Memorial Box Monday: Our perfect home

Last Memorial Box Monday, I shared how God downsized our selfish, worldly house dreams to open our budget and our lives to His plans. It only seems fitting that I finish the story... You see, God prepares the way for our lives. His word says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 and one of God's top ten promises! In my opinion anyway)

The main reason we decided to build a house when we moved to North Carolina was that we couldn't find a four-bedroom house already built and for sale. Really! We live in a (formerly) rural area. At the time we moved, the typical house had three bedrooms. Big houses had three bedrooms and a bonus room over the garage. Houses around here don't usually have basements. Our real estate agent tried, unsuccessfully, to convince us we could use that bonus room as a combination guest room/play room. After all, "You only have two kids." Yep, we heard that a lot. And not just from the real estate agent.

No matter what, though, Rob and I couldn't shake our desire for a fourth bedroom. We looked at some beautiful homes with three bedrooms, but even those homes with all the bells and whistles couldn't get us to change our minds. We insisted on four dedicated bedrooms.

We finally moved into our home in November of 2002. That fourth bedroom that we insisted on went largely unused, set up as a guest room, but without many guests other than the grandparents. We stored things in there, but didn't really use the room for much.

And then... in October of 2003 (about the same time my daughter's biological mama conceived her), I got this little stirring. My heart filled with a longing for another child. Number three. The one we insisted we'd never have -- after all, we'd be outnumbered!

By January of 2004, I could ignore my heart no longer. I filled my husband in (that's a story all its own... I'll tell you sometime). Obviously, Ellie came home to us (about a year later). Her brothers still have their own rooms. She has her cheerful pink and green bedroom full of princess dresses, books and stuffed animals.

That little room no longer goes unused. It's filled with a precious little girl and all her dreams! It's where we snuggle and read. Sometimes, it's where we talk about life. It's where we pray for her prince. It's the place she goes to cry and think when she's having a tough day. And where we forgive.

God filled our hearts with a love for our little girl long before we knew she'd ever even be! I'll put a picture of Ellie's room as it is today in my Memorial Box. On the back, I'll write out Jeremiah 29:11. One day, she may need to remember how God provided for her -- even before she was!

If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it all started at Linny's blog: "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced me to it, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7).