Sweet, Sweet 806!

In case you missed it, I am moving! And it is hard! Change is hard for me in general as I think it is with many, and my housing has not been a change I’ve had to endure for over 6 years! This makes it way harder!

Though in this time, I am reminded to cling to the only constant, unchanging source of strength — the Lord. Maybe this is just another way the Lord is wanting my full dependence on Him rather than finding too much favor in any worldly possession.

However, I can’t not share all my sentiments for this sweet home I called my own for a season. So here are my reflections from the last couple of days at 806:

“It’s just a house”.

Well true—but as I sit here on my last night in this house, I can’t help but give a glimpse into why this move is hard and this house is so special to me.

My sweet ode to 806.

Houses are not just homes. They are made homes.

They are blessings from God entrusted to us for stewardship as a way to love well and bring people together.

For over 6 years now, many different roommates and I have made this house a home. We aimed for a home with encouragement, joy, and love honing transparency and grace with one another lifting each other up in the faith.

When I moved into 806, I was still just a mere senior in college. This house was my home through graduation and learning how to adult. It is not an easy transition into adulthood as you are met with more responsibility than you even realize you have to have. First job, bills, and navigating life as an expected “responsible” adult.

There were many seasons of ups and downs, seasons of doubt, seasons of cheer, seasons of change, etc.

But it was always this home to come back to.

When I moved in over 6 years ago, the plan was to live with one of my lifelong very best friends, who was moving back to Nashville after she graduated Auburn (which in and of itself was BALLER cause she and I had never lived together but went through about every other season of life together up until that point!). I had another good friend in nursing school who needed a place to live, and my best friend knew of two other friends to give us a full house of 5.

The 806 OGs, the 806 chicks, and man, was it sweet!

What some of you may not know is that this house has been in my family since my grandfather bought it for him and his family (my mother and her siblings) back in 1960s. My mom grew up here. Then her and her siblings have always owned it, and it has been the home to many different renters. I actually lived here while in 3rd grade while our current house was remodeled.

SO here’s the why behind my sentiments —- This house I was working to make a home was amongst walls of roots I did not sow—the Godly, optimistic house I hoped to make a home had once had that same ambiance in the walls before me.

There have been many of friends in and out as my roommates (for a few years being my cousin, whose mom also owns the house, and she is literally like my sister who knows me inside and out!) since originally moving in, but it stayed a home with roots that ran deep, stayed steady for many new coats of “paint” in new people and new memories, and always reminded me of where I came from – the hardworking, selfless, loving, God-filled values centered on God and family.

A truth from scripture my dad always shares, “We drink from wells we did not dig, we sit in the shade of trees we did not plant, and we build on foundations we did not lay” – Deuteronomy 6:11.

I lived among walls I did not paint, and I added my own coats of “paint” but with the same values as the ones before me. This made for a very special home. My home for over 6 years. Now, this home will become a blessing to another.

Here’s to new beginnings, and making my new house a home. There are more seeds to be planted.

But may this house– sweet 806– continue to be a house which honors the Lord and brings heaven to earth. It has certainly been my slice of Heaven.

                   

Thank you Jesus for 806. And thank you to my mom and her siblings for the many years they allowed me to steward this house by the ways they taught me.

What a house. What great memories. My sweet 806.

Love always,

Katie Girl