Around our home...

Our home has been a little bit out of sorts lately.  It has looked a little like this... everywhere.

Well, we have a self-imposed February 3rd deadline to get our home on the market- yes the real estate market.  We don't plan on moving far, but we think the added flexibility of renting would be great at this point in our life.

As we have been packing up boxes, I have been shocked by two different things.

1.  I'm blown away by what is expected when you put your house on the market.
a.  Like your closets should be half empty.
b.  And no bath mats in the bathrooms.
c.  No personal photos.
Do people really think we live like this?

2.  I've also been a little over taken with sadness of the thought of leaving our first home.  Who knows if we will even sell it in this market- but the thought is saddening.  We have memories that are burned into my mind in this home.  Strong, vivid memories.
a.  Our first attempt at renovating!  Now we have done two bathrooms and an overhaul on our family room.
b.  I remember when I found out my dad suddenly died.  I remember how tightly my mom was holding me and how the carpet felt on my feet.
c.  I remember finding out I was pregnant with Lillie.  Coming around the corner outside of our bedroom to Brad who was sitting on the edge of our bed in disbelief.
d.  Arriving home from the hospital and putting Lillie- still in the car seat carrier- near our sliding glass door to get a little sun.
e.  Lillie's first steps, first words, first everything happened in this little home.

I'm so grateful for these walls, for these memories and for the warmth and feeling of family that they have brought.  Although these walls have held many of our memories together, they haven't made our family.  And I look forward to the new chapter of our life, set to a slightly different background.

In the meantime, big prayers for a quick and easy sale of this little home.