Our Build Is Move‑In Ready!

 The last few months have been an absolute whirlwind. Between the brutally cold Michigan weather and a handful of unexpected setbacks, we weren’t able to move in before Christmas like we hoped. But on January 15th, we officially passed our final inspection and received occupancy approval—and just like that, our dream home became a reality!

A Christmas We’ll Never Forget

Even though the timeline didn’t go as planned, God surrounded us with incredible friends who stepped in as subcontractors and made sure we could still celebrate Christmas in the new build—just a little differently than expected.

Mulder Insulation launched the transformation back on November 12th, completing the spray foam in about three days. That opened the door for the drywall crew, who worked tirelessly—weekends, harsh weather, everything Michigan could throw at them. Meanwhile, the propane, electric, and well were all hooked up during that same stretch, inching us closer to “home.”

Bringing the Inside to Life

In early December, our good friend Jake Cameruci, owner of JMC Painting, showed up with his crew and tackled the entire house in just two days. We chose white throughout the home to brighten the space and give everything a clean, open feel. With the paint drying within hours, we were finally able to move on to the next big projects—and that’s when the house really started feeling like a home.

The following week, my husband jumped straight into action, knocking out the upstairs railing and several other projects he had been eager to finish.

Then came one of my favorite parts.

The Most Beautiful Personal Touches

One of my best friends, Zoe, owner of Wallflower Co., came in and painted the most stunning wall murals for our bedroom accent walls. Liam’s room now looks like a magical woodland forest—something straight out of a child’s imagination, perfect for a boy who loves to pretend he’s hunting. And our own bedroom mural? It feels like stepping directly into a twilight forest scene.

She also hung the wallpaper for my coffee bar—an elegant olive branch design from Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia collection. (A little secret: I found it at Menards for half the price Target had it listed!) Zoe’s work blew me away. Every brushstroke felt intentional, heartfelt, and filled with her unique talent. These additions are some of the most meaningful parts of our home, and trust me—there will be more Zoe projects to share soon. She’s just getting warmed up. 😉

By New Year’s, all of this beautiful work from our friends was complete.

My Husband’s Hard Work

Behind the scenes—and honestly, all around the clock—my husband poured his heart, strength, and sweat into this home. He installed all the flooring, the bathroom cabinets, the kitchen cabinets, and the interior doors. His dedication is woven into every inch of this place. Our home is built with love, resilience, and a determination to give our family the best he can provide.

Celebrating the Holidays Anyway

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we were still able to pop up an air mattress, decorate a tiny Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and spend Christmas and New Year’s together under our soon‑to‑be roof. It wasn’t what we originally envisioned, but it was cozy, magical, intimate—and absolutely perfect in its own way.

What’s Next for Us

Now that we have occupancy approval, the next steps are:

• Emptying and sorting through our storage units
• Finalizing the last draw on our construction loan
• Converting it into our mortgage loan
• Continuing to slowly complete the remaining projects as a family

Through every challenge and every breakthrough, God has been with us. We are overwhelmed with gratitude—for our friends, for the progress, and for the blessings we continue to see each day.

Please keep our little family in your thoughts and prayers as we keep moving forward on this beautiful, blessed journey.

More updates to come soon! 💚🏡✨