Front Porch Rockin'

My front porch! O, how I love it! Though I've missed most of my summer mornings out here from working so much, I will take every second I can right here in my rocking chair with my cup of coffee, Bible on my lap and of course, big Golden Retriever at my feet. This is my happy place (or one of them. Lol)!

We are coming up on our 9th anniversary of living in this house and that is the longest I've ever lived anywhere in my 41 years of life! We moved quite a bit in my childhood and then the first half of our marriage followed the same pattern but I am so thankful to have planted some roots right here in this little Burgaw town. Yes, Burgaw! It is the butt of quite a few jokes but for us, it is home and God has grown us so much through these last 9 years.

When we first looked at this house 9 years ago, we were coming off of a rocky time. We had sold just about everything we owned and trekked to Florida for a short time while Matt had begun a new job. At that time, we didn't know where we would end up permanently. We were totally relying on God to guide every baby step we were taking. Except, every baby step ended up to be huge leaps of faith! Haha! Finally in October of 2005, we found out we'd be back this way so Matt sent me on to Wilmington to find us a new residence. He was working 6 days a week and couldn't take off to come with me. Yes, he trusted me enough to find us a home! Lol! As we began searching in Wilmington, my heart wasn't in it. Housing was outrageous and we just didn't want to get caught up in the Wilmington "rat race" again. So we decided to look on the outskirts. I had never really been to Burgaw even though I had lived in these areas since I was 10. But I found a neighborhood and thought we'd give it a look. I took Ben & Callie (Caleb was not with us yet as adoption was just being put on our hearts) with me and we drove 20 minutes outside Wilmington to this neighborhood and immediately fell in love with it. Situated right across the street from a beautiful cotton field, this house with a large backyard and humble setting brought tears to my eyes as God had prepared us for this. We had gone from a large beautiful home in a desirable Wilmington neighborhood to a one-bedroom apartment in Florida as God showed us what was truly important. So, this was absolutely perfect....for us! This house was substantially less than the Wilmington equivalent and nestled in the quiet away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Just what we felt God was leading us!

I remember standing in the front yard, the house was almost finished construction, and calling Matt on the phone telling him all about it. We prayed together and knew this was our home. We had recently given up a contract for a home in what everyone called the "perfect" location but we knew....THIS was our home. So, we (or me with Matt's blessing and power of attorney) signed on our new home in late November 2005. I got us all moved in and Matt finally walked through the door late on December 21, 2005. His home...our home....GOD'S HOME!

Is this house perfect? No! At this moment, we are missing some shutters that have blown off in storms and the carpet is in dire need of replacing. But, it is home and it needs continual care just like our lives.

The people that dwell in this home are not perfect either. Sometimes the shutters on the windows of our soul get blown off and need replacing and the many areas where tough situations of life have drug their dirty feet on us need either a good cleaning or just a fresh new lay of carpet. But that is all part of life. Our souls needs continual care and that care comes from our Father!

This front porch has become a sacred place of prayer for me. Many moments of praise through word or song have been lifted from this place. Many hours of tears and conversations with God have been had right here. Many pages of scripture have been poured over while rocking in this very chair. Right here.......

So, this morning I sit here and look across the street as the cotton fields just begin to burst open and I rock and thank God for his magnificent presence! I sip my coffee and think back on all that God has brought us through. Tears come to my eyes because we've been through A LOT but God has so faithfully brought us through it all! Many trials still before us and we will walk in confidence as we trust HIM! I read his promises in scripture and thank him for this Word...LIFE to my soul! Then I rock some more and think about all the beautiful memories this home holds! Memories forever etched in my heart that I hold dear. The voices and sights this home holds....PRECIOUS! Thank you, Holy Father!

When I'm finished rocking in this chair this morning, I'm going to enter that front door praising God for it ALL! Then I'm going to make a big breakfast for the special blessings that reside here with me...that's right, my FAMILY! These are the precious souls that God knit with mine and make this little house in Burgaw a HOME!

Happy Saturday everyone! Take time today to give praise to God! Every victory and every trial...God is faithful and worthy of praise!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV)