Comments on: Little House in the Big World: Counting the Blessings of My Current Home http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:33:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jena http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1419 Jena Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:50:01 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1419 Start with getting rid of the plastic spoons from your first date. At what age do we (in a general sense) go from being more thankful for relationships than stuff? I love looking at life through the eyes of my mother, who is older and wiser. But in reality, a bigger home would make relationships happier. He is a good God and knows what you need. Start with getting rid of the plastic spoons from your first date. At what age do we (in a general sense) go from being more thankful for relationships than stuff? I love looking at life through the eyes of my mother, who is older and wiser. But in reality, a bigger home would make relationships happier. He is a good God and knows what you need.

]]> By: Dana http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 Dana Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:06:19 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1412 I can so relate. Except here is something else for you to be thankful for. We are a family of soon to be seven in 900 square feet and 1+ bedrooms. That "+" refers to the porch we put nicer windows on and put ductwork in so that we could use it as a second bedroom. We've so outgrown our starter home, and we so feel stuck as no one is buying. But it has its advantages. No matter where I am, I always know what the kids are up to. They are always under foot. :) I can so relate. Except here is something else for you to be thankful for. We are a family of soon to be seven in 900 square feet and 1+ bedrooms. That “+” refers to the porch we put nicer windows on and put ductwork in so that we could use it as a second bedroom.

We’ve so outgrown our starter home, and we so feel stuck as no one is buying. But it has its advantages. No matter where I am, I always know what the kids are up to. They are always under foot. :)

]]> By: Mrs. Parunak http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 Mrs. Parunak Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:13:23 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1411 Jena, What a great thought! I should definitely pray about this one. Off the cuff, I'd say, maybe I need to get over my attachment to things. I was the little girl who cried when her mommy threw away gum wrappers because "it might hurt their feelings." I'm over THAT now, but I still have way too many mementos, souvenirs, and priceless (only to me) family heirlooms (all of that should just be read: STUFF.) Here, in my small house, I feel like I'm drowning, and I just want space for my family. It makes me a lot less attached to things like the plastic spoons my husband and I ate ice cream with on our first date, for example. I can remember the date, do I really need the spoons? But there could be other things the Lord wants to teach me, too, like maybe just good old contentment, or not comparing. Anyway, lots to mull over. Jena,

What a great thought! I should definitely pray about this one. Off the cuff, I’d say, maybe I need to get over my attachment to things. I was the little girl who cried when her mommy threw away gum wrappers because “it might hurt their feelings.” I’m over THAT now, but I still have way too many mementos, souvenirs, and priceless (only to me) family heirlooms (all of that should just be read: STUFF.) Here, in my small house, I feel like I’m drowning, and I just want space for my family. It makes me a lot less attached to things like the plastic spoons my husband and I ate ice cream with on our first date, for example. I can remember the date, do I really need the spoons? But there could be other things the Lord wants to teach me, too, like maybe just good old contentment, or not comparing. Anyway, lots to mull over.

]]> By: Jena http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1405 Jena Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:36:55 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1405 Here's another thought. There are some lessons that can only be learned a certain way. In other words, what might God be trying to break you of? If He is the Loving Father, like we know him to be, then what would HIS purposes be in having such a big family in a such a small house? For me, I had to conquer the idolatry of LOVING my house. Or loving the thought of a better house. Does that make sense? If he gives you a house with xyz just the way you want it, will you forget God? Will you nestle down and make earth your home? I can only say these things because I have peered down that barrel. A LOT. Nothing quite like having our contentment solely in Christ. Oh, for MORE of Him! Lovingly. Here’s another thought. There are some lessons that can only be learned a certain way. In other words, what might God be trying to break you of? If He is the Loving Father, like we know him to be, then what would HIS purposes be in having such a big family in a such a small house? For me, I had to conquer the idolatry of LOVING my house. Or loving the thought of a better house. Does that make sense? If he gives you a house with xyz just the way you want it, will you forget God? Will you nestle down and make earth your home? I can only say these things because I have peered down that barrel. A LOT. Nothing quite like having our contentment solely in Christ. Oh, for MORE of Him!
Lovingly.

]]> By: Meghann Jones http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1401 Meghann Jones Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:23:02 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1401 I completely agree! I was just lamenting to myself a few months ago why people (like my in-laws) get to have a huge house for 2 people, and we have a small one with 6 (about 1200 sq ft also). Then I began thinking just what you wrote and it really helped me. I especially like the challenge it offers me to be more creative in the smaller space we have, and the challenge to stay more organized. Plus all the other reasons you listed, less stuff, less space to clean, less toys! Someday I do pray the Lord will let us move to some land and not right be the corner house on a very busy street as we are now...but for the time being, I choose to be content! Your #3 & #5 were new to me and I'll adopt them to my list if I ever need to encourage myself again...thank you! I completely agree! I was just lamenting to myself a few months ago why people (like my in-laws) get to have a huge house for 2 people, and we have a small one with 6 (about 1200 sq ft also). Then I began thinking just what you wrote and it really helped me. I especially like the challenge it offers me to be more creative in the smaller space we have, and the challenge to stay more organized. Plus all the other reasons you listed, less stuff, less space to clean, less toys! Someday I do pray the Lord will let us move to some land and not right be the corner house on a very busy street as we are now…but for the time being, I choose to be content! Your #3 & #5 were new to me and I’ll adopt them to my list if I ever need to encourage myself again…thank you!

]]> By: Kathy http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 Kathy Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:56:00 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1399 Enjoying your thoughts and glad your site is working again! Enjoying your thoughts and glad your site is working again!

]]> By: Holly http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1398 Holly Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:55:16 +0000 http://parunak.com/pursuingtitus2/2008/10/06/little-house-in-the-big-world-counting-the-blessings-of-my-current-home/#comment-1398 I love my small kitchen. I went from a house that had a large kitchen with numerous cabinets and drawers to a much cozier kitchen with only 4 drawers to organize. It takes far less time to cook and clean up and I’m not burdened with gadgets because there simply isn’t room to store them all. Smaller houses also cost less to heat and cool. I love my small kitchen. I went from a house that had a large kitchen with numerous cabinets and drawers to a much cozier kitchen with only 4 drawers to organize. It takes far less time to cook and clean up and I’m not burdened with gadgets because there simply isn’t room to store them all. Smaller houses also cost less to heat and cool.

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