When Your Home Starts Becoming Just a House

I am sure that I have written this before, but I am not good with change.  It has always been a struggle for me.  When I was recently in counselling, he said there are two types of people: pioneers and settlers.  I am definitely a settler.  My husband has a pioneering spirit, but became a settler for me and the boys.

It has been 4 months since I left my career in ministry.  My head feels much clearer and I have enjoyed these last few months visiting with long-time friends and making new ones. My husband officially retired 2 weeks ago.  We have always had the dream of living full-time on the road in an RV.  Travelling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring all our country has to offer.  Our original plan was to do this in 2-5 years from now, but I guess God had another plan for that.  As I sit here writing, my house goes on the market in 2 days, majority of our belongings are in the garage, and I’m living in a fully staged house. 

This is going to be a year of God stretching and growing me like I never have before.  I am learning that my home and the things in it have become idols for me.  I have placed too much sentimental value on material items.  As I have had to go through every item we have acquired in 24 years of living here, I am able to process my life and the life that we created for our boys.  It’s the memories that matter.  Not the stuff.  Painting over the growth chart on the wall was a huge step for me, and I did that myself as a way to help let go of this current season of life.  My home is becoming just a house.  

As I was awake at 2 am a few nights ago, I came across this section in a book I was reading and it really hit home for me….

She sighed, wiping her eyes again. “To be honest, I’m too tired at the moment to face what’s ahead.  But where would our people be if Abraham and Sarah hadn’t left their comfortable homes at God’s command? Or if we had remained in Egypt instead of leaving with Moses?” “The Almighty One certainly likes shaking things up and forcing people to move.”- Keepers of the Covenant

Over the next few months, we will be selling our home, purging 95% of our belongings, and looking for the perfect RV for us.  There is so much to do and it all can get overwhelming at times.  I try to take things day by day and I have my counselor “on call” in case we need to have an emergency session…. ha-ha!  

I am documenting this time for myself and giving you a glimpse into my head and heart as I process and walk through these doors that God keeps opening for us.  If I would just learn to let go, He has something soo much better for me on the other side.  It will be interesting to see where things are at a year from now.  I am excited and nervous, but trusting God’s bigger plan for our lives. I hope you will be with me to see where this journey takes us.