Today we sold our house.
Our beautiful, bright sunny breakfast room.
We love to read here.
We purchased this house in April of 2013. Annabeth was nearly 18 months old, Mark had just had surgery, and I was so sad to be leaving our old white house that I had loved. Our old neighborhood, and endless/expensive house projects, had made the move necessary but I have a hard time letting go. Mark was sure this was the right move, the exact right place and so thanks to friends who needed to sell, we bought.
Mark was right. This house has been the home of many happy years. We have had the most wonderful neighbors, many of whom have been like grandparents to all of us. We live on a street of shared dinners, baked goods, lawn mowing help, and smiles and waves.
Upon purchase, we ripped out all of the floors, painted all of the walls, and installed new floors. We did most of the work ourselves and it was truly a labor of love, especially with a toddler in tow! We spent April-June remodeling and moved in the weekend of July 4th. Full circle as we sold today, July 3.
Mark, days after knee surgery, making a to-do list around the new house.
Annabeth was a faithful assistant
Floors were out, paint was beginning.
Little Bit in her perfect, princess pink room
This was the home that we brought Baby Owen and Baby Oscar home to.
9 day old Owen - headed out to his first doctor's appointment
Baby Oscar in the backyard.
The weekend he came home.
This house also became a school. When we decided to keep Annabeth home for preschool, then Kindergarten, and now all the way through high school our home has doubled as school and rest for the kids and me.
Evening read aloud circa 2017
In this home, we have laughed, played, learned, grown, and dreamed together.
Annabeth was always hiding.
Under the kitchen sink was a favorite spot for her!
Saturday Snuggles.
I would go back in a heartbeat.
Because Annabeth was so young when we moved, we did not really have many traditions yet. It was here that we built traditions like movie night living room camp outs for birthdays, pictures by the tree out front for Mother's Day/Easter, and pictures by the bricks for the First Day of School. Even looking back through pictures, I could see how the house and yard have changed. Both the cherry tree and the little evergreen tree have died and been cut down. Without even realizing, everything was always changing.
Owen's First Day of 2 Year Old Preschool
We always take our first and last days of school pictures here.
The kids have already found a spot at the new house to do this.
Easter and Mother's Day pictures always happened
by the Cherry Tree. It came down in 2024.
We took our Mother's Day picture at the new house lot this year.
Things change and that's okay.
On the kids' birthdays, they come out to the fireplace mantle
decorated for their big day. This was Owen's 4th birthday - he was sad because
with a helium shortage there were limited balloon options. Aunt Lu saved the day
and brought a giant Chase (Paw Patrol) Balloon
I could go on forever about all the things I remember about this house. I could wax poetic about the perfect yellow paint I found for the walls. I would move my gorgeous laundry room if I could. I am forever thankful that God gave us this home for the past 13 years. We have hosted over 500 people and have loved well from this space. I would never move without a sense of peace from God, Mark, and wise family members that felt a move was right, necessary. I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses our next space and us in it.
Home is special because it's a feeling. Safety. Warmth. Familiar. Secure. Calm.
But most of all home is special because of the people in it. I am so thankful for the opportunity to move into a new house that will become home because of who I share it with.
