Oh, What a Difference a Year Makes!

While settlement was in February, one year ago today was the day we actually physically moved in to our new (first) house. Steve had spent two weeks hard at work getting things ready for that day, turning cold, dirty, monochromatic bachelor pad into warm, welcoming family home. That first night was so exciting, getting used to the new sounds of the furnace kicking in, wind brushing gently against siding, the click of kitty claws on wood floors, and the creaking of the stairs as they made their way up to bed. Listening to birds settling in the decorative pear tree outside our bedroom window in the morning was such a sweet sound, and we knew we would be happy here.

The house still has a long way to go, with a laundry list of things that need to be done, some more urgently than others. Steve's been doing them mostly on his own, which is such a huge undertaking. But I figure it's kind of like how things go with road crews - once one patch of road is done, it's on to the next, then the next, then eventually it's time to start from the beginning again. The list will never end, and that's part of the beauty of owning a home. But the house is beautiful, inviting and cozy, and it's home.

Home. That's a word I'd waited so long to say.

Home. A place where Samantha can grow up and have that warm, safe feeling that I always had when I was a child.

We are extremely grateful to my mother and step-father, Ray, for making this happen for us. We are eternally indebted to them. How do you repay someone for this opportunity? Thank you both.

Before & After