This is a message in a bottle.
A bottle crossing a proverbial ocean, if you will.
The bottle holds this tiny message from a little family, and it’s crossing an ocean of time. In hopes that one day in these walls, it will be found again. Time changes things and propels us forward. And things are just things… they come and go. Maybe one day this house will be remodeled again by a new inhabitant. Maybe one day, it will be torn down to build something new. We know that things change.
But the romantic in us, hopes that it’s someone who will love this home as much as we have.
That was the introduction to our first message in a bottle. And this will be the introduction in our second. Since we’re working on our addition, and we’re almost to drywall, we thought it would be fun to continue our tradition.
This little house has come so far.
This little family has, too.
When we first moved in to this little house, we knew we wanted to build a life here. And so we have. It’s been our second act, where we came from a hard place. Where we made some tough choices, and decided on the move and relocated our family.
In that, we changed the trajectory of everything. It’s the best decision we’ve ever made, but it was the hardest transition. It’s really funny how time works like that. Irreplaceable with unpredictable results.
We know that we love it here. It’s a small town, USA kind of feel, in the best possible nostalgic way. The big yellow school bus rolls up on weekday mornings, and everything feels green and fresh and new this spring. We’re just overwhelmed with soaking in the little things. It’s here in this house we’ve made memories. We’ve had teaching moments, and sweet snuggles. Dinners filled with laughter and priceless moments with new relationships. It’s here that we step back, and our hearts are grateful for the opportunity for a future, and to look back at how far we’ve come.
We decided it was time for another message. Hidden away in our walls, in hopes that someone might find it one day.
So with bed heads on a sleepy Saturday, they wrote out their answers on little forms, complete with photos and sweet wishes for their future.
Malone loves playing Basketball and swimming. In his last answer, he really enjoyed eating. ;} In the future, he hopes there will be working light sabers. {We think this is a great request.}
His favorite part about living here is “all the places to see and go”. He’s most excited about finishing the addition. He wants to be a writer or a chef when he grows up. {He’s always really enjoyed eating.}
I love the possibilities in front of them.
And the memories we’ve created here in the meantime, with a haven for them, always.
Emerson’s favorite color is purple. She wants to be a writer, painter, or famous athlete. {We do love the versatility she’s got going on.} She’s looking forward to middle school next year {HOLD ME}. She enjoys playing with her friends, and history and science are her favorite subjects at school. She doesn’t know what the future will hold but she knows that “it will make the world a better place.”
I’m simply enamored with their innocent hopefulness, that only a child can possess. I hope they never lose it.
Our oldest, Aiden, believes “that the future will hold flying cars, laser guns, being able to travel to Mars and being able to drive cars at the age of three”. Sounds legit. He has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up, but whatever he chooses, he’ll be great at it. Apparently, there are too many colors to choose a favorite, though we all kind of agree he tends to lean towards blue. He loves history, and just like his parents, kind of soaks up this place, with historical locations and fascinating old houses.
To balance himself out, he also loves playing video games with friends. He is a teenager, after all.
Our children are sweet souls with a bright future, and we only hope we’re doing our very best. And that our very best is enough. Either way, we hope they all know how very loved they are. Always.
So here we are, three years later, again.
When we sent out our first message in a bottle, the older two were the ages the younger ones are now.
STAHP IT TIME.
No really. How can it be?
Where there was once bare walls and framing, where we once wondered if this project would ever be finished, there now stands a kitchen.
And our family has grown so much, in the very best of ways.
So here we are, standing on the other side of time. Sending off another message in a proverbial bottle.
We tell our story in hopes that it reaches someone on the other side. I think we all just want to make a memory or two, and perhaps in some ways, be remembered. It’s at the core of who we are, while we’re on this little journey called life.
Printables: {about me yellow, about me plaid pink, about me blue+ time capsule label.}
Let us know if you decide to make one, we’d love to hear from you!
Have an inspired day!
Erica M. says
This is SO stinkin cute!! Honestly this would be a fun thing to do with your kids even just to bottle it up yourself and look back on after they are grown!! ❤ So sweet! Sometime we will meet! I have a 9yr old that needs to meet your kiddos too!! If your ever bored just head out your door, bare left towards the treeline, hug it to pass the house caddy-corner to you and into our back yard! Just start jumping on the trampoline like several others do and we’ll come out to join ya! 😉 Sounds like I’m joking but I’m really not 😂
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe fun! I didn’t know you were so close. We should definitely meet up! ;}