New Home Construction: Breaking Ground

Just a couple of weeks ago, the cleared stretch of land behind our current home was empty, quiet and peaceful. We had walked the field many days through the spring and summer imagining what it would be like to live in the quiet space between the trees. Although just a couple hundred feet behind our current house, the new homesite seems a world away.

The past couple of weeks have been a little surreal. Finally, after nearly three years of contemplating, researching, planning, and waiting, we have finally broken ground on the construction of our new home. The foundation, although not the most exciting, is the most important part of the plan. If the foundation isn’t solid, the rest of the house will not be sound. It has been interesting watching it be mapped out, dug, and poured in preparation of the next step – the blocks. The house will not have a basement, and we opted for a crawlspace foundation. Thanks to the beautiful, atypical November weather we’ve been having, this part is nearly finished!

We are very excited for the new home, but the addition of the new property has opened up a lot more possibilities for our little homestead. The home will be three quarters of the way surrounded by trees, giving us plenty of privacy and a beautiful view. Nate and I grew up in eastern Kentucky where a hilly, wooded view was the norm, so this is something we’ve missed. We don’t have large hills in central Kentucky, but being surrounded by woods is a nice substitute.

We’ll have space for all the gardening we could possibly handle. Nate and I are looking forward to landscaping the property and making it our own little paradise. I’ve been vegetable gardening using raised beds for the past several years, but the additional space will give us room for so much more. Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year, and I’m looking forward to raising my own pumpkins and growing corn for….well, corn, but also for the fodder!

At some point in the future, we would love to have a few small animals too. We would likely start with something small, like chickens, because who doesn’t love fresh eggs? But, for now, we are just focused on the new construction. One day, years from now, when we remember back to these moments as we watched our home physically come together, I want to know that we didn’t take it for granted. I am so appreciative for this opportunity, and I want to soak up every second of the process.

Although we look forward to moving into the new space, we currently have a home to live in while we build, so we aren’t in a rush to complete construction. I’m thankful for this because we’re able to be thoughtful and take time for important decisions. We may feel as if we’re living in a sardine can at times (most of the time), but God has blessed us with a home that is comfortable and safe. Plus, we have a front row seat for the construction of our new home right out our back window. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Hopefully, the next update will be more exciting than dirt, gravel and concrete. Hey, you have to start somewhere!