Buying the Famous JettSet Farmhouse -Part 3 – The Conclusion
Sitting here by my undecorated Christmas tree, with the original box set a few feet away, I’m pondering how all this happened. I know that in just a few days, I’ll stuff it back in the box, and movers will pack it on a truck to move it once again.
I won’t push my grandkids on the swing, my chickens will be rehomed, and morning coffee on the porch will end. My time in this dream house is over; another chapter is ending. It was a shorter chapter than I ever anticipated. I’ll title it My Little Peace of Homesteading.
She (yes, the house is a she) brought so much peace to my heart in a very turbulent time of my life. While my husband and I were creating a school with no experience, learning in each moment, and pouring away our resources, she was our stability. Perfectly crafted, every detail was made with love and attention. From the old-world pantry doors to the reclaimed ceilings, a blend of custom features in light and dark woods throughout, matched with clean alabaster walls. A canvas of earthy neutrals to instill tranquility and warmth. Just pulling into the driveway, I could feel myself exhale.
Home is where we spent three years of life schooling, watching our kids jump on the trampoline, scootering around the driveway, and grabbing their tackle boxes to head to neighbors’ ponds. It’s been a wholesome place to raise our children. The very thought of ever moving made me sick to my stomach for the longest time.
But in the third year, it grew apparent that our kids were feeling lonely. We could set up playdates, but these were fleeting weekly moments. With the promise of our school on the horizon, we were sure it would help them feel connected, but the timeline kept pushing out further and further. Our family meetings discussed the pros and cons of staying or moving. As their parents, we felt terrible for already moving three times, yet they were begging to move again. What we perceived as traumatic and unstable, they felt, was adventurous and fun. Go figure. But we had worked so hard to finally have our dream home, land, camper, and boat parked in the yard…what could be better? Why would we ever want to give this up?
Once again, I make plans, and God laughs. By now, I know to trust, for I cannot imagine how much is waiting for me. The only way to experience it is to live in the flow, which means release control. The day my oldest turned 14, I woke up and was ready. It hit me that he had just four years left if he decided to head to college—four years left to plant his roots, meet some best friends, and feel connected.
Six years ago, we bravely decided to move across the country and left Connecticut, ready for a different lifestyle. We wanted to be outside all year long, explore new places, and live in a community setting with lots of kids and families instead of a sleepy dirt road. We came from a small town where everyone knew your name, and the elementary schools weren’t gated. You could go to school with a name sticker without waiting 6 weeks for a background check. When you sat to watch a T-ball game, the faces you saw were the same year after year, which felt good.
We expected that here, too, southern charm and hospitality. But it was different; it was big and growing every day. Constant new faces, gated schools with thousands of kids, connecting was much harder than I imagined. Our first neighborhood looked magical from a storybook but felt cold as ice. Grown women cyberbullied me for choosing not to vaccinate my kids and insulted me for the simple clothes I wore. Coming from a place where I felt so loved and connected within my community as a teacher and business owner this treatment was foreign to me. We tried so desperately those first few years to fit in. We even went to a few churches and joined some groups, but when we stopped going, those friends fell away.
Moving to this home gave us a fresh start—one where we could hide a bit without judgment. It allowed us the time to focus on our mission of building our school. Then we reached this point—where spirit was giving us the nudge—it’s time to go. We knew a move could free up our finances and give our kids the chance to feel part of a community, so we put the house up for sale.
After a couple of buyers that fell through and some drama, we chose a home in a neighborhood close to this home. We have been there weekly for park meetups and activities over the past three years. The vibe is happy, peaceful, nature-centered, and I am eager for this next chapter to begin. The day our house went under contract, for the third time, a home in this neighborhood came on the market that checked our boxes. As I drove up to tour it, my Spotify randomly played, Welcome to My House and I thanked God for the clear sign that this was where I was supposed to begin my next chapter.
When I walked in, the layout felt open and welcoming. A beautiful sunroom overlooked a very private backyard. Something hard to find in an HOA neighborhood. I could sit outside among the trees and have a little oasis of peace. There is a pond across the street for the kids to fish and a four-minute bike ride to a huge park with courts and fields. It felt right for this next stage.
We move in less than ten days, and I am ready for the adventure and the fun. A wise woman said to me, “Of course, you need to move. If you stay in one place, how can God show you all the new things you have waiting?”
With that, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Know that whatever you are going through, you can only expect change. Sit back and enjoy the ride; the rough times will strengthen you, and good times will follow. There is absolutely nothing here that you can own, and once you understand that illusion, you can live a fuller life. You can give more and let go. The funny part is that once you let go, you make more room for new opportunities. You are here to play a tremendous role in this movie of life, so enjoy the set changes and switching costumes. Remember, this is your play; be the star of your show and trust in your divine director. I am excited to see what the next act brings. Stay tuned.
