The money pit

Once upon a time Haircut (Erin) and I bought our first house. It's a duplex. 3,000 square feet of fun. She was always up for the idea of fixing up a place but I never really had much experience living in a "fixer-upper" but I remember feeling God tell me that we were to buy a duplex. We discussed it and knew this would be a source of income for us in the future because we felt God was leading us down the economic ladder as we looked ahead to the future.

The place was in decent shape and we got a pretty good deal understanding that we'd need to put some work into it. We started out living on one half with a single father and his daughter living on the other side. The original plan was to fix up a the place a little so we could place it up for rent.

Somewhere we got the brilliant idea that we should do more than just a little work. We began thinking through how we could do it all and what it would look like when we finished. We were pretty excited. We purchased tools and began taking out walls 100 year old walls made with plaster mixed with horse hair, we began rebuilding the stairs, sand the floor (Daniel-son), and a million other things. We were also living on the side of the house we were fixing up (which I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy) while fixing it up and after a little over a year we started running out of steam... and cash.

Fast-forward 3 years... we're still working on the house and not completely thrilled with the idea. We haven't rented it, are running thin in cash and having severe bouts with an illness known as "low-mo" (low motivation). Lately we find ourselves joking about selling the house and moving into an apartment or at least buying a downtown condo that which will probably end up being the size of a large closet.

How did all this happen? How did us being obedient to how God was leading turn into a massive attack of frustration? Walking out obedience can be a struggle. I have faith that this is going to work out in the end but the day-to-day portion of this... suckus maximus. Through all this I'm learning a great deal though. I guess it's kinda funny how God will use anything, even use a house, help you grow.