It's Been How Long?!

Holy crap. It's been four short years since I signed my life away and purchased this house. 22, alone, apprehensive and pretty much lost in the world; I initialed here, here, here, and there and then signed my name at the bottom and boom, it was mine. Well...it belongs to the bank, I just get to make the payments ;)
Lucy and I moved in here in a matter of one afternoon. With the help of my wonderful family, in came the 100 dollar couch (which doubled as my bed for the first week) and the few boxes I had salvaged from my previous life. I was leaving behind the most unhealthy living situation a I had ever been in. (NOT refering to the one-month stint living back at Dad's, referring to the 8 painful months that lead up to it) I had finally broken the stronghold of an unhealthy, controlling, and self-dimishing relationship. And a funny thing happened...my life began!! I was free. I was independent (instead of codependent), friendless, self conscious, anxiety-ridden, and up to my eyeballs in debt. But I was finally free.

As much as I complain about this place....about the HOA being all up in our biz, about the parking (or lack thereof), about the toilet to human ratio, and the ugly blue fence and fake wood counter tops....it really has been "home" for this little stint of life.

The walls have changed color, furniture has come and gone (except for that damn couch); and over the past four years, Lucy and I have slowly been enveloped in this wonderful little life of ours and become the family we were destined to be.

before

after

another before

Most importantly, some additions have been made to the household. We've welcomed our favorite nephew into the world while living here, we've welcomed home our hero, and we are blessed to return here each night to lay our heads to rest.

 Looking back at the girl who signed those mortgage papers, I can barely recognize her. It's been challenging and wonderful, fast and fulfilling. Four years ago I never would have guessed that we'd be here at "The M&M" living this wonderful little life.
 

hockey at the M&M

love at the M&M

security at the M&M

summer relaxin' at the M&M