Farewell to Our First Home

In the fall of 2008 I moved into a quaint little Cape that nestled itself against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From August to October of that year, I painted and prepped that little house for what would be the first chapter of my upcoming marriage. In October 2008, we exchanged vows, I changed my last name, and we began a life together in that little house.

 Photo Credit: Realtor April Bailey

Much has happened in and outside of those walls. We survived storms of all sorts. We hosted friends, family and strangers. We reaped the harvest of a modest garden and hiked the surrounding apple orchards. We watched sunrises and sunsets. We made that little house a home.

Some of our fondest and saddest memories to date have been made in that house.

It is the house that we brought both of our babies home to.

 It's where G began to love cooking and baking...

It is where we spent countless hours outside with each passing season...

It was where we got the news that my father and grandfather passed...both in 2012, just months apart.

It's where birthdays and holidays were celebrated with such joy.

It is the home where I would fall in love with my husband over and over again.

It was my sanctuary at the end of a long day.

For 8 years it was the place I called "home".

We tested the vows of marriage as we took on renovation projects…some of which were only finished because we put the house on the market.

Why would we leave such a strongly built, memory containing, scenic spot? Simple. We had another dream. About 4 years into our marriage we decided that one day we would build. We loved the idea of starting with a blank slate and creating a house that encompassed all that we’d like in a house. A couple years ago we were blessed to purchase 28 acres. The view is stunning and the location is ideal considering my husband and I work in opposite directions. We are hoping to finally break ground by the end of February or early March.

 This is a dream we have had and to see it all start to come together is overwhelming in the best way. God has shown us his favor through this whole process. It began with the land purchase. It then began to come together even more when we were able to rent from my in-laws and move out in order to finish some projects and leave the house empty for sale. Within about 3 weeks of being on the market, a couple fell in love with the location and our little house and as of this week, the ownership was transferred from us to them. Everything has come together beautifully and we could not have asked for a better outcome for all involved.

I look forward to sharing this next part of our journey as it unfolds. Until then, I’ll leave you with some of the sweet memories that made our first home so dear.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

You Never Outgrow Your Momma

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If you've been blessed to have an involved mother in your life, then you'll know what I'm talking about. From the time I was little, my mom was the one I went to for everything. She and I have always been close and I am blessed to have such a Godly, encouraging woman in my life. When I moved to Virginia in 2007, it was so hard to leave her behind. I missed her terribly and I was envious of my sister's time with her while I got to see her only a few times a year.

Upon having my own children, I realized just how badly I wanted that time with my mom back. Since I knew there was no way to get the time back, I focused on how I could make our time together meaningful and memorable. Still, a birthday and Christmas were not enough.

For the last several years, I've prayed for God to place contentment in my heart when the ache became too much. There came a time when it was as if God was speaking straight to me. My heart gained a peace that ensured me that she would once again become a constant presence in my life. That was several years ago.

There were many conversations with my mom about having her move to Virginia. When our daughter (her first grandchild) was born, I was shameless in using her as an incentive. Mom went back and forth with reasons why she could/should but could not move. I'd get frustrated when she'd make progress towards a move, but then there would be no further follow through. I desperately wanted her here.

When we became pregnant with my son, I had a much more difficult pregnancy and all I wanted was my mom. I wanted her here when I'd lie awake afraid and Clinton was at work. I wanted her at some of my appointments. I wanted her to hear his little heartbeat. I just wanted my mom.

This past November, my mom and I were talking (yet again) about her moving here. There were so many signs indicating she needed to make the move and yet she was still hesitant. I totally understood her reasoning, but I felt the time was coming. I insisted that she'd know the right moment when it came. That same month, she and I were texting and we both sent each other the same house for sale at the same time. The listing was in her price range and it had 98% of the things she had on her "must have" list for a new home. Eventually, she agreed to let me speak with a realtor about the house. My husband and I both checked out the house and upon my personal walk through, I just knew it was for her. God gives such perfect confirmations.

To make a long, but no so long, story short, the Lord made a way for EVERYTHING to fall into place. Everything she had a worry about was boldly taken care of through God's provision. In March, she took the bold step and made the official move to Virginia. I have been trying to convince myself that this is real. I now drive 15 minutes to see her. We can have weekly dinners, impromptu outings, and plenty of girl time.

The best part has been seeing her interact with the kids. She has missed so much of their little lives thus far and I am overjoyed at the memories she is now making with them. God has answered my prayers by providing a way for her to become an active part of our lives. She no longer sees us through pictures. I'm such a lucky gal.

After all, I'll never outgrow my momma.

Linking up for Waiting on Wednesday

10 Mommy-Daughter Dates

There are few things that I enjoy more than spending time with my kids...in fact, I really don't know of anything I would rather do. I jump at the chance to spend some quality time with both my daughter and son. For my son, who will soon be 9 months old, our time consists of lots of snuggles, rocking in the chair, playing outside, and working towards new milestones. I love every second.

My daughter, who will be three in April, is a whole new kind of fun. I adore my mini me more than words can say. I'm continually amazed by how much she picks up on, how her interests change, and how big her personality has become. We have the best time!

Since before N was born, I have made an intentional effort to spend one-on-one time with G. As she gets older, our outings become that much more fun. I thought I'd share a few of our favorite Mommy-Daughter dates.

The Park

Free is always good. We have a couple of local parks near us, but their playground equipment is limited. We have to venture a little further into town to get to the "good" playgrounds and I must say, they are totally worth it. During the summer, we take full advantage of early morning romps and a light lunch under the shade of the trees.

Plays

G has finally become old enough that she can sit through and enjoy movies. I decided to take advantage of this new milestone and took her to a play. Recently, our local high school presented The Little Mermaid. The students did an AMAZING job. They captivated her for almost the entire length of the play. I definitely look forward to taking her to more in the future.

Educational Centers

We have a local educational center geared towards children. I would be a full time member if I was a SAHM. It would be well worth the money. I've taken her up there a few times and her favorite parts of the center are the paint room and the farm area. My girl loves some art and animals.

Zoos and Aquariums

These outings almost always include the whole family. We all LOVE animals and these trips are some of my favorites. We make amazing memories as she learns about new animals and we are able to share God's creation with her in such a fun way.

The Spray Park

On the grounds of one of the "good" parks, there is a Spray Park. It is awesome and free. She gets to sport her cute bathing suit while playing with other children in various sprinklers and waterfalls. It is a blast. We typically pack a lunch and make a full morning of it.

The Movies

Before our dollar theater closed down, it was the place to go. We had no problem waiting for new releases to become a little older so that we could pay $1.50 to watch them. In fact, it was at that theater that G had her first movie watching experience. Unfortunately, we only have the "high dollar" theaters left so our movie outings are very few and in between. They do make for a fun treat though.

The Library

During the summer, our library usually hosts various kid centered activities. If you are able to make things work, they also have weekly programs for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, the morning hours that these are held do not work with my schedule. All that aside, we love taking trips to the library. We venture out early, grab something fresh, and homemade from the local bakery and then head over. She has the best time picking her selections and playing with the sensory bins. We both love reading so it is a definite win.

Homebound

Every now and then my hubby will take N out for the day. This allows some down time at home. She and I enjoy doing little crafts, making hot chocolate or cookies, and watching whatever Disney movie is currently her favorite. We may get a good little nap in together before heading out to play with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

Playdates

G is at the perfect age for playdates. We love getting together with her little friends and their moms for an afternoon of play. I enjoy the adult conversation and seeing G interact with other children her age.

Frozen Yogurt

G has acquired my love of ice cream. We have a few sweet spots that we love. However, one of her favorites is our local frozen yogurt shop. She gets a kick out of picking her flavors and then adding toppings.

These dates are simple and generally inexpensive. The most important thing is that quality time is spent together. I want her memories to be filled with good things. I want her to feel loved and invested in. She is a precious gift and it is such an honor to be her mom.

What types of places do you enjoy taking your littles ones to?

Linking up with September Farm

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Mommy Moments

Countdown to Halloween link-up Week 1

While we don't do much in the way of celebrating Halloween,  we do a lot to celebrate the blessings of the Fall season. This past weekend was supposed to consist of a great consignment sale, pumpkin picking and one of our local orchard ' s apple butter festival. However, thanks to 3 days of rain, all outside activities were postponed. I did get some awesome deals at the consignment sale. Yippee!

I've been trying to savor the last bits of my maternity leave since I go back to work today. The struggle is real. To keep my toddler (and my mind) occupied, we did a couple little fall activities that we picked up from our library...not to mention lots of play dough and snuggling.

She completed a sorting activity and then a leaf activity. This was her first time using a glue stick...she is now slightly obsessed.

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Family Heirlooms

In this day and age of waste and want, it does not seem that things maintain sentimental value anymore. There are several things that have been or will be passed on to me that I treasure and I hope to instill the same type of sentiment and appreciation in our children. I was treated to such a family heirloom when my mom came to visit after N was born.

 

She gave me a sweet little blue outfit that was crocheted by N's great, great grandmother for my dad. This little treasure is made up of a bonnet, booties and jacket. While it is a little frilly for what most male children would wear today, this 59 year old piece of history looks like something that would be made for a prince.

The crochet is intricate and the blue color is so soft and subtle. I was able to capture a couple of photos of N wearing it. Had I waited much longer I'm afraid my little guy would no longer fit. I love that I will be able to pass this down.

 

Linking up with Thoughts for Thursday

Five on Friday: Memories Made

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Since backing off of social media I have found myself happier, my time spent with my family more meaningful and the memories more precious and full. I haven't participated in a Friday Five link up in quite a while, and like my time, I want my posts to hold a little more meaning and value. Here are a few of my favorite things from the last week or so...

Just a side note: our precious gem turned 20 months old today! How did that happen?!

[Chasing Moonbeams]

Our little one has been infatuated with the moon as of late. I'm not sure what has spurred it but she looks for it every evening we're outside. The other night I got her out of the car and stood her in the driveway. She immediately began searching the sky. She found the moon and pointed at the beautiful round orb hanging in the starlit sky. Suddenly she began running towards it yelling "moon" down the driveway. I snatched her up and we both just stood there and stared at one of God's most spectacular views. She stayed focused on it until the opening of the front door broke her concentration.

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[Christmas Traditions]

We have several family traditions that I hope to share soon. One of my favorites is the 12 Books of Christmas that we began with G last year for her first Christmas. While you'll find tons of ideas regarding 25 books, we decided to scale it down a bit. We start on December 13th and she gets to open a new book each evening. We read it together and add it to her "library". She'll open the last one on Christmas Eve and then we'll read the scripture of Jesus' birth on Christmas morning. She really enjoys opening the books this year. Christmas will be so fun!

[Pajamas and Gingerbread]

Our dear friends (although I'd say they are more like family) hosted a Pajamas and Gingerbread House party. They did an amazing job! They invested so much heart and soul, not to mention time, into the evening. Each child had their own (homemade) gingerbread house. The rest of us brought items to decorate the houses with. G really enjoyed herself...even more so when she realized that what she was making was edible. I now know what my child is like on a sugar high!

Courtesy of Ashley

[Diapers]

Lately G has become aware of when her diaper is wet/dirty and informs us of when she needs changed. While she's not interested in potty training, she does like a clean bottom. She also feels her "babies" should have the same experience. We've caught her several times trying to diaper her moose and giraffe with one of her diapers. While we get a good giggle out of it, she gets frustrated, especially considering that the diapers are bigger than her toys. I decided to make her some felt diapers for her babies. She loved them and is gradually becoming more independent at putting them on Bella and Mo-Mo herself.

[Just Say "No" to Santa]

While we're not brining up G to believe that Santa Clause is "real" (please don't boo and hiss, we have our reasons) we do share him with her as a fun storybook character. She has seen Santa in various places and media and had her picture taken with him several times last year. This year however, thanks to her age appropriate stranger anxiety, she was having none of that. She kept her distance at first but then was enticed by his offering of a candy cane. That's where the interest ended. We could barely get her to stand next to him, let alone sit in his lap. No good pictures have been gotten this year. We have one more chance to try this weekend and I'm hoping it goes smoother...but will not be surprised if things go South quickly.

Linking up with Darci from the good life blog and Amy from The Farmer's Wife

Why I Love Him

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In 15 days we'll be celebrating 6 years of marriage. I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone by. I'm eternally grateful to God for bringing us together. I'm also grateful that a sweet country boy took a chance on a girl that he met one summer...

I thought I'd dedicate this week's post to my amazing husband...here are five (granted there are thousands more) of the top reasons why I love him.

Engagement Photo 2007

Our Wedding 2008

[A Heart of Gold]
The mold was broke when this guy was made. I've never met someone who was so generous, caring, and sincere. He is truly my better half.

Our first anniversary 2009
We're under the "Wedding Bell" at Dixie Caverns.

[Country Strong]
He was raised to work hard and play hard. We share so many of the same passions including the outdoors, traveling, and family. We have treasured memories that center around campfires, four wheelers, mud on the tires, and star filled skies. He knows my heart.

2010

[A Man of Faith]
The most important quality of the man that I would marry was that he'd love the Lord and have a heart for His commandments. When I met my hubby in 2004 at a Christian camp in Central Virginia (we were counselors), I learned two very important things about him. One, he loved the Lord with a beautiful passion. He had, and still has, a servant's heart and is a living testament of God's goodness in his life. Secondly I learned that he loved children and wanted his future little ones to love the Lord the same way he does. Almost two years ago we were blessed with our miracle babe and He has been keeping good on that promise.

2011

[Sing-a-longs]
My hubby has a secret talent. He has the potential to be a living, breathing, walking one man musical. He has the ability to turn everyday conversation into song. This keeps me laughing. The best part is that he starts out in fun and then has a really hard time stopping!

2012 in Baltimore

[My Best Friend]
As a gal who never dated in high school...and I mean never...well, ok there were two blind dates but I try not to think about those...I was not sure when or if God would bring "the man" into my life. I had always had guy friends but none of them ever took a chance on me. I was the "best bud" and the one you came running too when the girl you thought you loved broke your heart. I remember meeting my hubby and not thinking twice about him in my future. I was trying to make peace with where God wanted me and little did I know that I would meet the man that I'd spend the rest of my life with. Four years later we married and I can honestly say he is my best friend. He is the one I cry with, laugh with, and dream with. He is the amazing father of our beautiful little girl and proves his amazing love for us over and over again. I'll love him forever...


2013
Proud daddy

2014

Linking up with Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey Friday and Darci for Five on Friday