3 years ago, we started thinking about our family, our home, and what we wanted in the years ahead for our growing kids. We’d always had a dream to spread out on some land, so we started actively pursuing plots of land when they came up around us. Turns out it’s rare, and a bit of a fight, when they do! After missing out on a couple opportunities, the one we’d been praying for came along. In November of 2019, we became the slightly shocked, and incredibly ecstatic, owners of some acreage just outside of our little town!

For the last year and half we’ve been clearing, hiking, camping, tree house building, swinging, four-wheeling, sledding, pond-digging, and falling in love with this land. With the quarantine year of 2020 quickly approaching, we had no idea just what a gift this space would be. We spent HOURS of safe time playing there. I’ve fallen in love more with each season we’ve experienced there.

During these months, we dreamed of what it would mean for our kids to grow up here. In our imagining we never fathomed it would be possible that Deacon wouldn’t be there with us. The thought of moving there without him was an impossible one for a while. But soon, the kids begin begging to be there again, asking when we would get to live there, and sharing their dreams for the space. We knew we still needed to move forward with this adventure. Deacon LOVED being at the land. The freedom, space, and ever-changing landscape were his happy place. He’s there still. I feel close to him when I’m there and know that I’ll forever see him up in a tree, in the creek, or creating something out of scraps of wood.

While it took a little longer than we planned originally, things are finally moving along and our new home is GOING UP!!

We’re grateful to God for this place and its our deep hope and prayer that it becomes a welcoming place for many.

Im still a little in shock that the house is going up! I’m so excited for this grand adventure!