Having a Home

Over the last six months or so, David and I have been thinking a lot about our next step in where to live.  There are many reasons we know we want to be here including that we love: Michigan, the diversity of Lansing, our church family at URC, being close to family, friends and being able to allow David the opportunity to teach in an urban city like Lansing (that's not too big for Casey).

I think the both of us have been up and down trying to figure out what would be best for us.  Should we stay in an apartment, go bigger with a townhome, rent a house, buy a house????  Overall I feel like we have been anxious and nervous as to what to do.  We started off thinking buying a house would be ideal since we know we want to be here and would love to plant roots right away.  This didn't work out so well though and after the disappointing loss of a house we both liked, we felt like this just wasn't the right path for us.

Through the house buying process, we became more aware of our financial situation which was really great.  Friends of ours lent us a book by Dave Ramsey that talks about saving and the process of paying off debt and this was so great for us.  We feel like we have been wise the last two years with our money, but due to health circumstances and life in general, we have a good amount of student loan debt.  After much thought, we decided that paying off our debt would be more beneficial than going forward with a large decision like buying a house. 

This is where we are right now.  We know buying a house wouldn't be best right now, but also know we would like to have a family and need more space.  The last couple weeks we have searched and searched trying to find something that would be in our budget, but allow for more room.  Apartments seem to be the best idea for us right now and we have found a couple that are close to David's work at Auto Owners that seem to be both big enough and in our price range.  We still would be a little crammed, but the idea of having a little one makes it well worth it in my opinion :) 

Obviously this is a very long post, but so far this has been one of the hardest and most stressful decisions for us to make.  Finances tend to bring out our selfishness and desire for our own needs above one anothers.  Overall we know that the Lord is going to take care of us and provide us with a home, but we tend to neglect this truth and get wrapped up in our own plan.  Lately I've been reminded by the verse in Matthew 6:26 that says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they."  This verse reminds me of God's faithfulness and that I can trust Him for my every need.  He provides birds with food and shelter, so what makes me think he won't provide for me.  My lack of faith in his power to provide leads me to worry and feel anxious.  Setting my mind on my heavenly home and trusting in his grace gives me the peace to know he will give us a home on earth and a family to dwell in that home.

Excited for the next couple months as we celebrate birthdays, Thanksgiving, Anniversary, Christmas and New Years....and hopefully the process of having a new home.