The Red House

I was given three weeks notice that we were moving to the "red house," before we unloaded the truck and moved once again to our new home. I was pregnant at the time with Charlie while Addi was a few days from turning three. She was so excited for this move and to have the big back yard to play in!

The outside was gorgeous with endless yard and creek access. The inside...well, it needed some updates and a paint job. With the help from family and friends, Tim got the upstairs completely painted, wood floor and carpet installed, bathroom remodeled and the fabulous chandelier replaced.

It was amazing how quickly we settled and planted roots into the "red house."

The oasis at the dead end street became what is secure, stable and comfortable for our family.

Addi struggled to meet the neighbors as she at the time, was working through her selective mutism. After a few years of being in the neighborhood, she made what is now the best friend for life. Addi Jean and Annie Jean, just a mere two months apart in age, are inseparable, often are matching in outfits and seem to never tire of one another. Annie and Jordan would often stop by before Addi found the courage to speak, and would invite her to play never giving up on the new kid on the block.

Charlie eventually became the new kid finding himself playing the baby of house, pet shops or whatever the girls asked him to do. Brevin, five years older, adored little Charlie and took him under his big kid wings riding bikes, scooters or shooting hoops together. Age doesn't seem to matter at the dead end. It's a team of kids that circulates between three homes and welcomes Nellie Newbies as one of their own. Add in Mini Spice and the kids go crazy roaring, "MYRIAM!" as she tries to blend her toddler size in with the bigger kids...most of the time chasing them with just or no diaper on!

Addison had her first day of preschool at the "red house" and has continued to 'WOW' us with her learning capabilities as she just wrapped up third grade. Charlie has only known home as his school and eagerly awaits his friends as they are dropped off the school bus in the afternoons.

Much has changed since we moved in almost seven years ago.

The backyard used to be occupied by huge trees and a large center flower bed. Now, it's wide open with green grass and a trampoline the kids spend endless hours on with friends and family. The swings were hung between the cedars and the infamous S'moresma fire pit was carefully laid with stones. With our revolving door welcoming new members to our family, we needed more space and gutted the basement adding two bedrooms, a home school space and my quiet sanity room or craft room as most people call it. The remodeled space provides comfort, less spiders, more natural day light and an area for the kids to play, build sleepover forts and hang out with each other.

The "red house" has gone through many remodels, but not just on the construction side of things.

As any parent knows, relationships are tested and stretched with every child. It's no secret our marriage was put through the ultimate test of betrayal seven years into our union. It was also the year our coffee pot died and crock pot went out along with the holes in the towels too. Maybe that was God's humor in the pain, but there was a serious seven year itch going on that left lifetime scars in our hearts. Without the remodel of our marriage, our relationship would not be as strong, Christ-centered or solid as it is today. Tim and I had to endure some major set-backs, hardships and time to look differently into our lives in order to have the growth we have now.

There's been health issues, cancer treatments, discouraging doctors reports, family deaths, career growths and start-ups along with the expansion of our extended families. We've had ministry opportunities placed at our feet from the simple act of quieting ourselves...listening...and seeking obedience in our faith.

The "red house" has given me perspective and symbolizes sacrifice and security. Many times we don't understand what we had until it was lost. There have been many times in the past seven years where I almost lost something to realize the importance of it in my life. My marriage had to die to itself, in order to be redeemed by the atoning blood, so it can flourish as it is today. My Hero has undergone countless chemotherapy treatments making our relationship stronger than it ever has been before. I had to sacrifice my career to be blessed with sweet kisses from our jewels every morning, all day long. It was the "red house" that transformed Tim's heart allowing the idea of adoption to penetrate his heart welcoming home our sassy Myriam.

Our perspective has changed, grace has been extended, sacrifices made and overall, security has been found, rooted and shared with others...

all in the "red house."