Home is Where you Park it

A fun fact about me is that I have always wanted to live in a trailer or RV. I recently found out about the "Tiny House" movement and although we didn't build our house from scratch, it seems Jonny and I now fit their profile. Here is the story about our first home:

After Jonny proposed in October, we started thinking and praying about what our life would look like as a married couple. You see, he is from North Carolina and I am from San Diego, we met in New Zealand, we worked in Alaska, and we eventually want to serve full-time overseas. We realize we don't fit into the category of "normal Americans." With our nomadic circumstances, there was not a location suitable for us to settle and purchase a house, but on the other hand, we didn't feel like renting an apartment was the best use of our finances. So, we figured we would purchase a house on wheels so we can live anywhere in the continental US when we are State-side and park it at a family member's house when we are abroad. It would also limit our accumulation of "stuff" to only the essentials and we get to continue with our nomadic lives while having a familiar and comfortable space of our own, in-tow.
Jonny went to work researching the local RV dealers and Craigslist. After seeing many options, God lead us to a used truck and fifth-wheel trailer combo both year 2000 with very light wear and tear from occasional family camping trip use. It was an amazing deal and even though the interior design was a bit out-dated, we could see the potential, plus it had our ideal floor plan! Thankfully, our upcoming wedding gifts would help us to make the purchase without taking any loans. So, we purchased our first house and a truck for $12,000 and began the process of home-making. Jonny worked for the next month and a half on resealing the roof and all the outside seams with the help of my dad. Together we painted the inside walls, replaced all the hardware/hinges/light fixtures, and I sewed curtains and covered the couch. We renovated and updated our trailer and moved all our stuff into it. After the wedding and honeymoon we drove our house cross-country and parked it in Jonny's brother's driveway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I must say, it was the best way to road-trip pulling over at rest-stops and sleeping for free in our own cozy bed every night!
Now we have been living in our tiny house for a couple of months and it has perfectly suited all our needs. It has kept us warm through the winter months and forced organization with simply the basics while costing us very little to maintain.

Here are some before and after pictures for your enjoyment:

From the outside

Before-Kitchen and dining room

After!

Before-Bedroom

After!

Updated kitchen

Covenant Vows

When Jonny and I got married on December 13, 2014, we made life-long promises to each other. A marriage covenant is not a contract, there is no "out," no breaking of the agreement, no stipulations, it is unconditionally kept; in other words, no matter what Jonny does or says or what circumstances come against us, I will always endeavour to remain faithful to these vows. I do this because I am a follower of Jesus and I live by His standards. I desire to display His glory in my life. All that is to say, I wanted to share these vows with you all so that you can keep us accountable and aid us in bringing glory to God through our sacred union.

I, Jonathan, take you, Amy, to be my wife. I promise before God and these witnesses that by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I will love, honor, cherish, and protect you. Out of his strength and love, I will love you as Christ loved the church, sacrifice for you, put your needs above my own, and care for you as I care for my own body. I will delight in you, being in union with you as we have union with Christ. I will find my ultimate joy and satisfaction in Christ, and I will not expect you to be my source of fulfillment as such responsibilities are God’s and not yours to bear. I will endeavor to be a godly, self-controlled man acting with kindness, consideration, patience, and humility in the heading of our household. I will seek the Lord first and His righteousness. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. I will acknowledge Him in all things knowing that He is, and always will be, directing our paths. I will follow Him and lead our family wherever He leads, and I will put the extension and multiplication of His kingdom before all worldly possessions and pleasures. I will encourage and support you in your walk with God. I will seek your eternal benefit over your temporal comfort or ease. I will lead our family with an urgency that prays for, longs for, and anticipates the coming day that our Lord will return. I will endeavor to bring up any children we may have with love, forgiveness and discipline, always teaching them according to Word of God. I promise to remain devoted to you exclusively as my wife for as long as we both shall live. And I acknowledge before God, before you, and before these witnesses, my inability to live out these vows in my own strength, and I acknowledge that His power alone will enable me to live in a Godly way as your husband. 

I, Amy, take you, Jonathan, to be my husband. I promise before God and these witnesses that by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I will love, respect, serve, and honor you. Out of His strength and love I promise to submit to you and obey you in everything, as I do to the Lord. I recognize you as my head, even as Christ is the head of the church. In so doing I resolve to put my trust in God and not give way to fear. I will help you and work with you as a united witness of the love of God. I will delight in you, being in union with you as we have union with Christ. I will find my ultimate joy and satisfaction in Christ, and I will not expect you to be my source of fulfillment as such responsibilities are God’s and not yours to bear. I will seek the Lord first and His righteousness. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. I will acknowledge Him in all things knowing that He is, and always will be, directing our paths. I will follow Him and you as you lead our family wherever He leads, and I will put the extension and multiplication of His kingdom before all worldly possessions and pleasures. I will encourage and support you in your walk with God. I will seek your eternal benefit over your temporal comfort or ease. I will endeavor to bring up any children we may have with love, forgiveness and discipline, always teaching them according to Word of God. I promise to remain devoted to you exclusively as my husband for as long as we both shall live. And I acknowledge before God, before you, and before these witnesses, my inability to live out these vows in my own strength, and I acknowledge that His power alone will enable me to live in a Godly way as your wife.

Note: Portions of these vows were adapted from Adrian Warnock and H. Norman Wright.

Pictures taken by TaylorAbeelPhotography