Saturday, December 31, 2016

Happy New Year and Saying Goodbye to our Farmhouse


I hope you and your family had a most wonderful Christmas!  As the year draws to a close, I feel thankful looking back and thinking of sweet memories made. Yes, there were difficult moments too, but how would we grow without them?  There's something so hopeful about starting a new year, thinking of the things I'd like to be better at, as a wife, a mother, and a friend.  

We said goodbye to our sweet farmhouse just a couple days before Christmas this year.  I realize this may come as a shock, and honestly, it doesn't feel quite real to me yet either as it happened so quickly.  Justus and I have periodically dreamed about building a home, always with the thought of it being sometime in the "future", and we've spent time off and on looking for land for sale in the area the past couple of years.  Unfortunately, very little is available, especially in smaller acreage amounts, and we did not want to leave this area.  But just a couple months ago, my parents sold us a couple acres in their lower pasture land of their farm, and we went through a rather arduous process of getting the small division approved with the city.  After it was approved and we had a deed in hand, Justus and I stuck a for sale by owner sign in our front yard, thinking it might be a while before we had any interest. Five days later, we had a signed contract and we could not have been more shocked.  

We finished packing and moving out of our house right before Christmas, and as you can imagine, there were bittersweet feelings.  That little farmhouse was my haven... we put so much time and effort into fixing it up the past six years and from the first moment I walked into it, I loved it.  But after the house was empty, I looked around and realized that without my family in it, and our belongings, it was just a house.  A precious house, yes, but nonetheless, there weren't any feelings of regret or unhappiness in leaving it and moving forward.   


I have to tell you that we sold it to the sweetest couple.  They are young, and recently married.  They grew up in this area, and she had memories of spending time in the neighborhood as her grandmother's house had been just down the road. I felt so thankful for the contentment in knowing that they loved the house just as much as we always loved it.  Probably the hardest thing about leaving was saying goodbye to our chickens.  But these sweet new owners also adopted our chickens, as we no longer had a home for them, and I know they, and our neighbors, continue to love and care for them.

The day we closed on our house, we also signed a contract with a general contractor for the building of our new home.  So although there were bittersweet feelings leaving our old house, we also had/have so much to look forward to.  

More than ever, I'm thankful for all the moments I recorded on this blog of our farmhouse and the memories made there.  I will treasure them. And now, as a new year begins, I'll begin recording our new adventures as we move forward.  Thank you for being there with me from the beginning, encouraging us as we made slow progress on our farmhouse.  You'll never know what that meant to us!  

Happy New Year!


 

40 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed every post Andrea, as you made the farm house your own. Don't be away too long.

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    1. Thank you so much, Patricia! I'm sure I'll be writing all about our house building process. :-) Happy New Year!

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  2. Happy New Year, and best of wishes building your new memories. How exciting, and I hope you'll share your new journey with us. I've loved seeing your photos from your (former) home, and you certainly have the perfect photo journal of your lovely home! --Maxine J

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  3. Whaaaat! You sold your house!:)
    Wow. That's exciting. Looking forward to hearing about your new house:)

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  4. I'm so excited for you! I have really enjoyed your blog and the makings and projects. Happy New year and to a new home!

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  5. Wow!!! We're in a similar spot, trying to sell the farmhouse we've loved and restored for the last 6 years. We never thought we'd leave, but our daughter wants to bring her horse home, and there's no space here. I've loved your journey, I'm glad things went smoothly, and I'm praying for the next chapter! Hoping you keep us in the loop! Happy New Year!

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    1. I understand completely... we are anxious to have more room outdoors for things like 4-H animals. :-) Thank you so much for your kind words... I'll be anxious to hear how things work out... hoping it all goes smoothly! I'll be sure to write as the building starts! :-)

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  6. Wow, what news! How fun to build your dream home though. I hope you'll blog more about the process or instagram. ~beth

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I'll be sure to blog about the process! :-)

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  7. Congratulations on this new chapter in your life. What exciting news for your family. All the best for the new year. I hope you'll share your new place with us.~Hillary

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    1. Thanks much, Hillary! It will be so fun to share everything with you all. :-) Happy New Year!

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  8. Hi Andrea, I'm not surprised your home sold quickly and knowing the new owners are familiar with the area, even better. A new home in 2017 and near your mom too! it was meant to be:).
    Happy New Year! Kathleen in Az

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    1. Happy New Year, Kathleen, and thanks for the sweet comment!

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  9. Congratulations. I'm sure it's bittersweet, but it sounds like you sold your home to a great couple. I'm kind of sad about the chickens though. Couldn't you have kept them at your parents' home since they have a farm? Sorry, not trying to make you feel worse about it! Where are you living in the interim?

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    1. I know, but honestly, it would have been so much more traumatic for them to have been moved. They are so happy in their home and in the neighborhood. We often referred to them as "neighborhood chickens" because all of our neighbors love them. :-) My parents didn't have a safe place for them, and we felt better leaving them with the new owners that would love and care for them in their own environment they grew up in.

      We are living with my husband's parents... they kindly emptied their basement for us so we have a nice little home. :-) We are spending weekends at my parents.

      Happy New Year!

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    2. Ah, I see. I didn't realize it would have been traumatic for the chickens to be moved. That makes sense. You obviously had their best interests at heart -- how sweet! I wish we could have chickens. Yours are so pretty and I just loved your photos of them as chicks! Best of luck to your family during this time of transition. Keep us posted on how things are going.
      Claudia

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  10. Aww that is bittersweet, I am so happy for you all. If you are in need of getting someone to draft you a dream home, come by our site and see us. http://simplyfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-magnolia-farmhouse-plan.html

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  11. Congratulations. I so enjoy your photography and posts, and have loved (and identified with) your old house journey. Praying that your family is blessed in the new year, and with this new chapter of your lives.

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  12. Happy New Year and all the best to you in this next phase of life and building and dreaming! I, for one, look forward to following your home-building process.

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  13. Happy New Year Andrea!! I can't wait to see what you guys create and am looking forward to following you in the journey!!! I hope you enjoy every moment!! 💖💖💖

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  14. Great high adventure! I was a little afraid you were leaving the area before I read you would still be close to your mom and dad! Happy New Year to you all...

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  15. Happy New Year, Andrea! It sounds as if things just fell into place for you guys, like it was meant to be. I know you are so excited for this new chapter, and to create a beautiful new home that will be just as "cozy". I look forward to your posts and pray for a smooth transition for your family.
    Blessings,
    Deni

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  16. How exciting for you to build a new house! I know with your style it will be cute as can be! Always loved your clean, simple decorating! Can't wIt to see the progress! Very happy for you!
    Patty

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  17. Happy New Year and best wishes for the new chapter in your life.

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  18. Oh Andrea...this is so exciting! I'm happy for you and your family. Like your other readers, I can't wait to see what's next in this journey. Blessings and such good luck in 2017. ~Ann

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  19. I don't look at Blogger much(FB has taken over), but I enjoy taking a look at your blog now and then.
    Karmen

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  20. Wow- I am so surprised to read this. What an exciting time to be building a new home. Your farmhouse is my absolute favorite and I am sure it will be a cozy home for it's new owner. Can't wait to see what you do with a new home. I am picturing lots of white and lots of wood! Where are you living in the meantime?

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    1. Thanks for your kind words about our farmhouse. Yes, there will definitely be a lot of white and wood in the new house! :-) We are living with my husband's parents in the meantime... they have a nice basement they cleared out for us and my husband is very close to work. And spending weekends at my parents. It feels a bit like living out of a suitcase! Ha!

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  21. That is great news for you ! I too look forward to your post ... you are truly a genuine writer ��I'm sure it was bitter sweet for all of you especially so close to Christmas! You and your family will put lots of love in your new dwelling I'm sure. Will you be building a farm house? Have a blessed 2017 ! Looking forward in reading all about your new home!

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    1. Thank you so much for the sweet comment! It will actually be a bungalow! It probably would have been a farmhouse if we had found one with a good floor plan... most were very choppy. The plan we ultimately chose has a very open floor plan. I'll share our plans soon! :-)

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  22. Oh my goodness.... Andrea, I just couldn't believe when I read this. You and Justus had put so much "sweat equity" into your gorgeous home. This couple that purchased your home are so lucky. Such a little cream puff to call "Home". Can't wait to see what develops in your new endeavor of that new "forever" home? We did the same back in the day when our first two were small. We moved in with my parents while we were building. Can't wait to see what you are choosing for a house plan. Good luck, as I will once again go down my own memory lane through your new home building posts.

    Debra

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    1. Aw, thank you, Debra. Yes, we do miss our sweet little farmhouse, especially after having put so much into it. :-) Of course we don't know what the future holds, but we hope our new home will be our "forever" home. We are looking so forward to having more land, especially as our girls continue to grow up!

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  23. I can only imagine how bittersweet this must have been for you. However I am sure that you are looking forward to a great new adventure in building your new home. Congrats and Happy New Year. Looking forward to seeing the progress of your new home!

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  24. How wonderful and still bittersweet for you! Your new home will be filled with so many memories, but letting go is so hard! Can't wait to see what you do with the new build!

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  25. I have enjoyed so much seeing your transformation of your farm house and hope you will share with us your the building of your new home as well. I am always happy to see an email from you and was glad it was good news when there was one.

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  26. Congrats and looking forward to reading here about the progress of your new house. I am not surprised your farmhouse sold so quickly - it is so charming and has been so well cared for.

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  27. I have enjoyed your blog for so long. I love your farmhouse and how you worked on it and made it into a home. I will miss the posts from this house but I'm sure I will be as captivated with your new one. Good luck and keep us up to date.

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