Moving Into Our Dream Home

A few months ago, when the realtor asked what we needed in a home and what we wanted in a home, we weren’t sure what to write down. In a culture where we are hearts and minds are bombarded by what the world says we need, it was hard to not make a show worthy, Fixer-Upper dream house list. As we sat at the kitchen table, really, all we needed was a roof over our head. But in reality, we knew that wouldn’t cut it and our realtor would be like “wha?”

So, we started to make a list. Price range, 3 bedroom, 1 bath (though more would be nice), in a 5 mile radius of the church, and a dining room to have people over in. Our dreams were to have an open concept, 2 bedrooms, garage, in downtown Zeeland, and character.

God knocked our socks off. I remember pouring through pictures of this home online, while we were in the waiting stages to see if our offer stood, dreaming about what we would make this home. How we could use this home to fellowship and get to know others. How we could have never-ending pool parties. How we could grill, have a large deck to have people over on, and have an adorable neighborhood to walk through. It has all come true.

So to drive up mid-afternoon on Friday, to see 2 trailers full of our stuff, ready to be moved into this new home, was incredibly surreal. Yes, the home needs some TLC, but it’s all stuff that really we can do. Some of it we may need a handy-man’s professional opinion (thank you friends!) but it’s all things that are fixable without depleting the pocket. All things that help us make THIS home OUR home. Mazy has already been incredibly content here and is loving all the space! She has yet to get bored to say the least.

Though my most favorite thing about this place? Is the fact that Mazy doesn’t want to be inside, but outside, where her water table is, sandbox, driveway to do sidewalk chalk, and just play in the backyard. That is my kind of girl! Who needs the toys, right? She spends more time filling sand buckets and dumping them (as in hours), which just shows that God’s world is just so wonderful to be in! Even if it only takes sand, a bucket, and shovel.

Back to move in day!

When you pack up your home, you truly do not know how much you have until you put it into your garage. We filled 1 1/2 stalls of our garage in Prinsburg, and we thought it would all fit in 2 trailers, and thankfully it did!

It was a warm day that day, so all those who came to help, we can’t say THANK YOU enough!

Our pastor and his wife helped us all day, until it was time to go to bed! We were busy cleaning carpets and Shaun’s goal was to ensure that we could sleep in our own beds that night. I didn’t think I cared, but after climbing into our own bed that night, it was a good call!

My dad helping us unload all of our many, many boxes!

Excuse the blurriness in some of the pics! This is what happens when you quickly try to capture a moment. Mazy was just loving all the stuff coming in the house!

Excuse the finger in the way too…

Mazy and Dan flexing their muscles!

Everything was in!

Where to begin?

This picture about sums it up!

Mazy thought the rocks were too cool to stop playing with to take a picture, but THIS is our new home!

Friday, move in day, was a BIG day. It was a bit overwhelming to look at all the stuff, the boxes, and the work that had to be done on the house! Dan was running on no sleep for 36 hours, after driving through the night Thursday night, and we were all spent by the end of the day, including Mazy! She was overtired and poor girl couldn’t fall asleep til 10:30, but once we all did, it was a solid night’s rest. After we made a list of what we wanted to accomplish on Saturday, we realized that it was manageable and that we would have the help we needed! We will have a couple of weeks to fix it up before Dan officially has to go to work, so that is wonderful!

We can’t wait to post before and after pictures!