Back on March 11 of last year, I blogged about how we had just moved into the rent house. After 8 years in our home, we sold it and decided to live in a rental until our new house was completed. This was Andrew’s idea…not mine. I was concerned that this rental wouldn’t feel like home. I knew that we would be going to visit our new house every day while it was under construction (so that is technically our home) and that this house would just be a place to live and not a place to call home.
I.was.wrong.
This rent house has been our home.
I have loved this rent house. As excited as I am to finally be living in my new house…this rent house was hard to say goodbye to.
We had so many laughs in this rent house!
Kensington lost her first tooth in this rent house.
I enjoyed my last year with two kids at home…in this rent house.
I savored every little day with Miss Kensington in this rent house…next year, she’ll be in kindergarten.
This rent house instantly became our home.
There were a lot of crazy days in this rent house. Honestly, there were some really hard days in this rent house…where my feelings were really hurt, I felt really sad and upset…in this rent house.
But I will always remember the good days in this rent house.
The days spent with these two.
My very favorite season came in this rent house.
I sent them off to Pre-K and Preschool in this rent house.
Kensington turned five in this rent house!
We loved on each other a lot in this rent house!
We smiled big in this rent house!
We sat on those stairs and talked every day in this rent house.
I am so grateful that we listened to the Lord and stepped out on faith by selling our home and renting this house.
I’m so glad that Andrew and I decided in this rent house kitchen that now was the time to bring Ashby home. We began (and almost finished!) the adoption process in this rent house.
We told the world we would be a family of five in this rent house.
We took a lot of pictures in this rent house.
And some days, we dressed like a unicorn in this rent house.
The only time we were sad in this rent house was when the rats realized it was a cozy place to live too. Thankfully, we quickly showed them the way out :).
We celebrated the Christmas season in this rent house.
Lots of Christmas music played throughout this rent house.
We stayed warm and cozy inside this rent house.
And we held on to the people we love the most in this rent house.
We celebrated with red and green in this rent house.
We played in the snow in front of this rent house.
We were a family in this rent house.
A happy family.
A fun family.
A silly family.
This has been a great rent house.
Even when days were not our favorite…we loved this rent house.
We especially loved it on holidays!
Fun times in the rent house.
Fun times with the sassy people I love most in this rent house.
Sweet memories in this rent house.
Fun memories in this rent house.
And when days were kind of blue, we loved on each other in this rent house.
The best days in this rent house.
This was the 6th rental we put an application in for (they were flying off the market) and by the time we got to this one, I didn’t even care what it was like…but the Lord knew and made it perfect for us. To the immediate left of the house is a trail that goes right behind our house into a creek and wooded area. There is a great park with slides and swings just a few yards away. This house was paradise for my kiddos! We walked right out of the back gate and on to a trail. We walked almost every night after dinner and played at that park almost every day. It was a great house.
And if you know me…you know that 13 is my number. Everything good happens to me around 13…so our address didn’t surprise me at all…it was meant to be.
That’s it for the rent house. What I learned most from our 15 months living here was that wherever these people are…I’m home.
XOXO
I have a yummy pie for you today on my foodie blog…
…this Lemon Blueberry Pie is perfection for summer! It’s a no-bake, easy to make, yummy to eat pie. Love it!
And one last thing…
…if you didn’t read my friend Erin’s post yesterday about being enough, you should. It really spoke to me and I think it might speak to you too. Thank you Erin!
Tanya says
After living in a rent house for 3 years in England, I can truly say that it feels like home. The experience has really taught me that a house is just a building. Your family and the love you have for each other make it a home.
We are headed back to Texas and a new home (that is ours!) this summer. I can't wait to get settled and make that our home, but I will also miss our rent house. So many memories!
Jennifer says
Thanks for sharing! We too lived in a rental house while our new home was being built. While I dreaded the thought of living in the tiny little house, it was our home for a year and we made so many wonderful memories with our daughter there. We will never ever forget our rent home. Enjoy your new house, can't wait to see pictures!!
Blue-Eyed Bride says
Well this sweet post made me cry. Living in transition with kids can be hard, but y'all stuck together and had an amazing year! Our transitional year was so similar and I'm just so thankful for that time with my people. Xoxo
Tab & Erika says
Girl if there would have been sappy music playing while I read that I'd be crying right now!! The music would have put me over the edge!! haha!
Kimm Atwood says
I loved reading this…..one of my favorite posts to date !!!!
Polka Dot Blossom says
What a great post! I'm a little teary. So sweet! Your attitude towards your rent house has changed my attitude toward our 'rent house' and time of transition in the wilds of Montana. Thank you for that. And huge congrats on your new home! Can't wait til you share it with us.
XOXO
Alison @ Get Your Pretty On says
Aw, what a sweet post! Your kids will cherish memories of living there too. Although I'm sure you are bursting at the seams with excitement over your new place.
Anonymous says
Can't wait to see pictures of your new Home and all the memories you all will make.
Christine says
I'm so glad the Lord led you all to such a lovely rent house while you were building your dream home. Now if only He would help my husband get a job…
Also, just out of curiosity- I don't think I've ever heard "rent house" before. Is that a TX thing? People here usually say rental or rental house/home.
Anyway, congrats on the move!
Sarah E @ theteacherswife.com says
I'm so glad you were able to embrace and enjoy your rent house. Looking back, I think our time of living in transition would have been so much less stressful had we decided to rent instead of live with my grandmother. It never felt like home and I always felt like a visitor while we were there. Can't wait to hear more about the new house!! 🙂
Traci says
You sure did take a lot of pics on those stairs. I hope your new house has stairs like that.
Angela Betlewicz says
That was such a sweet post that you can remember forever now that it's all documented. It makes me want to move into the rent house 🙂 God Bless! ~Angela
melissabunny100 says
Like I said before you make "life" better with your blog, and this one you hit out of the park!
Slightly Askew Designs says
15 months?!?!?! NO WAY! Wasn't it just last summer you were walking past out house on your way to Kroger??? 🙂 LOVE LOVE LOVED this post… home really is where the heart is.
Tracy says
Precious family, precious memories!
Elaine Welte says
Oh, that totally made me tear up and cry! We've rented so many houses, thanks to my husbands job, and I try telling myself they aren't "home", but they are. They truly are! Best wishes to your new house!
SarahN says
We are all so excited to see your new home! Please post about it soon 🙂
Dani {Adventures of a Pharm Girl} says
This is adorable! Thanks for sharing!
Jenny says
Loved all the pictures in the rent house! 🙂 Here's to your new adventures in your new home.
Lana says
What a sweet post to wrap up your time in the rent house – or should I say home! As long as you have your family around you, home can be anywhere! Congrats on your new home.
Darcy says
Home is where the heart is….and it's obvious that you've made your home where your people are. Hope the move into the new home went well!
My husband works for a ranch, and we'll probably always live in provided housing. Sometimes that's great (no rent, utilities, etc.) but sometimes it'd be nice to have a place to call yours. We will someday when we retire, but until then I try to make where we live feel like a "home" too, even if it's not really "ours". Tough line to walk sometimes.
Angela Ellingson says
What a fun, sweet post. So very excited for new house pics. I realize it's a process to get settled though!
Anonymous says
Great post Shay! I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your new house. Bet it is beautiful and already decorated (with the help of your wonderful mother). So happy for you and your family!!!
Courtney Bartlett says
This made me tear up! So sweet! Looking at all the sweet memories makes me want to try to take more pics of my kids! They're just not little long enough!
V @ X-tremely V says
There is so much cuteness going on in all those pics! Glad you enjoyed your time in the rental and I can't wait to see pics of the new place 🙂
Michelle Ragsdale says
what a heart warming, tear jerking, loving post! now on to new memories in the new house! love the thing about 13…it has always been my number as well…when we moved to TX almost 6yrs ago, we were house hunting for our very first home, with room to grow (hoping to have more children, then a family of 3)…after some fell through…finally our offer went through and wouldn't you know it our address equals 13…felt it was meant to be…We are now a family of 5…
Habitual Spender says
God has truly blessed your family! You've been such a role model for me since I started reading this blog; bringing me closer to God, learning how to enjoy cooking, being the best wife and mother you can possibly be. You are truly a wonderful person, Shay. I am so glad I stumbled across your blog when I did!
klmoore23 says
Such a great post! What memories, but I do need to ask…15 months? Man, it takes a long time to build a house in Texas! Maybe it's all that oil they need to dig through. 😉 Looking forward to seeing pics of the new house. 🙂
Jenna says
Whats up with all the selfies on the stairs in the rent house??!! LOL
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
SO GOOD! SO SO GOOD. Yes, it was definitely home for your little family. Who knew it would be so wonderful? I mean, besides God. 🙂
megs7827 says
Your kids are just gorgeous! Just like you and your hubby! We are putting our house up for sale and may be following in your shoes of doing the rental. Hopefully not but your post reassured me that it will be ok!
Marty says
Such a sweet post! Growing up in a military family, we rented a LOT, or we lived on the base. It wasn't until I was in high school that our family had a home that my parents owned. But my Mom made every house a HOME. Now that I'm an old married lady myself, I've tried to do the same for my kids in every place we've lived. Thank you for sharing your heart today!
Jaren says
Now Shay, you made me cry on this one! I'll admit it doesn't take much this late in my pregnancy…but darn it, you made me cry! I'm so happy it was such a wonderful home for you guys!