MOVING!!!! [part 1]

Taylor and I have some exciting news to share. We found a HOUSE! We did more than find it though, we closed and have made it ours. But before I go into that, let me share a little on how we got here, GOD is all over our story. :)

We started looking at houses online about a year ago. We made the decision to start looking in person more seriously around January. We had a nice wish list and an even nicer must-have list. We got together with our realtor and began digging deeper into what's out there. Turned out all the houses we liked online went under contract or sold just 2 weeks before we met with our realtor. We were bummed, but still hopeful for something to turn up. We saw a few houses, but didn't like them. We began to compromise on our must-have list and figure out what we really needed. Then, after a little while we found a house we liked. It was out of our preferred neighborhood, but it had a lot of the things we wanted. We slept on it and prayed and decided we wanted to see it again and then make an offer. Well, 2 hours before we go to see the house again our realtor calls and says they got a verbal offer so the house was a no go. Real disappointed and confused we started praying harder and questioning what God was doing. We then struggled with what house God had for us. Long story short, we saw a few more houses. One ranch that we liked, but it was over-priced and didn't "feel" like home. Another we really liked but it went under contract soon after it went online. It felt like God was closing a lot of doors and not really opening any others. But then he lead us to our home. It was out of our initial neighborhood choice and further than we'd like, but it had everything else! We didn't have to compromise, in fact, things I took off the list before we started looking because I thought it wouldn't happen, happened! God was doing big things. It was more than just about a house- it was about our hearts! He was doing a great work on Taylor's and my heart and drawing us closer to himself and building us in our faith. He is faithful whether we got a "perfect" house or not. He is faithful even when we aren't. He was tender and didn't shift when we were frustrated and weary. He was calm and there, waiting for us, calling us. And though we didn't deserve it, he blessed us with far more than we expected. I could go on and on and on. It was a tough season, but fruit is coming! And the house he had waiting for us blew us away.

We put in an offer, they countered, we countered, and an agreement was made. We were officially under contract! Crazy. In a few months we would be home owners. Those days flew by. And this morning, we closed on our new home!

The process was a wave of ups and downs. Making the biggest financial decision we'll ever make tends to bring tension and well, anxiety. God continued to teach us about what trust looks like.... it looked different for Taylor and I. Taylor being the provider had a harder weight of this. So we both learned what it meant to trust God as leader and helper. In the end, it has brought us closer to God and closer to each other. And God has blessed us beyond words could explain. We have a home to bring our baby girl home to after delivery. A home where she'll grow up.

A home that is ours. :)

We love it!! And we are very excited to see what God has for us in this new home. Why this neighborhood, why these neighbors... He has a bigger purpose and we pray He receives the Glory!

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This past week I was on Spring Break and my dear mom came to Charlotte for the week to help pack our apartment and did she pack!!

Here is the beginning of our move in pictures:

Clearing out the storage closet

Taylor had it packed with this....

and all of this... it was a lot! 

Mom getting started

Laying everything out...

The beginning of our wall of boxes. Thank you CFA!

The next series of pictures show my husband and mom looking for a screw from a shelf. . . behind the water heater. It was quite the event and pretty funny to watch. :)

One wire hanger and a fly swatter later. . .
they found it and got it out!  

hehe! Climbing out from behind
the water heater... what a gem! 

Taking down Christmas lights 

Moving [part 2] is coming soon. . .

I will post later on my time with mom and how Winnie is doing. :)