I’ve been a little quiet on my blog the past few months and I really have a good reason. Our family has flexed from a family of 4 to a family of 10! Over the past few months we have sold a house, bought a house, and merged 2 families into one. It’s a lot to take in so let me explain!
My mother-in-law and father-in-law have been raising 4 kids (all who are amazing and range from 8th grade to 3rd grade). Chelsea and I have been praying how we could help them with this adventure for several years. Last year we began praying about the possibility of pulling one of the most un-american ideas around and buying a home for our families together. We don’t know many people choosing this route but it made sense to us. Since my in-laws are nearing retirement why not partner to raise all our wild kids? We prayed, prayed some more, planned, prayed more, planned more, and finally all decided it was time to make the move. Both families sold their homes in a matter of days and we also found the perfect home here in Clarksville to buy together with the space we need for both families and the privacy we all need to stay sane! It also had the pool we needed to have a great tan!
We know this is not for everyone but it’s what God led us to do. When God speaks we have just learned to obey and trust God. We have no intention of being on a crusade for multi-generational homes but we know this is what God has called us to. I now live in a home with 6 kids and 4 adults and 2 weeks in I honestly think this is one of the best moves we have ever made. I’m blessed with in-laws I love and respect and consider friends! I’m blown away that they were obedient to raise a group of kids for the second time when God led them to adopt. I love that my girls get to grow up with their grandparents and cousins in the same home. I love Chelsea and I have a peace about this move. I know there are many challenges to come but I also know God will guide every step of the way.
Some of you might wonder how we made this work! We worked hard to find the right house so we could all have the space we need. We have 2 master suites. We have living spaces where we can spread out and have our own space. With 6 kids everyone has to share a room with our girls having their own room, their girls and their boys each sharing rooms. We worked to find a house zoned for the right school. We knew this would be a big deal so we looked hard and prayed hard. In the end God delivered us a house that had been custom built for a huge family in 1995. Our family is the second owner and it’s almost like they built it for us. We are so thankful God provided the right home for our families to merge!
That’s our new adventure. Thanks to Grace Community Church and all our Clarksville friends for all your prayers and encouragement through this journey! Thrilled to call Clarksville our home!