Couches.

Mike and I have been searching for a house to purchase. We want a house that we can make our home for a long time. A place to raise our family. A place to grow old (or at least older).

We have not been very successful. Of course, this has been a prayerful journey, and we are really seeking God’s will. We put in an offer on a house we really loved. After we put our offer in, we prayed that God would either provide timing and finances or close the door. The agent for the seller kept us on hold for an extra 24 hours, only to tell us that he was taking a better offer. We were so frustrated that our love quickly faded and our interests were completely gone. I’d say God closed that door.

Now, as we wait for God to open the door to the right home, we have decided to purchase new couches. We are currently using my family’s old couches. These are couches that we used at home, Shasta used in college, and I have used in college and now. They’re a little tattered to say the least. We have talked a few times about how it would really stink to get a nice new house and have old furniture, which is pretty inevitable in most cases. However, we were super blessed with a great deal. Jen (Mike’s sister) told us about some couches a friend of hers is selling.

A family bought our future couches in April 2011. After purchasing them, their daughter became really ill. Extended testing and various doctors eventually figured out that the illness was a result of an allergy to the new couches. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The family is in desperate need to get rid of the couches, so we are getting a fantastic deal! (And no, we will not get sick from them. The couches are normal. The daughter just happens to have an allergy to some of the fibers.)

One step at a time. I told Mike that this may be God’s way of rewarding us for seeking Him in our home-buying process. It may also be his way of satisfying our desire to make a home NOW. Either way, He has provided one more little step along our journey to making a home and family.

Home

A new condo…it can’t be home without decorations.

When I arrived in Levittown, the condo was just a bunch of rooms full of boxes. It did not look like home, and it certainly didn’t feel like one. That’s all a matter of perspective though. Now, all the things from those boxes are still in the rooms; they are just placed in better spaces aesthetically.

Meet my new home in Pennsylvania:

Of course, the most important room in the home of any southern belle is the kitchen. This is where I create all my new recipe projects. I love all the storage space and the dark countertops. 

We enjoy all those meals I create in this lovely little dining area. This picture still has some boxes in the back corner, but those are gone now too.

The living room, complete with Nana's beautiful tiger painting (a subtle touch of LSU in the main room). There is a small fireplace and a huge window that provides a ton of natural lighting. There is also a door on the near side of the fireplace that leads to a little balcony (where my LSU wind chime hangs).

Upstairs. The guest room/office. See everyone, there is space for visitors! This is also a great place to do all those important things that no one really enjoys....like bills. The door you see is to a second balcony.

The upstairs bathroom is great! It is definitely a great size, and the bathtub is super deep.

This is my brand new bedroom. As you can see, matching furniture has not been purchased yet...nor matching curatins. That will all come.

For now, everything is just right for getting me settled into a brand new place. Levittown, Pennsylvania. Home.