Sunday, July 29, 2018

The simple ways...



To keep on top of things I always design a couple of months ahead for The Stitchery Club but what I didn't realise during that day in late May when I spent hours sketching this design, erasing it, sketching again and erasing it again until I finally sighed in satisfaction with what I eventually embroidered, was how deeply these words would be speaking into my life today as July draws to a close.

With my designs the words come first and then there's a day of sketching, scanning, cleaning up the sketch, choosing fabrics, tracing the design, selecting threads and finally it will be ready to embroider. 




I loved it from the start as living life "The Simple Way" means a great deal to me, and the simplicity of the pattern itself reflected the state of mind and heart that I yearn to embrace even further as I grow up (aren't we always growing up?).  Quietly hopeful this would hang in my new home one day I wrote the pattern, took photos and gently popped it away with the other August designs because I needed to begin drawing September and stay on schedule.

But then something happened.

Mr E and I have been run off our feet during these months of endless, seemingly fruitless house hunting and then we have to cram our work, family and home responsibilities around it. It's no wonder between us we've had head colds, pneumonia, a torn patella tendon, torn chest muscles, migraines and insomnia. Finding a home consumed our time, our rest, our appetites - which in turn affected every other area of life. We felt as though we were riding a never ending roller coaster; up down, round and round, up, down and repeat. The excitement we'd initially had when our quest began had waned and I think we lost our way.

So during the past week we quieted our minds and slowly put together a list of all the things we'd like in our very first home. Some were negotiable, some were not. As the days went by clouds of confusion cleared and we found ourselves with three choices, three homes which offered at least 50% of the requirements on our list. We drove to each house at night and parked in the street for around a quarter hour to gauge the traffic and the noise. Number one on our list was "peace and quiet" you see.

One house was crossed off fairly quickly which then left us with two. 
Of the remaining homes one tugged on our heartstrings like you wouldn't believe. It was in the prettiest and quietest area, had large shade trees and the character we love.
But it was tiny and though some people have said "oh you'll be fine there, it's so cute" it didn't have any space for a dining table, no spare room for our children and grandchildren to come stay, and it would have made working my business from home a struggle.
With heavy hearts we prayed that someone else would buy that house and be incredibly blessed living there...and we drove away.

Friday night we made an offer on the remaining house.
The owners rejected the offer.
Saturday we headed out in the Jeep at 8am and spent another day looking through open houses with no success. Then the phone call. The owners had not had any other offers and decided to accept ours. They did not know our offer was all we had, but God knew, and now we're praying He blesses them abundantly too.

So once we sign the contract this week we can honestly say - 
"We bought our first, and probably last, house"

Now back to that design.
'The simple way is usually the best way' was a statement I'd written in my diary and then transferred into a stitchery. I think we get it now, on a personal level with regards to the past few months.
If we'd made that simple list months ago we would not have strayed, wasting endless hours, days, fuel and energy looking at houses which were too far away, in high crime suburbs, out of our budget, had stairs (hubby cannot do stairs) or a pool (so many cheap homes had a pool), were unsuitable for a home business or needed expensive repairs - just to name a few issues.
In fact it was dear Annabel who suggested we write down the things we needed, and a few wants as well. How much simpler that made this task and it bore fruit quickly.

We're happy we found a home, though we weren't jumping up and down with excitement immediately because we'd given our hearts to the little house with character and needed to let the dust settle first. Like climbing off the roller coaster and waiting a bit to regain your balance.
Today we are excited. Today we are making plans for someone else's house to become our HOME.

All through this we've trusted God but having a few praying friends stand with us, as well as thousands of precious ladies in my Gentle Domesticity Group, really rallied our hopes when at times they were low. How very blessed we are!
Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, you made the world of difference. xxx




At home today it was such a delight to not have to leave the house, to potter around and simply enjoy being together. I had fun in the kitchen making flour from organic wheat grains using the NutriBullet's milling blade...






I've wanted to make wholegrain flour for ages and now that life will settle a bit before we move I can play around with new bread recipes...




There will be some experimenting and to ease myself along that road the bread I made this afternoon used 33% of the flour I made and 67% regular bread flour. 

Can I just say this - it was delicious!!




Now I'd best get off here and go enjoy the rest of the evening with my beloved. 
I hope and pray your evening (or morning) is just as relaxed and satisfying too...

hugs


PS: My pattern for "The Simple Way" is part of the August issue of The Stitchery Club. You can see all the patterns for next month over HERE.

40 comments:

Allie-oops Designs said...

LOVE this dear heart! And I can't wait to see it hanging in your new HOME! We were pretty specific with our realtor - and boy did he work hard for us - and we got more specific as time went on. He was smarter than we were, lol, showing us homes out of our price range, but we too made the lower offer and had it accepted! Think of this home as a blank slate, hon, you'll be making it your own in no time. Now sit back and enjoy your rest!

Annette said...

Congratulations to you both! Busy days ahead will be worthwhile........nothing like having your own home.
MY neice bought a home in North Ward last Christmas & drove herself along with 2 bird cages from Melbourne in April for her retirement back in Townsville. Good luck & take care!

Little Penpen said...

Congrats! to you and hubby! I can't wait to see your new home!!!

kallii said...

WooHoo!! So happy for you and Mr. E

Outback Crafter - Debra said...

How wonderful Jenny. Congratulations. I will keep praying for you as your move progresses.

barcord said...

So pleased for you and your hubby. What excitement. Enjoy the journey of moving and making this new home a place you love with all your heart.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on finding a house! With your loving touch & the many homey handmade things you make the house will feel like your home very quickly. May you have many, many happy years in this your own home! - Diane from Minnesota

gracie said...

Oh happy days ahead for you in your new home. Congratulations and you will make it perfect for you and the mister.

Createology said...

Jenny Dear Congratulations! I have just lived my last three years with every bit of the angst you so perfectly describe. Now we are finally settling into our forever home. We did write down our needs and wants (hubby is an engineer!) and it did help to keep us focused. In fact we ended up with 98% of what we wanted. Love this August Stitchery and very true words. Keep pinching yourselves...we are even after a month of unpacking. Blessings and Bliss...xo <3

Kay said...

I am so happy that you have finally found your forever home. You can now enjoy a little rest before all the crazy moving starts. x

nancy n. said...

Congratulations on your new home !!!!! Your posts are make me smile. You are such a kind gentle soul. I wish the world was more like you.

Tammy Lyons said...

Congratulations......Hugs to you all as you buy your first home. Its scary , its exciting, its hard work . But you will put you stamp on it . And it will become your home not the house you bought that someone else lived in but it will surely become your sweet home. Full of Jenny and Mr. E. Can't wait to see it and how you set it up ...Hugs again my sweet freind

Winifred said...

That's wonderful news Jenny, I can't wait to see your new home. It will be your home because that will be where your hearts are. God bless!

Barbara-Kay said...

God is good, all the time! I am so pleased that you found your house, and that the sellers' hearts were changed in favor of your bid. Now - packing!

Jenny said...

Even though you've gone through such stress....your posts are so calming & encouraging. I'm glad you were able to back up & evaluate what you really wanted & needed then make a clear decision. When we face huge choices like this it's so very easy to allow perfection to get in the way of good. Good things can bring so much joy & peace. I think perfection just brings more stress!

So it sounds like you've found a house that will be a good fit for you & I pray it brings you lots of joy & peace.

Debby said...

I am so so very very happy for you on your first house!!!!!!!

Jacqueline said...

There is a gracious God. I am happy for you

Brenda said...

Hello Jenny; I am delighted for you and Mr. E! I will continue praying that everything continues on an even smooth transition with the paper work involved up until the last item is placed in its new space! Thank you for sharing your continued journey with us, it is always an inspiration to me and continues to help me build a stronger following with our Lord. Have a marvelous day.

Deborah said...

I am so happy you have found your home! What a relief that is. It is so hard to wait in the in-between times.

Marie said...

Congratulations Jenny! How exciting to have found your home! Won't it be such fun making it yours by hanging your stitcheries and tea towels and putting your quilts around! Enjoy!!

TerriSue said...

Oh Jenny, What an answer to prayer indeed. It reminds me of when we sold our first home to move into our now forever home. We had to get a certain amount on that house or we would not have been able to pay it off and get the money for the down payment on this one. After several weeks of anxiety we got an offer for the exact amount we needed. God is so good. I can't wait to see pictures of your find. There is something wonderful about moving into a house that you know is the last home you will buy. Just going into your own house and knowing if you want you can paint a room black , not that you would, but that option is there! Congratulations dear Jenny.

GrammaGrits said...

What exciting words for God's answer! I, too, have made a list for a home at least twice, and God answered 'exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or think" - truly amazing! Blessings on the move ahead and pictures down the road, please. Love the new design!

Margaret said...

So happy for you, Jenny, that you will now have a place of your own to call home. A place of peace where you can make make whatever changes you wish and knowing you, it will be such a welcoming place as soon as you unpack and settle in. What wonderful advice from Annabel to help you discern exactly what you want or need. (To be honest, I find too much choice confusing ... especially in a grocery store .... or even a fabric store!!! Choosing a house ... whoah! God is indeed good. You can now both take a short "breather" before you start to pack and move ... wish I was there to help! Love, love, love the stitchery ... those flowers are gorgeous! Have a wonderful week, Jenny.

MissPat said...

Oh, what fun you will have making this house a home. And that bread looks so delicious. I wish I were better at baking such goods.
Pat

Karen said...

It's such good news to hear Jenny. You will have such fun banging nails in!!! There will be satisfaction at making it your place. Your beautiful things all around. Mr E will so love that. Plenty of room for the children and grandchildren so very important. Space for Mr E, space for you. Perfect! The moving will probably be tiring but in time as you sort thing out and put them in their places your heart will soar!! Be blessed my friend.

Susie said...

I'm so pleased for you both. A house is only ever made a home by those who live within it. When the house we live in (for the last 10 years) came up on my email alerts I deleted it immediately. I hated it. I didn't even show it to my husband. It wasn't until the agent called me and said they didn't have any bids at auction that I showed my husband - whom immediately said with much excitement "it's got three sheds!". I thought I probably should take a look at it. As it would be, we purchased that home after all. It was not as we liked it but we knew we could change things over time. It took two renovations to accommodate our growing family and an increased mortgage 5 years later to fund those renovations. I knew we couldn't afford the house of my dreams but the most important thing was it was enough for our family. Yes, I would like more room, the kids would love a pool however I know I won't be able to do that, but I'm more than happy here.I wish you and Mr E every happiness in your new home.

MaureenHP said...

Congratulations to you and Mr E! It will be fun to watch you make this house into your new home. I’m sure God has plans for you there!

Judy1522 said...

Congratulations on finding a house. I know that you will make it into a home with all of your wonderful touches. My mom used to grind her own grain to make bread and it was delicious.

Susan said...

I'm glad you found the excitement. =) I look forward to seeing pictures of it before you move in, and glimpses afterward of how you make it your own.

Martha Roberts said...

So happy for you!! I pray God blesses you beyond anything you could ever imagine in your new home. This is the sweetest news!!

Nanna Chel said...

Jenny, what wonderful news! I can't wait to see your new home. What an exciting week it has been...you signed a contract for your house and the Cowboys won a game. Whoo Hoo!!

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Jenny,

Very happy for us both, as, you see, we too have had our offer accepted on a foreclosure her on the US mainland. Married 37 years, this is our first house, too. We’ve lived all over the Pacific Ocean and the US, and ours is an investment for our future. We should close sometime this week after a long, hard 7+ months of negotiations (that’s how foreclosure purchases roll).

What fun! Congratulations! To God be all the glory!

*hugs*
Kelley~

Valerie said...

Congratulations!! Bless your hearts for choosing the less-than-favorite house to accommodate visiting family and your wonderful creative enterprise. I am sure God will bless that choice. Thank you for sharing the ups and downs of your God-led journey. How wonderful to have godly friends who can provide sound advice! My husband and I have been married 28 years and have always rented. Your story gives hope that we too can be first and last time home buyers---but we will, as you did, see what God has for us. Grace and peace to you in Our Lord! ---Valerie

Alison Ryan said...

So pleased for you Jenny and it will be wonderful to be in your own home with no stress of worrying about leases ending or landlord issues. Can't wait to see pictures!

Lin said...

So glad that you have found somewhere finally Jenny. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a successful conclusion. Your bread sounds delicious! xx

Thumper said...

Blessings on your new home! Where do I send a housewarming gift?

Dawn said...

Praise God...now a home of your own...how special. So pleased for you! Xxxx

sam said...

Congratulations! Such an exciting time. I know how hard it is to find just the right house that will be your home. I built my home 20 years ago, and I love it just as much today as I did then, maybe even more. Enjoy every moment.

Lorrie said...

Congratulations, Jenny. What a lovely answer to prayer. Home is so important to a person's well-being. I know you will make it yours with your pretty touches. Enjoy the process.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Now that's something I cannot share on the blog. :-) But feel free to email me. x