Starting Over: Moving the Homestead and Building the Life We’ve Always Prayed For
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There are seasons in life where you realize you’re not just changing locations.
You’re stepping into who you were always meant to become.
This move isn’t about square footage or aesthetics. It’s about finally giving our family the space to live the way we’ve always dreamed of living — slower, closer, more intentional, more connected.
It’s about realizing our potential as a family.
It’s about building something that lasts.
Why We’re Starting Over
For years, we’ve talked about creating a life centered around:
- Self-sufficiency
- Family time
- Spiritual grounding
- Community
- Hard work that actually means something
We believe you can still “have it all” — not in the flashy, social media version of that phrase — but in the real version.
The version where:
- Your kids grow food with you.
- Your dinner table is loud and full.
- Your home reflects your faith.
- Your land feeds more than just your family.
We want to show our children that despite the negativity and fear that seem to surround the world right now, you can build something good. You can work hard. You can create beauty. You can leave a legacy.
And you can do it together.
What This Move Means to Our Kids
After sharing space while building, the kids are more than ready to be back in their own rooms.
They’re dreaming about:
- Planting the garden
- Harvesting fresh food
- Being close to friends again
- Watching animals grow
- Teaching others what they learn
One of my favorite moments during this build was watching them add art and scripture to the framing of the house. Hidden in the walls are their drawings, their handwriting, and verses that reflect what we believe.
They left their mark on this home before we even moved in.
That feels symbolic of everything we’re trying to do.
The Land: A Blank Slate with Big Dreams
Right now, we are moving onto half an acre.
Half an acre of possibility.
It’s completely blank — no orchard, no garden beds, no greenhouse yet. Just soil waiting to be stewarded.
There is potential to purchase two adjacent lots in the future, bringing us to 1.2 acres total. If that becomes possible, it would significantly accelerate the long-term vision of what we hope to build.
But for now, we begin with what we have.
And we use every inch of it wisely.
The Plan: Building the Homestead in Phases
We are approaching this intentionally and sustainably — not all at once, but step by step.
Phase 1 (May): Foundation & First Plantings
Once we move in at the end of April, May becomes our groundwork month.
- Installing sprinklers
- Preparing soil
- Building initial garden beds
- Planting vegetables
- Adding fruit trees
- Establishing berries
- Planning perennial spaces
Our garden plans include a mix of:
- Seasonal vegetables
- Storage crops
- Culinary herbs
- Perennials for long-term harvest
This is about food security, but also about teaching our children how food actually grows.
Phase 2: Expanding Into Year-Round Growing
Once the initial garden is established, we plan to expand into:
- Greenhouses
- Hydroponic systems
- Season extension structures
- Increased food preservation capacity
Year-round gardening allows us to deepen our self-sufficiency and teach sustainable growing methods that others can replicate.
Phase 3: Small Livestock
When infrastructure is ready, we hope to add:
- Chickens
- Rabbits
- Possibly goats
These animals represent more than food.
They represent responsibility.
Routine.
Skill-building.
Teaching moments.
They create opportunities for our children — and eventually other youth — to learn stewardship through daily care.
Phase 4: Scaling Toward WooWoo Farms
The long-term vision goes beyond our family.
One day, we hope to grow this into WooWoo Farms — a place that provides:
- Job training
- Housing
- Community
- Family
- Purpose
Specifically for foster youth aging out of the system.
This move is step one.
Every raised bed.
Every fruit tree.
Every irrigation line.
It’s laying the groundwork for something bigger than us.
Why We’re Sharing This
We’re not sharing this for applause.
We’re sharing it because community matters.
If you’ve followed along with our journey, you know this dream has always been rooted in something larger — stewardship, generosity, faith, and family.
And sometimes, the most beautiful projects are built together.
An Invitation (If You Feel Called)
If you feel inspired to support this homestead as it grows, we want to offer a way to do that that feels tangible and purposeful.
Rather than simply asking for funds, we’re creating curated wish lists that include:
🌱 Plants, seeds, and starts
🍓 Fruit tree saplings
🌿 Berry bushes
🥕 Heirloom seed varieties
💧 Irrigation components
🌾 Raised bed materials
🥫 Food preservation supplies
💡 Hydroponic systems and greenhouse equipment
Each item directly contributes to building sustainable systems that will feed our family now — and serve others in the future.
There is absolutely no pressure. This is simply an open door for those who feel called to participate in building something lasting.
We believe in generosity.
We believe in stewardship.
And we believe in doing what we can with what we have.
The Heart Behind It All
At the end of the day, this isn’t about farming trends or aesthetics.
It’s about:
- Eating together.
- Working side by side.
- Teaching our children that hard work creates freedom.
- Building a life aligned with our faith.
- Preparing to open our home and land to those who need it most.
We are starting over.
Not because we failed.
But because we’re ready.
Ready to grow deeper roots.
Ready to build legacy.
Ready to live fully.
Ready to give back.
And we are so grateful to have you along for the journey. 🌿