A year ago, I was basically homeless. Thankfully, because of some incredible friends, I was never turned away, and always had a bed open for me and my son, even if that bed belonged to a friend’s 3 year old and had avengers sheets . I was at my wits end. Oliver was unsettled and unhappy, and I was scared to death. I was on my own for the first time in my life and I was failing completely. My life was upside down.

A couple of months before I’d spent most of my time at one of my best friend’s house helping her prepare for the most epic tea party themed birthday. The house next door to hers was vacant and had been for a long while. We’d spend hours painting furniture talking about how amazing it would be if I could live right next door instead of driving 25 mins to come over every day. I remember the day the house went up for sale, and I was heartbroken. A silly day dream dashed. I knew it was never going to happen, but I enjoyed the thought. Then, one day, in the middle of my couch hopping journey, I got a text- “Come and knock on my door….

I began to weep. I was at work and I was in such disbelief. I began to pray. God and I were working on a very thin string at that point. I was in a deep valley, and while I was trying to trust the plan I knew He had set for me, I was very much in a place of “Prove it. It’s me…. Lauryn. Is this you? Did you do this? Is this for me? If you want me to do this then prove it. No. If this house is meant to be mine, it will be $550. And I spoke to a lady who was currently in Florida. They just bought the house 3 days prior. Not mine God. It’s not mine.

I love fire places

Okay. Oh. Wow. Okay. When can I see it? I’ll never forget walking into the house for the first time. Just like me. It had fire places. It had built ins in the dining room begging to be filled with cookbooks. I was smitten. But guarded. I couldn’t do this. There is no way I could do this. People don’t go out on their own for the very first time and then less than 2 months later get the perfect house. I told her I’d call her on payday. In the days following I again told God to prove it. If this house was meant to be mine you are going to have to make it happen.

Literally couch hopping from week to week, were I was staying depending on if I had Oliver or not

Because I can’t on my own. I need my paycheck this week to be over $550. I need it to cover the first month’s rent and me still have money in the bank. My paycheck came…. Oh. Okay. Well…. I can’t cover rent and a deposit. She waves the deposit. I hear you God. I hear you. September 1 st rolls around. I’m standing in front of the house yet again. I signed my lease. As I’m standing there, my best friend’s mom drives by…. Then backs up. This is mine. Over the next several weeks I spent many lonely nights sitting with boxes and crying. I didn’t know what to do. For the first time in my life I was completely alone. Slowly, the cookbooks make it on to shelves.