Just about 10 months ago Chuck and I tied the knot and officially became husband and wife, with a free pass to finally live together! Glorious! The Sunday after we married, we drove 5 hours to our new home. We had found an apartment pre-wedding, but I went to my parent's house before it was officially ours to move into. Therefore Chuck did the laborious task of moving in all of my stuff and his stuff without me. Once we arrived at OUR new home, I was hooked.
Chuck had organized the boxes, set up his twin bed in our living room (it became our couch for several months!), set up our bed, and even bought us a cactus to add some life to the new place. (Woops! He quickly found out I had a major aversion to cacti as I'm always afraid of getting stabbed. Good-bye cactus! It was sweet of Chuck to buy you.) It was perfect.
On top of all the new items we had received at showers, we even had wedding presents to open still, which just added to the excitement! I spent the next several days unpacking and settling in. I organized our home room by room. I made many phone calls to my Mom about which cupboards to put my plates in, where the linens would fit best, and how to clean the fancy stove top. I kid you not, setting up our home was beyond anything I had ever dreamed about! Each day I would find new treasures to put up around our cute little apartment and proudly show Chuck my progress for the day when he came home from work.
I have spent the last 10 months blissfully adoring this place Chuck and I call home. Every time we go out and return I smell the familiar scent of our home and my heart lights up with joy to be back where we belong. We have had countless friends over, guests from out of town, dinner nights, movie nights, dessert nights, cook out nights, breakfast mornings, coffee dates, you name it, we've utilized it!
Not to mention this is the home where Chuck and I came immediately following our honeymoon. It was where we had our first married dinner (spaghetti and sauce I got at a shower) while sitting on the floor at our coffee table. It was where we had our first fight, first cry, first breakfast, first cup of coffee in our new machine, first time to use our dishes, first time to use our new sheets and towels, first time to do everything as a newly married couple. I've truly felt like our apartment this year has been a vacation home.
But now, that will all come to an end in 8 weeks. Our lease is up and it's absurdly expensive to rent month-by-month. (Almost $2,000/mo for a ONE bedroom, I think not.) We have no idea where God is leading us next, but I guess we'll get there sometime in the next 8 weeks!
I trust God and I have complete faith that God has the right youth position for Chuck out there. But, my heart hurts at the thought of leaving this, our very first home. I've spent the last 2 days crying off and on about it. It hurts too much to picture putting it all back into boxes. One thing is certain, I will NEVER forget this haven. Never.
6 comments:
That is so "interesting"...I was just having a thought yesterday that you would be moving soon probably and would probably be very upset to be leaving your first home. We lived in our first place until Tori was born, so for 4 years, and I was a wreck when we left. But the next place will also weave its way into your heart as you continue on your lifelong adventure together. Wish I was closer because I love to pack! :)
Abby, I hate to leave our cozy home, too. You have done a fabulous job at transforming the little 1-bedroom apartment into a cute, warm, and inviting place for all who enter. As host, cook, homemaker, writer, wife, and best-friend you have brought so much joy to my life. Although I will forever cherish our wonderful beginning in Reston, I know my favorite home will be where YOU are.
PS: Thanks for saying that Gretchen! That's very encouraging of you!
Abby, what a touching post as you share how important this first apartment was for you. I remember our first place too . . . we still talk about it and we were only there for several months. But it has memories, that is for sure. You will enjoy setting up your next place and form many memories there too! Enjoy it all!
I love that you took pictures! I took pictures of my first wedding gifts arriving. All of those little things are such intimate memories. I've moved a lot and honestly those have always been times I've opened my eyes to see more of the details God worked together just for me. He has always placed me exactly in the right home with the right people at the right time, etc. I'm sure you can and will continue to say the same. :)
oh Roomie! my heart hurts for you too! I know that when we move from our first little home that it will be sad as well. Every little corner seems to have a memory! But oh what adventures and memories lay before you! I know wherever you end up will be made into a wonderful warm loving home! Love you and can't wait to see you soon..wherever that may be! oh and we will be praying for you both!!! xx
you have made a beautiful home...you have had a wonderful first year... you have the man God planned for you...you have JOY
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