Before this house was built five and a half years ago, I distinctly remember a very special moment between Abbi and I. We walked through the wooden frame praying that God would bless it in unimaginable ways. We brought home a crazy dog that we love dearly. We were beyond honored to bring home our two very special boys. We have been able to host guests, small groups, parties and all kinds of gatherings. Through this home we have built friendships that will last for a lifetime. The bottom line is that God has been faithful.

There are a few lessons I’ve learned in this house that I’m going to take with me:

1. God is faithful.

We have made countless mistakes over the years but we have seen the hand of God upon our lives. I know that he is going to see us through this next season and I expect him to move in even greater ways.

2. I have an amazing wife.

Abbi Russo has turned a house into a home. I don’t know what I would do without her and while the waters have been turbulent at times, God has blessed me with an amazing woman that I’m thrilled to walk through life with.

3. Parenting isn’t as easy as I thought but it’s way more rewarding than I could have imagined.

I thought rolling into parenthood that it would be a relative breeze. I became a dad in this house and it has totally changed my life. I’m learning (gradually) that life is not about me and my boys are teaching me what it means to lay my life down for someone else.

4. I understand a lot less than I thought.

I still have a long way to go with this but life is way bigger than I thought. God is so much greater than I know. The more I can humble myself the better. I have no idea what the road ahead holds but I’m confident that I will need God to lead me as I learn to trust in him more.

5. Prayer is powerful.

Sometimes I feel like the only thing I’m consistent in is being inconsistent but one thing that we’ve done almost every day that we’ve lived in this house is pray. As a family we make a point of praying together every night and I’m confident that it’s one of the things that has and will continue to bind us together as a family.

3003 Nantuckett, thank you for being the gracious facilitator of a wonderful, challenging and blessed season. God, thank you for using this house to be a place of warmth, acceptance, love and grace for so many people. At the end of the day however, I’m thankful that we are leaving a house behind and taking our home with us. The best is yet to come!