Working on a dream

Dreams start as small things.  Think I'd like to take a short trip.  Maybe I'll try to make my garden bigger.  Perhaps I'll write my grandkids a story.  And then they blossom and bloom.

Andy and I have always wanted to live out in the country.  That was our incentive when we moved to Missouri in the early 70's.  Peace and quiet.  A place where we could live and let live.  That was our only goal.

Life intervenes.  And so over five years ago, our dream came knocking again.  Where did we want to build a new house?  Or maybe just sell our 'too big for us' place and find a smaller one?  We looked and looked.  We were disappointed when prime opportunities were snatched out of our hands when someone else made a higher offer.  What could we afford?  What kind of house did we want?

Dreams do come true.  Just out of the blue, when we had almost given up hope, here it was. We grabbed it and started to plan.  We spent many hours working on the new property, up there on the hill overlooking a peaceful valley and neighbors to the north whose houselights twinkled at us in the night.

Finally, with a house plan drawn up and lots of energy we tackled the task of building our first new home.  What a wonderful dream.  Hard at times, but do-able.  Of course, we had help with the things we couldn't do with pick and shovel and hammer and nails.  Our brother-in-law came over and lent us a hand when we needed encouragement.  Hot summers, glorious falls, brutal winters when things came to a standstill and all we could do was put on our boots and slog around trying to imagine what it would be like to live out here.  And then the soft springtime would arrive and all the hard work  was justified with vistas of red bud and dogwood, soft green leaves budding out, birds returning to nest in our oak trees.

It was just two short years ago this weekend that we made the final move from town.  We packed our suitcase, shut and locked the door, and drove out of Gainesville in the gathering dark.  Here we were, climbing this so familiar hill in the dusk and starlight.  Pausing at the door of our new home, ready for this new adventure.  Entering our dream.  

Welcome.  Welcome home.