Entry No1

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6

Since we were married in May of 1991, my husband Greg and I dreamed of owning property and building a place we would call home forever. But the grand adventure of our lives has taken us from place to place, house to house. Finally, the time has come; time for us to plant a home where its roots can run deep, our family can grow, gather, and enjoy life together. For months we wrestled with one important decision: Where would we build our home? We looked at beautiful properties, weighed practical considerations, and prayed for wisdom. Looking back now, I can see that the Lord had already prepared a place for us- we just hadn’t discovered it yet.

In early November of 2021, I sat and watched as the backhoe broke ground on our property. A flood of joy washed over me, carrying away every lingering doubt and fear about our decision. Then, as if to seal the moment in my memory forever, the wind picked up, and a downpour of enormous golden yellow and brilliant orange leaves began to fall. For what felt like hours, it rained autumn. I sat there, overwhelmed with gratitude, reflecting on the journey that had led us to this place. 

As we drove down the road one afternoon to look at some lots on the hill- lots with breathtaking views, by the way- we passed a property that hadn’t even made our list, most likely because much of it lay within the floodplain. 

But I wasn’t looking at a flood map. I was looking up.

The sycamore trees were majestic. In that instant, I dreamed of a house that looks as if I were walking through the woods and stumbled upon a cottage, warm and cozy, confident that if I opened the door there would be a roaring fire in the fireplace, cookies in the oven and the captivating sound of the best kind of laughter- the belly kind.

Yep. This is it.

This is the place I hope to build a home, to unbox our collected family treasures for their final destination, a place where children, grandchildren, friends, flowers, and memories will all find room to grow. This is the place I am envisioning the seasons that are yet to come.

So, against my DNA, I’m choosing to journal it here- the growing of this property, inside and out, the flowers we plant, the home we build the generations we welcome, the friendships we treasure. I’ll send these words into oblivion, hoping they might encourage someone else to cultivate beauty wherever they’ve been planted, delighting in the boundaries that have fallen.