TRADING: big news for lots of luck

It's just a simple story.

A couple is searching for somewhere to lay some roots.  They search and search until one day they drive past a neighborhood that looks cozy.  They pull in and see a couple houses for sale.  They see a model home that looks open and let themselves in.  There, they find a sweet lady who appears to be on her way out. She asks if they would like to see the 2 houses for sale.  They hesitate and wonder if they should come back later, they - you see - were on their way to walk through a different house.  A house that they were trying to be interested in, but somehow it wasn't sitting right with them.

Finally, they agree. They walk though a gorgeous one story home that is filled to the brim with options and luxury, but with only 3 bedrooms and no room to grow they wonder how on earth the home will hold the 10 children the man promised the woman when they married.  They move on to the next house, now very late for their previous appointment.

They walk into a 2-story home with open spaces and room to grow.  The woman marvels at the incredible closet and storage space throughout the home.  They smile over the raised counter-tops perfect for the tall man.  They imagined BBQ's under their covered patio and a small vegetable garden on the side of their house.   They thank the sweet lady for showing them around.

Finally, they arrive to their previously scheduled appointment, very late - with much apologies, while visions of closet space and covered patios danced through their heads.

They loved the 2-story house.  They hardly needed to even voice the words to each other.  It seemed to fit, they wanted this to be the home for their 10 kids and the dog the man so badly wishes he had.

They made lists of things they need and requests they had.  They studied every detail of their soon to be home, went to their local church and drove the exact mileage to and from their favorite places.  {28.8 miles from Shannon and Dan.}  The drove by the house morning, noon and night.  They stood at the front door and watched the neighbors, looking back this may have been a little insane. Finally, they presented a list of wishes to the builder. Back and forth they went until everyone was happy.

That, my friends, could only mean one thing...

THIS:

PLUS this:

PLUS this:

EQUALS: 

Our first HOUSE!

We are beyond excited for this big new adventure in our lives.  TECHNICALLY, it's not ours quite yet. We aren't scheduled to close until the end of May since we made above mentioned list asked for some changes to be made inside.  But keeping my big mouth shut was getting WAY too hard.  I mean you should see the closets in this place!!  I could literally live in the hall closet - let alone the master.  My storage prayers have been answered.   Ben's dream of outside BBQ's will come true. I should mention that we do not truly plan on producing 10 children as my age, and patience, would hardly allow for that. Nor can I promise that we will stay in this home forever.  But it's perfect for now, and for growing, and I am crossing my fingers that the end of May comes without any hiccups.   

Wish us lots of luck, luck, luck!