years today moved into house marking important events other than just birthdays wedding anniversaries it's remind yourself blessings opportunity share them with others best celebrations involve deliberate remembering process where were your life before event event affected changed where because this home i've ever lived counting dorm rooms college represents much more than other nine homes story this house begins spring with selling another house husband bought when came town moved house year half before continued living there even though didn't want keep place long term when house sold girls moved into two-bedroom duplex apartment same neighborhood nice place small difficult love after owning lovely home resolved though didn't want anything wanted free flexible where life took hope that would somehow take champaign-urbana owning home would mean symbolically technically that wasn't going anywhere that rooted settled with being boxed wasn't year later life begun subtle shift finally knew with heart that relationship going nowhere even though nearly year hoped ticket finally knew couldn't continue going church resenting that couldn't abandon faith either also knew didn't want manufacture reason move girls away from their letting lets things happen just acknowledging these things changed when began loosening grip shoddy plans suddenly with life that brought that place more than really things began happening ellen resolved find church april this email kristin this thought sounds like sweetheart house -story with front porch floors lots natural light craftsman style woodwork bedrooms bath with original hexagonal floor tile extra large yard with fenced backyard grrrrreat climber central basement -car garage with cement driveway blocks leal school blocks campus email came from another daughters school heard complain playground that didn't think could afford anything near school that enough three earlier that month looked two-bedroom busy street corner that just outside price range pretty much resigned signing lease another year rental then email arrived everything shifted looked house loved began negotiating deal with sellers next weeks unfolded series events emerged that astounded everyone close sellers outgrown house were moving much bigger house next door selling their house they were essence choosing their neighbors playmates their kids they chose speak over next weeks they proceeded about doing whatever took make possible house they asked earnest money they paid professional painters repaint four rooms asking only paint they replaced steps back porch added safety features play structure re-tiled shower with tile choosing rewired house even though inspector said wasn't absolutely necessary nearly every throughout this process amazing tale tell friends shook their heads repeated lucky knew what happening though lucky would have described situation just those great things happened instead they kept coming adding something much bigger that wasn't luck they were pure heaven-sent gifts know this kind talk makes people uncomfortable what honestly believe been waiting wrong things life moment ready relax where began overwhelming with good things they began that moment with house because could feel love care that opened more blessings kept coming church community eventually jason here's post about knowing what you're turning from toward small group meeting this past wednesday night talked about ourselves turned around headed wrong direction what should feel when recognize discussion stemmed from some verses acts about repentance unpopular word pastors though recently defined repentance consciously turning from something negative your life turning toward something redeeming you're trying chicago instance realize you're heading south don't keep heading south pull over side road overwhelmed sadness regret yourself pointed right direction start moving several years been trying mostly failing turning from part without considering what might turn toward that's nowhere's land stuck void until became overwhelmed emptiness what finally turned toward think acceptance things life turned despite dreams best intentions turned away from fighting every circumstance couldn't change turned toward something that life rooted this particular street address 