….But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 FINALLY – I own my dream house! But Lisa, you haven’t moved….what gives? This is true. The Lord brought a couple of memories to my mind the other day. Many years ago, before I had children, I use to visit with a family of 6.  Their house was in the wrong part of town and looked run down from the outside.  The interior was a mish mosh of modern-garage sale.  It was a clean environment, but, things were not always in their place.  But what was so incredibly different was the fullness of love within the house.  At the core of the home, a marriage that had been stoked over the fires of adversity and time, strengthen by a commitment to the Lord.  Next was a Mom who consistently put her children above the affairs of the world and gladly stopped whatever she was doing to savor a few minutes of playtime on the floor with her kids.  Yes, she was responsible for her household.  Yes, she took care in training them up – but, she didn’t allow the notion of a ‘clean house’ to override the needs of her children.  Her relationship with God filled her each day and allowed the overflow of her heart to minister to their needs.  She had a kingdom perspective on raising her children.  That was her goal – pure and simple. I loved the simplicity of their home and the unity of purpose within it. Fast forward many years. We were living in a huge home.  You would think that all my dreams would be met in this rambling 3800 sq ft home filled with a loving husband and 3 kids, but, that wasn’t the case.  I choose to focus on what I didn’t have.  I choose to be empty. Fast forward again and now, I find myself in a tiny 1200 sq ft home.  It takes almost 5 years, but, I put behind me the sense of loss and unmet expectations.  It took the shrinking of circumstance for me to discover a marriage that has been stoked over the fires of adversity and time, strengthen by a commitment to the Lord.  And see that I’ve become a mom who consistently puts her children above the affairs of the world and gladly stops whatever she’s was doing to savor a few minutes of playtime on the floor with her blessings with a kingdom perspective for raising those children. Let the laundry pile a little higher…. Let the dishes soak a little longer… Because TODAY, I have found my dream house and I’ve been living in it ALL ALONG!!!!!!!! Spirit-filled believer and follower of Jesus for the past 20 years. Wife and helpmeet of 18 years. Veteran homeschooling Mom of 10 years to 4 blessings ages 3 to 14 years. Encourager, blogger, curriculum/book reviewer, Young Earth Believer with a Geology Degree. Lisa is the author of Homeschool Circus.