our hardwood floors being refinished, and paint - a lot. We were so thankful for all the time and effort that our church family put into our house as well. SO THANKFUL. We do not deserve you friends. Well, you always wonder how long you will live somewhere and where God will lead you, right? Well, God led us to another state in October 2012. "Good-bye house we put so much work into. I hope you sell."

The move happened so quickly, that we barely had time to search for a place to live. Yet, God provided for us.

Currently, we are living in a condo, with a bunch of other condos that look exactly alike. If you know anything about us, we like houses to have character. LOTS OF CHARACTER. We also like trees. Big, mature trees. It might have something to do with liking to feel as if we are in the woods. Let's be honest, character doesn't exist in this subdivision. It's not really supposed to. Ninety eight percent of the people that live here are retired and in their 70s-80s. Although it's definitely not our preference, God provided a home for us that was perfect for the newborn season. But, now that we are out of that season, and since our house in TN is selling, we are looking for a place to call home for a longer stint than 7 months. We've never actually fully unpacked in our current home. As we have found a house that we would really like to own, it has made the itch to get out of our current residence that much greater. I can't help but think that God has something for us to learn in the waiting and the longing to be in another home. The parallel to how we are to long for heaven seems to permeate my thoughts when I am tempted to be discontent in the waiting.

Much like we, as Christians, aren't supposed to get too comfortable here on earth, but long for our heavenly home, so we find ourselves longing to be in a home that we can call our own and enjoy in a greater measure than we've ever been able to enjoy this home. The phrase, "This is not our home!" keeps coming to mind. Earth is not our home either! We were designed to be in perfect relationship with our heavenly Father. He created us to know him deeply, intimately, forever. How easy it is to get comfortable during these few breaths we have on earth. They are nothing in comparison to what awaits us for eternity. Oh how I long to be with Jesus forever! Oh, how I long to have days here on earth that I consistently think about heaven and my Savior who awaits me. Life is full of distractions.

If we buy the house we have been looking at, it will truly be God's kindness. There are so many reasons we are excited about that house, yet in no way can it ever compare at our true, heavenly home.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

How do you consistently cast your gaze to heaven?

Happy 3rd Birthday Hannah!

Since February, when Grandma Lulie, Grandpa Marty, and Aunt Leigh came to visit, Hannah has been pretend camping in her room and more consistently, having s'mores in her large closet. When I sat down to plan her party, it seemed like the perfect theme! With the help of Pinterest, there were more than enough ideas to pull this thing off and have some fun with it. One thing I did not expect was for the weather to be more autumn-like than spring-like. It was more than cold enough for us to need a REAL fire, yet I don't think the association around here would have been okay with that. Hannah's cousins, a friend from the library, and a few friends from church got to come and join in the festivities. We kept it pretty simple. The only activities we had were having Paul lead a pretend backpacking trip, eating, and doing a little scavenger hunt at the end. The campfire, chairs, and tent were set up for the kids to be able to play with throughout the party. We all had a lot of fun, and Hannah was so excited to have a real backpack for all the festivities. She even wore it when she and I went to grab a pizza for dinner. "Mommy, can I wear it into the store?" "Of course, Hannah!" Of course, the cake lady had a make a cool cake, right? I experimented with this black bean cake recipe I have used before, and used my mocha icing (shhh, don't tell the parents!). I just can't make chocolate icing without the coffee as the liquid. Unfortunately, I don't have a cool photo of the inside of the cake, but to go with the theme of s'mores, I put mini marshmallows in the first layer of icing, and tried to put graham crackers in the second layer of icing (which didn't work!). Then, I covered the cake with ground up chocolate graham crackers, to look like dirt. I made the tent out of some fabric I had Hannah pick out and now she is asking me to make tents for all of her Winnie the Pooh toys.... ahem. Be careful what you do for your kids, right? haha. I wish I had a better picture of the cake when the candles were lit. It was supposed to look like a real campfire, with the pretzel sticks being the logs and the candles pushed down in the cake, then lit. I made the cake on Thursday, because the black bean cake is better after it sits overnight. But this also means that I have had a little girl asking me if she can eat her cake for two days. When we woke her up on her birthday she asked, "Can I eat my cake now?" You can tell by the photo that she was more than excited to FINALLY be able to eat her cake :) Love her.