Seasons of Change...

Goodness! This is the first time in months that I've actually sat down with the intent to write a blog post! Isn't it funny that it happens to be on 10/11/12, a day that many are toting as one with a little something special in the air? Well friends, I can tell you that the "something special" is change! Change is all around us at all times. It can be hard and bothersome or something beautiful that you can welcome with open arms. For the Hicks family, this season is definitely something beautiful we'd like to share.

2012 has been a BIG year for us! Many of the details went unposted (along with regular blog posts!) since we really wanted to keep things private for the time being. Most of our friends didn't even know what was in the works until last June/July!

So, first things first. We're homeowners! At this time last year, Dawson and I were contemplating our life and where we were living it. We were ready for a change, a big one at that! We had decided to relocate to Savannah, Georgia by January of 2012. We packed some bags and took a few trips through August, September and October to find a new place to call home. During our weekend getaways we got to experience the change in weather and the crispness of fall that we don't get treated to here in Tampa. We had so much fun! We went to fall festivals where the leaves were brilliant shades of orange and red, enjoyed fresh seafood in small coastal towns, and walked on some not so familiar beaches at sunset. After making these wonderful memories, we always came home wanting to be closer to family and friends so last December, after a lot of debate and thought, we decided not to venture out to Georgia. So where did this leave us?

This past January we resumed our 2 year search for a home of our own. We looked at townhouses, "starter homes" that needed work, foreclosures that needed more work, new construction and condos. In early February we came across a small community in a rural suburb of Tampa... on a lake. At that point, the only time I'd seen Dawson's eyes light up that way was on our wedding day! There was a beautiful plot of land right on the lake that looked to be at least double the size of the other lots surrounding it. It was love.

Our view of the lake from our back yard.

 We spent a few days looking at plans and model homes trying to pick out the best fit for us and our wallet. (We were so excited to find a home that is both affordable and more then adequate thanks to of the current state of the housing market here in Florida.) After about a week or so, we took the plunge and submitted loan paperwork for a new construction home and that gorgeous plot of land on the lake. With a lot of hope (and anxiety) we waited... and waited. We got a call about a week later letting us know we had been pre-approved and could begin designing our new home! Over the next two months we chose EVERYTHING about our home from the color of the pavers on the front porch to the color grout we used in the bathrooms! It was an amazing experience for us! Our first big milestone as individuals AND as a couple! Finally, April arrived and with it, much rain but that did not stop the builder from breaking ground on our new home! We were so excited! We watched as week by week our home grew from a flattened area of dirt to cinder block walls, then with a tall wooden roof!  Windows came next, then insulation, flooring and appliances!

Dawson in the front doorway of our new home!

And the roof is going up!

It's looking more like a home!

After four months of inspections, fixes and delays we finally made the news public when our closing date was set for August 13th! As we signed those papers I couldn't help but laugh at us, acting so grown up. Later that day we set up some folding tables and chairs and just sat in our new home. We talked about all the things we would be doing with OUR home for the next 30 years. That night we started celebrating with family and some pizza. It was perfect!

Right after closing on our new home!

After being in the house for almost 2 months we still can't believe it's ours. Or that it will soon give shelter to our biggest dream come true to date. Back in June we got quite the surprise! In all the frustration of construction, work and daily life we were reminded of just how wonderful things can be. We learned that we were expecting an addition to the family due in January 2013! We couldn't be more excited!

Baby H's first gifts.

So as I mentioned, this year has been one of changes for us, but we are ready and happy about it. We've moved from one season in our lives to another. I know it will be challenging but it will only make our love as a family grow exponentially. Cheers to a new season!