When I wrote that I immediately thought to myself, “What does that mean?” I feel like we are what makes our homes sweet, right? It’s the people and the relationships that engulf a home in sweetness. You could have the most beautiful home in the world but if the people don’t have love, kindness, hope, and dreams it’s just a pretty home.

During the last couple of weeks while kind of “dismantling” our home and dreaming of renovating an older ranch house, I’ve had to keep reminding my myself (and Steve) of one thing. No matter where we go or where we live we will be together. Our love and who we are as a family will go with us. Everywhere I ever lived, one thing rang true, my houses have always been “homes.” Over my adult life people have always told me my homes feel welcoming, cozy and warm. From one bedroom apartments to the home we live in today, people are happy here and feel comfortable and welcome. That is us, the spirit in our hearts, that will go where we go. Our house is not our family, we are.

I’m not going to lie, being in one place for 13 years makes it pretty scary to think about leaving it. Remembering all the life we’ve lived here and children we’ve raised here makes me feel very sad to move away from it. But, what is life if we are not growing and shaking it up a little bit? Steve and I are in a place where we both feel like it’s time to move forward with the next phase in our lives, and I’m super excited about it!

So, here is a tribute to my lovely house. She has kept us safe, heard our fears and tears, so many tears. Our laughs have echoed vigorously through her walls. Children have grown out of her and their friends came into her for love and safety. Our home has been full and bursting with fun and it’s been very empty. She’s been surrounded in holidays and parties and little animals have come and gone. In it all it has been our home, the place we always came back to. Through rain, shine, and earthquakes, our safe place. Thank you house. I pray every day for the people who are going to buy this home from us because I want them to be as happy and blessed here as we have been for so many years.

So there you have it! We are finally done with the prep to sell process and tomorrow we are officially on the market! Time to start the adventure of change, life’s only constant. Buckle up!