The Beginning

 

In the Beginning

We moved from California to coastal North Carolina one year ago.

Back in California, our life seemed like it was stuck in fast forward. Days and weeks would zoom by and suddenly I would find myself sitting in traffic trying to get to work wondering where all that time had gone. Had I had the chance to really absorb the precious moments of my life and truly enjoy them?

Sadly, the answer was, “No.” After many long conversations between me and Mr. A, we decided that our lives had taken a direction that we weren’t really happy about and it was time to make some changes. The chaotic and stressful life we had found ourselves living in was not the life we wanted for ourselves or our children. It was time to make a lifestyle change.

Making a Dream Come True

We had always daydreamed about what life would be like if we lived on a farm. What if we no longer had to commute to work, if we had a big yard, a pool, land that we could have some animals to raise? What if we could have a big garden? Could we still live near the beach, which we love, but also have a farm? Boy wouldn’t that be the dream?!

We longed for more space while at the same time longing to bring our family closer together. The more we talked, the more we both realized that we were pining to live in a place where the pace was slower. We were longing for the chance to really enjoy our life together and with our children before they left our nest.

After about a year of talking and researching, we finally realized there was a place we could find the life we longed for. We asked ourselves, “If not now, when?” That’s when we decided to make our dream a reality and we pulled the trigger. We sold our business, sold our house in California, and the next thing I knew we were moving to a farm in coastal North Carolina.

Love at First Sight

It was love at first sight when we found our farmhouse. Mr. A had found it online in California when the whole idea of moving was really just “pie in the sky.” On paper, it had everything we had dreamed of and more. It had space (several acres) and a huge yard with a pool. It also had a barn for animals, raised garden beds, and a pond stocked with fish. All of that was before you even entered the house! It seemed too good to be true.

We couldn’t get it out of our heads. When we went out to North Carolina to house hunt, it was the first home on our list to see. After we saw it we told the realtor we didn’t need to see any more homes. This was, “The One.” This was where the beginning of our lifestyle change was going to start.

The ranch-style home was built in the early ’80s and definitely needed some TLC. Although it had good bones, it was in dire need of some updating. An open floor concept and natural light were not the focus when this house was designed. I knew I could change that though. The first word that came to mind when I saw our new farmhouse was, “potential.” It had so much potential and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

The Beginning of a New Lifestyle 

We bought our home in October and began renovations in February of the following year. The goal was to have everything done by the end of May, so that when the kids got out of school in June we could move into our newly renovated farmhouse. I took several trips back and forth from California to North Carolina to oversee the progress and pick finishes and furniture. It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. By no means am I an interior designer. Back in California, I was the owner of an insurance industry-based business. However, interior design and home décor have always been a passion of mine. I had a blast putting my own touches in our home.

No Regrets

Today we are still working on projects around the farmhouse and on the property. It’s hard work, but I love it. Every day I wake up with a tremendous sense of gratitude that we were able to find the life Mr. A and I desperately wanted for our family. Although, in the beginning, the move did not come without its challenges, we have no regrets. As a family, taking a leap of faith was the best decision we ever made. . Creating a new life for ourselves here on the farm has been a dream come true. This is just the beginning of great things to come. Welcome to my journey and welcome to our home!

For more farmhouse inspiration, farm life stories, recipes, DIYs and more follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Want to learn more about our story as time has passed? check out these posts:

Farm Life is the Best Life, for Me (Part One)

Farm Life is the Best Life, for Me (Part Two)