Friday, July 5, 2013

Saying Goodbye to the Farmhouse

Goodbyes are always hard. So this past week has been tough. We have said goodbye over and over... to dear friends, to our church family, to our own son, to acquaintances around town, and to our house. The farmhouse holds a lot of memories for us, and leaving wasn't easy.

Here is how things looked while we were packing up. Quite a mess!

After two garage sales, and giving many things away, we still had a LOT of stuff!  We even wondered if it would all fit on the enormous trailer we rented. An army of friends showed up on Saturday to help us. As they were staging all the furniture and boxes in the garage, almost everyone doubted we could get everything on....


But somehow, by the grace of God and some very talented packers, everything did fit and we even had a little room to spare (but not much)!

Which left us with a Very. Empty. House.







We returned to clean the house on Monday. Tuesday was departure day, so we went back for one last walk-through.  We prayed and thanked God for the good years we have had, and the memories that each room holds for us.  But the house is no longer our home.  We hugged and cried and walked out for the last time.

We are praying for the sweet family that bought the Old Red Farmhouse... that they will be even happier there than we were.   And we are looking ahead, eager to make memories in our new home.  We are still awed by the Lord's provision of our next home, and want it to be a place where everyone who enters will feel welcomed and loved.  Isn't that the purpose of a home after all?













4 comments:

  1. Hi Donna,

    Loved reading this and seeing your blog and your red farmhouse. Or maybe I shouldn't call it yours anymore! Blessings to you as you head out on your new adventure.

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  2. "We are still awed by the Lord's provision of our next home, and want it to be a place where everyone who enters will feel welcomed and loved."

    This so describes the confirmation ~*Matthew 5:14-16*~ my husband received, about calling the realtor for our home on a hilltop ten hours away. That was five years ago. So perfect! And we named our home Lane Hill House. lanehillhouse.blogspot.com May you be blessed beyond measure as you follow Him! Love, Kathleen

    Matthew 5
    14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

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  3. This is such a sweet goodbye to your old home. It looks so sad empty like that! But I am sure the new owners will enjoy it so much.

    Thank you for sharing your adventure with us!!

    Blessings
    Mrs. White
    The Legacy of Home

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  4. Thank you friends! That house is really a symbol in our lives for the years we raised our children and planted a church in Michigan. Now we are starting a new chapter and we are excited to see what God will do!

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