Tramadol Rx Online Buying Tramadol Online Uk Order Tramadol With Paypal Tramadol Orders Tramadol 50Mg Buy Online
Skip to content
Get cottage living in your inbox!
Send it my way!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • AboutExpand
    • Meet Melissa
    • The Story of Our Home
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Vintage & ThriftingExpand
    • VintageExpand
      • Ironstone Guide
      • How to Hang Vintage Plates on the Wall
    • Thrift Tips
    • Thrifty Home Tour
  • RecipesExpand
    • All Recipes
    • Einkorn
    • Dessert
    • Soups and Stews
    • Gluten Free
  • SeasonalExpand
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Christmas & Winter
  • UpholsteryExpand
    • Dining Chair Seats
    • Vintage ArmchairExpand
      • Intro
      • Part 1: Deconstruction
      • Part 2: Choosing Materials
      • Part 3: Upholstering
      • Part 4: Piping
      • Part 5: No-Sew Cushion
  • ShopExpand
    • Small Shop Gift Guide 2023
    • Amazon Storefront
    • Shop My Home
    • Etsy
Instagram Facebook Pinterest YouTube
Hymns & Home
Hymns & Home

The Story of Our Home

Right after my husband and I got engaged, we immediately began house hunting. We had our list of “must-haves” and “negotiables” as most people do, and after much internet browsing and dragging our realtor all over town, we found a house. Though it was at the upper limit of our budget, was plenty large (maybe a bit too large), and didn’t have the backyard we wanted, it was in a nice neighborhood, had a lovely fireplace, and was generally a nice house.

We put in an offer and scheduled the inspection.

Inspection day came. As we walked through the house with scrutinizing eyes, we noticed door frame after door frame that just wasn’t quite square. Hmm… The inspector finished his work and came over to speak with us. It wasn’t good:

The house was going to need 34 piers put under the foundation.

You didn’t misread that. 34 piers. We walked away, out the money for the inspection but all the wiser and saved from buying a house that was sinking into the depths of the earth. God spared us a giant headache.

Fast forward a few weeks. We were both working full time, I was planning a wedding that was now only 5 months away, and my husband’s apartment lease was going to be up in 2 months. It was find a house or renew the lease. I was living at home with my parents and my mom mentioned that her friend from Bible study had a daughter who was selling her house soon. Was I interested? I kind of brushed it off since I was busy wedding planning and the first picture I saw of the house wasn’t my ideal gingerbread brick house with the cute little windows on top.

She brought it up again a week later.

“I really think you ought to look at this house.” Okay, mom, I’ll take a look at the listing photos since it will make you happy. The house had not gone on the market yet, but mom’s friend had sent her some photos privately to show me. I looked at the photos. “Maybe. Let’s schedule a time to go see it.”

We met the owner and her fiancé at the house the evening before it was scheduled to go on the market. As my husband (then fiancé) and I walked through the house, we realized it was meeting almost all of our “must-haves.” Mind you, it did not have everything I had always dreamed of, but the things it was lacking were negotiables. They were overshadowed by all of the wonderful aspects and potential of the house.

I vividly remember standing with my husband, looking out the window that would become our living room window, and saying, “I think this is it.” “I think so, too” was his reply.

And so we bought our house – the house we would shape into our own – the house where we would raise two beautiful children, who at that point were only a vision in the eyes of their Creator.

My house does not have a fireplace.

My house does not have a laundry room (laundry is in the basement).

It does not have dormer windows.

It is not very large or architecturally interesting, and it does not ooze charm from every pore. But you know what? That’s A-okay, because

I know it was meant to be our home.

And so it is.


Follow Along with Hymns & Home

Sharing is caring!

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
Cucumbers, hydrangeas, & Lisianthus from the garde Cucumbers, hydrangeas, & Lisianthus from the garden. 💗 Making lots of pickles this week. 😁
What will you do with your time? 🤍 I have been What will you do with your time? 🤍
I have been feeling the pull more now than ever to put my phone away and spend time with my family and live real life. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy scrolling here sometimes or posting when I feel like I have something to share, but the endless scrolling that stole away so much time has stopped and I’m all the healthier for it. No more comparison traps and breeding of dissatisfaction. 🤍 I hope you can find the same freedom and joy.
Check out my latest YouTube video (linked in my bi Check out my latest YouTube video (linked in my bio) to go thrifting with me, then style and diy my finds in my cottage style home. ☺️ I hope you’ll join me!

Shoes by @adelisaandco 

[thrift store diy, thrifted decor, cottage style home]
The children and I went strawberry picking yesterd The children and I went strawberry picking yesterday. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a few summers but we only now just did it. I’m not sure why I never made it happen before, but I decided I wanted to make it happen - I wanted it to be a fond summertime memory for all of us. 🍓

This whole summer I’ve decided to be more intentional, not just letting the days and weeks slip by in a summer haze…not passing on opportunities because they might create more mess or be inconvenient. I’m not overloading our calendar, but I’m purposefully scheduling the activities and making them happen to form sweet summertime memories with my children that we all will remember for years to come.

They’re not complicated and most don’t even cost anything.

We have daily reading time after lunch during which I read a chapter of our latest book aloud. I can still remember having ‘book time’ on hot summer afternoons as a child and it’s something I think of fondly.

I’m trying to say ‘yes’ more to the messy outdoor activities - the water fights that will inevitably end in muddy, tired children in need of immediate baths but that also strengthen sibling bonds, give them exercise and sunshine, and create happy memories.

The afternoon smoothies for snack that will dirty the blender (which I dread washing) but we enjoy them and look forward to them every day. 

Letting them help bake. It might take twice as long and there may be flour on the floor, but they will have a sense of accomplishment and grow in confidence and knowledge. 

It’s all worth it.
As a child I used to pull my mom’s @marthastewar As a child I used to pull my mom’s @marthastewart books off the family room bookshelf and pour over them as I laid on the floor by the fireplace all cozied up with a blanket. Fond memories for sure. 🤍 Mom’s been clearing her shelves trying to downsize my parents’ belongings and offered them to me. ☺️ I’ll be passing these on to my children as well. 
Pretty sure these are first edition. ☺️

Did you love to look through your parents’ books as a child too?

[Martha Stewart first edition entertaining books]
I’m going to miss: The cool breeze blowing thro I’m going to miss:

The cool breeze blowing through the open windows,

Vases full of freshly cut peonies,

Wearing a cardigan with my dress,

Baby bunnies running and bird eggs hatching in our yard,

Flowering trees lining the streets,

The absence of mosquitoes,

But for everything there is a season and with each season comes new delights. 🤍
Follow on Instagram
Facebook X Instagram

© 2025 Hymns & Home • Refined theme by Restored 316

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Meet Melissa
    • The Story of Our Home
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Vintage & Thrifting
    • Vintage
      • Ironstone Guide
      • How to Hang Vintage Plates on the Wall
    • Thrifting Tips
    • Thrifty Home Tour
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Einkorn
    • Dessert
    • Soups and Stews
    • Gluten Free
  • Seasonal
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Christmas & Winter
  • Upholstery
    • Dining Chair Tutorial
    • Vintage Chair Project
  • Shop
    • Small Shop Gift Guide 2023
    • Amazon Storefront
    • Shop My Home
    • Etsy Shop
Search
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.I understand.Privacy policy