Gratefully Wild Home

We have lived in three different states and homes. Paul and I never were tied to any one place, and even made a map of states we could live. We have adventurous and travel spirits. However, our path led us back to my home state- Maryland.

We began our marriage in Naples, FL where we rented the most beautiful condo on a golf course. It was a blissful first year of marriage and paradise living. Yet, we did not feel to raise our family in south Florida. I became anxious to move north and be closer to family. Shortly after we had our eldest, Drew, the opportunity came. Paul found a job in Northern Virgina.

We were so happy to move to Northern Virginia as it meant closer to Maryland and family. Yet, we had no home and lived with my family for 6 months while we looked for a house. Not knowing northern Virginia, this was so tough, plus Paul was doing a long commute every day. We first thought we would rent, but we realized we could buy and have a lower monthly payment. We first looked in Warrenton, VA, but we realized that the housing market was out of our price range. We could not find anything we were happy with as well as affordable. Eventually, we realized that in Woodbridge, VA we could find a house. I have to say that our realtor at the time was fed up with us. Admittedly we were indecisive, but we were first time home buyers, just had a baby, and trying to figure things out – a little more kindness on her part would have gone a long way. So, when we found a house in Woodbridge, she made sure that sale went through as fast as possible.

The layout of this house was a little different, but we found it charming. It was a back to front split. The house entrance was at the lower level. You then walked to the back of the house to walk up about four steps to a beautiful open floor plan. The upstairs had a loft feel as it overlooked the family room, and the kitchen was a nice size for our small family. It had 3 bedrooms and 2 baths as well. The previous owners did a wonderful job in the backyard. Even though it was in a populated neighborhood, it felt peaceful and private. It was a perfect starter home.

We lived in Woodbridge, VA for 3 years. I tend to think negative towards this time as the house quickly felt small as we brought two more children into it. Even though the main floor and upstairs I loved, the lower level I was constantly figuring out how to make it work. Yet, the phase of my life was knee deep in starting our family, not being creative with the home. Ultimately, this little home served its purpose even though it was far from perfect – it was a comfortable place to live as we started our growing family.

While we lived there, we realized we were not neighborhood people. We had nosy neighbors and honestly, we just wanted to do our own thing without prying questions. Northern VA is also CROWDED. Anywhere we went it would take us forever. Paul and I both grew up in remote areas with country roads, so this felt so taxing when we left the house. Also, we did not realize that Woodbridge is a military area. So, there were many passing families. It was so hard to tap into the lifelong friendships we were looking for. Yet, there were good times too.

I did find a mom’s group temporarily and we did things almost weekly. I also found a local mom’s group at our parish at the time, but again the friendships felt passing. It did not help that we constantly had the root partially pulled out. We were spending most of our weekends in Maryland, so how could we even make friendships?

While we were living there, we had pipe issues. We eventually learned that neighborhood was built with bad pipes. There was a lawsuit, but all the money had been paid out. This was so frustrating as it was something the inspector who inspected the house should have found. That is when we realized that our realtor was not a good one. When Kateri was 9 months old, I had it. We had another pipe issue, and I was just drowning with the three little kids. I don’t even know what went through Paul and I’s mind, but we decided it was time to move to Maryland. And Paul, knowing that this is what I needed said he would commute the long drive to work as it would be worth it to be closer to family. Once we made up our minds, we did a trip to Washington state to visit his family over Christmas and never returned to the home in Woodbridge. We paid to fix the pipes, boxed everything up and put a for-sale sign in the front yard.

We again moved in with my family, and ironically, my brother and sister-in-law with their newborn ended up moving into my parents’ home as well. My mom still had the 3 youngest living in the house as well as an unmarried brother. So, including those siblings, my parents, the 5 of us and my brother’s little family of three, it was the definition of a full house! It was a little hectic, but honestly, we all look at the memories fondly. My mom, sister-in-law and I would take turn making dinners, and my mom who was so family oriented loved having everyone in the house. I am so grateful for my parents and my brother’s family who put up with us for 6 months as we sold our house and found a new home. I was also extremely grateful for the opportunity to not have to deal with prospective home buyers coming to the house with three young kids.

We sold at the right time as the market had gone up in the short time we lived there. It was highly unusual that we were able to even make money off of that house, but God clearly had a plan. We had a very good realtor this time, and she even offered taking a lower cut. However, this was a little shameful, since the payout was not as high for realtors, we noticed they were steering potential buyers away from the house. We also realized we should give parts of the house a new coat of fresh paint. We had the kitchen this awful yellow. I always wanted a yellow kitchen and learned to always sample colors first. Once it was done, I did not want to change it (I was also pregnant with Samantha when we painted), but selling the house motivated us to re-paint the kitchen and the lower-level fresh neutral colors. We then upped the pay out to the realtors the normal 3% and the house sold within a few weeks.

We were able to now have the wonderful blessing of home shopping with a non-contingent offer. With our house sold, we were completely free to find a new home. We made our radius to be under a half hour from my parents. It took us 3 offers to land on the home we have now. Buying homes was so competitive! People go over asking price; I just find that insane. We had a budget, and we were sticking to it. The interest rates then dropped, and we could afford more home. That is when we found the home we are in now. It is a beautiful home situated in the woods. It technically has 5 bedrooms. There is a upstairs loft area with two bedrooms, the master on the main floor, and two bedrooms in the basement. The home fitted our cozy, unique home style. This house was such an upgrade, and we were excited for the space and privacy as it has a long driveway and on 3 acres. Everything fell into place, and we were homeowners once again.

Looking back during this time, I like to reflect on lessons learned. Are we glad we did the move the way we did? Would we do anything differently? Here is a summary:

• One thing is we would be more careful on a realtor/inspector when buying a home. Someone who really knows the area and the red flags when something is not right with a house.
• Do the normal percentage for a realtor, it is not worth the headache to cut it, if you want your home sold quickly,
• Fresh coat of paint and landscape right when the house is first put on the market. Cutting corners, does one no good.
• Sell almost all your items. I have really grown in this aspect on not becoming attached to materialistic things. Certain items serve their purpose. Most of the time furniture does not transition well home to home. We also spent too much money on a POD and storing items. It would have been much more financially beneficial to sell almost everything.
• Trust the Lord’s plan. If it is meant to be, it will come through. The first two homes we saw and put offers on, I definitely loved, and was disappointed when the offers fell through. However, I am so glad we do not live in either one of those homes.
• Buying a house, did not completely make sense for us on paper, but again, it was a risk that we took and we gained in the end. Do what makes sense for your family. Sometimes the most financial reasonable decision, is not the best for the overall health and stability for your family. Again, we left a lot to God’s providence here. I cannot say we consciously said it is up to the Lord, but we did have a subconscious faith that all would come through. Now, we love our location and Paul works 100% remote.
• Paul and I did not spend a ton of time going over the move question. We saw the need and we acted. Some decisions need long hours of discussion, others is that enough has happened where the decision falls into your lap. This may not work for everyone, but we both followed our gut here, and again, we are so happy with every decision we made. Sometimes I wish we did not even bother with our Woodbridge home, but if it was not for our Woodbridge home, we definitely would not be in the home we are in now. Our personal path has so many uncertain curves and hills, but with faith and prayer, we find what is on the other side and take steps towards God’s plan.

We have now brought 4 children into our beautiful woodland home since we first moved in. How wild is that? We continually strive to make the home more what we need as our family grows, our needs grow. I do not have a crystal ball, but Paul and I are thinking that this is where we are here to stay. Continue to read my blog to learn about the adjustments we have made for our home that helps improve it to meet the needs of our continuing growing and changing family.