We are HOME OWNERS!!

We are moved into our first home! I can not express how much of a difference this house has already made for us. I want to thank everyone for your prayers and support and help in our home buying process. We have felt so much love from many, many family and friends.

I can't totally knock apartment life though. It was really important for us to have the affordable living while we were looking for jobs, changing jobs, and getting settled into our life together. (Figuring out a budget!) I would definitely recommend apartment life to people wanting to save back money to eventually invest in a house.

Now I'm not going to miss walking up and down three flights of stairs to let Gunny go out to pee or when I'm holding about 15 grocery bags strung all over my arms---even though I think it kept me fit ha.

Since Saturday, our first official day in the house, we have gotten everything unpacked and livable except for the stuff in our studio/office, it hasn't been touched--I'm gonna wait for my super organized sister to help me with that :).
I have been noticing how much I made our apartment a crutch to cooking, cleaning, and doing what I love, making art. The kitchen was closed off and small making it hard to get motivated to try new things. Our apartment was always pretty clean (mainly because I live with Mr. Clean Kyle) but I didn't take pride in and totally make it my own because I didn't own the space. The biggest regret I had was not advancing on my art work because I didn't have the space in our one bedroom apartment. These are all pretty weak and lame excuses that I have some regrets about but the important thing is Kyle and I were able to have a 'first place' where we grew together as a married couple. And we definitely grew closer by being in closer quarters. (I didn't know one bathroom sink could cause so much frustration! ha)

I'm suppperrrr excited to grow together in a house though. My excitement for cooking has already grown in these 5 days which is one of my new years goals---become a better cook. I am nailing down some renovations I want to do around the house---all budget friendly. I'm also motivated to get a work out routine now that I don't have anyone living underneath me and I have a neighborhood to explore (also excuses I used while in the apartment). 

In all the excitement of moving it is really easy to stop praising the One who provided all this. It is easy to thank Him for this blessing but it's hard to sit down in reverence and stillness to really give Him the praise He so deserves everyday regardless of being in a house or not.

God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

 and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 

though its waters roar and foam 

and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall; 

God will help her at break of day. 

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; 

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done, 

the desolations he has brought on the earth. 

He makes wars cease 

to the ends of the earth. 

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

 he burns the shields with fire. 

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The Lord Almighty is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

--Psalm 46

-N