I have always dreamed of living in a forever home. That desire often clashed with my perfectionist streak—the urge to find the perfect house before settling down. If you know me, you know I love houses.
A few months ago my parents sold our family beach house. That place had been a part of our lives for most of my children’s childhoods, and we spent as many spring, summer and winter vacations there on the Oregon coast as we could. We imagined it would be our forever family home, but circumstances changed and the time came for them to sell and move on.
We were sad to see the beach house go, but one of the treasures we kept was a brass telescope. Our kids used it to scan the horizon for whales. They would spot something far out at sea and get so excited, convinced it was a whale. More often than not, when we looked through the telescope those whale shapes turned out to be rocks. Still, the imagining was part of the fun—believing they were WHALES made the moment magical.
I love having that telescope in our family room now. It’s a beautiful reminder of the beach house and the memories we made there, but it also represents something deeper: how we search for home and happiness, where we look for them, and where we ultimately find them.
Moving has been a recurring theme in our lives. Sometimes it’s a joyful adventure; other times it’s exhausting and emotional. Finding and leaving homes comes with a whole spectrum of feelings.
Leaving Portland six years ago was difficult. Moving here, starting anew and building a church meant stepping into the unknown and saying goodbye to familiar routines. Yet there was also excitement about new beginnings and the possibilities that awaited.
Saying goodbye to the beach house was hard too, even though we were grateful for the many years we had there. Those memories will always be ours; the house served us well and gave us countless moments to cherish.
Transitions can be hard. Letting go of a home where you’ve made memories is never simple, even when the move is a positive change. Conversely, staying put when you long for different experiences can leave you feeling stuck and discouraged.
Moving can also be one of life’s most thrilling chapters. It’s a time for dreaming, and it’s exciting to watch new beginnings take shape on the horizon.
That said, focusing only on the past or only on an imagined future can cloud our appreciation for the present. If you constantly look backward through a long-range lens, or you always gaze out toward an idealized future, you risk missing what’s right here and now.
Our perspective matters. Looking back can teach us lessons and help us make wiser choices. Looking ahead can sharpen our goals and encourage hope. But both are most helpful when our hearts remain grounded in what truly matters in the present. And if you’re like me, you might keep a pair of binoculars in the car just in case you spot your dream house on a drive through your favorite neighborhood.
I still hope for a forever house—it would be wonderful, even if modest—but life often has other plans and new adventures appear unexpectedly. That’s one of the comforting things about home: it travels with you in the form of memories and the care you put into it.
Our home will shape and transform our lives for the better if we love it well, whether it becomes our forever home or a cherished temporary place we remember fondly.
I’m very excited to share my new book, Love the Home You Have, with you tomorrow when it’s released. I’ll be celebrating with a virtual launch—cookies and coffee included—and I’ll have surprises, chances to share what you love about your home, and inspiration from friends in the home community. I hope you’ll join me.
Let’s have a virtual book launch party. I’ll handle the treats and the coffee. If you signed up to help with book promotion, I’ll be inviting the team to the Facebook group today.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about moving: the good, the hard, the awkward, and the adventurous. Share your house-hunting and moving stories in the comments—I’d love to hear them! <3
(Before you go, consider checking out Home Love Stories—an international collection of house-hunting tales and homes from people all over the world. It’s a warm, inspiring community where many stories and perspectives come together.)