When the “good life” isn’t quite enough
Nothing was wrong.
That’s probably the simplest way to say it.
Our life worked.
Our home worked.
Our routines worked.
We were content. Beyond blessed.
But over time, we started noticing something…
Not what was missing, per se.
Just what we wanted more of.
We missed our horse.
He was only ten minutes away at Aaron’s parents’ house, but we weren’t part of his everyday care - and we wanted to be.
Aaron’s parents have over 20 acres in Walnut Cove.
At one point, we had talked about building an in-law suite in our basement for them when they downsized.
But the idea of them giving up that land… that lifestyle…
it just didn’t sit right.
Aaron’s mom majored in equestrian studies.
She loves horses.
That part of their life matters.
And then there’s me.
I’ve always said I wanted chickens.
Aaron’s official stance has been:
“Chickens stink.” 😂
So that part will mostly be my adventure.
But it doesn’t stop there.
I’m dreaming of -
Bees.
Goats.
A garden.
Who even knows what else.
I built a garden at our current house that I absolutely loved.
Well… really my father-in-law and my dad built the garden beds - with my design assistance 😉
But after a few years, the wood rotted, and we had to tear it down.
And I’ve missed it ever since.
There’s just something so fulfilling about growing your own food…
about being connected to it in that way.
We also love the idea of being close to family.
Close enough to see them often…
but still with space (because let’s be honest - our chaos is best enjoyed in short doses 😅).
My dad is already retired.
My mom is retiring from teaching math at the end of the school year - and she’s going to be an incredible resource for our homeschool.
That proximity matters more than we can really put into words.
And if I’m being completely honest…
I like beautiful things.
The aesthetic of Coldwater is exactly my style.
It’s a highly regulated neighborhood - architectural review, building standards, all of it - and I genuinely love that.
There’s a consistency and intentionality to it that just feels right to me.
So it wasn’t that our current home wasn’t enough.
It was.
It’s just that what Coldwater offered felt almost impossible to pass up.
And with the addition of our fourth child, we were starting to feel the limitations of our current layout.
Charlie, our baby, is the only one on the main floor.
The rest of us are upstairs.
And three kids sharing one bathroom as they grow into their teenage years…two girls taking over the space while Grady wades through makeup, hair products, and everything else…sounds miserable for him.
Plus, if I’m being honest again -
I’m a little picky (okay… a LOT picky).
As we looked at other homes, none of them checked all of my boxes.
So it wasn’t dissatisfaction that led us here.
It was clarity.
Clarity around what we value.
What we enjoy.
What kind of life we want to lean into more.
We weren’t trying to escape something.
We were choosing something.
More time outside.
More connection to the land.
More involvement in the things we already love.
More space for our kids to grow up in a way that feels slower and more intentional.
And little by little, those preferences started turning into decisions.
We didn’t make one big leap.
We just kept saying yes to what felt aligned and no to what didn’t.
Until eventually…
we found ourselves here.
Choosing land.
Choosing space.
Choosing a different rhythm of life.
We don’t have it all figured out.
Not even close.
But we know this:
We don’t just want a life that works.
We want one that feels meaningful.
And if you’ve ever felt that too -
not because something is wrong,
but because something better might be possible -
you’re not alone.
