To all the homes I've loved before
an ode to home
What is home? Is it a person? A place? Is it a physical object or a state of mind? I think you could argue that home is all of the above. It is physical, but that’s not all it is. It’s magic, memories, four walls, and a roof.
Right as we left our first home and moved to Minneapolis, the LA fires hit. Unpacking boxes while knowing millions of homes were burning to the ground felt wrong. Of course, it’s just stuff. But man, I’m grateful for all of that stuff.
There are a lot of ways in which I have felt forgotten by God (cough cough..) but never in regards to home. The most beautiful, magical, most perfect homes have truly fallen into my lap. It’s not lost on me that God does the deepest work at home. And it would be a shame to not celebrate what He’s done through all the places I get to call home.
ORANGE STREET 🍊
The Meet Cute: I don’t remember moving into this home because it’s where I was raised. From 2-22 (with a small stint in Montana mixed in), this was home.
What I loved most: Being a block from the beach, hearing the waves from my bedroom at night (no wonder I’m addicted to white noise!), and sunshine! All the sunshine!
Favorite Memories: I distinctly remember loving Saturday mornings. My dad would make eggs, open the sliding glass doors so the sun spilled in and play steel drum music. We’d go from the pool to the sandbox and back again, all day long.
CRANE COTTAGE 🌸
The Meet Cute: It crushed me when my parents sold our house in the divorce. My first home was gone, along with so many hopes and dreams. It was May 2020, homes were slim and when we saw this one- I knew! Everything was pink, which felt like a sure sign from God.
What I love most: The backyard! Even though this house isn’t near the beach- the beautiful backyard makes up for that. We’ve seen manatees, alligators, and turtles, and the yard is full of flowers & bunnies. It feels like a fairy tale but I promise it’s real.
Favorite Memories: I’ve wanted to host a party there forever but it’s never worked out. Last May (four years after my mom bought the house), we had KC’s baby shower in the backyard. It was perfect! Truly one of the first days I felt excited to be a mom.
THE TREEHOUSE 🐞
The Meet Cute: After graduating undergrad in 2020, I needed something fresh for grad school that fall. By word of mouth, a friend found me this garage apartment that was high in the trees. It was the sweetest, most well designed studio- and the designer ended up being a social media client a few years later! God is funny like that.
What I loved most: It was isolated from the busy college world, cozy. It felt like I had the space to be the girl on Orange street again, something I hadn’t felt all through college. Oh, and the clawfoot tub didn’t hurt!
Favorite Memories: Connor picked me up for our first date here. I’ll never forget hearing his truck pull up and thinking “This is it.” 🥲
Treehouse Memories: Tour here & mems here, & moving out
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE 🐴
The Meet Cute: After Connor picked me up for that first date, I knew I was moving. We met in October and I moved to Austin the following March. It was hard to find a place that time of year. One of my dearest friends from college said “Let me ask my aunt!” about their garage apartment. Again, it was perfect and I knew.
What I loved most: If you know Austin at all, this home was in one of the nicest neighborhoods and one I would never be able to afford, ha!) It was a treat to live there, WALK to Lake Austin whenever I wanted. The homes were gorgeous, the trees were beautiful, and it reminded me of living beachside in Florida. Each home has healed bits of my inner child in their own beautiful way.
Favorite Memories: I felt SO at home here that I asked the sweet owners if we could take our first look photos on the front porch. They of course said yes, and these are quite possibly my favorite photos we’ve ever taken.
THE HILL HOUSE 🪺
The Meet Cute: The first night I visited Connor in Austin, I stayed at his next-door neighbor’s house. The attached townhome was vacant as the owners rarely came into town. It was there that I had a Zoom with my professor to tell her I was leaving grad school and forging a new life. As luck would have it, right as we were looking for a home for when we got married, the owners asked Connor if he would want to buy it? 💫
What I loved most: So much, but we learned to host here and be a team. The first few times we had people over were clunky and awkward. But we kept doing it and we got better. We grew here. We brought home 2 puppies! We had a baby here!
Favorite Memories: Walking to Starbucks on weekends, sitting outside on our puny patio even when it was 105, our sweet neighbors & how simple it was.
I’ll be honest: I don’t feel at home in Minneapolis yet. And really, how could I? Home isn’t just a house- it’s all the memories and things that fill it. But looking back at all the buildings that became mine gives me hope. This will be home one day too. The memories and good times are coming. 🩷
With love,
Truly enjoyed this walk though your memory lane. Praying you grow to love Minneapolis as much as any place you've ever lived. It's a beautiful city and your new house is darling.
Love this! It will most certainly be home, and soon enough. There’s no rush. I appreciate you’re recognizing and taking the time to feel all the nuances in all of this. Take your time friend.