Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

our first home.

I was recently inspired by a project Compass is hosting called “starter stories.” {Compass is a new real estate company based in NYC looking to connect people with their best match for a home. NYC friends- you should check them out!}

As I reflect back on our own “starter” home, I can’t help but smile. We had just moved to Arkansas on a whim, Dave knew he wanted to build homes and his parents had recently relocated to this little corner of the world. His dad had built homes back in Colorado so they decided to start a business here. We arrived with all of our earthly belongings in the back of a U-Haul. We had both quit our jobs and had to return our company cars when we resigned, which left us with the U-Haul truck as our only means of transportation. We scoured the want ads trying to find a place to rent and drove up to the little house that we would call home in the U-Haul. The owner met us there to show us around and then we asked if we could move in. Like, right then. We needed to move in. He looked out front, saw the U-haul in the driveway and gave us the keys.

We spent the sweetest year and a half in that little house.

Did I mention that we were broke? Completely and utterly penniless. Dave bought an old used red truck that we SHARED. You guys. I had moved from Tampa then to Nashville and then to Arkansas. And I was driving a pick-up truck. Life had taken some interesting twists and turns. It was just hilarious. We coordinated schedules and Dave would come home from work when I had a job interview so that I could take the truck to my interview. It took about a month for me to get a new job (that I really loved actually) and Dave’s business started taking off that first year, as well. Things were looking up.

Looking back on photos of that time, I have two thoughts: we look about twelve years old and we had a LOT of fun.

Urban Compass had asked me to share stories of remodels and how we made that little house a home. Honestly, at that time, we were just happy to have a roof over our heads. We settled in and made it cozy but there weren’t any major home improvement projects happening, especially since we were just renting. We painted old furniture and walls and filled the home with new and old friends and family at every opportunity.
      
Karaoke was a staple. I miss that karaoke machine now that I think of it. 
We painted the free table and chairs my parents gave us and used all of the furniture from my old apartment — I was clearly in a red phase. Red at every turn – the walls in the kitchen, the dining chairs and the sofa. 
Isn’t it interesting to look back on how our tastes and styles change through the years? 
Per his usual, Dave had visits from the local fire department on several occasions. In fact, we have lived in five houses together and we have had the fire department visit every, single one. Without a doubt, the visit to this little house was worthy of re-telling over and over. We still laugh about the time Dave cooked a turkey on “the fire chief” over an open fire in the backyard (why?!?!) and the neighbor called the fire department. We explained the situation and they called it in with the line that is likely still circulating in their break room over laughter, “sir, everything is fine here. He is just… umm… cooking a turkey.” 
In the meantime, we were building our first home together. It all felt like a big adventure. We were full of excitement and anticipation of this new place. 
We decided on a traditionally southern home and we lived there for three years. This was the home where we held block parties with neighbors and lived the quintessential American suburban life. We borrowed milk and eggs from friends next door, shared dinners together often, and stayed outside until well after dark talking and laughing with our neighbors. It was such a special time. 
This was also the home where we struggled silently with the loss of our first pregnancy and each subsequent month brought sorrow and grief. 
When the market crashed, we decided to move into a home Dave bought and refinished and I was ready to start fresh. Our life felt like it needed a change. I look back now and see that we moved to this new place where we didn’t really talk with our neighbors and were surrounded by trees and quiet, and it was exactly what I needed. I needed to be still and quiet. I needed to seek God and rest in Him. It was the home where we finally walked through the front door with our babies. It was the home of miracles and answered prayers. 
This home had a cozy basement and we added exposed brick everywhere we could manage. There were still darker colors yet it felt right in this place. I was also still clearly obsessed with red. 
When the boys were a year old, we moved downtown to the home where we planned to stay. We were done moving. 
That lasted three years. 
Oh, I loved this house. I went away from all dark colors and wanted bright, clean, fresh rooms. We spent such a joy-filled time in this home. {Home tour photos: kitchen, bedrooms, playroom }.
When we decided to move to the farmhouse, I was ready. We were ready to start a new chapter. I was seven months pregnant and we were still waiting for Sylvie to come home. It felt like our waiting was coming to a close and we needed to get away, quiet our souls, slow down and be refreshed. We found all of that and more out here in this cozy little farmhouse. {Home tour photos HERE}.
Growing up, we lived in the same home my entire life. I loved that house. I can still close my eyes and picture every room, every memory created there in that special place. It’s hard to believe that I have moved this many times in my adult life. I don’t believe I would have planned it this way. But, as is always the case when God leads, I wouldn’t change a thing. Each home brought about a change, a closing of a chapter as well as a fresh start- a blank slate. In decorating and in life. As I reflect back on our journey, I am grateful for these places and how they have imprinted themselves on my heart. 
I’ve also had the privilege of learning that a house is just four walls and a roof until you fill it with love and laughter and joy. That’s the good stuff of this life.
What about you? How has your home reflected your season of life? Have you moved often or have you stayed in one place? Are you in your first home now? I would love to hear about your journey!

Comments

  2. Alice Anne says

    I am SO ready for a home home. One I can call "permanent." We've been stuck in college-student-renting-mode for 10 years and I am so over it. 🙂 I love your farmhouse!

    • jenny.marrs@yahoo.com says

      Oh I completely understand! Even though we haven't been renting all this time, there were years where we just felt in flux. We knew we wouldn't be staying long term. It's nice now to be in a place where we can just enjoy our home and our family and do crazy home improvement projects that only get half-finished. Ha! I hope you get to this place soon but enjoy the ride in the meantime!!!

  3. Sarah Frazer says

    I moved from living with my parents, to living with my husband in our "starter" home. It was small house, near an elementary school. It only had two bedrooms, and a tiny kitchen. One of my favorite features was a screened in porch in the back. I loved that area. It was roofed and completely screened it. I could sit out there in the run or sunshine. We had our two boys in that house and it was right off of the kitchen. I would let my boys play on the porch while I cooked. I would sit out there and read and it was just so peaceful. We moved into our current house four years ago this year. Although we have a similar room, it doesn't have the same feel as the other room had. Our current house is bigger, which is what we need as we will be adding #4 this year. I miss that quiet space and I can't seem to find the perfect replacement yet! 🙂
    Thanks for sharing!
    Sarah
    http://www.sarahefrazer.com

  4. Tessy says

    This was a neat post. I have only lived in two homes so far. My husband comes from a line of carpenters. His dad and Grandpa built houses. He has a dream to build a home someday perhaps. The thing is our styles are quite different.. he is more into cabin/rustic and my vibe more cottage, old, vintage. The thing is, we hate to settle too much… you know how God whispers and calls. If we built.. it would feel permanent as the land we own was inherited.

    • jenny.marrs@yahoo.com says

      Oh yes! Dave and I have luckily been pretty compatible as far as our styles but it's taken a while to get to this place where we have similar tastes! And, I know what you mean… we never say never as far as moving again:)

  5. Lysha says

    Wow! All of the homes you have lived in are gorgeous! So different, yet I can tell that they were all warm and inviting; a place where anyone would feel at home.