Saying goodbye to our first house as we welcome the next is somewhat of an emotional roller-coaster.

Moving is bittersweet. It not simply changing residences, it is also leaving behind wonderful years and beautiful memories made within these very walls.

We’ve had many visitors come through these doors, many dinners and laughs shared, some tears cried, and so much love dwelled beneath this roof. Moving away from our daily home-life with our comfortable routine was definitely a transition.

We have raised puppies and babies here. We have made neighborhood friends, especially my kids… leaving the comfort of play dates and friendships will be difficult as we try to replicate those relationships in our new neighborhood.

We have also updated our first home and made it ours.

So for now as we say goodbye, we will take lots of pictures to diminish the loss of the precious memories made in this house. I’ve documented each room, and have it on my to-do list to add pictures to my kids’ baby books to keep the sweet, first memories alive.

Saying goodbye. My little family went through the house room by room reminiscing on our favorite memories. Retelling the great stories and crazy antics that have filled each room along with my heart and memories was special and offered closure as we left and moved on to our next adventure, our new home.

As we left, I also prayed for the new owners:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that the new owners share as many sweet memories as we have here. Maybe they will trim the trees we never got around to trimming and remodel the kitchen like I always planned to. I hope they laugh over dinners and dance like crazy in the kitchen. I pray this house becomes a home to them and they love it as much as we did. Bless them, Lord, as they embark on their new journey in their new home. Allow them to overcome any obstacles as a family and let this home be a comfort and a safe haven through all of the years they live here. 

In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Our first home

Comfy, cozy, home

Where too many cartoons were watched and too many hot dog dances were danced

Where we prayed and shared meals

Where I was too scrunched to cook or do dishes with the entire Reinhart clan (6)

When the play room was her bedroom

The calm before the storm

“Dora baths”

Where we outgrew our bed

Where my kids took tsunami bubble baths together

Where we ran and played in the water and bubbles and had picnics

I plan to make our new home a loved home, our most loved home. 

This home will allow us the room to stretch our legs and entertain more friends at once…

This will be where my children become teenagers and have sleepovers and grow…

This will be where we make millions of more memories within these new walls and share lots more laughs and cries and dinners and dances….

And to God be the glory! I pray for Him to fill it with his spirit, keep his hand over it, and continue to bless us as we start making new memories here. Thank you, Jesus. We honor you.

And “Welcome Home” to us!