A house is just walls...but a home is family

Once upon a time mike and I built a "perfect" house.  You know one that had special features desired of the time-  think distressed and apron sink, custom paint and pottery barn dishes to match.  It made pictures and parties look like magazines.

Don't get me wrong-  I will never admit to being a keepin up with the jones' type.  We built a beautiful home, but we had most priorities straight too.  Where we chose expensive fixtures we gave and gave and gave to others in need.  

But in short the market changed-  directly effecting our finances and some unfortunate things out of our control rocked our bank account as well.  And in the end we hadn't prepared for things to change and life to deal us some bad cards.  We had to leave those pretty walls -  ones in which cherished memories were created.

And now we rent and it's a nice home but it isn't ours and it's harder to decorate and create and have pride in a house that isn't yours.  So instead in the last few years I've switched my thinking to creating a HOME and not wishing for things I can't have.

Monday the above home will be auctioned off.  Glad I won't be there to see it.  I've come a long way but it's sad to know that we have memories from those 6 years but no nest egg to show from it.  So if no investment, at least that this first world puts so much weight on, survives from those years then can I find any reason in building and living and losing an expensive beautiful house?

Finally finally I have found the investment-  and it isn't a worldly one.  You know that commercial that says "and we are up to our eyeballs in debt?" -- well we are... And it's really truly not due to the typical reasons.  But still-  it weighs on us daily.  DAILY.  We can't build again for years.  We may never own a beautiful home again.  And yet life goes on.  The children grow.  They blossom actually.  We smile, laugh,  sweat,  cry and we breathe in and out and give thanks for another chance.

Not another chance at perfection or a pottery barn look alike home.  But hopes and dreams that look like travel and adventure and meaningful experiences-  all with or without another house again!

And it all came full circle to me last night amongst people oohing and awing over a house.  In fact one that mike built.  And I'm not saying this couple doesn't deserve this home or that their priorities are out of whack.  They are the most grounded,  loving,  deserving family for this beautiful masterpiece.  

But I wasn't jealous.  I didn't covet one thing.  

Freedom.

God's investment is in our hearts.  They were broken and built back together stronger.  More beautiful.  Eternal perspective.  

Learning can be painful but scars make us tougher!