The Parts of My Story I Almost Hid

I used to want to hide the fact that I was from a tiny Midwestern town with fewer than 300 people.

I remember thinking, Who could possibly relate to that? It wasn't flashy. It wasn't trendy. It didn't feel inspiring or influential.

And if I'm honest, that lie only grew louder over the years. We've actually had TV producers turn us down because of where we live. So What started as an insecurity in my own mind soon became solidified at least 3 times over by outside sources

But it wasn't just where I lived that I wanted to hide.

I wanted to hide the imperfections of my life too. It felt like failure if my kids were fighting, the house was a mess, or our Christmas lights were still hanging in July... which, for the record, they are.

But I've realized something. The very things I wanted to hide were the things people connected with the most:

The small town.
The lived-in house.
The imperfect family.
The dreams that don't always make sense.

Those aren't the parts of my story that make people look away. They're the parts that make people feel less alone.

For whatever reason, we've been called to this little town. I can't fully explain why.

Years ago, I thought my purpose looked like becoming the next Joanna Gaines—helping people transform houses. But somewhere along the way, God quietly began changing the dream.

Now we're restoring a hundred-year-old home, investing in this community, buying an old building to turn into a wrestling room and training facility for young athletes, and following a path I never could've imagined.

There are still plenty of days when I look around and pray, "God... You're going to have to help me see the bigger picture because I honestly don't see it."

And somehow, every time, He reminds me that His plans have never depended on my understanding. Only my obedience.

So until our work here is finished, we'll keep loving this hundred-year-old home—even when it feels like it's bursting at the seams. We'll keep saying yes to this little town. And we'll keep trusting that God does some of His greatest work in the places the world is most likely to overlook.

If you're looking for perfection, you probably won't find it here. But if you're looking for beauty in the ordinary, faithful living, and a family simply trying to steward well what we've been given, I hope you'll come along for the ride.