“It was, and I did, mom. Our house is my dream home. If I could live anywhere, it would be here.”
Tearing up over here reading this essay! Sara, this is beautiful and creative (and likely took so much time to craft!) Thank you for sharing your gift! <3
Thank you so much, Olivia!! It took many months, yes...i'm so thankful I didn't give up (because I almost did, lol). I'm so glad it resonated with you--thank you for your encouragement <3
Sara, this was beautiful! I can relate to so much of what you shared and especially loved this line, “It’s hard for me to hold dreams in one hand and contentment in the other.” I’m constantly fighting for that balance while I live in a home I didn’t choose but am so thankful for. Thanks for sharing this.
Ahhhh Sara!!!! I love this essay because it is from your heart and so stinking relatable! Love reading about your home and its quirks and its occupants who love each other so well! You put so much work into this and I’m so delighted to see it in the world!
Erin, you're so kind! I'm glad you could relate--that starter home musing has been on my mind so much lately. In this vignette I'm very tame, but in real life I feel very fiery about it, lol. Let's banish the term all together! Home. JUST home.
Sarah, this is STUNNING!! We are long term renters because purchasing a home always seems to be just out of our budget (thanks law school loans) and I could feel so much of my own internal struggles and moments of joy through your words. "Relational intimacy galvanized by a lack of space" is 100% how I feel about the little rental house we have called home for six years now. Thank you for sharing.
Exactly what Kendra said! 7 years in a rental and at least another 5 years to go before we can buy and I felt every word and detail of this gorgeous piece in my bones—right down to the ‘little floor space there is in the U-shaped path of carpet around our queen-sized bed’ 🤌🏻 And I feel like the Joneses are every single friend from school/uni who was gifted a house deposit from wealthy family—can you tell I am several years behind you on the inner contentment work? 🤪🤪🤪 I just love your writing friend 💗 AND your beautiful voice!!!
ahh, you get it, Reb!! That U-shaped path. So worn. Covered in clothes. Gotta wait for Michael to pass before I can walk through. And contentment--oof--it's a DAILY battle to surrender my discontent to the Lord. He's def. not done with me yet. Thank you for your encouragement, friend!! I'm so glad you listened too!! It was fun to record <3
Sara! Goodness. This gave me chills- such a beautiful piece, and so many parts resonated for me. While not on our starter home, our home is so dated and would have been considered a "starter home" by most. I love this essay and am so thankful for you sharing.
This is inspiring! We bought a "starter home" three years ago and will be in it as long as we can be. thank you for sharing so honestly. I can feel the love you have for your home and your family!
Thank you Sara for penning this. It’s intricate words that have so much meaning in your journey. We have been renters for 15 yrs and bought our forever home last year. Loved all of this!
I think this is one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever read. My eyes welled with tears every time I saw myself in it, which felt like every few words. (I even also am in Michigan! But that wasn’t the main one.) ;) Thank you for writing this. I will carry it with me for a long time.
“It was, and I did, mom. Our house is my dream home. If I could live anywhere, it would be here.”
Tearing up over here reading this essay! Sara, this is beautiful and creative (and likely took so much time to craft!) Thank you for sharing your gift! <3
Thank you so much, Olivia!! It took many months, yes...i'm so thankful I didn't give up (because I almost did, lol). I'm so glad it resonated with you--thank you for your encouragement <3
Sara, this was beautiful! I can relate to so much of what you shared and especially loved this line, “It’s hard for me to hold dreams in one hand and contentment in the other.” I’m constantly fighting for that balance while I live in a home I didn’t choose but am so thankful for. Thanks for sharing this.
Kelsey, i'm so glad you could resonate with this essay! Fighting for that balance is SO hard, isn't it!?
One of the best essays I've read in a while! Love it.
Rosalie, i'm blushing, ah! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for telling me you did. Your encouragement means a lo <3
😍😭This is fantastic, Sara! What a great last line!
Thank you friend!!! <3
Pascal’s dream house 😭😭😭 I loved every word of this.
The sweetest, right!?? Thank you so much, friend <3
Ahhhh Sara!!!! I love this essay because it is from your heart and so stinking relatable! Love reading about your home and its quirks and its occupants who love each other so well! You put so much work into this and I’m so delighted to see it in the world!
Thank you thank you thank you, friend!!! Wouldn't want to write on the internet without you in my corner <3
I loved this so much! I also related to a lot of what you describe, as we are entering our 16th year in our “starter home.”
Erin, you're so kind! I'm glad you could relate--that starter home musing has been on my mind so much lately. In this vignette I'm very tame, but in real life I feel very fiery about it, lol. Let's banish the term all together! Home. JUST home.
Yes, I'm all for that as well!
man. so good.
Thank you, Brooke!!
Sarah, this is STUNNING!! We are long term renters because purchasing a home always seems to be just out of our budget (thanks law school loans) and I could feel so much of my own internal struggles and moments of joy through your words. "Relational intimacy galvanized by a lack of space" is 100% how I feel about the little rental house we have called home for six years now. Thank you for sharing.
Ahh, thank you Kendra!! You totally get it. That relational intimacy is worth it all, isnt it? So glad you could relate!
Exactly what Kendra said! 7 years in a rental and at least another 5 years to go before we can buy and I felt every word and detail of this gorgeous piece in my bones—right down to the ‘little floor space there is in the U-shaped path of carpet around our queen-sized bed’ 🤌🏻 And I feel like the Joneses are every single friend from school/uni who was gifted a house deposit from wealthy family—can you tell I am several years behind you on the inner contentment work? 🤪🤪🤪 I just love your writing friend 💗 AND your beautiful voice!!!
ahh, you get it, Reb!! That U-shaped path. So worn. Covered in clothes. Gotta wait for Michael to pass before I can walk through. And contentment--oof--it's a DAILY battle to surrender my discontent to the Lord. He's def. not done with me yet. Thank you for your encouragement, friend!! I'm so glad you listened too!! It was fun to record <3
Sara! Goodness. This gave me chills- such a beautiful piece, and so many parts resonated for me. While not on our starter home, our home is so dated and would have been considered a "starter home" by most. I love this essay and am so thankful for you sharing.
ahh, thank you, Kristina--so kind!! I'm so thankful so much of this essay resonated with you <3
Wow, I love this so much, Sara. Later this year, we'll hit 10 years in our "starter home," so I really relate to what you shared.
"Not afraid to love the same place as it changed." - I'll be thinking about this line for a while!
Thank you, Shelbie! You totally get it then. So glad this resonated <3
This is inspiring! We bought a "starter home" three years ago and will be in it as long as we can be. thank you for sharing so honestly. I can feel the love you have for your home and your family!
Thank you, Ellen! I'm so glad you could feel the love I have for my home...that was my hope!
Thank you. So much of this resonated with me and is what my heart needed to read in this season! 🏡
I'm so glad this resonated, Meg!
Thank you Sara for penning this. It’s intricate words that have so much meaning in your journey. We have been renters for 15 yrs and bought our forever home last year. Loved all of this!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Vanessa!
I think this is one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever read. My eyes welled with tears every time I saw myself in it, which felt like every few words. (I even also am in Michigan! But that wasn’t the main one.) ;) Thank you for writing this. I will carry it with me for a long time.
So creative. Loved this!! We also had a counterccrack . And omg Ellen card . And i love that its your son dream home