Home Sweet Home: The Beginning

The idea of building a home of our dreams was at one time just casual dinner conversation between Rob and I, just two young souls who weren't even married yet. Remembering one of these vague and lofty conversations had while on the back deck of our first fixer-up home makes me smile wide and feel silly all at the same time. We had no earthly idea what we wanted or even needed in a "forever" home, but it seemed so adventurous and easy to dream big among ourselves and say aloud, Yup, one day we will build ourselves a house!

Skip ahead about 15 years, a few moves, and two kids later, and our "one day" has come. That little hump in the mountain to the right contains a sliver of land (purchased last Fall) that we have deemed suitable and perfect for spreading our family's roots and for growing two things: dreams and little girls. It seems as if all the world knew this place was for us and our family and has graciously agreed to leave it alone just as it is for all this time, while waiting for us to find it when the time was right. All I can say is that this place was meant to be. It's us. It just feels right.

Our builder broke ground just a little over two weeks ago to begin building the home that we have spent well over a year designing. Seeing the first downed trees and mounds of shuffled dirt, not to mention the cleared path intended to be the lane made for a very surreal and exciting day. Holy cow, this is really happening! Our home is officially underway and expected to be complete this Novemeber. With any luck, Thanksgiving memories will be of the first memories made inside this home. Critters will be added to the family as the girls have their hearts set on a cat or dog or both and Mommy wants chickens. Daddy is a good sport who gives way to our shenanigans and an even better man for providing in great and many ways for his family. It's because of him that our lungs will soon savor the first scents of a crisp and woodsy autumn, our ears will delight in the steady spring-fed stream that runs fast down the mountainside just behind our home, and our minds will stretch wide into the privacy we have been blessed to find.

Home is wherever my family is... and soon, we'll be across the railroad tracks from where the foundation remains of a historic train station are still visible today...

Then, just down the narrow and private gravel road a few yards...

Past one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen...

And beyond the old barn on your right...

To the left of the "Custom Home" sign...

Down the little curved lane. We'll be right there. Soon.

Currently, the large hole is a teaser of what's yet to come. (I spy Rob and Oia.)

So much to look forward to. So much to be excited and thankful for. So do stay tuned. This is just the very beginning.