It happened again yesterday.  I got too excited on my quest to find our new home.  Pushing the limits a bit on our price point.  I am the dreamer of the Jarvis team, and often those dreams resist logic.  This is what happened yesterday.

Mark reminded me of our financial range.  It was a bit less than I had been looking at.   I have seen some really incredible homes at the price point I had in my head.  And now he was asking me to lower my sights a bit?  I was hurt and disappointed and frustrated and mad.  How dare he rain on my parade!  I had worked my butt off to get this house ready to sell (in three days!) and now I just wanted to experience the joy of dreaming about our next home.  I hung up from our conversation and burst into tears.

The tears were for many reasons. I was frustrated, disappointed and hurt, but I also knew that he was right and the voice of reason in this instance.  And that made me kinda mad.  I wanted to be right on this one, because it meant so much to me.  And then God used Mark’s words to speak directly to my naughty little heart.  “J, you can make a home out of anything God provides us with.  The creativity God has given you will make anywhere we live full of warmth and love.  A welcoming place.  And that’s really all we want, right?  That’s really what it’s all about – the people we touch through it.”  Ouch.  He was exactly right.  And my furrowed brow turned into a sheepish grin.  Absolutely we will make whatever God provides a warm and welcoming haven for anyone who enters.

Now I have a new excitement in my bones.  To find our home, whatever it is, and be able to make it ours and meet the people that God is already preparing to bring into our lives when we get there.  It may not be huge or fancy  but it will be filled from floor to ceiling with love and laughter and warmth, I promise. Every wall will be painted with love and joy.  Every gooey cookie baked in its kitchen will be made with love. Every meal shared will include listening and laughter.  Every person who comes through the door will get a hug.  And for those reasons alone, it will be a beautiful place.