Would you change if you could?

Growing up I have heard the same question over and over again: "You all share a bathroom?" Now I'm not talking about just two people nor three, actually five of us share a bathroom...and a closet. We share because we care. (a good moral story) But when our house was being remodeled I heard an even better question: "are you going to expand?" Now our house is 900 square foot. If you want to size that it is about the size of an apartment. But this small house houses a dad a mom three daughters and five dogs. I'm not saying it doesn't come with its challenges but i don't think anybody realizes the pros to this house.

This house has been in my family for YEARS. (About 50 of them I would say) My dad grew up in this house and my parents made their home in this house. I nor my sisters have ever moved. We have lived our whole lives in this house. (myself 18 years and my sisters 21 and 22 years) We have learned a lot of things. Firstly we have learned to work out fights. In this little house it is hard to escape from each other. When you were angry it was best to talk it out and finish the fight as soon as possible. If not it was a little awkward being angry two feet away from each other. We now know how to work out a fight. Secondly, we have learned to share. Not only do we share food, clothes or other objects we also share personal space. Sitting on each other is common. With a small house requires small furniture, sometimes your older sister is your seat. That closeness of sisterhood can never be taken away from us. Thirdly we learned to be patient. Patience is required waiting in line for the one bathroom we share. Fourthly, we know what each other are doing. This is a great accountability tool. Knowing what everyone is doing makes you less likely to be doing something not of house rules. Fifthly, it taught us to love. All these things wouldn't be possible if we didn't learn to love each other. It takes love to share, to wait and to work things out.

So to you this may just look like a small house, but to us it is a big heart. We bump the blood through it we are the veins that keep the house moving. If i had a penny for every friend that told me my house was warm and cozy I would be rich. They may have just been telling me that cause they were so annoyed at how small it was, but for me that was the greatest complement. My house is so full of love you leave refreshed and that folks is the greatest kind of home.

Maybe the next time you see a small house don't think about the size but the adventures that happen inside. Everyone has a bad day and in this house one person has a bad day we all do. We have support and love for each other. Sure, we aren't perfect, but this house makes us a home. No we didn't expand our house, I wouldn't have had it any other way.