You read the title correct. We almost moved! Can you believe it? Just saying it now makes me a little heartbroken. Over the last two years it was an idea that we bounced around quite a bit. This July we actually pulled the trigger and listed our home. It was listed for a whole 12 hours before we started to feel we had made a mistake. As the showing request began to roll in, we quickly felt remorse and had it removed from the market. It was one of the most emotional summers I can remember for more than one reason, this being a large part of it. In the end we decided to stay exactly where we are, which I’m convinced was and still is the best decision for us.
Why did we think about moving?
Our thoughts on moving were mostly based in having a more usable yard for Charlie. We’re on more than an acre here, however our home sits on a pretty large hillside with lots of English ivy. Over the last five years we have been working hard to clear ivy and underbrush in our yard. For years before we purchased our home the yard was not maintained and grew into quiet the jungle. It has been such a tough job to tackle and there is still so much more to do. There are times when I think, we can do this! Then there are times when my exhaustion gets the best of me and I think, there’s no way.
We have been successful in clearing a few areas and making them usable once again. This past spring we installed a fire pit area that I’m dying to share with you this fall, as well as a nice garden path from our back porch to our driveway. I just keep reminding myself that our yard is marathon not a sprint. However, this summer I was over it! I just couldn’t bear the thought of dealing with the ivy a day more. All I could think was that there had to be a house out there that we loved just as much with an amazing yard for Charlie and Ruby to run and play in.
Where were we going?
We wanted to stay in the same area of north Georgia. Josh and I both grew up here. Most of our family is till here and it’s such a great place to raise a family. We decided that we were not going to list our home unless we found something we really loved first. At the very beginning of July I stumble across a 1950’s cottage on almost 3 acres of land. It had a barn, potting shed and had the prettiest, usable lot. It was less than 10 minutes up the road from where we live now and shocker… it was a fixer upper! Unfortunately, there were several red flags and when the inspection came back with some major issues, we knew it wasn’t the right move for our family right now.
As excited as we were at the thought, we couldn’t believe how relieved we felt when we decided not to proceed with the purchase. That was enough confirmation that although we wanted to escape our hillside, God had a different plan. Sometimes you just need a little perspective to see just how great you have it in this very moment.
Ways that we’re loving our home now:
We’ve chosen to work with the yard we have. Instead of fighting the yard as it is, we’re finding ways to work around it and enhance the beauty that is already there. Our yard is going to be a decade long project, but when I look at photos from 6 years ago I’m in awe of what we’ve already accomplished. Sometimes you have to look back to remember just how far you’ve come!
We’re moving forward with long term projects such as, major landscaping, finishing our basement, moving our downstairs powder room and creating a larger pantry. We may not be able to start these projects right away, but we’re making plans and looking forward to tackling them as the time and budget allows. This has given me so much to look forward to and I’m feeling inspired once more. Half the fun in renovating is day-dreaming, right?
We’re also enjoying all of the projects we’ve already completed. It can be human nature to want to move onto the next thing, but sometimes the best thing we can do it to enjoy and soak up the success we’ve already had. After all, each project was completed with purpose and with our family in mind. To be able to live in these rooms that we so loving have renovated is a gift and a reminder that hard work truly pays off. As tempting as it is to move onto the next project house, we have found a home here really couldn’t envision ourselves anywhere else.
If you’re interested in seeing just what our home looked like when we bought it and what we’ve done over the five and a half years we’ve been here, check out our 5 year renovation post. It’s packed full of before and after photos.
This whole experience of house shopping and the listing process has really given me a renewed love for our home. While it isn’t perfect, what home is? Every house has things that we must work around. When I think of all that we’ve done here, all of the life we’ve lived here so far, it’s a reminder that God has us here in this home for a reason. That in itself is enough reason to love it! We are looking forward to the future here and all the projects still left to do. I can’t wait to share them here, with you. Thank you to each of you who have stuck around to see this place come together. I couldn’t have kept the blogging going all this time without you. I’m truly grateful for each of you!
I love everything you have done to your home! It is truly beautiful!!!
We have friends that had a large yard full,of ivy. They hired a man that brought sheep to eat the ivy. I think the sheep were there for about a week. They got the ok from their HOA. They said the ivy was virtually all gone by the time the man came to pick up his sheep. He also provided fencing to keep them in their yard. This was in the Marietta area.
I’m glad you didn’t! I love your home!! Is it possible to save up some $$$ and hire out at least part of the landscaping job? That might be a help and you wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed.
Can’t wait to see the firepit area!
I’m glad you made the right choice for your family! We’ve been toying with the idea of moving too and it’s so bittersweet.
What a beautiful house you have. I’m sure people were lining up to see it and buy it.
Are you the seamstress who makes all the cute covers for your coffee tables, etc? I am a Georgia girl also and have fought weeds and ivy for the 15 years I have lived in my home. This is the first year that I really loved my home, and I made a plan this summer. Due to the pandemic I stay home more than I like, and there are days I do absolutely NOTHING. Several weeks ago I decided that I would start a Purposeful Life journal.. Each evening before I go to bed I write my plans for the following day – even if the task is as slight as to clean out my car, or wash a load of clothes. I have designated 2 days of each week for pulling weeds, watering or fertilizing, or whatever needs to be done outside. The next 6 days I tell my weeds and ivy to enjoy themselves because they are soon to be put to rest. Maybe it would be helpful for you to make a plan and let pulling ivy control only one day of each week. The other 6 days, do not let that ivy stare you down. Good luck.
I love your home and style so much. We just moved from the Ball Ground area to KY to be closer to our grandchildren. Oh how I miss GA. Thanks for your posts. I can still feel like I am there!
I loved this post. Thank you for sharing. Your home is beautiful and I’m glad you realized staying put was the best “move” for your family. You are right, no home is perfect. God Bless.
I gasped when I saw your post! I’m so glad you changed your minds. We did the same thing once. After custom building our home, we decided we wanted to downsize to a smaller lot (we have one acre) and smaller home so we put a deposit down on a lot in a new build neighborhood. It was the cutest little cottage of a house and I was excited but then we spruced up our house, cleaned all the windows and siding and everything looked brand new again and we looked at each other and said, “we cannot sell this house!” I still can’t believe we almost did! 25 years later, I still love my house even though I do think I could have kept that smaller one cleaner. haha! Can’t wait to see all you have planned!
It’s comforting to know that others experience the same thing. We, too, have been talking about moving. We had our colonial built 22 yrs ago on beautiful land that backs up to farmland and every year the farmer plants corn which is such a stunning back drop. But we were thinking of something smaller with less work both inside and out but we can’t pull the trigger, just not yet anyway. It’s great you were able to zero in on the problem so you could stay in your beautiful home!