And so the process began.

There was an unspoken, OK maybe even spoken, understanding that we would move in five years. Even though we had just moved into our first home. It was our Five Year Plan. Live in our first home, our starter home, then find a larger home in the town we preferred. We just needed to start out some where. Is it wired that we were planning our next home  as we were settling our new first home? Sounds like us. Not that we aren't happy with what we have. We are. We are very blessed and buying our first home was a giant accomplishment. But we knew that it was a sensible stepping stone to get to something more.

In that home we grew our family and grew as a married couple. We transformed from a young couple to a full on family of FIVE! How did that happen?

It was no surprise when one casual night we decided that to stay on our schedule we'd need to clean up a few things around the house and form a formal plan. We confirmed our shared schedule and wish list for the new house and began our mutual obsession. Here's my hint: if you as a married couple are going to make a similar decision, it is imperative that you are both at a similar level of commitment and care about the exact opposite details. Mutual obsession, clear boundaries and exact opposite roles of responsibility.

HGTV could not keep enough new programing to keep us fulfilled. If it was about selling, buying or remodeling- we not only watched it but took detailed notes and could dictate the program. Our four year old was running around yelling, " I just want brick!" -she too was turning into a rehab addict.

Subtle changes were completed around the house and it was ready for the market. A funny thing when you think about it. Putting a house on the market. You don't know who is shopping. You leave your home open and ready for strangers to walk around JUDGING you. Seriously the hardest thing for me to deal with. fresh flowers were on the table for each showing and I cleaned places that I never had before because did I mention- someone was coming to my home to judge me! Oh and look at our home to see if they could settle into our space. The one that we were ready to cast away. We would pay to get out of it, why would anyone want to pay for it?

And so the process began.