Home Searching

Thanks to the generosity of my parents we will be moving into a house this summer. They are going to purchase the house and we will be their tenants, paying a very affordable rent each month.    It is a major blessing, an amazing gift and I am so excited. We couldn't afford a house otherwise.

This weekend we started looking at houses.  For a real home for this little family.


We looked at a house in one of the historic neighborhoods in Ypsilanti.  I used to rent an apartment above a law office housed in an old Victorian in this neighborhood.  Tree lined streets. Old houses with lots of charm and character.  A library, a park, a downtown in walking distance.

The first house was a big blue two story one street and one block over from my old apartment.  Large rooms with wood trimmed windows and wood floors. A big kitchen with room for a table, a dining room, two front rooms.  There are 3 bedrooms--two upstairs, one downstairs.  A big bathroom with a clawfoot tub.  And the yard....the yard is endless. So much possibility.

I loved the warmth of this first house...the sunny windows with the solid wood trim, the hardwood floors, the front porch.  The solid oak doors and the wooden steps.  I can envision Waldorf inspired play spaces, homeschooling, gardens, kids running through the house and out into the big backyard.

The second house was very different   A brick bungalow in Normal Park.  Lots of light, simple and fresh. Cove ceilings, plaster walls, hardwood floors.  Two bedrooms downstairs, upstairs master. Dining room off the kitchen, a fireplace in the living room. Sunny kitchen.  Ceramic tile in the bathroom.  Partially finished basement.

It was very similar to a childhood home of John's and my grandfather's house.  We were smitten.  I could see us here too.  Hanging stocking on the mantle on Christmas Eve, crafting at the dining room table, gardening while Gabriel plays outside in the yard.

It's a sweet simple place really.

We just began our search. I am not sure where we will end up...it may  be one of these houses, it may be one we've yet to see. 

Regardless of where we end up,  I love imagining us in a home.