We're Moving!!

Yes, crazy right? Well, we are so excited and thrilled that the Lord has opened the door for us to move to a larger apartment before our second daughter is born! We moved into our current apartment when we got married, almost three years ago. It has been a wonderful place to enjoy as a couple and to start our family in. All of our married memories are in this home. We love it and it will always hold a very dear spot in our hearts.

However, 500 sq ft only stretches so far when you start adding children into the mix! :-)

We have desired to move before now but every time we "tested the waters," the Lord would close the doors and continue to call us to contentment in our current place. I'll admit, some days have been harder than others when seeking to be satisfied in what God had provided for us. Yet, God has been so gracious to teach us many valuable lessons while living here. I am so thankful for these past three years as we've learned to grow closer as a husband and wife. :-)

With the addition of baby number two on the way, we batted around the desire, once again, to have a larger place. Yet, with our commitment to keep me home with the girls and live on one income, plus put Kyle through school, it just didn't seem feasible. Little did we know then that God had a big surprise in store for us.

About three weeks ago, I decided to start crunching numbers on our budget (yes, I'm that nerd who likes doing stuff like that!) and just see if there was any way that we could make it happen. There was one apartment option in my mind that I was thinking of. As I began to play with figures I got excited and began to share with Kyle my findings. There are some apartments super close to the seminary where Kyle works full time and goes to school. (I'm not sharing the specific name for internet safety... :-) As we chatted about the possibility we agreed to check into the option. Once again we prayed for God's will to be done. The next day Kyle called me from work to say that he had talked with an apartment manager and that they could show us an apartment that day!

Long story short, here we are, three weeks later, packing up to move a week from tomorrow!! (And for the record, I'll be 34 weeks pregnant!!! Ahhh... Haha!) There are SO many little stories I could tell of God's faithfulness and provision during this process. He has opened every door and even added in a couple of surprises along the way that have blessed us so greatly! During this time He has taught us in new and various ways to trust Him continually!

We are so excited to be living up near the seminary campus where I can take the girls on long walks, go to their pool, use their gym, have Daddy home for lunch each day, etc... It's really a dream come true for us to have a bigger place. Especially for Kyle to have an office to study in each night!

I'm always blown away at how God calls us to be faithful and content in our circumstances and then He surprises us with wonderful blessings that make us stand in awe of how amazing He is! :-) He is truly great!

As we finish packing up this week and start saying goodbye to our current apartment I'm sure many sweet and wonderful memories will come to mind (i.e. returning from our honeymoon to our first home together, bringing our daughter home from the hospital, learning to serve others from our little home and with what we have, etc...).

Before I got too many boxes packed, I snapped a few pictures so we could remember this home. Here are a few for you to share with us:



Our living and dining room. I will always love this big window!!








View of our living/dining room from the kitchen doorway. You'll notice the early stage of our packing boxes near the front door. :-)



My little kitchen where I learned to cook as a wife and mommy.



Please forgive the drying dishes on the counter. :-)



Our bathroom



Abigail's room (with baby sister's crib mattress against the wall. Haha... Sorry!)



Our bedroom... This was after we had put the second crib and changing table in our room, thinking we were staying here. :-)

I am so thankful for this wonderful home that God gave us and for my incredible husband who works so super hard to provide for us and who allows me to stay home! I respect him so much for his commitment in this area. This blesses me more than he will ever know! :-) I love you, Babe!

We are so looking forward to the new memories we will make as a family of four in our new apartment! We also hope to use it as a ministry tool to serve others as we welcome them in and seek to show hospitality. May we be found faithful in this area.