Moving always takes more out of me than I expect, especially when remodeling is involved. Our family has moved many times, and each time I promise it will be the last. My ultimate dream for a home is one I can settle into and live in forever.
In the three years we’ve lived here, small but meaningful improvements have made a huge difference in how at home we feel. It seems to take us a few years to figure out how to function in a new place, so I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made.
While we’ve wrapped up several projects, this house still has plenty of potential. There are more things on our list: bathrooms, the laundry room, built-ins, adding character, and exterior and landscaping work. I’m looking forward to getting outside to enjoy the deck and side yard this spring.
We moved to Seattle in the fall of 2015—just over three years ago. It feels both like a lifetime and like it happened only moments ago. Time has a way of feeling fast and slow at once.
So much has changed in our home and our lives since then. This house didn’t begin as our dream home, but given the competitive Seattle market, what mattered most was finding a place where our family could come together.
Our son was starting high school, and his sisters and son-in-law already lived in Seattle. Moving here to bring our family closer was the priority.
Unexpectedly, we found we love so much about this house. It’s bright, clean, cozy, solid and comfortable. It feels quiet and inviting, and the view of Puget Sound, the mountains and the sky is endlessly inspiring. The yard is perfect for our dogs, and the location suits our daily life. We’re grateful for the improvements we’ve made—it simply feels right for our family.
These past three years we’ve lived the life we wanted for our family, so the move here is something we don’t regret. It hasn’t always been easy and not everything has been perfect, but many things have exceeded our hopes. Through it all, we’re still here and we’re happy.
I can hardly believe that this June our son Luke will graduate from high school and head to college nearby this fall.
With that milestone, a four-year chapter of our family’s life will close and a new one will begin. Some things will feel familiar going forward, and others will feel different—that’s the nature of life.
Will we live in this house forever?
We genuinely love living here and can picture staying for many years. At the same time, as we move toward an empty-nester stage, we may choose a different path. Over the past year I’ve noticed a few homes that felt like “dream houses,” and the idea of a change has a pull of its own.
Even so, when I imagine those possibilities I keep returning to the comforts of this home and the life we’ve built here. For this season, with pups and family all around, this cozy house is where we belong.
It feels like home.
Happy New Year from our home to yours, friends! Thank you for spending another year with us. Here’s to more home adventures in 2019!