Faith

For the last two years we have been renting a beautiful house in Nashville.  We moved here in February 2008, unsure of what exactly our future held.  We put our house in Dallas on the market and loaded a small truck with only our clothes, dishes, and other essentials, prepared to stay in a semi-furnished condo until our house sold. Before we left, I prayed very specifically that our house would sell to the first person who saw it.  I begged God to make an already-difficult move easier by giving us a more permanent home as quickly as possible.  And God moved in a big way.  After three days on the (already-failing) market, we sold to the first person who saw our house.  I was overcome with gratitude.  I still cry when I talk about it.

Our House in Dallas

When our house sold so quickly, we had to move fast to find someplace to live.  We knew the size house we wanted, the area we hoped for (based on limited exposure to Nashville), and the price we were willing to pay.  We wanted to rent so we could save for a down payment on a new house (we weren't yet debt-free prior to the move), and it seemed like our wish list was impossible to fill.  And then God moved again.  A house in our price range with a desirable location opened on RealTracs.  The catch?  No photos.  We all know what that means.  It's usually a dump, right?  Well, we drove by and found this:

It's anything but a dump.  In fact, it's beautiful.  It's a crazy story, but, in the end, suffice it to say that we believe God held out on this house just for us, because rooting us in this area was a part of His plan. 

And now we are being humbled once again.  God provided funds for a down payment even in a difficult economy (I still don't know how we saved anything these last two years), and we started seriously searching for homes at the beginning of the new year.  You would think that after providing for us again and again, I would expect big things from our Heavenly Father, but I never like to expect a gift.  Regardless, God is a giver, and He loves to lavish us with things we don't deserve.

Our next big gift?  Well, I don't have a picture yet, but it will probably sit right here:

And this will be in our huge back yard (minus some of the brush):

(This one is taken at the end of the street.)

And I will get to drool over this view every day:

If God continues to work the way He has worked all week, this sign will no longer be there on Saturday afternoon:

Gratitude doesn't begin to cover it. 

Looking back, 2008 was a pretty tough year. There were many losses and adjustments for the three of us, but there were also many examples of God's love and provision in the midst of the heartache. It's those moments and gifts that stand out when I reflect on the year.

Each December 31st Jim and I each share our three favorite memories from the year. It's a good exercise in being deliberate and grateful as we look back. This year a few of my favorite memories are very specific, and each one is particularly poignant for some reason.

1. Jim's phone call to tell me we had an offer on our house in Dallas

Taking the leap to move to Nashville with our house in Dallas still on the market wasn't a financial burden because we had housing provided here, but it was a big test of faith. We poured incredible time and money into preparing and staging our house so it would sell quickly, but the market was terrible, and there were no guarantees. We were living in a small condo with only our most basic necessities, and it was a painful time, emotionally. I knew that the sooner we were in a semi-permanent dwelling with all of our stuff, the easier the transition would be. We also needed the money from the sale of our home to actually move our things. So, I specifically, fervently prayed that our house would sell to the first person who looked at it. I knew it was a bold, ridiculous prayer, but I rarely petition God for something so specific and knew that He could always say no. When Jim called me on our third day in the condo and told me that we had a great offer on the house and that it was from the first person who looked at it, I started crying. It was a powerful moment between Jim, God, and me. The Lord could have sold our house to anyone, anytime, and still achieved his goal with us. But doing it the way He did was extra graceful, and it provided confirmation that we had honored Him with our move.

2. Playing at Crockett Park

Last May I was having an especially lonely, difficult day, and I called Jim at work to tell him that we would meet him at the park on his way home from work. I picked up subs and chips, packed a few balls and sweatshirts, and we headed out into a positively beautiful spring evening. As we ate and played and ran, I felt such peace. I had prayed for a beautiful, tree-filled place to raise our family, and God had provided. And, as much as I longed for friends and connections, I was struck by how lucky I was to have such a wonderful son and husband. At one point, while I was pushing Brennan on the swing, we shared hugs and kisses, and my heart was full to the brim. It was a simple, beautiful evening that I desperately needed.

3. Traveling to Jamestown this summer with Brennan

After a trip to Pennsylvania for a family reunion this summer, Brennan and I headed to Jamestown, NY for some more family time. It was one of the first times I can remember really appreciating the area where I grew up. Every day I relived part of my childhood and saw our hometown through new eyes. We went to a baseball game, ate ice cream cones from the ice cream stand where I always went as a child, visited Midway Park (a little kids' amusement park), had a picnic, and Brennan even had a golfing lesson at Chautauqua from his grandpa. Every single day was fun from dawn until dusk, and even though we were away from Jim for ten days, I didn't regret it for one instant. It was just the rejuvenation I needed halfway through our year.

There were many other special memories, but those are three that really stand out. I am so grateful that God showered mercies on our lives while stretching and growing us this year.