House vs. Home

 June 2022, I walked into what I didn't know would be my future home.

The first thing I ever saw, was R's C8 Corvette in the garage.  You couldn't miss it.  I immediately thought he was one of those 'look at me and what I have,' egotistical guys.  When I say this man put me in my place, he did.  He turned around and said, 'No, I just have always wanted one. So I bought it.'

I learned very quickly not to judge him after that.

When I walked into the house, it was beautifully and lightly decorated.  A modern western feel to it and surrounded by more technology that I thought a house should ever have.  He didn't have a dining room table, which really piqued my interest.  I mean, who has a house like this and doesn't have a dining room table.  All I had to do was check the pantry and fridge to get my answer.  He was definitely a bachelor.  The guest rooms were empty, except for the single bed in one room without a headboard.  It felt cold.  Lonely.  

The bathroom, now our bathroom was basically the same.  It was clean, but such a sad cold feeling to it.  All I could think of was it was too much house for one man.  The view however was breathtaking.  It sits lake side, with a daily view of wildlife.  Deer, bald eagles, rabbits, I mean seriously!? 

__________________________

That house is now a home.  

Both of the front rooms are dedicated to the kids and decorated per their personalities.  J has black and green decor with accessories of Legos and PlayStation decals.  R spent 5 hours putting together his loft bed, with a desk included.  Let's not forget he found some extra string lights he installed and set up with a voice command for J.  The kid has it made!

E's room is definitely fit for a little girl of her age.  R and I went shopping for beds and I was on a direct budget that was quickly overthrown when he saw her now house like bunkbed.  Her room is beautifully decorated with her favorite colors, a herd of squish mallows and unicorns.  Probably the most comfortable room in the house.  

Our extra guest room has our previous queen set, as we decided to replace it with a king set.  R actually took me to help pick this out before I even knew he wanted us to move in with him.  I should have known, but I really didn't pick up on his intentions of this purchase.  I think it also had something to do with me mentioning how I had been more use to a king size bed. He took it seriously.

As for the dining room, we finally purchased a table in late 2023.  We waited months for it, as R is all about research and quality.  When we did agree on one, it was a goat rope all in itself.  The end result speaks for itself as it's definitely a center piece of attention in the house.  I've done some light decorating myself since we've moved in as well.  I have livened it up with some colorful floral decorations, candles and most of all family photos.  

I went out on a limb and purchased a family photography session for the 4 of us December of 2023.  Never have I ever done this before.  We went in with our 'village of people,' in other words family around here and it has to be the best thing I've ever done.  R wasn't for it, but he was for it.  Those photos came out better than I could have ever imagined and now decorate the walls inside.  Our most intimate is in our bedroom, just for us.  

It was what my mother said something to me after we had our dining room table that will forever stick with me.

'When I first walked in after y'all moved in this was a house and now when I walk in, all I see is a home.'