Marriage 21 | Bret Legg

How to Change an Ordinary Life

August 14, 2018June 24, 2015 by Bret Legg

While on vacation this week, I read a short blog post by Allison Vesterfelt entitled “The Difference Between an Ordinary Life and an Extraordinary One.” It was a great reminder that you don’t have to do extraordinary things to have an extraordinary life. It’s actually the little things that fuel an extraordinary life. Since she said it so well…and since I’m on vacation…I encourage you to go straight to the source and read it for yourself by clicking the link above. It could change your outlook on life.

On another level…

in Scripture, Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Jesus also told a story about a person who was faithful in a few things and consequently was made ruler over many things and told to enter into the joy of the Lord. Maybe, just maybe, the two go together.

Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about Allison Vesterfelt’s article.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 7

April 16, 2018June 15, 2015 by Bret Legg

Finally! All our stuff was packed. It was all on a truck, or jammed into a car. So I went back into the house and took a final look around.

I walked through the empty rooms that had been home for twenty years. The walls were dotted with nail holes and tattooed with marks here and there. There were hash marks on a door frame that chronicled a child’s life one inch at a time. It all told a story, like primitive paintings on a cave wall. The rooms were empty, but they were full of memories.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 6

April 16, 2018June 2, 2015 by Bret Legg

“You have to be patient.” I didn’t like hearing that advice as a child and I’m not a big fan of it as an adult. It’s difficult to be patient. If you don’t believe it, check out the video The Marshmallow Experiment.

We’re one week away from moving into a new house. We still have some packing to do, but we’re so close it’s hard to be patient. There are things we want to do, but we can’t because we’re not there yet. We have to be patient.

What I’ve learned about marriage from buying a house is there are times in marriage when you know what you want, but you’re not there yet and you have to be patient. For example…

Too Many Choices

April 16, 2018May 28, 2015 by Bret Legg

Too many choices. Ever felt that way? You turn on your TV and there’s over 300 channels. You go to the grocery store and there are at least ten different types of anything you’re looking for. And if you go out to eat, there are more choices than you could possibly, get around to trying.

We typically think the mores choices we have, the better off we are. But that’s not necessarily true.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 5

June 19, 2016May 26, 2015 by Bret Legg

“You’re not done yet.” This is what I’ve been telling myself lately. We’re very close to moving into a new home, and I’m sure some of you are tired of hearing this continuing saga. I’m with you. I’m tired of living it. Still, this experience keeps teaching me things about about marriage…especially this week.

Scars

April 16, 2018May 22, 2015 by Bret Legg

If you live long enough you’re going to get a few scars. They are the badges of memories, stories, and life.

I have a scar on my left palm that I got as a small child when I ran around a corner and into someone riding a bicycle.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 4

June 19, 2016May 18, 2015 by Bret Legg

Let me just cut to the chase here. One of the things I’ve learned from this house buying experience is that if you want to get from the house you have to the house you want…it’s going to cost you.

Certainly there’s the cost of the new mortgage, but there’s also expenses like fees, repairs to your current house, appliances for the new house, and moving expenses. Then there’s the amount of time and energy you have to spend. All this can easily cause you to loose site of the ultimate goal…to get to a better place.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 3

April 16, 2018May 13, 2015 by Bret Legg

Have you ever had a total stranger hand you a list of things they believed needed to be changed about something really personal to you? That’s what a home inspection list is.

I niavely thought it would be smooth sailing after the contract was signed. After all, we had a buyer who wanted the house enough to sign a contract. “We’re there!” I thought. But there was more for me to learn.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 2

June 19, 2016May 5, 2015 by Bret Legg

Remember the first time you saw your spouse’s eyes light up? Maybe it was the first time you gave them a special gift or picked them up unexpectedly. Maybe it was when you got engaged or when you saw each other on your wedding day. Maybe it was the first holiday you spent together. Maybe it was when you found out you were having a baby or when you got your first glimpse of that baby.

Now, when’s the last time you saw your spouse’s eye light up? If it’s been a while, maybe you should ask yourself why it’s been that long.

What I’ve Learned About Marriage From Buying a House – Part 1

November 3, 2016May 2, 2015 by Bret Legg

My wife and I are in the process of selling our current house and buying a new one. (It’s a big deal to us since it’s probably the last house we’ll own before our kids put us in the nursing home.) It’s a daunting process. Since we’ve been in our current house for twenty years, the process of selling it and buying another feels a little overwhelming.