I’m totally humming a little bit of Philip Phillips in my head right now. Because I’m thinking about home.
We have a contract on our house. This has been a long eight months. There were days when selling our house was all I could think about. Then there were days when I didn’t think about it at all.
There were days when I questioned whether or not we should keep trying to sell it because I do love it here. And then there were days when I felt like the walls were closing in.
But in a month, we’re scheduled to close on our first home. And I have a lump in my throat just thinking about it.
I’m thinking about the week after we moved in and our neighbor stopped by and said, “Wow. Y’all really don’t have any furniture. You’re just rattling around in here.”
I’m thinking about the stork in the front yard when we brought Hudson home from the hospital.
I’m thinking about Fiona’s little smushed face waiting for us in the front windows when we pull into the driveway.
I’ve lived in Columbia since the spring of 2004. I’ve lived here for eight years. That is the longest I have ever lived in one place. And these years have flown by.
When I moved here, it was just to attend grad school at the University of South Carolina. And I had “grand plans” to move to a huge city and be a big time event planner when I finished school.
But when I graduated and was offered a job at a law firm, I decided that I wasn’t ready to leave this great city that sometimes feels like a small town. And two months later I met my husband.
And eight years later, I’m still here. And I love it.
We love our church community. We love the local “flavor.” We love the boys’ preschool and we love our friends.
And in the next few months, we’ll be looking to settle down into a home that will take us to the next place in our lives. I know that God has a great sense of humor, so I can’t say for certain that we will “permanent Columbians.” (Although we’d love nothing more than that.)
I know that as long as Todd, Hudson, and Hayes are with me, I can go anywhere He sends us. Whether it’s down the road, across town, or across the world on a mission.
We’re very excited, and a little bit nervous, as we move forward and make plans for the years to come.
*My friend, Ellen, is writing a great 31 Days series called Abide: 31 Days to Love Where You Live. And her posts inspired me to write this today.
*This is the 8th day in my 31 Days of Back to Basics Blogging.
How wonderful! Congratulations and best wishes!
congrats! i completely feel for y’all…we’ve had our house on the market since march and just went under contract last week. nothing can really quite prepare you for the emotional ride of house selling. i had many a day of pure exhaustion and tears driving around for another showing ha! congrats again!
Hey Meg! Congratulations to y’all, too! I know it is such a relief. Praying that your house closes without any hiccups.
Love the 31 days idea! I may have to hop on this train sometime. And love your “back to basics” theme, it is very easy to get caught up in trying to be too “profound” or “important” with our posts!
thanks, Wesley! You should definitely do it. So many great post topics linked up with The Nester. I’m glad I did this– the pressure to be profound is so strange, when blogging is mostly for fun. 🙂
Oh, Erin! I am going to miss your house too! I love all of the pictures and posts from your parties, holidays and lazy/family days. I am really excited to see your new home…thanks for sharing this one with us!
Awww, thank you, Katie. I feel so attached to this house in so many ways. We’ve loved living here. We’ll miss it.
Happy to hear good news about your house being under contract! I’ll pray for the next perfect location to become a home! and I’ll cross my fingers for Tulsa, HAHA.
Oh, girl! I would love that! 🙂
E!!! Congratulations!!! I am so happy and excited for y’all! Praying for a smooth process and that y’all end up exactly where He wants you!
Thank you, D! And thanks for all the times you let me vent and how much you prayed for patience for us. 🙂 Love you!
there is a reason things are happening like this for y’all and there is a house with it’s doors already ready and waiting for y’all. can’t wait to see what this next step looks like for y’all! congrats!!!
Thank you, friend! Can’t wait for you to come visit us where ever we end up!
congratulations erin! i know that selling your house has been a process that has required great patience. i can’t wait to hear about your adventures in your new home. that’s the key – i know you’ll make a warm, beautiful, vibrant, loving home wherever the Lord takes you.
Hey, my friend! It’s so good to hear from you. I was just thinking of you earlier today and how I hadn’t heard from you in a while. Thank you for your encouragement, as always. I hope you’re doing wonderfully.
congrats, erin! that is such wonderful news 🙂 looking forward to hearing all about the search for your next place!
Hi Erin! I’m a long time reader who rarely comments but this post pulled on my heartstrings! My husband and I just sold our first home last week! It was a very emotional experience pulling out of our driveway for the last time! Now I just smile thinking about all of the happy memories we made in that house!
I hope everything goes smoothly as you get closer to your closing date and that you’re able to quickly find your new home!
Great news! Congratulations!
I’m really loving your 31 days of back to basics blogging!!
We don’t know each other in real life, but I actually used to live right down the street from you! I’ve always loved your posts about your home/neighborhood because it reminds me of a fun and exciting time in my own life. I can only imagine the excitement (and stress) that comes with closing in a month. Can’t wait to see where y’all end up!!!
I’m so happy that you are finally selling your home. We went through this process a year ago and it was the most stressful thing we’ve ever done. I thought I wanted OUT of our first house. It was so tiny and I felt like the walls were closing in on us. But as moving day crept closer I realized that I was really going to miss it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy to be where we are now. But I’m definitely fond of all those memories we made in our first house.
There are always sad times when you move but those will quickly turn into memories and when you are all settled into your new home you will wonder once again where the time went. I hope you have a great time in your new home (of course) once you get settled in.
Congratulations on the contract to sell! I know you have been praying for this for awhile. We also recently sold our first home after living there six years and next week our new home will finally be ready. I am sure God has great things planned for your family!
we’ve moved five times in twelve years. sometimes i’ve loved where we’ve lived. sometimes not so much. but. always, always it is hard to leave.
i’m so glad that the Lord is using my words this month. every single day i want to quit.
also. i’m a pretty good packer so…..
Erin!! I am so excited for you! Just think, you can drive Hudson crazy in years to come, by driving by and showing the boys where they lived as babies. My parents always did that, much to my brother’s and my annoyance. Now we love to drive around and look at houses!
I totally missed the news on the house! But I am happy that the perfect couple has found your house! Praying for your family as you move into a new home and make new memories!