These are the good days.
I watched a quick little video on Instagram which inspired this post. Isn’t it amazing how a 30-second video can ignite a dream in someone.
The video was of a family who recently bought an 1800’s farmhouse. The person behind the camera said something along the lines of… “Some people saw this old 1800’s farm and thought it would be too much work… We thought otherwise, watch and see why.”
And then the video went on a journey of their renovations while the song Home by Phillip Phillips played. And with every new shot, I longed for an 1800’s farmhouse too.
So then I sent the video to my Mr. T with a text that read "Let’s buy a farmhouse” - and then he quickly responded with a “Yessssss! I’m in!
But why is this such a longing for us?
What is it about an old farm that grabs our hearts the way it does?
For me, I think it represents f a m i l y.
There is something about a place that is off the beaten path - tucked away from the busyness of the world that is always pulling us apart. There is something about land and freedom and quiet that reawakens my soul. There is something about getting your hands dirty and working on a project with the ones you love. And there is something beautiful about my past that makes me want to savor it forever.
My childhood was free. We didn’t necessarily live on a farm, but we had property, a creek in the backyard, and life was so much slower back then. The best part of my memories are the ones of being together with my family.
Together was home.
For my Mr. T… Well although he had some property at home with his own family while growing up, his fondest memories were the ones out on the farm where his grandparents lived. And that is where the rest of the family would gather together and to him, those were the good ole’ days.
Although we do have a small hobby farm right now, our hearts are to have a real one someday. But when I think about it, I sometimes get sad to think that it may not be while our kids are still young. In fact, our older boys are already off and married now. And the years just keep flying by.
Maybe just maybe this longing is for a place we’ll call home, but our kids will all be grown.
Whatever the case, I am grateful to know the dream is fully alive in us. Whether its for our kids or our future grandchildren someday, we long for a place for all our loves to call home.
