Dream House...House Dreaming :)

In less than 6 months Derrick and I are going to have to have somewhere to live. A place that will become the setting for so many wonderful memories. Crazy newlywed moments. And those precious times that can only be shared and understood by a husband and a wife. This will be the place where we have our first Christmas, New Years, Valentines. This could be the place where we raise our children. And, I pray that in 50 years, the walls of this place will be able to share some crazy, wonderful, blessed stories...

For now, though, we have to find that place. And so the adventure begins. First of all, where do we want to live? Do we buy a house? Where will we find this house? Do we want a modular home? What about building a house? And...most of all...what can we do to stay within or under our budget? We do not want to be paying for this for 30 years!

All of these questions, and the search for the perfect home, force you to dream. And dream we have. Derrick has dreams of a theatre/entertainment room - and I'm completely on board. This room would have to be on the other end of the house from our master bedroom, so that it would be the perfect place for the kids to hang out with their friends. This can be a place that we spend hours entertaining friends with popcorn and boardgames, or a place that we can snuggle in and watch a movie marathon. Then there's the master suite - our place to relax and be together...a big closet would be ideal. An awesome spa-like bathroom would be great. It has to be the perfect haven. The kitchen needs to be nice...and then there's the guest bedrooms, our offices, Derrick a studio...Did I mention that I like stone? And a fireplace would be cozy.

We want our house to be the perfect setting for life, for memories, for moments. We want it to be an inviting place for entertaining. A quiet getaway for relaxing. The perfect place for newlyweds and for a family.

And then there is that moment. That moment that I get Derrick to look into my eyes and I remind him: We're 22 and 23. We are so incredibly beyond blessed, and we already have so much more than so many people around the world. We need to focus on saving our money and spending it wisely - so that one day we will have enough to spend on those things that we dream about. And, at the end of the day, it's going to be our home. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to have all the nicest stuff. It's going to have him and me...and, at the end of the day, that will be enough.

I love dreaming with him. But I love knowing that we love life and live life to the fullest - even without all that stuff...

Not that I speak in respect of want: 

for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content.

Philippians 4:11