drives and plans

Over the past several years, every time we went on a road trip, we would end up dreaming and scheming about our next step. What would Nick's new company be like? Would we move to Pullman? Would we build a house or remodel an old, loved house again? It was such fun to spin our dreams together as the miles flew by. This weekend was our annual church retreat at N-Sid-Sen and it was our first drive as a family in which we had taken steps, big steps, to actualize those dreams. It's even more fun to plan and dream together, when the plans and dreams are in motion! I don't know when it's safe to say your house is sold or when it's safe to say you've bought your new home, but we are in that in-between land of buying and selling that we are finding quite exciting and exhilarating. There are lots of smiles and boxes around the house.
.

Since our beloved Treefort has been on the market I have prayed for a little family to come along and fall in love with our house. For a family to love looking at trees out of every window so much that they didn't mind the hike to what for us has felt like a bit of heaven. Well, just as I'd given up hope for this selling season, that family came along and before they were through the first floor asked, "How soon can they move out?" I know it's not a completely sealed deal yet, but our buyers have been so reasonable and fabulous to work with that I can't help but believe that the rest of the process will continue in this way. What a gift to hand over a loved space to a family who is ready to love it too!

.

On the other end, we have found a new home that we are ready to love and we are spending our time drawing designs for it (Nick), bookmarking storage solutions and decorating small spaces ideas (me) and of course planning the perfect decor for a shared room for the babes (me and Sydney). Elias is excited that the house comes with cats (well, they officially live across the street) and that seems to be all he needs to plan for.

.

So, this weekend's retreat was extra special fun because we had time to kind of stretch out in our dreaming process and dare to believe that it's all really happening. I can't think of a better place to do this than among friends, the lake, trees and paths.

.

Everyone says that if something is meant to be it will happen, but that's really hard to believe when you are in the aching for change phase. But, this path has been made so clear and smooth for us that it's hard not to see where we are being led. I was praying for a neon sign, but this is awfully close.

.

Zora Neale Hurston writes, "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." It seems that for us, this is a year of answers and small miracles. And lots and lots of joy.