When you live in a park you will never want to leave.

​After years of searching for our dream property in northern Missouri Alex and I stumbled upon a neglected house nestled among towering trees only a mile down the road from our home. The old property had seen better days, that was for certain. The overgrowth was rampant, and the barn was filled with an assortment of forgotten items. But there was something about it that drew us in – perhaps it was the solid bones of the house or the untamed beauty of the surrounding woods. We made the bold decision to purchase the property, knowing that it would be a project unlike any other. With the help of friends and family, we spent months restoring the house, clearing the land, and breathing new life into the neglected property. It was an arduous journey, but it was also incredibly rewarding. As each season passed, we watched in awe as the property transformed before our eyes. Living here for a full year allowed us to truly embrace the beauty of the changing seasons. The arrival of spring brought a burst of color and the sweet melody of nature coming to life. As well as the smelling onion batch I'm still deciding if I should keep. Summer was a time of heat, rain, and infrastructure maintenance. Autumn painted the trees in stunning shades of orange and gold. Winter draped the property in a serene blanket of snow. We spent our time exploring the woods and uncovering hidden treasures. Despite the challenges that came with restoring the old property, there was an undeniable magic in calling it our home. Every morning, I treasured walking through the woods with a steaming cup of coffee, taking in the sights and sounds that had become so familiar to us. 

As time passed, I found myself increasingly intrigued by the history of our home. Every discovery in the woods hinted at the lives of those who had once walked the same paths we did. This curiosity led me to schedule a session at the local historical society, eager to uncover the stories and secrets that lay within the walls of the property we now called home. Looking back, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the journey we had embarked upon. The old property has not only become a home to us but also a testament to our perseverance and the beauty of embracing the unknown.