Remembering My Affliction Called Garage Envy
Although the blog itself is long gone I remember one of my first posts was a confession. I was still settling in as a Buckeye resident 300 miles from Upstate NY, the only place I knew as home for over 30 years. When we moved we did living on a mustard seed of faith, trusting God with the details. He provided in every single way but I still was complaining.
My Ohio life didn’t contain a 2 car attached garage.
Our last home in Upstate NY had 2 acres, a nice storage shed, Florida room, second kitchen in full basement and yes, the two car attached garage. When we found the house God provided for us in Ohio the real estate agent encouraged me to look at the garage. With high drama I’m a master of showcasing I let her know that was not a garage. Have mercy, that was nothing but a shed to me.
When I started blogging I confessed I still refused to look at our detached single car garage as anything but a shed to hold our Christmas decorations. A true garage was like the one I drove by on the way to church. The property had a spacious but not showy home with plenty of yard and yes, the attached garage. When my fantasy house went up for sale I’ll never forget driving home from church. That dream house had an open house and the line of cars parked stretched for almost half a mile. My coveting multiplied.
I kept drooling over that house and the garage but a funny thing happened called winter. While I trudged through windchills to get the kids in the car without my NY attached garage, snow piled around us. Then it melted. And when it melted, it created a flood in the yard of my Ohio dream house. There was so much water ducks actually came to stay in what they assumed was a pond.
It didn’t take long before the house was for sale again.
Seasons passed and I got used to trekking everything outside to the car. The economy took a turn and instead of realizing what I didn’t have, I thanked God for all the things we did have. My husband had a job that was keeping him busier than ever. Food was on the table and clothes were on our backs. We were healthy. We had not one, but two cars. I remember one day realizing the two car attached garage envy I blogged about wasn’t even a desire for me anymore.
My husband mentioned last year wanting to move in the next few years into a more modern house with better features. At the top of his list was…the two car attached garage. I made it clear I didn’t see that move happening. We were and are so taken care of with the house that we have. It isn’t a showplace but it’s a home where love abides. I’m not defined by a two car attached garage or a lack of one.
And that dream house that I drive by with the attached garage?
It’s vacant.
The side yard remains a growing pond because of the rain and snow melt, so much water I wonder if any has seeped into the garage.
That house reminds me to be thankful.
And I am.
image from photobucket
