To the New Owners of Shafferland 2.0

To Our Friends and New Homeowners...

It's been just over four years since Ryan and I signed the papers to buy Shafferland 2.0. Even though it was the second home we lived in, it was the first time we'd chosen and purchased a home together, and we were so excited for all it offered us. We loved the layout, the central air (first time in LIFE for me to have that), the attached garage, and the location. We couldn't imagine anything more perfect for us, and it lived up to everything it promised.

Though it was move-in-ready when they handed us the keys, we never stopped working to make it more and more our own. We did projects that were so much work - but also so much fun! With every room makeover, we felt like it was a little bit more ours, and we loved it.

We had no idea that the entire time, God had a dual purpose running for that house. It was ours, yes, and He let us enjoy it, love it, mold and shape it. He let us make all the memories there that I've been writing about for the last couple of weeks. But He also knew what we didn't that entire time: He had a new assignment for us waiting in the wings, and prepping this house wasn't just about us. It was about you, too.

A couple of years ago you moved to town, and I still remember the Sunday they showed the video at church, introducing you as part of the pastoral staff. I remember seeing you all in person for the first time and thinking what a nice family you were. I remember hearing about how you were on the hunt for a house, but it was hard to find something that worked for your family.

And then I joined the church staff a few months ago and I really got to know you. I remember on my very first day, being included in the office lunch to celebrate your birthday, Pastor Shane, and your whole family was there, and I was so impressed with your kids and how you're raising them. I remember enjoying conversations with you in the office and hearing about your quest to find a house and how hard it was to even get in to see them because of how insanely hot the market had become in Kokomo.

God began slowly revealing the new plan for us, and I remember so vividly that night we "happened" to see you as you drove out of the neighborhood after looking at a house down the road. I remember how you joked that of all the houses in Kokomo, you knew which one would NOT be hitting the market - and it was ours, because of all the work we had just put into it during quarantine.

That was the moment I knew that if God opened the door He had already cracked (though you didn't know about the crack), this house was supposed to be yours. It made me so excited to think about it. It's always a joy to know you're a part of the answer to someone's prayers.

I remember the day Ryan called to see if you wanted to come over and see the house before we listed it. I remember the day you came to see it - all of you tumbling out of the van trying not to be too emotionally invested. I remember how you ate cookie bars and drank coffee and ambled around the house, envisioning whether or not it would work.

I remember when you came back with tape measures and notebooks the next night. And then I remember the day after that at lunch when you casually stopped beside me in the church kitchen to say you wanted the house - and then you called Ryan to make an official offer that night.

Though that part of the process was smooth, seamless, and clearly orchestrated by God, we did have our share of headaches about the buying process, didn't we? Appraisers who refused to come. Appraisers who backed out after saying they would come. The appraiser who showed up but left news we hadn't expected.

And still in all that, God, put a peace over our hearts that appraisal reports are just earthly details that don't matter for the Kingdom. We didn't hesitate in knowing that you were the ones for this house. Ryan and I knew that separately before we even talked together, and our faith was boosted by how God put us on the same page without any hesitation.

You told us you would love the house as we had loved it, and we know you will. We aren't even a little bit worried about that. We feel that lately, we've just been stewarding the house until it could become yours, and it has been our joy.

We are so glad this is going to be your place. It's a bonus joy to get to place our beloved home in the hands of friends. We are so glad it will continue to be a home that honors God, holds memories, and is a hub of ministry.

We've been working on our own new place the last couple of days, and we are so excited to settle in fully and make it into Shafferland 3.0. I think that's a bit easier to do when we know the place we're leaving is going into such good hands.

We know that we were part of the answer to your prayers, but you are part of the answer to ours, and we are so grateful. Thank you for all you've done to make this transition sweet and easy for us. Enjoy your new home. We sure love all of you and are so happy God picked you.