My husband Mike mentioned in our last newsletter (http://www.outsideedgecoaching.com/) that I would soon be sharing my perspective of our recent home-buying and moving adventures, so I guess it’s about time I did so. As I review the past few months, a couple of major themes come up for me.
A journey of faith.
Our adventure started more than three months ago when I stumbled across this great-sounding property on the Internet. We did our homework, pre-qualified for a loan, and made an offer on our dream in the mountains. What at first appeared to be a slam-dunk move that we felt strongly was God-led turned into a never-ending saga of disappointments. We watched helplessly as the deal collapsed time after time for a variety of reasons beyond our control. Bottom-line, lenders simply weren’t going to touch this property. After more than a month and a half, we finally walked away...surrendering the dream completely.
I can’t say I really doubted God in the midst of it. I honestly felt we were following Him free of agendas and ready to go where He led. It did feel confusing to see this one deal die when we’d been so sure it was of Him. Yet deep down, I did believe He was still journeying with us, wherever the path might lead.
And where has it led? Another month and a half, an offer on another home, a miraculous surprise turn of events on the original property, and a grueling cross-country move later...we have been on a wild ride of continuing adventures in our new home—the original dream—for three weeks now. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead on this path of journeying with Christ through all the mountains and valleys of life.
A blank canvas.
This is a really exciting theme for me. I feel like every aspect of this move is a blank canvas just waiting for us to paint a beautifully, honestly real picture of our life on. I believe a big part of being human and children of the King is the freedom to choose and create. Pretty much every time I’ve moved up until this point, it’s been into someone else’s existing life...friends, routines, jobs, circumstances, etc. Which hasn’t been all bad by any means. One of the existing friendships Mike had when I moved to Illinois before we got married has become one of my most treasured friendships.
Nonetheless (after due appreciation for all the gifts I’ve found with making moves like those of the past), it is a real treat to be able to create something brand new with Mike. Aside from the unknowns of journeying in faith, this has been a move by design for us. A move into more of the life we feel passionately God has called us to with the coaching, with wilderness trips, with a place to minister to others through retreats or just opening our home up. It is an opportunity for us both to actively create our future together. It is a chance to make new friends...both as a couple and as individuals. It is a chance to explore our new home area and celebrate the adventure of all that we find here.
In addition to the joy of us building together, this has been a special part of my personal journey. It’s symbolic of the path God has been leading me on over the past several years to discover who I am and how I want to be in the world. I’ve learned a lot about how to live unedited and out loud even in the midst of the expectations or criticisms of others. And now I’m excited by the opportunity to continue that growth process away from those expectations and free from the old patterns of doing life.
