A HUGE Leap of Faith!

As many of you know, our home in Utah has not sold yet. Leaving us in quite a "pickle". Thankfully, we have wonderful family here in Tallahassee, who have not only opened their arms and hearts to us - but have also opened their home to us...all 5 of us...AND the dog! I complain that it is hard to not have my own home, but then I am humbled as I reflect on the sacrifice that THEY are making! They being Mike and Annette...they who have a big, beautiful home, they who's children have all moved out, they who had a quiet, peaceful, empty house...until August 14 when we ALL showed up (yes...including the dog).

One of the hardest parts (for me anyway...and I'm sure the kids) is not having our "stuff". You see, we literally left everything when we came here to join Trent. We felt that our home would "show" better if it was furnished...plus we didn't have anywhere here to put our stuff. So, our "stuff" remains in Utah...the furniture is "staging" the house, and everything else is boxed up and stacked in the garage. A few weeks after arriving here, as I was studying my scriptures, I came upon the account of Lehi and his family and their departure into the wilderness: And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. 1 Nephi 2:4. Of course, I've read this passage many times, but this time it hit me. I thought, "wow, this is what we did...we left everything and came to be together." The kids and I could've stayed in Utah until the house sold...but if was too difficult for us to not be together as a family.

Meanwhile, we have been searching for a home here in Tallahassee...in the hopes that everything will work out and that our home in Utah will sell so that we can soon be in our own place again...yes, with our own stuff! We've come across a few that we have loved and that felt like they were "it". But last week, we found IT...we found our home (or at least we feel like it is our home). So the dilemma now is do we make an offer on this home even though ours in Utah hasn't sold yet?...and what happens if this one closes and ours still hasn't sold...TOUGH questions...

Trent and I spent almost a week praying and talking about what we should do. And then the other morning, after I walked the kids to the bus stop, I continued on my walk with Grace. It's still pretty early in the morning (the kids have to be at the bus stop by 7:20) and so it's beautiful and quiet and peaceful outside as we walk along (ok, so I walk while Grace sleeps in her stroller). As I was walking, I received my answer. We needed to go ahead with making an offer on this house...specifically I felt that I was being told that I needed to exercise FAITH. That having faith means jumping in even if you can't see the bottom, so to speak.

I have found a few scriptures regarding faith that I absolutely love:

Faith, if it hath not works, is dead. James 2:17

Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? 1 Nephi 7:12

For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith. Ether 12:12

trying of your faith worketh patience... James 1: 3

So yes, I'm learning that to exercise faith, I have to be willing to do hard things...to know that if Heavenly Father is giving me an answer, that I need to follow it...even if it scares me to do so. (And yes, the possibility of having 2 house payments is pretty darn scary!)

I also love what Bishop Richard C. Edgely said recently in conference:

"...Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28) and “Knock, and it shall be [given] you” (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs—come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism...

...Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours.

There is much that I do not know. I do not know the details of the organization of matter into the beautiful world we live in. I do not understand the intricacies of the Atonement, how the Savior’s sacrifice can cleanse all repentant people, or how the Savior could suffer “the pain of all men” (D&C 18:11). I do not know where the city of Zarahemla was, as referred to in the Book of Mormon. I do not know why my beliefs sometimes conflict with assumed scientific or secular knowledge. Perhaps these are matters our Father in Heaven described as the “mysteries . . . of heaven” (D&C 107:19) that will be revealed at a later date.

But while I don’t know everything, I know the important. I know the plain and simple gospel truths that lead to salvation and exaltation. I know that the Savior did suffer the pain of all men and that all repentant people can be cleansed from sin. And what I don’t know or don’t completely understand, with the powerful aid of my faith, I bridge the gap and move on, partaking of the promises and blessings of the gospel. And then, as Alma teaches, our faith brings us to a perfect knowledge (see Alma 32:34). By moving forward into the unknown, armed only with hope and desire, we show evidence of our faith and our devotion to the Lord..."
You can read the talk in it's entirety here

Anyway, I've learned (and continue to learn) much about faith and patience. I'm sure that is what the Lord's trying to teach me.

And yes, I'm still scared! I can't image living life with 2 house payments! I can't imagine us even being able to DO it. Trent and I now joke that we will be living on BEANS AND RICE, because we certainly have plenty of that in our food storage. We've also told the kids that if our home isn't sold by the time we need to close on this one, Christmas may be scarce...but, we will have a home and we will be together...and those seem like the most important things right now. I'm also learning a lot about what is TRULY important. This move has been wonderful for me in that regard! I continue to know without a doubt that this is where we are supposed to be...that the Lord brought us to Florida for a purpose...and that yes, things WILL work out...BUT I have to do my PART...even if that is just simply having faith!

Anyway, here are some pictures of the home that we have made an offer on. It is certainly smaller than our home in Utah...but we love it! It's in a neighborhood that seems to be full of kids. We are crossing our fingers that our offer is accepted...I will keep you posted on that!


Family room:

kitchen:
kitchen and family room:


Living room and dining room:
screened porch:

and yes, that is tile throughout the house (except for the bedrooms)!

Thanks for listening...and know that we are so grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers!