Made New – That Mama Archives

Each Spring I think about the newness of the season with excitement. The change of seasons is always symbolic to me, and each attached to super important seasons of life. For me, the summer brings a focus on just being, in the fall a focus on letting go, in the winter a focus on rest and the spring a focus on growth and change. This spring is bringing lots of change for our family. We decided to sell the home that we brought both of our babies home too, and that we have also completely made new! It’s a change that’s both exciting and slightly sentimental to me.

Each week in school with our littles, we have a biblical theme, this week’s theme is “God can make me new!” Such a fabulously simple thought, right? God can take our fixer upper selves, and make them new, shiny, and blameless in His sight? He willingly does that for each of us! Praise Him!

Speaking of fixer upper’s, I figured it was time to document the before and afters of our blood, sweat, and tears in our home since we’re leaving very soon. When Justin and I bought our house, we knew we wanted it to have great bones, and wanted to be able to make it ours. We make quite a pair when it comes to home reno’s… I’m the brains and he’s the muscle. I think it up, and without fail…every time…he makes it happen. He’s come to hate the question, “what do you think about….?” from me, because inevitably it means more work for him. That’s what makes leaving this home slightly difficult. I’m not a material person, so it’s not the house that I mind leaving, it’s all the wonderful memories that we’ve made in such a beautiful home that we put our bare hands to work to create. We have been so blessed on Honey Locust. We’ve had amazing neighbors, brought home babies, met amazing friends and weathered the years of early parenting, hosted family holidays, annual parties, thrown over the top parties for our kids, and had small quiet birthday dinners also. Nightly summer bike rides to the docks, and walks to the park, playing outside for hours, and sitting around the fire pit out back. So many amazing memories. Our new home will come with so many of the same things, and welcome so many of the same people, but this home deserves a proper goodbye!

We are horrible at before and after photos of our projects. By now, with so many under our belt, you would think we would get it right, but we haven’t! Typically I’m super eager to start a project and it’s much more fun getting right to work, so there’s not many moments for photos. We were grateful to come across the original photos from the listing of our home for sale to be able to compare before and afters. (Ironically we had never seen these photos because our realtor just kind of took us to our house, and it was easy to see the potential of it when we stopped by).

Top: Living room when purchased. Bottom: Living room remodel.

Top: Kitchen when purchased. Bottom: Kitchen view now.

Top: View to living room when purchased. Bottom: View from living are wall demo and remodel.

Top: Kitchen before. Bottom: Kitchen view now.

We did all the work on our house DIY, relying on research and knowledgeable friends in the trade to help guide our decisions and upgrades. We learned so much about creating the perfect space! The only challenge with the new house will be that there’s nothing for me to change or upgrade. (Don’t worry Justin, I’ll find something!)

I believe in the fact that everything has a time and purpose in your life. Our time in this home is over, and we’re excited for our new buyers to enjoy it and make the same memories here. Hello, changes and making new memories, I’ll take these with me and keep them safe!

Addy and Jojo: Here’s your first home! <3