After signing closing papers for the "yellow house," Tim and I found a smaller home to rent as we tossed the idea around of building or buying. It was a limbo home for us.
Through word of mouth we found the "blue house" to rent from a local, Christian couple who allowed us to renovate the dated place. With a weekend of new carpet, paint and some tile updates, the place was ready for six month old Addison and her parents to move in! At the time, Tim was traveling with his quartet so it was a bit hectic for me as others helped me transfer things over.
As much as I missed our first home, there were benefits to our new home as well. A fenced in back yard, enclosed attached garage, newer in style and smaller to clean and a first and last MASTER BATHROOM! Yes, it was the start to the declining in size kitchen, but the place was perfect for us and I really did enjoy our two years spent on Vine Street. I had an Aunt and Uncle that lived a few doors down and grandparents that lived a five minute walk away. We had no responsibilities to do yard work and honestly the person who had lived there before made rock flower beds so besides the grass, there was nothing to do. We did make a small change to the front corner bed and of course I had to have some coloring flower pots to spice it up. The "blue house" with the metal roof was a refreshing, easy sit and rest home.
Addison had her first birthday at the "blue house" and Tim started the short lived hobby of owning boats there as well. Hindsight should have had us making different decisions but at the moment, the memories made on "Realtime" were enjoyable. I grew up in the San Juan Islands as my parents have always had a boat. It was natural for me and in a way sent me back to my childhood. Unfortunately, with busy schedules and commitments, the boat didn't get used often enough to justify the cost and we ended up selling. Tim's quartet became the 2005 World Champions in Salt Lake City and their shows became a demand which brought on more international traveling and statewide shows as well. This group of people were family to us as the guys spent time weekly rehearsing and the women shared parenting together. A month after Addi turned one, we headed to Australia and New Zealand for 17 days with all the Realtime family. What amazing memories we made! There was also trips to California with the group as the ladies took the kids to Disneyland for a day and local trips too.
{ The beauty of a metal roof is the snow slides right off! }
{ "Realtime" with our little family in Friday Harbor }
In August of 2007, Tim had a trip to Russia with the quartet. Before he left, I was given a couple of weeks notice that we were moving to yet another new place. Without much notice or option, I started packing the house and wondering what is in store for us at the next place. The day Tim got home we moved. At the time I was also 3 months pregnant with Charlie…exhausting.
Looking back, I see the "blue house" as a transitional home, but also as if God was giving us a chance to set things in a different direction. Instead, it became a home where things became patched up, hidden and disguised for others not to see. As simple as the house was to keep up, clean and with smaller spaces not store as much stuff, the home became a facade. I myself didn't noticed the act until later. The house sealed secrets within that never came out when living there. In all honesty, the house was pleasant for me as it was easy living. I was happy there. If you were too look at the stages of growing up, this place was the teenage, high school phase where you don't have many burdens. The transition between child and adult.
To this day, the place still has rock flower beds and a blue tin roof. It probably still has the carpeted patio, tile back splashes and new floor coverings we installed. But we graduated and God had even bigger plans for us and our little family. Box by box, truck load after truck load. We moved our family to the next great adventure.
And what an adventure it has been…
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