Blueberry Lane

When we sold our house two days ago, we didn't have a house to move to. I wasn't too worried. God is good. 

Yesterday morning, as Greg was thinking about and looking for a house in a bit of a rush to get his family a place to live by the end of May, God gave me a great peace. I knew then that the house was there, and that we would know it without a doubt when we saw it. 

I did NOT expect to see it the very same day. I was prepared to wait, patiently and sure. 

Today, I'm overwhelmed.  

I am writing my address again. Writing it down and loving my life there before we've even seen it in person inside. Writing it and crying tears of awe and joy. I am seriously amazed. 

I wondered what the little things would be. 
In this Partridge house there were little things. Things that revealed to me the depth of how God knew my heart, even in the secret places, in things that hadn't ever been fleshed out. Hopes and dreams, ideas and visions, desires and connections to things that were here. 
And the same is happening with Blueberry. 

I will try to keep them in order:

First, the price (134,900), size of home (1,862) and lot (.29 acres), and the rooms (4) drew me to even look. 

Then we saw that is it in our old neighborhood, which we loved. Such a nice area to live. And I know that Greg finds comfort in that. 

Then we found out that every room feels like home, even just in pictures. 

I can see every room refinished, to our hopes and dreams. 

Greg loves it. Which is a hurtle in itself, not to mention that he has a harder time seeing past the surface and envisioning what it will be when we're done with it. He feels that thing he feels when it's right. 

Then we learned that it's on a fairly wooded lot - which I didn't dare want for, knowing we were moving into the city. But with all that is in me I have asked God to consider letting me live in the woods a little bit still. 

We were sad to learn that it is only a one stall garage (which could have been a deal breaker) but relieved to see that there is an extended driveway allowing for another car to park to the right of the garage space. Praise God! 

We learned that the home has water heat like we have at Partridge. This is another thing I did not expect but hoped for, if at all possible. 

Also, most homes with water heat don't have A/C, especially in this price range. So we were surprised and delighted to discover that this home does. 

Although Greg is not a fan of the old refinished hardwood floors, I LOVE them. And while we may change them if he is unhappy with them, I am pleased that they are a great start that will hold up well with our dogs. 

The screened room. The screen room. I don't know what to say. Except that my God loves me so much. 

And if that is a willow tree, which I have ALWAYS wanted, God help me. I might just "weep" in that backyard today.

The partially privacy fenced in large wooded property.

My dream is to not have a basement that we use. We actually saw a house listed last fall that was just on a cement slab, and that idea excited me. When we talked about building I hoped to not have a basement done. I don't want a second or third set of stairs anymore. I don't want the humidifiers, the bugs, the worry of leaking, and the whole business of a basement. Greg has been so hurt by basements and the drama they bring.

Ezekiel was telling me on the way to see this house from the outside that he really wants a basement in the next house. He wants to inhabit it for his own hang out space. I joked that I hoped we could have NO basement and give him his own space somewhere else in the house, even if we had to make a bedroom bigger by combining it with another. 

Last night, after that conversation, Greg and I learned that Blueberry HAS NO BASEMENT.

BUT, it is a bi-level home and has a room on the lower level in front across from the main living area, that would be perfect for Ezekiel to "inhabit". He also hopes to have complete creative control in the decorating and remodeling of this space. Thank You God. 

Greg doesn't mind this detail one bit knowing that I love not having a basement, the laundry is on the main level for me, and there are FOUR bedrooms! 

About those bedrooms... Greg and I will have one, Zeek will have another, Greg will make one his office, and we will have Greg's dream: a spare bedroom for my Mom when she visits! All within the square footage I wanted. WOW. God is good. 

Now for some personal touches...

The number of the address is my Mom and Dad Rick's birth year. And I was just telling someone how many things correlate with my parents and our stuff. How my Mom's dog and husband have the same birthday as my son, specifically... 

And if Blueberry Lane isn't cute enough, or that you have to turn on Mulberry and then Strawberry to get to Blueberry... blueberries happen to be my favorite! I have two blue plastic cups that I fill with blueberries and take in my car to "drink" whenever I buy them. 

Last summer I visited my Dad while I was in NC. He drove up from Georgia to stay with Zeek and I in the city for a few days. It is one of my fondest memories in time. When I climbed into my my Dad's truck I saw that he had his own stash of blueberries right where I carry mine in my truck. I had no idea. He had no idea. It was "our" thing. 

Also, while Zeek and I were driving away from the Blueberry house, we were talking about and checking out the surrounding homes for signs of kids his age. I have been talking to him about praying for God to put him in a place where there are nice kids for him to befriend. Just as we were talking, an adorable young man about Zeek's age comes onto the street walking his two dogs. Glasses, Harry Potter hair... he SMILES AND WAVES at us! I cried a little. 

And this is kind of silly, but I have been saying all the while, that my next house address will be something I don't have to spell out for everyone. I'm tired of that, and I want to be able to just say, "123 Main Street" and get on with it! lol
My new address will be just that. Thank You again. 

All of this that I can recall, and we haven't even been in this house yet! Today at 11:30. I can not wait! 

Dear Amazing God, 
THANK YOU. Only You know how grateful I am, how many ways, and for what. Thank You. 
Have Your way and protect the hearts of anyone else who might want Blueberry. Give them their home too. In Jesus name.
Amen. 

A Letter to Mary Jo

Eight years ago we came to this lot just to see this house. It was well out of our price range ($264,900), and more than we surely needed, with just the three of us. Me, my husband Greg, and our then 3 year old son, Ezekiel.

While we were here we not only fell in love with the whole thing, but we felt like it was ours. We thought that was strange, given the obvious above facts about our needs and finances.

The gut truth is, I stood right here (this is what it looked like then) -

And for the first and only time in my life, the whole world spun around me once, and God told me this was for me. Like some kind of pre-planned gift or something.

I laughed at the idea. Because it was not possible. And I walked away, knowing something special in my heart, but laughing in my head. Surely, this house would sell quickly and someone else would have the pleasure of living in such an awesome place.

We went home from that showing and we could not shake the feeling that we would live in this house we had seen. More and more so, as the time went by, our own house of 7 years started to feel less and less like we belonged there.

By December we were amazed that this Partridge home was still an active listing. We prayed and waited, wondering what was going to happen. At the end of December, my husband’s long time employer hired someone who would fill a position under him. But because my husband's salary was lower than what the company had to offer this new employee, they unexpectedly, uncharacteristically, raised my husband's salary. A lot. On top of that, one month later he was given an unexpected and unusually large bonus.

We were floored and in awe!

We knew that this Partridge home was still available and that the price had since dropped by $20,000, as the previous owners handed it off to the company who moved them out of state. We also found out that because of this change we would not be able to put an offer on it with any contingencies. So we had to sell our house! This wouldn't have been such a big deal, but the market was of the worst it had been since I was born, and we knew this would be a long shot.

We got all our ducks in a row, purged, packed, and put tons of our belongings in PODs. Then we cleaned and staged the house. We put it on the market, and again, prayed...

That home sold in 7 days for above asking price! We were amazed again. Everyone was amazed.

We immediately put an offer on the Partridge home, and with some countering and drama, it was finally accepted. 16 days later, we moved in!

Living here has been like a dream.

We wake up to all of this and wonder how we got so blessed.

The home itself, the little luxuries and beauties.

The space, and peace and quiet. The views and wildlife… it’s all so amazing.

For the first four years we filled the home with friends and family. For a long time we had Open Fridays, where everyone we knew was welcome to come out for a bonfire and food, bring their friends, and stay as long as the wanted.

All our holidays were filled with friends and family who would bring their suitcases, pick a room, and live here as long as they could be away from work and school. Sometimes our friends would even call into work and take their kids out of school just to stay an extra day. It was the perfect home for gatherings.

During those first four years we hosted a foster son and a foreign exchange student here as well.

About four years ago, something changed in our hearts. We felt our time here would be coming to an end. We didn't understand it. It didn't feel heavy or certain. It felt like preparation work.

As we began to consider things more logically we realized that we always figured we’d have more kids who would fill this space one way or another. But we were unable to conceive biologically after Ezekiel, and we never ended up taking the adoption route. Our season of hosting had changed and gatherings dwindled. We knew now that our son is not an outdoorsman by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I am the only one who really likes the woods and bonfires after all.

We prayed for God to make things clearer for us. We even tried the house on the market. Several months of many showings and there was zero interest. Our realtor at that time told us that we needed to reconsider the sale because it was clear to him that were not supposed to be moving. He said this house should have sold quickly, and instead it was being ignored past 70+ first showings. He released us from our contract early. We were grateful and relieved to be staying.

Years passed and we felt a little out of place. Not in a bad way. Just more as if we were occupying a space than really living here. We prayed and stayed open to the chance of moving.

We decided to do some maintenance and makeover the basement so we could use it more often. We replaced the four sets of sliding glass doors that directly exposed to the elements.


I planted more, cut down a ton of trees that were sucking from the older ones, had a lot more bonfires...

It still felt like we were getting it ready for someone else, and we wouldn't be staying here.

In the fall of 2016 we started to wonder if we were seeing some direction. As homeschoolers, this school year we started to spend more and more time in the city for day classes and lessons. We fell in love with a church in DePere, began to form bonds and friendships with the people, and started to serve and gather, weekdays and weekends. We again wondered if it might now be the time to consider listing the house and looking for something smaller in town.

We prayed in hopes that if it was God’s will He would open the doors and usher us through them. Some very obvious and unlikely things took place, and by November we were certain it was time. We took the winter to prepare slowly, and by January we were in full swing.

Here’s where you come into the story.

As I was spending time with God while I purged and packed, cleaned and painted, fixed and hired people to come and install more new windows, to repair and replace things, I prayed for who would be here. I asked that God would make their path clear and in His perfect timing.

Shortly, I began to realize there really was someone. I could feel God’s heart for them.
I felt like He knew that they needed a place of peace and rest. Like a gift of some kind. And it reminded me SO much of how I felt when He told me I would be here.

I began to do the things I was doing to the house specifically with love and consideration for this person who was coming to live here. I added things to my list as I went along, knowing what would be appreciated and what I wanted to pass on to this dear person. I was so moved, daydreaming about all the ways you would be blessed, as we have been, living in this amazing place.

We set everything up to sell, and then we waited. We didn't know when or how God would make it clear that we should list the house, but we knew we were NOT making a move until we knew it was the right time.

This timing became clear to us, both Greg and me, individually, on Friday, April 7th. And that's the day we "pushed the button" as we called it.

We put the house on the market on March 10, and we learned within the first 30 minutes we would have to leave for the day because there were so many showings already being scheduled. As you know, this market is far better for sellers than it has been in many years.

Our realtor called to ask if we wanted her to set it up so there would be a little more time for people to see the house. We prayed and agreed to wait until Wednesday, April 12th at 3:00pm to take all offers placed. We felt good about this decision and commenced to letting any and everyone see it between 9am and 9pm until then. And did they ever!

Over 30 families toured this property and home in 22 hours during those three days. You viewed it at 11:00 on Wednesday, just hours before the cut off time. Thank God!

By 3:30 on April 12th, we were surely leaning towards your offer out of the three presented to us. It was the highest one, clean and solid, and we could tell by the choices you made that you felt the way we did when we made our offer on this house. Like, "please just give me my house".

At that point we had to wait for a fourth offer to come in as it was being finalized. When we received it, we were surprised to find that it was very similar to yours, only with a higher price offered. That’s when we knew that it was you, for sure.

Mary, we didn’t know your name. We didn't know if you had a family, or where you would be relocating from, or what your intentions were. We had none of the facts that can sway or dissuade a couple to or from connecting with a buyer. But after we had gone through the last offer, though it looked “better” on paper, we did not care. We had chosen your offer, we felt good about it, and we realized that nothing was going change that.

We were glad to share with our realtor that she could write up the acceptance and inform you and your realtor that the house was yours. I recalled what it felt like when we got that same call eight years ago. SO much joy!

I thought I would be sad accepting that we had released this home. I’ve said it so many times, “how do we walk away from a place we don’t want to leave?” Our last move brought us from a small house in the city - so we could not wait to say good-bye and get here. But knowing that this move would be back to a smaller home in the city, I wondered how we could ever feel good about this good-bye.

That night I got my answer, and it was because of you. Knowing that it’s your turn. That God planted the seed and had us wait four years for you. That you are the one He wanted to bring here, to bless every morning with these views, to pour out all this peace and refuge to you and your kids. We are so happy for you, and trust God's plan for us in such a way that there is little sadness over this exchange. Just peace and happiness.

This place is more than a home. I won’t try to explain that to you myself. But we will be thinking of you, knowing that you are discovering exactly what can’t be put into words as you unfold your new life in this new place. This time is for you, and we will continue to pray that God pours His love on you in ways you never knew before.

Thank you for being here. And God bless you and your family.

Love, The LeBreck

Action!

"Ready, set, GO!" was right. We had no idea what we were in for when we put this house for sale in this market. 

Within 30 minutes of going live the requests for showings started to come in. Within the first hour our Realtor connected with us to get approval for a presentation time and day. Basically, the market is so void of available homes for sale, and enough interest was stirred up over this one, that we were able to write in the contract that on Wednesday, April 12, the sellers (us) would have all offers presented to them at 3:00pm for consideration. 

Since then we have had 30 showings in two days. Frank and Carlos have been at the dog center with Fern. Yuki and the cat have been bumming around with us. We have mostly been at GBASO, our indoor skate place. We have eaten all our meals from restaurants, all our drinks from gas stations, and have only returned home after 9pm to shower, sleep, and be out in the morning again by 9am. 

Today we have less action, because it is our presentation day. We're not sure we won't see a little more than the couple showings scheduled. But we will be gone to Susan's so the house will be available for people. 

Greg is handling the stress really well - mostly of not having a house chosen to buy and move to if this does actually sell today. 

I am not doing the greatest at being content in all circumstances, and have proven to be a spoiled wimp when it comes to the luxuries of having my own home free to use. We've only had to stick it out with some secretary-like work, while doing whatever we want to within reason on account of Yuki and kitty. I really don't do the best under pressure. 

But today is the day! And I'm leaving it all in God's hands. If it's in His timing then we will accept an offer today. if it's not, then we will continue to show - albeit not at such a rigorous, non-stop pace. 

Either way, we are healthy, in good finances, live in an amazing home, have such great friends who love and support us, and above all this, we serve an awesome God who will have His way. 

Thank you, God. Do Your thing. 
In Christ. 
Amen

The Count Down

This morning I have been cleaning, prepping, and staging each room of the house. It is show time! 
We should be listed with an MLS live on the market within hours. 

This week we are committed to being available to stop and walk out at a moment's notice for anyone who wants to see the house. Many homes are selling within days and even hours of their listing. 
It's exciting and emotional at this point. 

If I had any hesitations, this is it. I'm calling my own bluff and pulling out all the stops to prove my intentions. Smaller city house, here we come! 

God, please hold our hearts still and keep our minds at ease. We know You know. All and only You. 
In His name.
Amen  

this just got real

I saw and felt God with me all day yesterday. After having dreams that should have been unsettling, rather to have been at complete peace, even hugging "bad guys" and telling them it would be alright, and waking to the understanding that it was time to start the selling process, things continued to progress in a way that only God could have orchestrated. 

As I shared in the last post, Greg felt led to move forward, and my pre-planned day shaped up to give me time to work on things here, preparing. 

I was blessed in that I did not have the right color paint to touch up the walls around the replaced window in the craft/mud room, and I prayed a added a ridiculous crayola blue to the color I did have - miraculously, this color matched the unique, homemade color I needed, and I was able to use it to touch up the entire room! 

In that same room there is a light that has not worked for 6 years. It comes on once in a great while when we try it, but very rarely. After taking things apart and checking it all to no avail, we've just learned to live without the light. Miraculously, it began to work two days ago. Every single time, from both light switches. Yesterday, when I was sure it is fixed, I asked our guys if they happened to do something with it while they were here. They did not. Praise God for His help. We otherwise would have had to have an electrician here to fix that, like, this weekend! 

There were quite a few other small blessings throughout the day, let alone just feeling and knowing, which hasn't been all that common for me in general. 

This morning it is strange to look around at bare, freshly painted walls. The hallway which used to be a gallery of our memories is just a stark white hallway again. The iron owls who hung in the kitchen are packed away in their moving box. The hanging baskets are gone. Even the chalkboard wall has been painted over. 

Yesterday's work consisted mostly of touch up painting, and tidying things up. Kimmer, our realtor, and I worked hard to get the listing ready. I wrote up the description, which was many characters too long and had to be shortened. Of course. Greg and I read through and signed the agreements, reports, and confirmations to move forward with putting the house on the market. 

Our official listing date will be April 10th. 

And now we have the weekend to enjoy. Greg and I will do a little bit of work outdoors and in the shop; cleaning up, leaf blowing, and cutting a fallen tree in the back. Zeek will go to Uncle Curt's to play with Zach, Sophie, and Elijah. 

Thank You God for making Your presence known to us. Thank You for taking us gently through this process, with time to adjust. Thank You for filling our hearts with peace and understanding, even as we are completely uncertain of the specific details that will pan out. We trust You. We want You. We love you. 
In Jesus name. 
Amen

Go Time

This morning I woke up to the feeling I get when God spent the night assuring me of something. I opened my eyes, and I knew that today is the day! I don't even know if or how it will be possible, because it's not that easy with at least the need for one meeting with papers that need to be signed...

I spoke with Greg and he shared that he feels it is time also - that God is telling him that we need to move and stop being afraid of what might or might not happen.

And so today, we will be pushing "the go button".

I had plans that were set weeks ago to hang out with a girlfriend from 9am to 2pm today. But, in confirmation of God's leading, she messaged that she has to take a raincheck because she will need to fill in for someone at work last minute today. This gives me the whole day to tidy up loose ends and do what needs to be done at the house for us to be READY!

I'm so excited and nervous!

God, I will be repeating your promise to not be anxious about anything, but to give thanks, pray and ask You, so that Your indescribable peace will guard me from fear in Jesus. This is it God. It is Your timing. Have Your way.
In Jesus.
Amen.

all we know for sure is You

Our guys are done with their work at our house. They spent the past three days here, installing new gorgeous windows, repairing and replacing some of the bad siding and molding, running a new drain system to reroute water from the roof away from the house, replacing the soffits and fascia on the shop, installing a new door and frame work... all so kindly and thoroughly. I'm grateful that while we are leaving this house, we do not have to say goodbye to these guys who  have been with us here and done such amazing work on this place. We will definitely be inviting them to do plenty in the next. 

We are showing the house on Monday, and will have either listed or be listing it by then. Just days away! The number of homes coming on the market is growing each day as we're entering the Spring flood. We are hopeful and praying that God shows the way for each step of the process.

We knew what we wanted when we did this with our last house - we were dreaming and longing for this house and property. I was writing this address on papers like a teenager writes her boyfriends name, or a newly engaged woman pens her own first with her soon-to-be last name... 

Dear God, 
As we are in the process of moving, of course, You know every detail of our journey. But Greg and I have NO idea. We don't know anything that will happen! Where we will go, what it will be like, what it will cost, how short or fast it will happen, who we will sell to. All that we know is You. It's surely an adventure! One I wouldn't rather be on with anyone else. One I plan to look back at, full to the brim, in awe of You again. 
Take us there God - where we can have more of You and less of us. Where we can serve You and love Your people. Where we can wrap ourselves up and enjoy the next several years together in this little family You've made of us.
Have Your way.
In Jesus name.
Amen

Leaving This

It's so strange to sell a house we love. Nothing we've done has changed the feeling that we are ready to move on from here, but I do wonder what it will feel like when we're signing papers, or walking out the door for the final time. Leaving this. 

I've been looking and loving from the perspective that we are just visiting this beautiful place since the start. It's felt like a resort we borrowed or rented. The beautiful rooms, the views, the land. The peace and quiet. The wildlife, sunsets, and sunrises. All this space. It's hard to believe we are leaving this.

I'm taking it all in and enjoying even this season of striping down all that is specific to "us", and preparing it to hand it off to someone else. I'm enjoying the process and trying to work it through my own heart and mind to make for a smoother transition - leaving this. 

God, I pray that You lead us right to a place that has the same elements of appeal for us, in a new and different way. Prepare our hearts. As we delight ourselves in You, give us the desires of our heart. Put Your desires in our hearts. I thank You that You are in every step of this journey, leading and guiding us. Have Your way only! And please, God, help us never look back and long for this place or regret leaving this. 
In Jesus name. 
Amen

Yikes.

Ezekiel and I worked so hard last week, during our Spring Break from schooling, to get the house and property ready. He was an amazing help the entire time. I felt like I had a clone (which has been a secret dream of mine for years). 

Friday, we cleaned like never before. Deep cleaned, and staged every area of the house. The photographer, Pete, and realtor, Kimmer, came over at 3pm. The sun was shinning, the weather was warm, and all was prepared. Kimmer and I had a nice hour or so hanging out while Pete took 1000 pictures and recorded the property with his drone. 

It felt SO good to have it all finished. 

Then Saturday, Greg and I took 1300 pounds of garbage to the city dump. We made two trips, and just unloaded all the old construction stuff; wood, railroad ties, door frame, metal..., furniture; the little brown leather couch (our first couch), end table, coffee table..., and other things; toys, mini trampoline, and all junk just laying around in the shop and garage. 

That felt as good and productive as the whole week's worth of work did. And I was beat! 

On Sunday, after church, we went and looked at three open houses in our price range and preferred location. YIKES. They were rough. Between $110,000 (which was as expected and albeit not big enough for us, priced right and not too bad of a home) and $170,000 - we were in shock and awe at how much dumps in questionable neighborhoods cost. 

We left fled the scene to have lunch and confirm that we should certainly consider asking more for our beautiful home, as well as that the plentiful Spring Market has not yet begun to flow. 

We will be patient but ready. 

God, only You know when, where, and how much. We rest in that assuredness and trust You alone. We will not lead this charge, no matter how impatient, anxious or restless we might become at times. We will wait on You. Open the doors to Your will only, in Your time. We are here. 
In Jesus name. 
Amen

smaller. prettier. less.

Ezekiel asked us yesterday if we can please buy a house that is smaller, prettier, and less functional. We found that quite amusing, but at the same time, understood exactly what he meant. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. 

That is what we want. 
A home with less. Less rooms to fill, clean, and maintain. Less space to live between us. Less cost and stuff, time and work. Less of all of that, and more time and space for love, laughter, learning, gathering, resting and resting. 

A prettier home. Each small space a reflection of us. Formed and created into the beautiful things we appreciate and enjoy looking at and living among...

A home not solely about form and function - not using the space because there's so much, but finding so much life in the space we have. A new place for building a new life with new memories. A frest start. Surely easier to afford, clean, and maintain.

Getting this home ready to hand off to the next owners has made me realize how easy it can be to target each room and area, making it just so - from trim and outlets, color and fixtures, style and function... With each room in this house I am getting more and more excited to get my hands on the next! 

Thank You God for all of these hopes and dreams. I can see how we can make anything into something beautiful and special to us. I am looking forward to sitting in each room with You - knowing You've known and have the foresight to guide in a way that we are unable to understand. I trust You. I love you. 

Amen.