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I haven't posted in a while because life as I know it has been turned completely upside down. And I never saw it coming.

Justin and I were out running errands the Saturday before Father's Day. I asked him to drive through this neighborhood that I've always loved. The last "new" neighborhood in our town. I prefer old homes, but Justin definitely prefers new construction. We saw a brand-new home with a for sale sign in the yard. I called the builder, who answered, and gave me the code to go see the house. She also added that the price was negotiable. We both loved the house and over dinner that night decided we were ready to sell our home. My first house that I've always been so proud of. We met with a realtor (who we love by the way) a couple of days later and less than 24 hours after our house went on the market we had a full price offer. We even celebrated that fact. The celebration did not last long. By the following Monday we were made aware that "negotiable" didn't really mean that. Not in our minds anyway. We looked at a few homes and realized we weren't in fact ready to leave. No big deal we thought. Surely they'll back out during the option period after we decline to make any repairs or give any allowance to do so. Surely. Or maybe our house won't appraise. Somethings gotta give.

Of course they proceeded every step of the way. Reality began to sink in over time, but it was not until we were informed that they were not negotiating the close date (which they had asked us to do) out "of spite" for us, that things really began to unravel emotionally for me. Our buyers were very upset that we did not make any repairs, so they chose to "punish" us. To essentially kick us out of our own home. The house that I've called home for 6.5 years. The house that I brought sweet Avery home to only days after moving in. The house that I've hosted countless showers, dinner parties and family holidays. The house that watched Justin and I's relationship bloom. The house we came back to after our honeymoon and made our home instead of my home. Our house on Trailwood Drive has quite literally sheltered me from so many things over the last six years. It's been my refuge and now I'm losing that. Losing something I've taken so much pride in calling my own. I'm just simply heartbroken.

The movers are coming next week. We are fortunate enough to have generous friends who have opened up there home to us. We're storing most of our things in a POD until we have a permanent home. We're looking. Obsessively looking, but we have no idea when our new home will pop up. What I do know are these things:

• God's got his hands all over this. The sermon last week could not have been more direct to Justin and I. "You have faith like Abraham when you are willing to leave when God calls you, live where God leads you and long for what God promises you." That was at the bottom of our sermon notes last Sunday. Doesn't get more convicting than that.
• We have so many people who love us. Who have offered boxes, packing help, dinner and even cupcakes ;)
• Justin and I have each other (and little Avery) to lean on. We're in this together and even though this is by far the toughest thing we've endured in our eleven months of marriage, it's making us stronger as a couple. Without question.
• No home on this earth is a permanent home. For anyone. We take comfort in that.

So thank you for praying for us. For loving us through this. We need it and are so grateful.

Coincidence?

One of my closest college friends is getting married this weekend. We're the last two to get married out of our little circle of friends and I like to think I had a little something to do with the blessed event that's happening this weekend. The bride-to-be did catch the bouquet at my wedding, much to the delight of her then new boyfriend I'm sure. Rumor has it Anthony knew Laura (who we affectionately call Furr) was *the one* from their first date. That first date also happened to be just a few weeks before our wedding. So, is it a coincidence that she caught the bouquet? I think not.

All kidding aside, I am thrilled for my dear friend. She is marrying the one that God intended for her and I know how precious that is. God is faithful and his plans are so much greater than anything we could hope for or imagine. I am so excited to witness such a happy day tomorrow! And, for the record, I think I should clarify that I don't really think I had a thing to do with their marriage. I just think it makes for a nice story ;)

P.S. The groomsman that caught the garter recently got engaged. And I love that too ;)

Goodbye Caldwell

My parents closed on their house today. Their house on Caldwell Creek Drive. They bought the house when I was a senior at Baylor, so I didn't grow up there, but I did make some wonderful memories in that house. I lived there for nine months after college, spent the last nine Christmases there, house-sat a time or two, did most of my wedding projects there and packed up my parent's car for the long haul to Salado for my wedding weekend right there in the circular drive. Lots of sweet memories.

dad packing his truck before the wedding weekend

I hope the next family has just as many great times in their new home. I also hope some of those moments are featured in a reality show. I won't name names, but the new owner has been on a few reality shows and was even a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, so another reality show is not out of the question. It would just be funny to see the house on television. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, happy closing day mom and dad!

For those curious, mom and dad aren't really going anywhere. They are building in North Richland Hills.

Fur for Furr!

Last Saturday I celebrated my last single college girlfriend's upcoming wedding with a fur themed bachelorette party. I know, sounds a little strange, especially given the fact that it's summer. Well, her last name (for two more weeks anyway) is Furr, and we just couldn't resist the play on words. We decked out in our finest fur for our favorite bachelorette and headed to West 7th for a little fun. We may or may not have gotten a few stares walking around town in our accessories. We did have the best time celebrating our girl, and I can't wait for her lake-front wedding in two short weeks!

Happy Birthday Keira!

The little girl who made me an aunt is four today. Four! As they say, it's so hard to believe she is four and yet, I can't really remember what it was like without her in our family. Being her aunt is one of my favorite roles and I'm fairly certain her Uncle Justin feels the same way. We love you big girl!

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Justin grilled burgers last night (for the first time in our marriage) and I was craving a summery fruit salad to go with it. Cue pinterest search. I found this perfect little salad that was super easy to throw together and so perfect that even my meat and potatoes loving hubby went back for seconds. The oh so simple dressing is what puts it over the top. And the best part, it doesn't involve excess sugar. Here's the recipe. If you can call it a recipe ;)

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Yield: enough for a crowd

1 pt. container strawberries
1 pt. container blueberries
1  bunch (about 1 1/2 lbs.) seedless grapes (green, red or a mixture of both)
1/4 cup honey (I substitute agave nectar)
juice from 2 limes (about 2-3 tablespoons)

Rinse strawberries, blueberries and grapes.  

Gently pat dry the fruit.  Hull strawberries, then cut each in half; if large, cut into quarters.

Remove stems from blueberries, if any.

Remove grapes from stems.

Gently combine  all three in a large bowl or aluminum tray.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together honey and lime juice.  Pour over fruit.  

Recipe source here

Time well spent

I recently had the chance to take a day off and spend part of it with my nieces. As I mentioned on instagram, it wasn't my most relaxing vacation day ever, but it was definitely time well spent. These girls are both such a mess, but they have my heart.