Move in Progress. Saying Goodbye to our Tiny House and Hello to Hard Work!

I can't bear to wake up the kids yet, even though it is 10 in the morning. We rolled into bed at 3am after pulling a LONG night of working after waking up early to begin our long to-do list! And yeah, I am totally the mother that at 8pm, which is normally bedtime, I give my kids a pot of coffee and say, "We are pulling an all-nighter!" We are making memories for sure! Praise God for Nanny Diane, who has offered to keep our little ones as long as we need, they are gettign spoiled and loving it!

Our moving plans are becoming a reality. We have lived in our tiny 700sqft for exactly a year. Despite the fact that we have sacrificed a ton of our material items to move in and sacrificed our large, comfortable personal space boundaries we have found great contentment living in these tiny quarters! I truly did find a love for this tiny house, plus having 4 acres in the country has been amazing for this city girl.

 

Click here for the post explaining our move into our tiny house back in January 2014

  

In August God brought us a family interested in becoming debt-free also and possibly wanting to rent our tiny home for a season. God put a stong pull on our hearts to get out to our other property, a 7 acre raw property we paid cash for over a year ago, that was just sitting there and we are paying taxes on. We were tempted to take out a small loan so we could buy a used home and have it moved to our property. After much thought, prayer and wise counsel from others who have gone before us we decided that it was best we weren't unequally yoked to a mortgage company again. As we let go of this new dream of moving we had a brother in Christ offer to loan us money on biblical terms, no interest, 7 year forgiveness, on a handshake, to buy a home to put out there. We felt that although this was a hinderance to our plan to become debt free it would allow us to follow our strong urge to be where we really felt led to go!

  
  

After much shopping and looking at repo/forclosure mobile homes we found OUR house. It was an 1996 Homes of Merit 1904sqft mobile home. It needed new flooring and paint, maybe electrical and plumbing but the bones (as Dave Ramsey says) were BEAUTIFUL! We were able to purchase it for $11,500 and have it moved for $6000, we thought it was a great deal. Of course all big purchases come with "hidden" costs or at least costs that we fail to take into account. Permitting ended up costing almost $2000 and installing a septic system was just under $4000. God has blessed us tremendously by putting charity on the hearts of others. Mr. Rooter donated all plumbing work, a short-term friend offer to do our electrical work for free, and Brian's brother, a contractor from VA, flew in to re-do all our AC duct work, fix walls, repair floors, etc. We even had a sweet friend share our story with Lowe's who in turn let us buy all our supply needs at cost (a 40-60% savings from retail). And God provided any of our other needs through giving friends, thrift stores, free ads on craigslist and even the "trash" on the side of the road! God has been good to us through and through!

So here we are, a week before Christmas, busting our tails to get this house turned into a home and move in! God will work all things out in His timing! We may only have our tree up for two days this year but either way we will celebrate the birth of our Savior, the one who gave Himself up for us and lavishes us with continual, unmerited blessings!

 

 

Before and after pictures, prayerfully coming soon!!!

 

Click here to follow us on Facebook for more frequent updates!

 

 

 

Posted by Shannon
Soli Deo gloria - Glory to God alone

 

Debt or not to Debt?

If you haven't read the previous post, then this will seem like a rant :) Click here for previous post

I'm Brian, the husband of this big, multi-colored family. I felt like posting to clarify the decision making behind our focus on becoming debt-free. In April, we went to a Christian home school conference (ATI, click here for previous post) and we met many families who were debt free. The wives and children talked about how it brought their family closer and how they serve the Lord together. Smiles and contentment are great, but the word of God stands the test of time. Here are my thoughts and findings:

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7

A focus on anything in itself can become idolatry. Even good things can be hoisted to take over the focus of our hearts and minds. The focus on getting debt free is due to our love for God, not the dream to be rich, carefree, or slothful. When God talks about debt it is in a negative context and our desire is to glorify Him.

God also calls me as a father to be a discipler of my wife (Eph 5:26) and children (Deut 11:19), to reflect Christ through an outpouring of love and sacrifice for my family. This can come in many forms. Work being one and life together being the other.

By working I show my children and family the value of hard work. and what it means to work as unto Christ. However today in America work has been turned into something to pay the bills and for some a place to get self worth. The job ultimately becomes your family due to needing to pay down the debt you incurred. Sadly the roles we are called to by God are skewed. The focus on debt, job, stress takes our view away from our family and even more importantly God Himself. The scriptures speak clearly of fleeing debt.

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

God sees us for the sinners we are. He knew that we would stray to worship things that we feel will satisfy us. He knew we would wade in the pools of debt even though He discourages it. He even set up requirements for loans in the Bible with a fair interest, or in the case of the poor no interest, and even a 7 year debt forgiveness (because Scriptures are clear that we shouldn't get ourselves into a debt we cannot guarentee to repay in 7 years). The borrower would become a servant to pay their dues (Click here for link to Five Biblical Principles about Borrowing). The main point is that debt is spoke of in a negative light. Due to the context of the Bible and my role as a father I really feel led to FLEE from debt. Debt free doesn't mean I will stop working and sit idle. God also speaks highly against slothfulness or laziness but there is a difference between going to the job with the focus on "how am I going to pay the bills" or "I need to make 45 hours this week" and going to a job because you love what you do and can truly focus on an opportunity to serve your Creator.

This is not a thought that quickly has popped into my head and been swiftly followed up on but a prayerful course since April.

I have sought wisdom and guidance from Christians who are living debt free. Their response was overwhelming! They spoke of how they could serve more, how they could financially help others and how freeing it felt.  I have also gotten feedback from those who aren't debt free. One of the hardest things with the shifting of a paradigm is that people who are still living in the old way of life (debt) may have a hard time visualizing a new way of life (debt-free). The main concerns sent to me as a father and husband are "is scaling down with a large family a good idea?" well, depends on your definition of "good". My kids will learn more about being good stewards of the money they've earned and we will most likely grow closer as we lay aside all the distractions that money affords. Also I would not be successfully married for 9 years without seeking the wise counsel of my wife before throwing her in an RV with 5 kids and saying, "See ya hunny, I'm off to work!". Another question I hear is "why not take it more slowly?" I reach back to the Bible where passages on debt speak of fleeing, "Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler" Proverbs 6:5. I could move slow, but I don't want to be a dead bird. Does that mean that people who might be concerned or not supportive of our debt-free journey are wrong? I would only respond with search the Scriptures and see where the Lord would lead you and your family. This is where the Lord has led us.

In 2 to 3 years we could be in a great situation. I hear from so many adults stories of being disappointed that their dad was so busy and never around. I don't want to be that dad. I want to be around. Not having to push in those extra hours each week to make our mortgage payment will make a big difference in my time with my family. Think of scaling back just 10 hours a week at work, that is 10 hours more to invest in the lives of your children and family. The joy and peace of coming home and not having to have a financial discussion of whether we can meet this month's list of bills, because if you think about it many couples list finances as their #1 reason for divorce.

The facts are this: My wife is important, my kids are a blessing not a burden, and I desire to focus my life on freeing my thoughts to God and not the things of this world.

Some may call me crazy. Some may call me careless. But it is not them who I answer to, it is my God. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Posted by Brian
To God be the Glory!