The email arrived in my inbox. And just like that, someone had put a full price offer on our house. I wasn’t prepared. Immediately, the tears started falling.
We had only listed the house two days before. I wasn’t expecting it so soon. I thought we might have time to have more memories in the house before it was time to leave it. But God had other plans.
My husband and I bought our first home 9 years ago. At 1400 square foot, we thought we had a mansion. It was all ours – the yard for the dogs to play in, the three bedrooms, and the drab beige kitchen – everything needed a little love, but it was all ours.
Before we moved in, we had all new floors put in. Our family members and friends helped us with wiring, plumbing, and painting. Everywhere I look, I can remember who was there to help and how thankful I was that they were there when we needed them.
Admittedly, I didn’t always love the house. The dogs got out of the backyard if we left them out there too long during potty breaks. The windows were dated and we could hear everything that was going on outside. And we never seemed to have enough counter space in the kitchen.
But I will also never forget the sound of rain hitting the roof while my husband and I snuggled in bed. Or that our neighbors brought over baked goods every holiday. Or how I spent hours painstakingly sanding and painting the kitchen cabinets white when I had finally had had enough of the beige. Or the countless stories that arose from our annual New Years Eve parties.
Today is a bittersweet day. Today, we closed on that first little house of ours. We said goodbye to the place that made us a family. The place where we brought our kids home to. The place where we had our fights and the place where we made up. I know that God has bigger things in store for us, but that little house served its purpose and then some. It wasn’t just a house – it was our home and I am so thankful for it and all of the people who ever crossed over its doorstep.
As for our future? Who knows! We haven’t bought a new house yet, so we’re just going to live in limbo until we find the perfect place. We’re excited for this change and new opportunity for our family.
