The House Happy Built…
Over a year ago we bought some raw land. 80 acres, to be exact.
We have big dreams for it — hundreds of ideas we bounce around all the time — but ultimately we feel a sense that God will tell us how to use it, and it’s not something we can see from where we stand now. We’re believers that you don’t have to see the full staircase to take the first step, and we have a feeling that what He is planning is going to be good.
Foster care?
Hippy compound?
Retreat center?
Goats? Bees? Alpacas?
Solar panels? Self-sustainable everything?
Lots of little houses for <insert various types of broken people>?
We don’t know yet.
But we’re taking steps! The first one being to build our forever and ever dream house; The House Happy Built (thank you, Young Living!)
Finally, after owning the land for what feels like so long, tangible progress is being made. We have a DRIVEWAY, y’all. As I type this, we’re getting gravel put on it tomorrow. GRAVEL. (When you’re an impatient person and you’re made to wait for something, the smallest signs of progress become very exciting!)
Here are some iPhone progress photos.
You will be able to follow along with the whoooooole building process on instagram by searching the hashtag: #thehousehappybuilt.
We’re calling it The House Happy Built because without Young Living and our incredible team of Happy Oilers, none of this would ever be able to happen. I won’t cry right now because I have a blog post to write 😉
Ty and I went on a date to the land kid-free the other day and WOW, the recent rain has really blessed it. Lush greenery and gorgeous wildflowers as far as the eye can see. You can’t tell, but the land is made up of beautiful rolling hills, which is so unique to find in flat Oklahoma.
We were at the top of the main hill (where our house will sit) picking and eating wild blackberries, and I bent down to take a picture of a flower and almost stepped on a snake. This was my first true exposure to country living and I did not pass the test well. And neither did Ty. HA!
All over the property are TONS of deer tracks. We’ve also heard rumors that there are wild boar.
Drone view:
One thing I love about completely untouched land is that no chemical has been sprayed on it. Everything is organic and we will keep it that way. My kids can pick and eat to their hearts’ content!
Eventually we plan to have a garden and orchard, as well as fruit trees lining the driveway.
This picture was taken from sort of where the house will sit. It’s basically looking into our “backyard,” which goes out a long ways, drops down into a valley/ravine type situation, and then goes back up in a big steep hill. Pictures don’t really do it justice. That bald patch up there at the top of that back hill is our favorite place to hang out right now. We go out every now and then and ride 4wheelers and hike and let the kids wear themselves out. Eventually I think it will be amazing for sledding in the winter. We suspect the valley is where most of the deer live.
Here’s a video from Ty’s drone (with the quality way lowered so that the file would fit). It shows a small portion of the land and seriously gets me so excited!
We’ll be keeping y’all posted on the progress for those who are interested in this type of thing! We’re moving full steam ahead on the pond expansion, house, shop, barn, orchard — as much as we can! “Full steam ahead” when it comes to this process is, of course, not my typical definition of full steam ahead. It’s a fantastic lesson in patience and trusting God… the giver of the most incredible gifts!
XOXO
M