WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?

Life has been dragging along as it always seems to do this time of year. There is a lull between the usual activities, the holidays have passed, and the weather...well the weather makes me want to sleep and eat. We have had lots of opportunities to spend more time together at home the past couple of weeks and it turns out we really like each other! Good thing! 

One night I decided it would be a good idea to conduct some pre-move interviews to see if going tiny will live up to our expectations. I made sure I interviewed everyone separately and no one knew the questions beforehand. Look at it as research if you will. First up...Callan.

Callan, 13

What are you most looking forward to about moving into the tiny house? Why?

(Imagine an immediate eye roll as I added "Why?" to the end of the question) 
Mom it’s not school! Let me think. I am most excited about my loft because I get to climb the ladder and that is all I wanted from the beginning. 


What are you least looking forward to?

Sharing the loft with Cooper.


Why don't you move into the living room then? 

Because I am not about to sleep on the couch. No way, Jose. 


What do you think other people think about our decision to go tiny?

People think that we are absolutely crazy because we actually want to live in a smaller house and the American dream is to get a big house. 


What are some of the benefits?

You get to be closer with your family and you don't think about your possessions as much. 


What are some of the drawbacks?

You hardly ever get any of your own space without your family surrounding you all the time. 


In five years, how do you think you will feel about having lived in the tiny house?​

I will probably think that it was an important life experience, but I will probably get something a little bit bigger when I get older- but not humongous. 

Cooper, 10
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What are you most looking forward to about moving into the tiny house? Why?

The new basketball court... so I can work on my skills.


What are you least looking forward to?

Sharing a loft with Callan.


Why don't you move into the living room then? 
Because I want a loft.


What do you think other people think about our decision to go tiny?

Hixson likes it. He thinks it is pretty cool. I think one of my teachers likes it. (Real insightful...thanks, Coop.)


What are some of the benefits?

We can travel more and go to the Grand Canyon again.


What are some of the drawbacks?

We only have one bathroom. 


In five years, how do you think you will feel about having lived in the tiny house?

I will feel glad because we will have done something that most people don’t. There will be some bad experiences in there, but there will be good ones, too. 

Carys, 5
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What are you most looking forward to about moving into the tiny house? Why?

My bunk beds and my whole space and my curtains to cover up so I can read books and my under bed storage. (Go easy on her- she hasn't learned sentence structure yet.)


What are you least looking forward to?

I really wanted to sleep upstairs in the loft. (Maybe we should just throw them all up there.)


What do you think other people think about our decision to go tiny?

“What in the world?!”


What are some of the benefits?

We can have game night! (Oh gosh...where are we going to put these games she speaks of?!?!)


What are some of the drawbacks?

We don't have space to put in a shelf. (Yeah...so no games.)


In five years, how do you think you will feel about having lived in the tiny house?

Great. Because Callan doesn't have to tell me to turn off my lights. Because Callan always tells me to turn off the closet light, but last night when it was bedtime she told me she would keep the closet light on. (Obviously, she just wants to be out of Callan's room.)

Matt, 37

What are you most looking forward to about moving into the tiny house? Why?

I am ready to have a place of our own again. I like the tiny house part because I think it will force us to be closer as a family. 


What are you least looking forward to?

Acclimating to a smaller kitchen and only one bathroom.


What do you think other people think about our decision to go tiny?

I think for the most part people are just intrigued. They are curious about how a family of five is going to be able to downsize to that small of a space. I hear things like- "I wish I could do something like that," or "I could never live in a tiny house." I think people start to get convicted about their own houses and the things that they have. It makes them really examine themselves which is good because that is the reason we are having to do it. (Carys interrupts- "Daddy is serious.") When that happens is when people start to say- y'all are crazy. That will never work. That is when people become naysayers. 


What are some of the benefits?

There is an obvious financial benefit. I think there is some benefit in having to simplify your life and only having things that are essential instead of having a cluttered life. It puts us in a position of having to be close- not only in proximity but in relationships with each other. It will afford us a lot more opportunity to be outside which I love. We can go on adventures and travel. 


What are some of the drawbacks?

I figure that when we have conflict or someone is in a bad mood there is no way to get away from it. I think that we are going to have to be rigid with routines around the bathroom and I will have to get ready in the mornings at the gym. One more drawback is always having to explain myself when people find out I live in a tiny house. I tend to be a pretty private person. 


In five years, how do you think you will feel about having lived in the tiny house?

I think I will look on it as one of the better decisions that we have made for our family. It is not a decision about what we want. It is a decision about examining what we need as a family. Because it is a decision that we both feel God is leading us to do, I think it will make us better people. I think if God is asking us to do it then it will shape us in a way that will enable us to serve Him better.

Chamie, young at heart
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What are you most looking forward to about moving into the tiny house? Why?

I am most looking forward to our family spending more quality time together (because there really is no option but to be together).


What are you least looking forward to?

Callan hogging the bathroom in the morning.


What do you think other people think about our decision to go tiny?

I think people are curious. I think a lot of people want us to fail so they can say, “We told you so.”
I also think that our decision makes some people feel convicted about how many possessions they have. I really don't care how many things other people have. I am not trying to make others feel bad about having nice things or an abundance of things. I like nice things and I will still have nice things. I just had too many things which was the root of my conviction.


What are some of the benefits?

I am looking forward to having the freedom to go places and do new things. I think we will be forced to spend more time outside enjoying and appreciating God’s creation. I also think that I will be forced to keep the house clean and tidy and the laundry done. Also, no one will ask to have a party at my house. Oh...and there will only be one bathroom to clean. 


What are some of the drawbacks?

One bathroom. Fewer clothes and shoes.


In five years, how do you think you will feel about having lived in the tiny house?​

In five years, I will feel fantastic because we should be debt free!!!! I think I will feel grateful for the experiences it has allowed us to have as a family. 

Well there you have it. At least we all seem to be on the same page. All of the kids want to be in the loft and Matt and I just want to spend more quality time together. This is getting real, people. Things have been dragging but guess what?!?!?!  TOMORROW we are ordering the tiny house!!! Then in FIVE short weeks it will be here. I haven't been blogging much, but it's only because I have been filling out LOADS of paperwork and pinning away on Pinterest. Let the adventure begin!!!