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Three years ago, almost to the day, we stumbled upon this old neglected house.
And we instantly fell in love.
It had been a bit of a whirlwind, of sorts after waiting for a really long time. We made the leap from one horrible market {where it took our home nearly a year to sell} to an amazing one {where homes go like hotcakes}. I’ll back up for a quick summary in case you’re new here:
We were tired of nosy house-lookers with no results.
You know what it’s like to have a house showing… you quickly pack up your dogs, children, laundry and anything else you can grab, and leave your perfectly clean house all so some people can come in and track it up, never to be heard from again. Afterwards, you find your bra on a doorknob and feel like a rockstar. Sometimes there were multiple showings a day. With zero results. It was almost as if people wanted decor ideas. We had a few experiences where it kind of blew our mind that people could be so thoughtless.
So we lost our everlovingminds and did what any other sane people would do: We went to Disney World.
We planned it four days before leaving. {Again, totally sane} and it was worth the wait because apparently all we needed was a little pixie dust. Our home sold. No, we couldn’t believe it. A few days later, we were sitting on Pirates of the Carribean, and realized we were homeless. When we found this one, we fell in love. Basically, It didn’t really make any sense.
But sometimes, love doesn’t make sense.
Throw in new home owners for our old house who were being a little weird, {we weren’t sure if they were about to back out over a chimney sweep and a tree trimming – clearly first time home owners} the slowest time for our company ever where we hit a dry spot, and didn’t know if our little homegrown business would make it.
It had been a risk, we’d taken a leap, and we really weren’t sure where we’d land.
But a lot can happen in one year. A whole lot more can happen in three. And here we are, looking back. When we stumbled upon this little neglected house, we didn’t know we were just at the very beginning of an incredible journey.
New friends it feels like we’ve known forever, amazing experiences with our own business, and the crazy adventure of rehabbing this house. Because that moment where we stumbled upon this little neglected home, was just the beginning.
So, happy home-aversary three years in: here are a few things we’ve learned.
1. Take the Leap.
We didn’t know if we were going to make it. Changing your life’s trajectory, is kind of a big deal. Changing it along with your entire career in a business move, kind of makes it a double whammy. We didn’t relocate with a guaranteed paycheck. We moved to jumpstart the design side of our business, and we knew we were taking a risk.
Diving into the entire thing with a complete and total rehab of a house, is a triple whammy. Like, in those hard moments, really make you question your life choices and judgement, triple. #whatwerewethinking
Because money doesn’t grow on trees, it was all a risk. This house though, was almost like a metaphor for that moment in our life. Things were unsure. The house had been left uninhabited for a while. There were roof issues, the pool was black and then there was the whole discovery of a hidden potty underground in the back yard. Yeah, we almost walked away.
Oh wait, we did walk away.
I cried myself to sleep that night, because love.
When we were just married, we kind of bought into the “American Dream” lie. It was before the real estate crash and things were hunkey dorey with everyone. We dove in head first, so naturally the next step was a mortgage and a dog and a matching family and a picket fence. When in reality, we probably should have skipped the wedding, taken some cash, and moved to Hawaii for a year to be waiters or something.
We try to live with no regrets. But sometimes, we have regret and that’s totally okay. It can be hard not to look back and wonder… I think we all have our own version of Hawaii in our lives. That ideal what-if. We can’t live in what if’s.
So three years ago, that entire transition, and then transforming this house, was when we looked at each other and knew that it was Us vs. The World.
We came back to this little house after walking away.
We put on our battle armor and screamed ‘FOR NARNIA’ or something else with war paint starring lots of people with bows and arrows and horses and battle where they all probably die. Yes, I am being dramatic but this was it. Even though there were so many unsure moments, we knew we should just do it anyway. Because we’d rather learn, than wonder forever with a list of what-ifs.
This was our Hawaii.
Our mid-life crisis version.
We were finally making a change, and this was right for us.
So, if it feels right, take the leap. There are no guarantees, and we’d rather live life knowing we lived it to our fullest.
If we could visit ourselves four years ago when we were planning this move, one year in after actually living in this house, we’d tell ourselves to do it all over again.
Take the leap.
2. Patience Really is a Virtue
Waiting. It may be my biggest life struggle.
I worry too much. I wish I knew what was going to happen next. Things have to line up on my grand scheme of things life plans list, with my perfect color coded planner and all things road maps to life.
Who missed the memo? Can life not line up perfectly with my timeline?!
If this house has taught me anything, it’s more patience. It’s probably increased tenfold. One day, when I die, my one regret will be having so much worry over things I simply can’t control.
Yeah, I know. I’m not as important as I apparently think I am. See above point: Why moving to Hawaii would have been a nice exercise. See point no. 2. Where I am now discussing patience, instead.
This house with its codes and inspection and #$&%*@# septic tank has taught us a lot about patience. We have learned so much in this entire process. About trying so hard, and struggling to get to that next point, when really… things have a way of working themselves out. Despite my own personal timeline and wishes.
Despite my perpetual impatience.
Maybe I should take a deep a deep breath and just roll with it.
Because worrying never really changed anything. And it certainly never helps.
3. Time really is on your side.
It’s kind of related to the point above, but also totally different.
Because sometimes, waiting it out is the very best thing you can do when it comes to a house and embracing the process. Whether it’s getting a feel for the floor plan, or processing future additions, and how everything will flow with a house.
Waiting can be so hard but time isn’t working against you. You’ll actually find it’s working for you in subtle ways that really are kind of amazing when you’re able to take a step back and look at the big picture.
Don’t be afraid to wait it out.
Photo courtesy of Country Living via Brian Woodcock
Photo courtesy of Country Living via Brian Woodcock
4. Embrace Where You Are.
I spoke a little about life wishes, and patience.
So this is the point where I talk about embracing where you are.
We have landscaping to do, and we’re taking on the first part of our addition and… and… {Cue phases 4, 5, 6, and 7}.
There is always that list. And maybe just maybe, life still goes on.
This too shall pass. So we may as well enjoy the ride while we’re on it. And embrace where we are.
Uh, I mean I am talking about the house… not one big metaphor for life. Clearly, I keep wavering between the two.
Because really, this whole life thing is slipping by a little too quickly for my taste. #Imputtingbricksonmykidsheadsalreadytomakethemstopgrowing
And just like the process of rehabbing a house and living in it three years later… I really don’t want to miss the actual living part.
It can be easy to be sucked into the every day of things, without enjoying every day.
5. Take breaks.
Walk away.
We learned that this past fall when we decided to step back from our {first} addition.
It was probably the best decision we could make at the time. Sometimes, it’s nice to just really live life. And enjoy where you are but also take breathers.
If we’re keeping it real, burnout is inevitable with a big renovation and subsequent additions, if you don’t take a little time to live. So taking breaks and starting later than you would have liked, is a lot like an artist stepping back from their canvas, and taking a breather.
It’s good to see the big picture every now and then.
Three years of living here after taking on this rehab has already instilled so many life lessons.
Rehabbing this house a little bit Mr. Miyagi style, I thought it was about that second coat of paint, but it really was about learning a few deeper lessons, instead.
We can’t wait to see what else is in store.
Just in case you’re curious, we shared a few more specifics on rehabbing an older house, here. Get ready to have the myths dispelled. ;} Follow our entire Money Pit journey here + be sure to check out our portfolio here!
What are some things you’ve learned from your house in the grand scheme of things and all life metaphors? What is something you’ve learned in the waiting season of life? We’d love to hear what you have to say.
Have an inspired day!
Jenny B. says
Tom Petty said it best, “The waiting is the hardest part.” 🙂 We’ve been (and still are) in a season of waiting. I thought we were waiting to build our dream house on some land we bought, but the more plans we made, the less right it felt, so we listed it for sale. We’re still waiting for it to sell. We thought we’d just buy a bigger house instead, but then, at the beginning of December, my husband was laid off from his job of 15 years. So, we waited for him to get a new job. That was hard, but good. I had to let go of a lot of control and just be willing to go wherever God provided a job. Thankfully, after 3 months, he got a new job! Now, we’re waiting to find out if we’ll have to relocate (actually to the Nashville area). 🙂 We know we don’t have to right now, but we may… someday… in a year or maybe two. Or maybe never. Sigh… So, we are still waiting. Will the waiting ever end? I have my doubts. I suspect that even when the waiting ends for one thing, it will begin for another, and another, and another… I guess we’d better just get used to it and learn to make the most of whatever’s going on right now. 🙂
ashley @ the handmade home says
SO TRUE, Jenny! And forgive me, but I am JUST now seeing this comment. I’m on pins and needles wanting to know if you moved here! Congratulations on the job, and we hope the very best for you. We know that it’s like to wait. HUGS to you.
April says
We tried to sell our starter house in our time and it didn’t sell after a year on the market. So we didn’t list it again. We decided to love it once more with it’s 1 full bath and closed up floor plan with laundry in the basement. We took the big vacation while our mortgage was still small. We just lived in it and didn’t make big changes to it. We chose contentment for a while. Next thing we know we are signing a contract with a young couple that wanted the house if we were done with it and knew a friend of ours and reached out to us. Now we are in a rental and (fingers-crossed) about to break ground on our forever home on family land. #stickershockonhowmuchnewbuildscost
Jen says
Wow! All of it… just wow!!!
ruby says
I love this! I love how real you are….now I need a sign that says, “we can’t live with the what ifs.”