March Madness In More Ways Than One!

The month of March has been... incredibly busy but mostly, EXCITING!!!!

As you can tell we are all so happy!

 

  

These pictures were taken last night at our favorite local pizza place, Impellizaris as we celebrated! (No, not for March madness although, GO CATS.)

 

It happened.... 

We bought a our new house back in my hometown!!!!!

 

THE HOUSE I've dreamt of for years. 

 

The one at the end of the LOTR style 7 year journey of medical school and residency.  The period of time where we've really grown up, because we had to.  The journey that included years of infertility, pregnancy then heartbreak, moving to the city, living on a windy prairie, then back to the city again, 3 big moves, 3 rental homes, buying our first home, Heath gone many nights while diligently learning and working with on the job training day in and out, 3 different places of work for me then my "retiring" to be a homemaker, an adoption seed planted in my heart then seeing the fruit by bringing home 2 beautiful toddlers, and finally learning the ropes of parenting and becoming knit as family of four! *Exhale

 

That Journey. 

 

This house is the house we will move into as a FAMILY.

 

The house God has laid on our hearts that we kept coming back to when scouring real estate.

 

The house with the big yard, mature trees, and a perfectly long driveway for the kids to ride their bikes.

 

The house with the kitchen plentiful of cabinets and sunshine to stream in while I pour our first cup of coffee and prepare birthday cakes and Christmas cookies for years to come.

 

The house with the comfortable staircase I always imagined our kids trouncing down each morning that will be adorned with swags of garland at Christmas.

 

The house with the fireplace that will warm our bodies and souls after coming in from long days of play or, school, or work.

 

The house Heath and I will grow to know Christ on a deeper level as Father--Daddy-- so we can lovingly train our own kids He has given us with wisdom, strength, and integrity.

 

The house with beautiful bones that together we'll change to really make our own with touching family photography, farmhouse touches, kid's art, cozy lighting, and relaxing nooks to read and be inspired.

 

The house with the rooms we'll fill with new memories as we start the next chapter of our lives as Heath grows into the role of doctor he is preparing for and our oldest starts kindergarten at the school we are graduates of.

 

We're landing back in the place God called us from, but life will be different than it was when we left.  We were simply husband and wife with an easy job and low stress school, living in a cute one bedroom apartment with not much to our name but love and excitement for the future.  Somehow the future seems to just happen!  In this case, we are coming back full circle with the family we had prayed for from the beginning and the job Heath kept in his tunnel vision through years of school as he sacrificed much of his 20's for the call God placed on His life.  This is a house I would've only dreamed of living in, but I have loved every little place we've lived.  It's us that make it a home, not stuff.

Our current house--my first cottage-- is under contract (sold!) the very first day we put it on the market!!  God is in this, y'all!!! He has shown us favor and directed our steps even when it seemed we were being lead through the fog at times.  All the hard months work on our home paid clearly off when we had 6 showings and two awesome offers the first day.  You can't make this stuff up!  God has good things in store when we pray and trust Him!

 

But as it is written,

 'What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him.'

1 Corinthians 2:9

 

I can boast in the Lord and brag on my husband, but I'm saying all of this from a honest and humble place.  

My family...we aren't perfect.  Our life is far from it, but it's a good one!  I have so much to learn and I fail constantly at my roles in life.  I'm a work in progress, if I've ever seen one and I'm crazy thankful for the grace of God!  Despite imperfection and at times a (very) messy life, I am His child!  I have His favor on my life and guidance in everything because I am His daughter.  I know that this journey in the perspective of our life is just a snapshot, but it has come with so much sacrifice and tears. My life is messy because I live on earth and I'm human, but the good news is I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!!!  

 

My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is make perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

How does one wake up in the morning and not lose her mind after trying for a baby for tens of thousands of days?  God's strength. 

 

The very same power that has lifted my husband's feet to carry on into the gruel of med school and caring for others, after watching me deliver our dead daughter just days before. 

 

It's the strength I prayed for our little ones for nights on end after they had to say goodbye to the only family they knew to come into our forever (safe and secure) home with us being only strangers to them.  He makes us brave.

 

It's God's strength and power that lives in me to help me use my voice in words and not song on two different occasions now to speak publicly on what God has done in my life. 

It was God's strength for this country mouse to move from her whole world to a city knowing nobody but her husband, and learn to thrive there!

 

I began this blog post to just share the great news about our move, but I found time today to tell you more because there is so much behind a happy picture.  The excitement to move back home is more than just buying a new house and living closer to dear family and friends....  it's the monumental task that was at hand and places we've been in and out of emotionally, physically and spiritually in this 7 year journey as husband and wife with God. 

 

Though one can be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A three cord stand is not quickly broken

Ecc. 4:12

 Life will continue being pretty busy in the meantime, very exciting as a whole, and fairly mundane in the hour as this month comes to a close.  I may not have much time to blog, but we do have a new computer that makes it easier for me to write when I find the time!

 

May whatever awesome, amazing, difficult, or exciting day you are having know that it's a season of life, and I'm here to rejoice with you or to cry along side if you just need a shoulder; but God is who will never leave nor forsake you.  He's the best!!!

 

See you again soon I hope.  Happy Spring!