I want to preface this post by saying that this is in no way, shape or form a complaint. Not saying that I won't ever complain about anything on here, just that this isn't that time. What I hope to convey are some of the very real challenges we face logistically, trying to fit 9 people into 900 square feet. We've been here just over a month now so we are able to see clearly where the challenges are. Some things are definitely working out for the better. For now though, if you ever decide to move your family into a third of the space than you are used to, these are some of the challenges that you may face. :-)
We are used to about 2700 square feet. Our other house wasn't exactly roomy for us either. We filled most of it. So what did we do with all of our "stuff"? We donated a large portion of our clothes and furniture to the local thrift store. We recycled alot and what we couldn't recycle or donate, we threw out. We had to be very intentional in what we kept. It had to be necessary. It had to be something that we just couldn't manage without.
I know, right? I begged, pleaded and came up with 47 different reasons why we just couldn't justify keeping "Moosie Woosie". In the end, the three year old won. It was her birthday present last year from her older brothers and there was no way she was parting with it. She might be little but she obviously has some pull here. Of course, there were other smaller, sentimental items we kept as well. Most of them went into storage though.
A lot of our challenges here involve timing. When can I use the washroom? When can I practice my instrument? When can I do laundry? You get the idea. Most of these challenges are solved by a schedule. Most of them require me to plan. They all require cooperation from everyone, a good attitude and occasionally a sense of humour. Our little people are learning they are not the centre of the universe and our older people are learning to put other people's needs before their own. When the little one says she has to go, SHE HAS TO GO!!! In the morning, our schedules are somewhat staggered. This is out of necessity. We can't all use the washroom at the same time. The people that need to leave for work get priority so we let the younger people sleep a little longer.
If you prefer the house to be quiet while you practice your instrument, then you may have to get up while it's still dark.
If you prefer the house to be quiet while you practice your instrument, then you may have to get up while it's still dark.
That also means that the younger children may wake up to Minuet #2 but we don't think that is a bad thing.
Another issue we have is trying to find space for all of our instruments. We are really missing our music room. This is what we have been doing so far.
Not exactly ideal but doable. Piano can be practiced by two people at the same time if one uses the digital piano with headphones and one uses the acoustic piano at the opposite end of the house but you can't practice cello and violin at the same time so these practice times have to be staggered throughout the day. Same for guitar and banjo. So children at home during the day practice during the morning or afternoon so the evening is free for the older boys to practice. Same for the washroom. Really. I usually give a reminder about half hour before anyone is expected home that now would be a good time to use the washroom if necessary.
Laundry is another area that is a challenge. For the first few weeks we lived here, there was a leak in the pipe to the washer so I couldn't do laundry here. That meant packing all of our laundry into town to the laundromat. Not exactly fun either. So when I say that doing laundry here is a challenge, I am also saying that I am extremely thankful to be able to do laundry here.
The laundry room is also the coat/boot room so it is very
I am also missing my clothes line. The weather has been great and would have allowed for line drying up until now but now we hang our clothes that don't go in the dryer, in the kitchen in front of the heater.
Which brings us to the subject heat. There was a natural gas furnace here. Notice the use of the verb was. The day after we had it serviced and all the ducts cleaned, it promptly died. We got a quote on another furnace and unfortunately, we would have to get a brand new one. Of course we would. That's the thing with older modular homes, especially ones with snow roofs. So rather than buy two furnaces within a few months of each other, we opted to go with space heat. We just have to get through the winter. I think our biggest problem here will be humidity anyway so as long as we stay warm, we should be good.
Speaking of staying warm, we bring Riley in at night. We knew he wouldn't stay a tiny puppy forever but we were also challenged to find a spot for him. So even though we had to get him the next size up crate, we were able to find a spot for him too. Right in the middle of all the action.
(ETA I just realized that in the picture I used, it doesn't exactly look like it's night. That's because um, he takes his naps inside too. And he likes to play inside with us and generally be wherever we are. But he's an outside dog. Really, he is. Ahem.)
We used to have a school room. We do school at the kitchen table now which works fine. Our school room now looks like this.
A book shelf in the living room for just the necessities. If you know me well, you know I love books. Which turns into a love of curriculum which turns into a lot more books. We've had to store the majority of our library and keep out only what we need for everyday use. We have boxes of books in storage not because we didn't already try to thin our collection down but mostly because really, who gets rid of books? That's just crazy!!
Overall, even with all of its challenges, we still feel incredibly blessed to be here.
I guess even the animals on mouse patrol need a break and some snuggles at times. She looks pretty relaxed. Abby does too. ;-)
We celebrated the first birthday here.
We enjoy some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
There are amazing trails to be explored.
And this is what we look at during the day out the living room window.
Are there challenges to living here? Absolutely. Do we sometimes doubt following the Lord on this path for our family? Embarrassingly, yup. Do we always treat each other kindly and never get irritated with each other? Um, no. That being said, this move is bringing us closer together as a family and teaching us to be reliant on the Lord. For things we would have ordinarily thought were just our responsibility. It is well with us. That doesn't however, mean that life will be easy or we won't have trials.
We don't feel like we deserve any of this but we do feel incredibly blessed.
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
Psalm 128:1-4
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