Home

Chloe has been ill again so we have been at home a lot the last few days. I had to have my first day off work because no-one else could have her today, which felt very strange - being well myself and missing work. Today we haven't left the house/garden because I didn't feel I could go out when missing work (and Chloe really needed a quiet day at home). Thankfully she seems a lot better so the cabin-fever was worth it!

Being at home has made me think about how much I love making a 'home'. I have always been very happy to be at home and I naturally like to 'nest' and make a place my own. I would say I'm fairly house-proud; I like things tidy-ish and enjoy housework (to an extent!). We own a small two-bedroom house with a garden which goes out the front and round the side (our house is a back-to-back house so we don't have a back garden). Although our house is fairly tiny, I really love it and feel very settled here.

This love of 'home' was once described to me as a foretaste of heaven. Our spirits long for a sense of belonging and security which will one day be fulfilled when we enter our home in heaven. However until then we can create godly homes which are welcoming and comforting.

I think this is true no matter what your situation - renting, owning, lodging with someone else etc. Something I feel strongly about is that our 'perfect' idea of home is not always God's plan for us. Many people now find it difficult to buy their own property and this is often what people aim for before starting a family. I can understand owning a property can offer more stability but I don't necessarily agree that it offers a 'better' environment to raise children. Often it means increased financial pressure and unexpected bills. When we first had Chloe we were staying with my parents and then rented their house whilst they were India. I know many people wouldn't have seen this as an 'ideal' scenario for starting a family but we felt we were ready and in the end it worked out perfectly. This allowed us to save enough money to buy but we also considered renting when we were looking at properties.

I know it's very easy for me to say the above now that we own our own house. But this property is not going to be 'ideal' for long. The second bedroom is only a single (fairly large single) and we only have one reception room and a kitchen downstairs. Because our garden is round the front and side, it has a path running through the front which our neighbours use to get their house so it is not contained. But I love it and we are planning on being here for several years. This will mean when we have a second child they will have to share a fairly small room with Chloe but we will make it work. We will just have to be clever with space!

Something which my pastor said a while ago (I may have mentioned it in a blog before?) was that 'God will meet your needs. But he does not owe you a middle-class lifestyle'. We think we need to own a house, that children need a room each and that our families will be happy with more space. But I doubt this is true and if you feel it is time to start a family or grow your existing family then circumstances should not hold you back x



PS - I am not saying that we should be reckless in planning our families or not sensible when considering practicalities. Just that we shouldn't aim for a 'perfect' home before we feel it's the right time. It may never happen!