Truck Pulling Mom

You know how you wear those shirts  (baseball mom, soccer mom, dance mom) for every sport or activity that your child is involved in. Well what do you wear when they grow up?? I am not sure I have seen a Working Adult Mom, College Student Mom, or Getting on my Last Nerve Teenager Mom shirt 🤷

I am here to tell you that you can certainly think of something! You find what they love, what makes them who they are and you embrace it so here are my truck pulling mom shirts.....

      

You can see by now that this post has nothing to do with my historic home. Today is a day that I know my son has waited for his entire life. Today is Brandt's first time driving at the National Farm Machinery Show. In the truck pulling world, that is the Super Bowl, The World Series, The Oscars.....in my son's words "It's the big time!"

Let's back up a bit. What is truck pulling?

The official answer....Tractor pulling is a competitive motor sport in which modified farm tractors, modified tractors or trucks drag a metal sled along a prescribed course. The sled contains a box filled with weight that is mechanically winched forward as the sled progresses along the course.

The real answer......The scent of alcohol fumes on everything you own, not owning any clothes that don't have grease stains or the name of your pulling team on it, having family and friends all across the country that don't share your blood or your name, and a lot of time and money....

Brandt's great-grandfather started truck pulling years ago and it has been part of his family since. Brandt is the 4th generation to have filled the seat of Sullivan Pulling vehicle and I am positive that my grandchild will be the 5th. 

As I am typing this post, I am still not sure of the point of it. Is it about Brandt, how proud I am of him, mother and son relationships, life with your adult child, parent relationships after divorce....maybe all of the above. So I apologize in advance for rambling.

My girls will tell you that Brandt is my favorite child. That is not true; I do not have a favorite. My answer to that comment is "Not true....I don't like any of you." 🤣🤣 Brandt does have one distinction that no one else has. Because of him, I became the one thing that I had always wanted to be....he made me mom.

We took Brandt to his first truck pull in LaGrange Kentucky when he was less than one month old. I know that sounds crazy to some of you. I bought wax that formed around his ears and ordered these tiny headphones. I packed everything I could think that he could possibly need. I even packed a snowsuit because you know, it gets cold at night. Never mind, it was June. I was a new mom, I had no idea. I remember it taking me so long to pack everything up in the truck. When it was time to go, I climbed in the truck and his dad asked if I had everything. I looked around and thought, "Of course!" Everything except Brandt....he was in his car seat in the kitchen right beside the last bag I picked up. It ended being a great night. His dad won and Brandt slept through the entire thing 😴

When Brandt was first born, we lived in an apartment at the shop. Back then, my home did not smell like Hot Maple Toddy....it was hot alcohol and dirty grease. Everyone that visited the shop (and there were lots) visited Brandt. Wayne was hauling fertilizer back then and would stop by in the middle of the day. Brandt would wait  at the front window for his grandpa's semi-truck to pull in then would head to the back door to greet him. Truck pulling became part of him from the very beginning. He would sit and "drive" those trucks for hours. So when everyone else is watching him as an adult in his truck, I see that little boy who loved those trucks and spending time with the "big boys" (another of his words)

     

                         

At the 1995 Farm Show, I was very pregnant with Brandt. He was a big baby (he still is but that's another post 😉) and I was miserable. At that time, Ms. Betsy was working at the Farm Show. She took care of the drivers. She knew I wasn't feeling well. I will never forget her standing in the corner of the track and waving me over. She hugged me and said don't worry....he will be worth it. Later that week, she brought me a gift. I had no idea how much that gift would mean 25 years later. Betsy bought "the Sullivan baby" his first personalized piece of clothing. If you know Brandt, you know he doesn't have a piece of clothing without Sullivan Pulling or something to do with pulling on it! She had no idea what she was starting.  Betsy sent us a congratulations card when Brandt was born 4 months later and we sent her this....

NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL 1995

His 1st Farm Show "Jacket"

24 years later Brandt won his first National Championship driving a truck named after his beloved great-uncle, Eddie. He sent me a text one day and said "Mom, did you know your son is #1 in the points?" I think he was shocked! And then he just continued to do well and before you know it, he's a national champion! 🏆 There are so many things to say about this. 

• It was his first time in the points race.
• He was driving a truck named after a man we lost too soon who loved the sport as much as Brandt
• Winning a national championship the same year his Papaw Wayne or as Brandt calls him "my best friend" did with the tractor. 

I think sharing that championship with his Papaw Wayne means the most to him. A few years ago, I noticed lots of pictures on social media of Brandt's friends and he was never in them. When I asked what he was doing, most times, he told me he was at the shop. To be honest, I was concerned. I know he loves truck pulling. But I also know how important it is to balance it in your life and make time for other things. One day, I stopped by the shop to see him. He didn't know I was coming and when I walked in, I heard voices and laughing. I stopped in the doorway and watched. Wayne was showing Brandt how to do something. I watched the way Brandt looked and listened to him with admiration and respect. I watched the way Wayne easily passed down the knowledge and skill to his grandson. In that moment, I knew I didn't need to say another word to him about spending time at the shop. He wasn't....he was spending time with his grandfather. Of course, my mushy heart had to take a picture.....

I could on and on about Brandt and truck pulling. I don't remember a time that it wasn't all he talked about. Every birthday or Christmas gift was about pulling, he pretended to have truck pulls, he dressed up like his dad....

While getting to the end of this, I think I found the point of this post. Most times on social media, we post the aura of what we want things to be like rather than what they are truly are. I am also guilty of this. I am not trying to hide anything or pretend that my family doesn't have struggles. I just believe those conversation are between you and God not you and your friend list. 

While I am immensely proud of Brandt and his accomplishments, it is difficult at times. When he was little, I swore I would never miss a truck pull. That has not been my reality. I have missed them. When I do go, it is not what I had envisioned.  I don't see or talk to Brandt much as much as I would like to.  It's hard, it hurts....it sucks. But you know what....it isn't about me. It is about my son.  He is spending time doing something he loves with people he loves. He is learning to be a team, to work hard and to be humble in his accomplishments. 

So 25 years after Betsy told me that he would be worth it, Brandt is returning to that same spot as a driver.  I have terrible seats and am probably going to be running late. I will get a parking spot so far away from Freedom Hall, it will take me an 1/2 hour to walk there. I have to drive from Cincinnati after Rylann's infusion to Louisville in the rain and the traffic. But I could not think of another place I would rather be than watching Brandt take the track at the 2020 Farm Show....I would not miss it for the world! 

I will leave you this. For the single moms who struggle when your littles are at their dads, for the moms who wish your adult kids would call or text more, for the moms who are sending your oldest or youngest out into the world, for the moms who are struggling to find your place in your adult child's life, remember these things. 

Allow others to love them (even if you don't care for the others). Allow them to love others back. Loving both families (even if that love looks different) does not make one greater than the other. 

When your littles become bigs, don't make it about you. Wondering what you are going to do with your life and your time should not be their burden. Let them go....let them become these fantastic human beings who have great jobs, are serving their country and fulfilling life long dreams. YOU did that! They could not become those people without a mom loving and supporting them....

Not every mom and adult child relationship looks the same...don't compare yours with someone else's. 

YOU are their mom. They will always need you but that need will look different. You may not be packing their lunch but you can listen while they vent about a professor or they can look over on a dirt track see you wearing your truck pulling mom shirt.

I listened to Brandt's interview yesterday  and could hear the subtle excitement in his voice. Even though he said it was just another truck pull, I could also hear the nervousness. Say a little prayer for him tonight for the Big Guy to calm his nerves🙏

                       

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

Blogging is hard....

Someone asked me last week about this blog and why I had not updated it in a LONG time. I had every intention of documenting this renovation but I failed miserably. Well maybe not.....I can start again right? Isn't that what life is about....you can't change how your started but you can change how you finish, you can't change the past but you can change the present.... I could go on but you get the idea!

So I have not updated this blog since August 2019 and now it's February 2020 and updating my blog is my New Years Resolution (one month late🤷)

I am going to do it!
I am going to make time!
It's only 20 minutes a week!
I can do this!

I am going to have to keep telling myself that in order to keep this blog up.  What has happened since in the last 6 months.....A LOT!

Let's see..........

• An entire floor fell in
• A fireplace fell in
• Discovered the electric was duct taped together and parts of it had been on fire
• All the plumbing needed replaced
• Nothing is square or flush
• Over budget
• Not enough time or money
• Ghosts

And the good things....

• The house starting to take shape
• Met some great people
• Heard a lot of stories
• Became an aunt again
• Watched one of my BFFs become a grandmother
• My son become a national champion in truck pulling
• My oldest daughter started her senior year in college
• My youngest daughter celebrated a year of remission from her rheumatoid arthritis (and she had her first date...more to come on that...i'ts a great story!)
• Started a new tradition with a friend #intentionalfriendships

This is why I love making lists. The good outweighs the bad. And isn't that what life is about too? Focusing on the good in life and trusting in God. I stopped writing this blog because I was incredibly stressed about this decision. I was in a place where I had decided just to finish up the house and sell it.  After all, my two adult children have their own homes and the youngest will be in college soon. Praying and praying and even more praying which consisted of some out loud God talks (good thing He lets us vent) and I knew He had other plans for me than selling this house. I have no idea what His plan  is nor do I care to know. If there is one thing I have learned in life it is not to question Him. It has been hard at times but He has never let me down. I always love how He shows up in the most unexpected places and times.  While cleaning up this weekend, I was very frustrated and having one of my out loud talks with God and needed some reassurance. It was a cold, dreary day and it had been snowing that morning. As I was sweeping the foyer, I looked up to see this beautiful view out my front door. The snow had stopped and the sun was shining....

As I stood there for a moment, I propped my broom up on the wall. In my frustration and stress, trying to figure out what to do, I see this written on the wall. 

Nothing to earth-shattering in this blog post except I am going to do better, I will not give up on this house and God is great 👆 The next time you are feeling down, upset, stressed (and maybe have the desire to Facebook) or if you're feeling grateful, thankful or blessed.....talk to Him, look for Him and listen for Him.

Fully Furnished

My first offer on the house was not accepted. When I received the counter offer, it was a little more than I had in mind. Then....I had a thought! The former owners had not used the house in years and it was full and I mean full of antiques and "stuff". I agreed to accept the counter offer as long as they left everything in it. I had zero expectations that they would agree. I mean....who sells a house these days fully furnished with antiques. Well....this seller did. Not only did I get the historic river home, I got all of the "stuff"

I am so excited about this at first but then reality sits in again. What in the world am I going to do with all of this? This furniture isn't my taste and I have no idea what some of this stuff is! So a side adventure with this house, is discovering what some of these items are and how they were used. We have had several history lessons and have met new people how told us the stories of these items.

Look at these beautiful pieces.... I have found loving homes for a few things but still have so much more. While I do appreciate the history of these pieces, they are just not my style. We needed to get the items out of the house so we could start the renovations. Right now, everything is in storage but an estate sale is in my future....

Demo Day 1 - Plaster removal is not for the faint of heart

So now I have keys.....what is next? I wish I could say that I had a plan and all of the answers. The truth I was hit with the hard reality of the lack of HGTV reality. Chip? Joanna? anyone.....?

I am a list maker...lists, list and more lists. The easiest way for me to get my head wrapped around this house is making a "few" lists.....a list of the overall needs and lists of what each room needs, a list of what I need a contractor to complete and a list of what we can DIY. Now to prioritize....what is the most important, necessities v. wants and my non-negotiables. Believe it or not, all of this helped; I have somewhat of a plan now. Moving forward, I will be referring to the house as the North side, South side, Middle and Upstairs. This keeps it organized for me....using the same reference with all of the contractors also keeps things in perspective.

Patience is not one of my strong suits but over the years, I have internalized the idea that I am on God's time not my time. I have reassured myself of this simple concept so many times that it has become part of my soul. I do not question Him or the bumps, struggles or barriers that I encounter; they are His to put in my path. BUT while I was waiting on the HVAC technician, plumber and electrician to be scheduled, I had to do something! The kitchen it is.....

The kitchen cabinets were honestly not in the bad of shape but those purple counter tops....neither were my taste. The kitchen is a non-negotiable for me! I love to cook....I want room for my family in the kitchen....and most importantly, I want a pot filler!

With the age of this home, every room has a fireplace that was used to heat the home. Currently none of the fireplaces work but they are beautiful focal points. The one in the kitchen was covered with drywall and plaster. The mantle was painted to match the purple counter tops but it is original to the house so of course I am saving this! 

There isn't much a transformation to see right now but removing everything from the kitchen gave me a better idea of the size and potential of the room.

The next two pictures show the view of the kitchen from the living room. Yep....that's purple! Look at that beautiful window looking out in the yard. I couldn't ask for a better view while doing the dishes. For me, doing dishes is relaxing and I walk away feeling accomplished so yes I am excited for this! By the way, the dishwasher will be right beside my sink. I also feel relaxed and walk away feeling accomplished from drinking wine.....🍷It's all about balance....

Now I love islands mostly tropical with pineapple and coconut flavored drinks but this island....no words. It is massive and purple....did I mention the kitchen is purple? Saying goodbye to this for an island more proportional to the room.

Another view of the kitchen looking out the side window and the refrigerator and pantry on the other end. Hey Paisley! 👋 Isn't she a cutie...she is still figuring out this house. I am not sure if she will get along with Elizabeth 👻

     

     

    

Now that the kitchen has been emptied, I am starting to get a feel for the room. I can see the new layout. The sketches have started....The house has two back doors so that leaves me the option to brick in the one to the kitchen and have more counter space. The stove and range hood will be relocated from the island to the space where the refrigerator is now.  As I am typing this, I just realized I only took one picture of the kitchen after the cabinet removal 🤷 I can add more later but you get the idea!

I didn't intend to uncover the fireplace because honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. But entire point of this house was to finally take a risk so in keeping with that theme.....hammer down as my son would say! The fireplace before with all it's drywall and purple paint....whatever is under there has to be better than this. 

I started on the bottom just to see what was behind that drywall. I knew it wasn't plaster because it was hollow....this is easy! And it was. It didn't take long to uncover some "lovely" blue brick. The mantel is original to the house so I definitely want to restore it. I was worried about removing it without damage, With a little crow bar and a hammering, it came off seamlessly with no damage...Thank you Jesus ☝

Now that the mantel is off, you can see why the fireplace was filled in. The brick is sagging and the chimney was probably falling in at one point. The brick was added to reinforce it.

Slowly but surely, the plaster came off. I assumed there was drywall at the top just like the bottom. I was wrong! I have never removed plaster but how hard can it be? Really hard....that's how hard! It is so messy and heavy and you know what's fun? Plaster dust in your contacts and pieces of plaster in places well let's just say that tank top was not the appropriate attire.....

Finally you can see this "beauty" Yes yes....I know its dirty, the brick is sagging and it looks junky. You see that but I see 200 years of getting that "just right" look. I can see it now.....restored white mantle with maybe cast iron skillets or a Gather sign above it. This is part of the charm and character of this house. You accept its quirks and imperfections, you don't try to change it to suit your needs and you respect the story of how it became its current self.That sounded a lot like relationship advice....oh well...it was good advice!

Here is she is.... The circle at the top, we assumed was a pipe....it isn't. It's a clay pot used to gather ashes. Scott, my favorite mason, would know what to do! A few days after this demo, Scott came down to work on the trees. I had a few days to think about it so I had made up my mind that I wanted the blue brick removed, the fireplace reinforced and the chimney opened. I explained all of this to Scott and he looks at me and says "Well, you're crazy. You cooking in that fireplace? You have more important things to spend your money on." Yes Scott....you are right! "You're going to clean that with a wire brush, I am going add a few bricks and tuck point a few places then that's it." Yes Scott....you are right. He is only man alive that has ever gotten me to say those words twice in two sentences. He has no idea of his accomplishment 😃

Love makes you do crazy things....

As soon as I walked into this house, I fell in love with it! Floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors, the history,  the character....it stole my heart ❤❤  But like all good love affairs, you have to take the bad along with good and ride the roller coaster of the ups and downs.....

Now that the offer has been accepted, it was time to make sure that this little beauty wasn't going to fall down the first time Rylann bounced her volleyball off of a wall.....home inspection time! I had no idea where to begin or who could do this home inspection. This isn't an ordinary house, it's 200 years old and an update has been attempted. Not a good one, I may add, you can tell that from the massive hole in the floor (more on that later...)

Before I tell you about my home inspection, let me back up a minute and talk about my loan officer aka my friend and mortgage queen Lora Beth Sadler with First National Bank. My very first memory of Lora Beth was when i was sitting in Mrs. Perkins' 7th grade English Class.  This much "older experienced" girl in the 12th grade came to to my class to practice her FFA (that's Future Farmers of America for you urban peeps) speech about being a good leader. Now, I can't tell you exactly what she said but I can tell you that the concept has stuck with me over the years. So kids, listen to those "older people" in your life, something may stick and you won't even know it! Years later I had Lora Beth's daughter in class and them we became fellow church members. We have taught Vacation Bible School together and wrangled up a lot if kids in our time. Naturally when I decided to refinance my house, I turned to her. Lora Beth's first question was "Do you want to stay in your house?" Of course I do! I am never leaving this little house....I scrimped and saved for this house after my divorce...this is our home...I have decorated every inch of it....my kids grew up here.....    Fast forward one year later... "Hey Lora Beth, i put my house on the market after I cleaned it and it sold in 10 hours" 🤷   Again, she came to the rescue! I knew it was time to follow a dream and buy a fixer upper. For 10 months, she offered advice and even kept an eye on the market for me. When it was time to choose a home inspector, Lora Beth recommended someone she had worked with the past. Her leader speech was on point and boy can she put on a good VBS so of course I am following her advice.

I can't sing the praises of this man enough....well I can't sing at all...just ask my kids,,,,they have shushed me in church. Hey I am only following the Bible....the book of Psalm says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord right? I tried that line once and one of my kids who I won't name (Blaire) told me there was nothing joyful about that noise...🙉 Anyway, back to the home inspector. If you live anywhere near Northern Kentucky, John Lawson is your guy! He was meticulous. He looked at every nooky and cranny of the house, walked me through everything and even ranked his recommendations....Must do, should do, may want to do.... Now I know that is his job but his knowledge of historic homes was more than I could imagine. His delivery was also on point... a nice mixture of this is bad with but this is in great condition. Thanks John....I love roller coasters! 

So the ups.... the roof, the plumbing, the floors, the walls
The side way turns....the windows, the electric
The downs.....trees growing out of one wall and a buckled foundation. Yes, you read that correctly...
🌳🌳🌳🌳

Are you thinking I am crazy yet? No worries... I thought the same...I still do...depends on the day.

After reading the 51 page home inspection report (about 10 times) it was time for the structural engineer. Everything about those two words sounds pricey. Great...here we go...already a money pit! Did I mention that I bought the house As Is??? What can I say....love makes you do crazy things!

Back to John....He recommended a structural engineer that he had worked with in the past. Craig has inspected older homes before. Much to my surprise, the foundation is in great condition! Yes it is buckled in a few places but it is solid.  I learned from Craig that with rock foundations, the rocks will shift before they settle. Under the front window, there is a significant buckle. If it was affecting the foundation and/or still shifting, the floors would be uneven. The floors are perfectly level! The buckle in the foundation could be fixed but it doesn't have to be. That little buckle under the window and the slightly crooked window will stay.... If I had wanted a perfect house, I would have built a new one. That little buckle comes with a lot of character....kind of like me! And let's be honest....most of us have a little buckle sticking out somewhere. So if you come to see my house, don't point out it's buckle unless you want me to point out yours 🤣

There's the buckle, bow, budge, bump....whatever you call it, it isn't straight!

Now, I love a good tree house. I have always wanted one. The thought of having this little private space where I could see everything but at the same time be alone is very appealing to me. BUT the idea of living in one is not so appealing.... Yep....I just bought a 200 year old tree house as my daughter lovingly refers to it.  I prepared myself for this.... I knew this would be it. I can fix the wall and nothing else...sorry Rylann....do you really NEED electric, air and heat in your room....now you're just being spoiled....  I may have made this sound worse than it is. The trees are not growing out of the ground; they are growing out of the mortar. 200 year old mortar was made from sand, dirt and water so it is common for older homes to have issues with the mortar. The bricks have to be removed, the tree removed then the bricks put back. Easy peasy...let me find a good YouTube video on that and I will have it fixed in a jiffy....

My sweet little tree house.....they give it a bit of character, don't you think?

Enter stage right....the historic mason...Another recommendation from John. Scott has worked on historic homes and churches for years. John has seen his work and he knew Scott was the guy for the job. Scott and I talked for about a week before I met him last week, Now while I would love to share Scott's story, it is not my story to tell. I will tell you a few things., he is the guy for the job, the wall will be perfect and I trust anything he says. When John referred Scott, he told me he was a "bit of a character." John and I must have a different definition of the word "bit" but nonetheless, I could not have been happier to meet Scott. I am hoping that once he starts work and I explain to him what a blog is, you will get to know this colorful character more. If not, let me leave you with this.....

Martin Luther King Jr said...do not judge by the color of their skin but by the content of their character

Walt Whitman said...be curious not judgmental

Mother Teresa said...if you judge people you have no time to love them

And most importantly, the Bible tell us in the books of Matthew, Luke, Romans, Ephesians and James that is not our responsibility to judge others. John 7:24 tells us "Do not judge by appearances...." Titus 3 tell us "to show perfect courtesy toward all people"

While we all may look different, have different levels of education, have different relationship statuses, different families, love differently, speak differently, have different manners, different skills, different beliefs....there is one thing that connects us all.....we all have the ability to love and spread kindness. I encourage you to focus on your ability to love, uplift and accept others.....

Stop right there with the thought that I am preaching at you....I fail Him daily. I am just grateful that on the day I met Scott, I opened my heart to listen to his story including his successes and struggles. I am blessed that my home has been touched by Scott's God-given skill and the love for his trade.

Monday is closing day and the work will begin........

Who is the "Her"???

When I typed the first post, I was typing it as if everyone that read it knows me. But if this crazy thing happened and someone who doesn't know me actually reads my blog!

So a little bit about the Her in Historic Home for Her.... No need to grab a glass of wine to prepare for some whirlwind story. My life and history are simple but nonetheless, it is MY story and has led me to the person I am today and I like her!

My stats

• Three children referred by themselves as "My Dream Team"
• Three college degrees
• Two divorces (I know you noticed the pattern of three but I am not going for three on this one 😃)
• One amazing career
• One Labradoodle  - I am sure you learn more about Paisley later. She runs the show
• A small circle of friends that I wouldn't trade for anything. At 46, you learn that friends are definitely about quality not quantity
• A love for cooking
• World traveler and by that I mean I WANT to be a world traveler but for now I settle for short trips and experiences
• And now one large historic home to renovate

If you don't know anything about Kentucky, it is a beautiful state with green rolling hills, mountains and lakes. We love horses, basketball and of course bourbon. Well my 21 year old daughter loves bourbon; she's an old soul. Sorry, I digress..... back to Kentucky. In the northern section of Kentucky, along the Ohio River, lies Gallatin County. It is one of the smallest counties in Kentucky and was named for Statesman Albert Gallatin. I am a bit of history nerd so you are going to see those fun facts occasionally. 

I grew up in Gallatin County. I left for college and returned to teach. Married, had children, etc...I am a private person. You wouldn't think that since I am writing a blog but some things are off limits. I will spare you and myself the tale of two divorces. The first in 2003 and the second in 2011. All I can say, is that I learned a lot about myself as a person, a mom, a friend and some hard life lessons as well. While there are several things I wish I could do over, I also believe in God's Plan. He led me through those experiences. My job isn't to question it is to have faith and trust Him. So carry on God....what's next 🙏

Back to my stats... My children are my great successes. They are not too big of fans of me talking about them on social media. I can't even imagine the backlash of a blog.... To keep them happy, I will say little. 

• My son Brandt is 24. He works at a utility company in electrical maintenance. He owns his own home. Ironically, it is the house his dad and I used to live him and he is fixing it up. I never thought I would be in that house again.... funny how life works. He loves tattoos and truck pulling... I know, I know....what is truck pulling? Google it...it's too much to type and that is his thing with his dad. Do the tattoos bother me? No...not at all! He bought me a shirt once that says "I love my tattooed son". There could be worse things right? You learn to pick your battles. Those tattoos have little to do with his character. 

• My oldest daughter Blaire is 21. And what I could say about her! I call it Second Child Syndrome. I could go on and on but she has given me some of the scariest and saddest moments of my life and also some of the proudest. She is a Specialist in the 101st Airborne Division with the Kentucky National Guard and  also a University of Kentucky student.  In February 2018, Blaire was deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months. Longest 10 months of my life... She is fiercely stubborn and independent.. I am often reminded by family and friends that she comes by that honestly. I wish I was as cool as she is....
  

• My youngest daughter  Rylann is 14. I thought the third time maybe a charm but it turns out she's just as big of a handful as the older two! I say that lovingly....she's a dime. Rylann was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was 6. She has a strict medical regiment to keep it under control. She handles her diagnosis with acceptance and grace. Even when she is in pain, you would never know it. She plays volleyball, basketball and tennis. She also manages to play the largest tuba known to man! Not really but it seems like it. I have no idea how she marches while carrying that thing. I never hear her complain or use her diagnosis as a crutch. She has such a great attitude....I want to be like her when I grow up!

As you can see, I have spent most of my time as a mother as a single mother. I didn't do it completely alone with the first two but Rylann is all mine. Let's just say some people should not be parents and leave it at that. I have spent countless hours at soccer, football, and baseballs fields and on basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. My children have always come first. I can't say that I had the best childhood so ensuring they had a great one has always been my priority. While I have failed at times, I have always tried my best for them. They are growing up so I am patiently waiting for them to realize that ⏰

After college, I started my career in education as a teacher in Gallatin County Schools. I worked for 17 years in the classroom teaching grades from Kindergarten to 8th grade. In  2014, I accepted a position as the Chief Information Officer for that same school district. I LOVE my job. It is something I have always wanted to so. In 1983, Gallatin County received its first computers. There was an article in the paper that referred to the computers as "magical machines". With that article there was a picture of me using one. My grandmother always kept newspaper articles about her family. When I started this position, she gave me that newspaper article. (Typing this reminds me that I need to get that framed and hang it in my office. ) I was in love with those "magical machines". After my bachelor's degree in Education, I received my master's degree in Instructional Technology. I truly believe that this is another example of God's Plan. I have come full circle in my career all through His plan for me and I am eternally grateful. I love this small school district and family of staff and students that I work with.

"Me and the Magical Machines"

I love to cook so don't be surprised if you see a recipe here and there. A year and a half ago, I started eating low carbs. I was researching ways to help Rylann control her arthritis naturally. We discovered that gluten and sugar contribute to the amount of inflammation in your body. In April 2018, we started. Honestly, it is not as hard as you think! Let me be specific, we do not do Keto, we do low carb. I don't count anything. We just don't eat bread, pasta or potatoes and we limit sugar. It has to be a special occasion. Blaire loves to comment on my #lowcarblife. I made the mistake of using that hashtag once on Instagram....I am still paying for that. 🙄  

I guess that sums up the "Her" in Historic Home for Her

Oh my.... how could I forget my "favorite child"! Meet Paisley....she's excited about the new house....well maybe... not sure how she will get along with the ghosts....

Let the adventure begin....

I have typed, deleted, thought and retyped this opening sentence no more than 10 times! I have a million thoughts running through my head and have no idea where to start. I have never considered myself a "blogger" but to save my family and friends from having to hear me constantly talk (complain), here I am "blogging"......

So what do I have to say? A lot actually but the event that started this blog was a dream aka huge risk come true. I celebrated my 46th birthday on June 8th and as gift to myself, I signed a contract on a 200 year old historic home "as is" (insert a drink of wine).

Here she is....My beautiful forever home with breathtaking views of the Ohio River. The Payne House was built in 1822 by John Payne whose grandfather was the founding father of Fredericksburg which is now known as our little town of Warsaw.

So what is the purpose of this blog? My scary but exciting adventure on the rehab of this historic beauty plus life as a mom, career, friends, faith, recipes or  whatever comes to my mind. 

If are interested in any of things mentioned above plus remodels, period construction techniques (there are actually huge bolts from one side of this house to another holding is all together) rehab successes and fails, DIY, design and even ghost stories, then join my journey. I would love to hear about your experiences and advice too!  

I have only been on this journey for one week and I have already sat on the porch praying... "God please see me through this"  But look at this view......

My 14 year old says that Instagram is the way to go and no one reads blogs. She may be right but I need to write it while she needs to Instagram it. We are compromising.... Follow us on Instagram at 

https://www.instagram.com/historichomeforher/