This is our first blog post, so be prepared for a major learning curve here as I figure out how to keep my thoughts short and sweet, and somewhat interesting. ;) (this first post may not be a good example of short- lol!) Bear with me, or don’t and check us out in a year after I’ve had some practice in the “blog-o-sphere”…
For those that don’t mind taking the winding road with us; HELLO!
We are in the thick of a move from our 3,500 sq foot home to our 350 sq foot RV. It’s been a wild ride already and the adventure has yet to really begin. Just prepping for this sort of change has been far more emotional, exhausting, and complicated than I ever could have imagined… yet Fletcher and I keep telling ourselves that anything worth having is also worth fighting for. And this, is a dream worth fighting for.
Let me give you a quick timeline of events, if you're a little behind on HOW the heck-n-burger did all of this happen?
The Dream Begins - 2012
Fletcher and I started renting Fletcher’s parent’s RV and taking short trips, beginning in fall of 2012
Fletcher began to dream about one day owning our own RV, and began the search immediately following our first trip. (Literally, stopping on our way home by the “local RV store” to peruse their selection)
Our First RVcation - January 2015
Fletcher meticulously plans our first “ big family RV-cation” in Jan of 2015 where we spent a little over 3 weeks in Florida visiting family, going to Destin, and Disneyworld. It was exhausting, exciting, emotional, and ended with us all getting food poisoning and vomiting the last 2 days of the trip. YET, it was also "perfect" and we came home hungry to plan the next RV adventure. ha!
Fletcher falls for a gal with a sleek bod and first rate rack; her name is Solei - February 2015
Fletcher starts seriously studying RV’s. He has found his “dream RV” and happens to find it in stock at our “local RV store”.
We tour the RV selection and agree that the one he likes, is practically perfect, yet way outside our price range comfort zone, so we think we’ll buy a used class C that happens to be in stock.
I tell Fletch, "the rig you like feels like where we will be in a few years, the class C feels like where we are right now. Let's not push it." (Oh how comfort zones beckon. They are safe, they are familiar, they don't scare us at all... I'm not sure I like comfort zones at all now.)
A slight detour on the dream with a pit stop at the hospital... 2015
Emery gets extremely sick, we go to the hospital for a few days. Emery heals and is going to be ok! I realize how precious time is, but I also am more dependent on friends and family than ever. I realize my own humanity and limits and feel more encouraged to stay within those comfort zones. Definitely an inexpensive, used, little class C RV is what we need.
A week later, we make the trek back to the RV store to put an offer on that Class C, but it’s been sold for half the list price and is no longer available. We are disappointed, but know that it must mean God has a better plan so we continue to search. (all the while, Fletcher dreaming and plotting how we can get the "RV of his dreams"- even mentioning, “what if we sell the house and RV full time?” The idea is absolutely bogus and I don't even consider it a real possibility-doesn't every family need 4 non-moving walls to make a home?)
Wherever the Wynns may blow or not - March 2015
Fletcher starts following “The Wynns” from youtube’s “Gone With The Wynn's” and is more pumped about RVing full time, than ever. I’m not convinced and think that the thing that makes RVing fun is the family, friends and HOUSE that we leave behind and get to come back to…
Fletcher agrees that a home is important and drops his incessant full-time RVing notion. ha! I pursue other dreams of trying to get more "connected" and "attached" to our life here in Colorado. We even start the process to buy a BIGGER house than the one we already have, and thankfully, God speaks very clearly to both of us before we get too far in; we hear a clear, "not now." I feel like God says the new home won't fix the feeling of disconnection from our dreams.
We take a quick trip in dad's RV-this time without the climactic food poisoning ending- and remember how much fun it is to adventure with just our family.
Pitch black, sticky tar- December 2016
A new year is coming and I am more confused than ever. I have been asking God to tell us what is in store for this coming year, and I hear nothing. I am discouraged and direction-less and feel “stuck”… as I express this to Fletcher, he agrees but also doesn’t hear anything clear from God about how to get us “unstuck”. We feel like we’re in the dark.
Un-feathering the Nest - January 2016
So many situations are causing our home to feel uncomfortable and unsafe, which is new for us, and we know that the grace to stay here is lifting. Yet we still have no idea where we would go. I am driving around town looking at homes and neighborhoods, checking MLS listings, praying for direction. We're having restless nights, and I'm waking up multiple times a night with fear that we are no longer safe here. I'm afraid. I'm battling fear and wondering what is happening that shifted us from our peace.
Looking back now, I see this stage as the "un-feathering the nest stage". God is allowing our "safe home" to feel more uncomfortable so we will pay attention to that urge to jump, risk falling, and try out these wings on our dreams.
The Stuff Cycle Revealed
God starts talking to Fletcher and I, repeatedly, about DREAMS. It’s everywhere… God is asking us to dream again, but we feel like we don’t know what that means. We’re scared to dream; we’re afraid of the “no” that will come. We realize that we’ve been doubting that God is even for us. We’ve taken the safe, practical, careful path that only required "minimal faith"... we have forgotten that God is a God of adventure, risk, and passion too… He likes us to need Him, risk big, and trust Him beyond what just feels natural and comfortable. God isn't near as concerned about our comfort zones, as we are. ;)
Suddenly it seems obvious that we've fallen into a trap: There is a difference between a happy, fulfilled life and a comfortable life. We thought we were pursuing our dreams, but we realize we are just following the culture's dreams. We have been trying to get comfortable: using stuff, position, image, and other people to bring us peace.... it's not working. Doy. Doy. Doy. (haha- thankfully, God is patient with us...)
A CD that changed everything - January 2016
I start considering my dreams and asking God to breathe life into the ones that He wants to grow. I’m telling my friends about the how important it is to dream and how faithful God is to fulfill those desires! …BUT I’m still scared to embrace the dreams that are in my own heart. I tell everyone about dream journals and how great they are- but I have yet to write a single dream down. I'm just plain scared.
I stumble across an old sermon cd I had gotten from Pastor Bill Johnson at Bethel. Having no idea what it’ll be about, I pop it into the car cd player and I’m almost in tears as Pastor Bill again confirms the power that comes from dreaming with God. His stories and testimonies remind me that God is for me, and He loves me and He really does have GREAT things in store for my family, and me.
Fletcher gets in the car the next day and listens to the sermon twice while driving to Denver and is in tears too. We both feel it and know that God is wanting us to not just say we believe in big dreams but actually write down our dreams and start living it.
We put the girls down for naps, sit down with our notebooks on the couch, say a quick prayer that God would guide us… and sure enough, 10 minutes in, we can see our next step clearly.
Break the Cycle
We talk about how there is no place in this area that is the right fit for us, and we’re concerned that moving will only perpetuate the feelings we have about being “stuck”- except we’ll be at a new house with those feelings. My house “wish list” is a million miles long and I can hardly think straight about what I even REALLY need in a home. Every home I see doesn't seem to fit the bill (aka fulfill my heart's desire to live in adventure, family, nature and creativity- a tall order for a pile of sticks and nails).
We both feel like God is not wanting another traditional home for us, and I feel Him asking me to trust Him that He has something better. Fletcher again mentions the full-time RV idea, even if it’s only to serve as an interim home while we find our right fit.
I feel scared that we are stepping just a little too far away from my safe, familiar, comfort zone, but I hear God say,
"what would you do if you thought I was for you?"
This changes everything. I am reminded that God IS for us, and I tell Fletch we should start looking into that dream. I feel a burst of excitement and peace, as opposed to scared and confused. The more we talk about what that dream looks like, the more I want it.
Fletcher checks out the “local RV store” and sure enough his “dream RV” is still on their lot. As we are praying, God says, “just take the first step” which we feel is to get our house on the market… we still aren't 100% sure that we are going to buy an RV instead of a home, but we know that we are supposed to start pursuing the dream and let God close doors if it isn't a right. We are cautious and try not to tell too many people so that we don't let opinions confuse or distract us.
Selling the Nest (aka Hurry up and wait) - February 2, 2016
Our AMAZING realtor friend, Ben, comes over the next day to talk about what it takes to list our house. He walks through and says “we can list it right away”.
Within one week, our house has been tidied, staged, photographed, and listed.
Within a few days, we have 3 potential offers on our house, and the negotiating begins. We are thrilled and feel God’s confirmation.
Slow it down and listen
All three offers fall through, and 80% of the next showings say they will put an offer on the home. All of which never come through and we start doubting that we made the right choice.
A bit of time passes and Fletcher and I, again, seek God for confirmation. Fletcher feels like He hears God say, “get the RV situation settled”. We visit the “local RV store” that next day to tour the RV of his dreams, and do a test drive. While we are there, we have another house showing and this time, it sounds like it will actually produce an offer! Hooray!
While Fletcher talks to the sales guy about the cost of the RV, etc, I begin to grow in fear and doubt. I feel like our dream is too big to pursue right away. Fletcher reminds me that we won’t do anything unless we are in unity- so we leave the RV store without making an offer.
Take A Leap Year - Feb 29, 2016
A few more days pass and no offer comes through on our house, so yet again, we ask God what is wrong and what we are missing. Again, Fletcher feels like God says to sort out the RV situation. I feel God encourage me that we should purchase the RV, but I’m still feeling afraid.
Finally, that night, at 5:30 pm, while we are out having dinner during another showing, I tell Fletcher to go for it and put an offer on the RV. He says, “Awe, I wish we could have done it today since it’s leap day… this would have been a big leap for us. Too bad the office is already closed”. I agree, but say that one day won’t matter. Less than 2 minutes later, the sales guy from the RV store calls Fletcher’s phone and we both look at each other like, “well that’s confirmation!” Fletcher makes an offer to the guy over the phone and we both squeal when it’s fully accepted plus they through in some free service time to help us instal our solar panels! YAY!
The people who came and saw our house would like to set up another showing, which seems positive and hopeful!
Marching with a Mission into March 2016
March 7 2016, one week later, we get an offer on our house from the family that wanted to see it again. It is not a very strong offer, and our realtor talks to the family.
March 10th, 2016. We get the call that we have officially purchased the RV of our dreams. Less than 5 minutes later, Fletcher gets a call from our Realtor that the family has sent us a new offer and it is at our “ideal price”. A few moments after that, Fletcher is approved for a big contract that will allow him to travel and have stable income for the next year or so! By the end of the day, we’re under contract on our home and we’re owners of our dream RV! Looks like the dream may really be happening! We have to go in the next day to sign papers and pick up our RV!
Birthday PartyBus - March 11, 2016
God doesn't forget that baby birds have dreams too:
Emery tells us several weeks before that her birthday should include an RV trip to the Butterfly Pavilion. I think it would be a miracle if we have an RV by then. Well, God cares about 4 year old dreams because she gets her wish! We actually get to pick up the RV on her birthday!
We take our first trip in our new RV on Emery's Birthday with some of the family to the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver. Such a fun way to spend Emery's 5th Birthday! Emery is ecstatic, and so are we!
Since then...
We’ve now taken 3 "mini-trips" in our RV home in order to learn and adjust to it. 2 short weekend/ overnight trips, and one week-long trip to Houston. It’s been eventful and certainly not all easy or always fun. We’ve had ups and downs along the way, and the adventure is just beginning… check back soon to hear about the roof, the floods, and the hail that has also been a part of this adventure. Yet this dream is worth fighting for!
Fortune Cookie thought: The dream that scares you, could be the exact dream that you’re meant to pursue. What would YOU do if you thought God was for you?