THE MOVING MEMOIRS - Worth a Second Look

So, Debbie suggested that I name these posts about my moving journey.

I thought I'd take her up on it – (obedient blogger that I am…)

Some great discarded thoughts:

"Movin' On Up" – (I kept hearing spontaneous outbursts of the theme song from "The Jeffersons")

"Go Tell It On the Mountain" – (I had a music thing going there, huh?)


"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" – (had to think of just one more)


"The Big Move" – (sounded like a migration of giants…)


"Move Me, Shake Me" – (not such a good idea in Southern California earthquake country)


I have finally decided on "The Moving Memoirs" – with a subtitle of "When God Says Go!"

I thought it was an appropriate title – 

Definition of memoir: a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation

Definition of moving: producing strong emotion

So…there ya go.

I thought I'd start today in the beginning…because that's a very good place to start.

As I mentioned on Monday, we originally looked at houses last summer.  And then, we started looking *for real* in January.  We probably traipsed ourselves through about 25 homes – and "virtually" toured another 30 or more online!  

We finally found one that we liked – a great view, most of the amenities that we wanted.

We liked it enough that I decided to have my sons go up with us for their opinion.  Because, after all, I didn't feel like I could really go without their blessing.

Well, the second we drove into the driveway of this home, I felt their *vibes* – and they weren't good.  They tried to be nice, generously pointing out things they liked, while keeping quiet about the things they didn’t.  But…a mom knows.

I finally pulled them aside and said, "Be honest.  You don't like this house, do you?"

And both of them said basically the same thing – "We just don't picture you here, Mom."

God speaks to the spirit.

We decided to drive around the neighborhood a while.  At one point, the road came to a dead-end, and there was a house there.  I casually mentioned, "Oh, we looked at this place last summer."

The boys looked at each other, looked at me, and said, "And why didn't you like this house?"

I muttered, "We only got a chance to look at it for like 10 minutes.  It was a little modern."

But I also muttered, "It's got acres…"

Well…much discussion later…it was decided that this home needed a second look, a second chance.

You see, seasoned house-hunters look at things differently than they do when they first start out.  They begin to understand that there is no perfect house (unless you want to build it yourself!)  But…there are houses with grand potential to become beautiful homes – and there is one house out there that is *your home*.

So, we scheduled another appointment to tour this house.

And lo and behold, the moment "The Hub" and I walked in the front door, we knew.  I looked at him, and he looked at me – "This is it," I said.  He smiled and said, "I know."

And when I looked out the window at the spectacular view of the mountain, I cried.

Yes, indeed, this was our home.

I've reflected on this whole experience – this "change of heart" if you will. The house was exactly the same as it was when we visited it last summer. What happened between Visit #1 and Visit #2?  

A couple of things, I think:

We saw a potential there we hadn't seen before – how new carpet, new paint would totally transform the look.

We spent more time there, and appreciated the many features of this house.

We compared it to all that we had seen, and realized that nothing else came close to being the "right" place.

But, more than anything, I believe that God spoke to us this time.  HE showed us that this was the place He had prepared.


So, my first lesson in "The Moving Memoirs"?

Sometimes, when God moves the spirit and speaks to the heart, it changes everything.  We see things with new eyes.  He reveals His will, and we know what He wants us to do…

Sometimes God wants us to give someone another chance, or to take another look at a situation, or to re-consider an opportunity.

Sometimes God reveals His plans right away – and sometimes His plans are revealed a step at a time.


Sometimes He turns a "no" into a YES!


Is there anything in your life worth a second look?


(Incidentally, I did take my sons back up to this house to get their opinion. Consensus?  "Mom, this is a no-brainer."  Their blessing was the icing on my cake!)


(OH!  When things get settled down a bit - I'll post pictures...)


Linked today with Joan at the GRACE CAFE


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"