Questions. I get them ALL the time. I really don't mind the questions as I understand that people are curious and intrigued. I do, however, mind questions when they are accompanied by an attitude that clearly implies we are making the worst decision of our lives. We got this.
I am going to try to answer the questions I get the most often. If you have any others, feel free to comment and I will try to answer them all. I'm not going to lie- there are some questions we are still working on figuring out ourselves, but for the most part we have spent a lot of time researching and finding solutions to the problems we feel like we will encounter.
2 Comments
Here lately not much has changed. We have decided to order the tiny house rather than purchase the one on the sales lot. Except for three changes I am making, ours will look exactly the same as the model we have looked at. The first change I am making is the countertops. I am choosing to get something a little lighter, but I have straight up told Matt that if we survive the first year, I am replacing them with granite. The model home has a shower with ceramic tile surround and glass door. While it is really nice, we decided to downgrade and get the shower/ bathtub insert. I am not sure if I will actually be able to fit in the tub, but I will try! Because it has a shower curtain, it will also provide some privacy in case someone else needs to come in and use the bathroom while someone else is showering. The last thing we changed is we will eliminate the electric fireplace in the living room. It is cheesy. And it is hot in Louisiana. And we need a piece of furniture there with drawers for storage.
Here are a few pics of the inside. Now, they were tricky and used one of those lenses that stretches everything out; however, it is very well organized and designed! I have three kids and, although I am partial, they are pretty amazing. Sure they have their moments that make me question my parenting skills, but overall I think they are pretty good kids.
Along this journey to live in a tiny house, I have constantly questioned how this decision will impact my kids in the long run. Matt hears this question daily. "Are the kids going to be ok?" He always answers the same, "The kids will be fine, Chamie." So I accept that answer and move on. But then people start asking me questions about the house and while I know they aren't intentionally trying to make me doubt my decisions, they do. "Where will your kids sleep?" "They won't have a real room?" "Did y'all ask the kids what they thought?" "How are the kids feeling? Bless their hearts." So I go back to Matt and say, "Are the kids going to be ok?" "The kids will be fine, Chamie," he responds again. And this cycle has continued since the beginning of October. I know we are doing the right thing and deep down I know my kids will be ok, but the thought of failing my kids in any way at all makes my heart hurt. I went to bed a little earlier than normal last night. You see, Cooper told me he has testing today at school. My kids know that when they have some sort of state test they get breakfast other than cereal. "I guess you need me to cook breakfast," I said. "Yes ma'am," he ever so sweetly answered. "Well what do you want?" I asked. "Bacon and eggs, " he answered immediately. "Of course you do," I shot back with a knowing look. So you see people, my kids might not have their own rooms, but I cook breakfast on big test days gosh darn it. Anyway, because I went to bed early last night, I missed several texts from my friends. I awoke to a link (from a friend who has been feeling super sorry for my kids). She text the words,"Thornton....I have tears." Click here to see what she sent. I was like- she has tears?!?!?! I have to read this. So I did. And I cried into my cooking bacon. But now I know- the kids will be fine. Sleep. I hope tonight that I can sleep for the first time since Friday. It has been an emotional couple of days. I am ok, but people keep telling me how sorry they are that it didn't work out. The truth is my plan didn't work out, but God's plan is better! And my plan was pretty awesome so how can I not be ok with something that is better than that!?!?!? Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at the big picture to regain your focus. When we started this adventure, Matt and I strongly felt that God was telling us to stop focusing on the things we had and instead focus on the people in our lives. So we sold our house and got rid of a lot of stuff. Then we picked out a tiny house plan to build. It was a little under 700 HSF. We took it to the draftsman and once we started working on the plans the big picture got lost. Every time the house plans came back, the house was bigger. By the end, the tiny house had doubled in size to 1400 HSF!!! That is NOT tiny!
During those three months of planning, we lost our focus. The bid for the house was just God's way of saying, "Ummm... stubborn child of mine, take a step back and remember what I asked you to do." So I have. In fact, I have been remembering until about one in the morning the last couple of nights. And I remembered some more starting at 3:30 am today. And Matt and I have both remembered as we have looked at hundreds of tiny houses online over the past three days trying to find something that will work for us. After a lot of talking, thinking, and most importantly praying, we are actually going back to where we started- the true tiny house. We have picked a model and are working with a local salesman to order just what we want. I'm sure it will be a crazy -and sometimes frustrating- ride, but in the end I am sure there will be enough laughter, joy, and love in that little house to overshadow all of the trials. At least that is what I am hoping for! Well... the last two days have been quite interesting. You see, yesterday was bid day. No, I am not talking about the fun time in college where you go through rush and then you get a bid. And everyone cheers, wears matching clothes, smiles, and congratulates each other. Well, at least I hear that is what happens. That was never my thing so I wouldn't know first hand.
|
Author
I am Chamie, wife to Matt; mom to Callan (14), Cooper (11), and Archives
September 2017
Categories |