I am one proud wife. :)
This journey has really produced a number of emotions for the both of us: fear of the unknown, excitement, stress, joy, a little bit of sadness (sadness during the loss of his grandmother nanny and reflection back on the good ole days when his grandfather was starting their family business), humility, and unexpectantly a lot of love and appreciation for one another. Let me start from the beginning.
Michael has always had big dreams and big plans. I enjoy listening to what he wants to do and I do believe in him 100%. His passion and his drive are qualities that I admire in him. One of the most serious fights we have ever gotten into was involving this investment house and that's because... it was about money... dun, dun, dun (you know what sound I'm going for right?) It's what we were told couple's fight the most about in premarital counseling and something we knew we'd have to continually work on because we are both so independent with our money. To add to it, I am conservative and risk adverse and he is not conservative at all and is very comfortable with taking risks so that makes it even more interesting. It made me nervous to take out a loan to do this. Hey, I blame it on Dave Ramsey. I still carry cash that I get from my envelopes each month. :) Michael assured me that he knew what he was doing. After all, this is his career. This was lesson # 1 for me: Trust in God and submit to your husband. As much as I wanted to fight back and say no, we can't do that... it's just too risky, (okay well I did say that), I realized that this is something that he really wanted to do. And something that he says that is so sweet and touches my heart every time about why he wants to do these things: "I'd love to be able to make money in order to give more money back". Who can argue with that? Plus, God commands that I let Michael lead our family. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:21-24 So, after one big fight and a lot of discussion and prayer, we decided to take out a loan and begin the search for the right foreclosure.
Michael looked for the house for months and finally found this one. I don't know what I was expecting... a house with maybe a little bit of work needed like paint and light fixtures? Boy, was I wrong.
Words cannot describe the condition we found the house in... nor the smell. So here are some pictures to show you what the house first looked like.
I know what you are thinking... there is no way you could pay me to live in something like that. What hit home the most for us is that there really are people living like this today. And in case the pictures didn't do it justice, this is before the old mildewed clothes and dog feces was on the floor. How many times have I complained about my house because I didn't have the perfect mirror for the entry way or the right window treatment in our master bedroom? I know, I know God... "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16. This is a daily struggle for me and one I intend to work on.
Again, I was hesitant about the house but Michael was confident and assured me he had everything under control. Have I mentioned how much I love and admire this man?
Weeks went by and we cleaned, power-washed all of the inside and outside walls of the house, got sheet rock done, pulled up old carpet, replaced floors, cleaned, painted, cleaned again, got all new fixtures and kitchen/bathroom appliances, and cleaned some more. This is my version of it... I'm sure Michael would tell you a MUCH longer story. He and his dad were there day in and day out. I'm so proud of him and how hardworking he is. He keeps ME motivated! Love you, Mike. :) Here's some pictures of the "in between" before and after pictures.
Throughout this time I can't tell you the sense of joy I had in my heart and the love that grew even deeper for my husband. I always tell him how proud I am of him because I always am. But throughout this process I hope I told him enough. It's hard to describe with words how much I love him and how extremely proud I am that he is my husband. To be honest there were times that I struggled with wanting to go to the house and clean. Picture a beautiful sunny Saturday morning. What would you want to do? Sip coffee on the couch? Go to the park? Shop? Me too. And for the most part I still got to do that stuff but some Saturdays were sacrificed and after I actually got there I was so glad I did. He needed my help with cleaning. After all, we are a partnership and I know (for a fact) he does things for me all the time that he doesn't particularly want to do(sweet boy). Plus, we had his wonderful parents there to help which made it so much easier. (I have the best mother-in-law in the world... love you Mrs. Ronda). After I would help it felt so rewarding and like the least I could do for my husband who was working on this house every day of the week (including the weekends). He thanked me and appreciated me in a different way than he had before... and we learned to express that appreciation didn't we Michael? :) Yes, I need words of affirmation as does Michael. It's one of our "love languages". If you don't know what I'm talking about, google it! Great book.
Finally, yesterday, we went back to the house to take all of the after pictures. It was even more put together than when I had last seen it. It is truly a place that will make some family very happy and I can see many memories being built there. We went to eat sushi to celebrate and a little TCBY afterwards. :) Here are some of the after pictures!
So you see, this was not just about building a house. We learned a lot about each other. We learned even more what marriage really means and how we want to build our family with a strong foundation in Christ... (“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49) That's what Michael and I want for our family... to build our home on a solid foundation that will not waiver... that is all about Jesus.
Michael learned a lot that he will use for his future investment house endeavors, a lot about himself, a lot about me, and a little glimpse of what his grandfather must have went through starting the business... How incredible! I'm sure there is much more he would tell you he learned but the man is not a writer... or a reader for that matter so you'll have to just read my version. :) And I, well, I have learned a lot this past month and a half. I have learned (yet again) how incredibly blessed I am to have such a loving, hardworking and intelligent husband and more than anything how blessed we both are to have family and friends supporting us and a God that has been through every emotion that we experienced, who loves us unconditionally (even when we wanted to strangle each other or walk away), who we can talk and walk with daily, and who has overcome the world. We are both so humbled, thankful and blessed.
I am so glad I got to experience this with you, Michael. I can't wait for our next one! But first, we have a house to sell... and prayers are always welcomed! :)
Until next time,
R & M
