Have you ever had a dream?
Something that you thought was unattainable, out-of-reach, pie-in-the-sky.
A dream that you put away on a shelf and took out only when life was at its most overwhelming. A dream that you never thought in your wildest imaginings would ever come true. And when life twists and turns as it must and you are tossed and tumbled, emerging from the haze a little rough around the edges…
…that dream is all you have to sustain you.
But sometimes, when you least expect it.
When you have given up all hope.
Your dream somehow becomes reality.
Dreams are funny like that.
This is the story of our dream.
You see, we lived in the Dallas area with all the lights and fanfare that a big city has to offer. There were restaurants and shops and movies and plays and museums and malls and lots and lots and lots of stuff. And everywhere you looked, there were people pushing and shoving and climbing to the top, arms overflowing with all their stuff.
And my husband was on the fast-track in a tall skyscraper in the middle of Dallas. He worked in the world of pharmaceutical research with all of its fast-paced allure and overwhelming responsibilities. And although we were happy with our four children in our historic house two blocks over from my brother and six blocks from my parents….
…something was missing.
We were just so busy.
Maybe too busy.
Too busy for each other.
Too busy for our family.
But in the middle all of that busy, our hearts had a dream. A dream of a place where life was simpler. A place where our children could run and breathe and grow without all of the constraints of an overwhelmingly fast-paced lifestyle. A place where all of the busy and the hustle and bustle and the noise and the clamor could end in a screeching stand-still.
A place where you could see the stars.
But every day the merry-go-round was spinning faster and faster. Life was becoming one giant blur, sailing by at lightning-fast speed. And we felt like we spent all of our time and energy just trying to keep up.
And then? One day at church, our pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Just Jump.” He spoke of listening to your heart and the Lord and if you felt like there was an insurmountable dream, you shouldn’t be afraid to follow what God was putting on your heart.
The message was loud and clear. Just jump.
We heard his words and they spoke to the very center of our hearts and we wanted to jump as far and as fast as we could.
But we were afraid.
We were so scared.
We couldn’t just jump off the merry-go-round.
Or could we?
The doubts were swirling around and around in our heads.
But there it was a still small voice saying….
….“jump.”
Not “JUMP” in all caps, but “jump” in tiny, small, timid, little letters.
And so we did.
Jump, that is.
We jumped from the hustle and bustle and busy to a still, quiet, beautiful countryside in Kentucky with acres and acres of land to run and play and….
…..breathe.
It has been five years since that first jump and our family continues to grow and thrive. The move has had its challenges and blessings. Sometimes I miss the hustle and bustle. I miss the convenience of a drive-thru diet coke. And sometimes it’s a little hard when everyone knows your name (and all your business).
Truthfully, sometimes I miss the busy.
And then? I take a breath. I drive down a winding country road when the leaves are changing with the season. I press pause and watch the wind ripple through the hay in the back pasture. I walk outside on a crisp, clear night take a deep breath and look up at the sky….
….and I see the stars.
It was fun to read again. And...I am so glad you listened to that small voice and JUMPED.
This is such a great post Kari! What a wonderful sentiment. I LOVE the thought of "jump", we never know where our dreams will take us. :) So happy you've found such a wonderful place for your family. Karah
Hey, I was reading then and i did not know your middle name! So glad you jumped. If you didn't listen to that voice, you may not have had time in all that hustle & bustle to start this blog. And then I would be missing out on a truly great friendship ... :) Linda
I did the same thing Karianne! Jumped from the big city and a stressful but exciting career to living in the middle of nowhere... I miss the lights and the conveniences and my friends and family, but I love where I am now. I love the fresh air, the mountains, the peace and the camaraderie and support that comes from living in a small town where you know almost everybody. It's lovely. Incidentally, I believe all dreams come true. The only reason they take so long to materialize is that we either try to hard to MAKE them happen or don't truly believe they will happen instead of allowing ourselves to follow the path that God set out for us the moment we made our wishes... Have a great day! xox
ummm that's "too hard" not "to hard" ;)
i would have jumped on that, too! it's beautiful... your loving touch shows everywhere!
This is the first post I ever read of yours and it got me hooked straight away. I feel so much the same. We talk endlessly of moving toward a simpler life, but the idea of making that jump is just so scary. Thanks, as always, for the inspiration, liz
It's a dream we all have - it's always a "someday" goal. Glad you jumped - life's an adventure! That's the best part - we never know where life will take us. So glad it took you to a place where we could meet - and in the words of a fabulous gal we both know and love ... love it! Kelly
What a wonderful post! I am so glad you listened to your heart and Holy Spirit and JUMPED!
So glad you jumped into my life, virtually anyway! You're a blessing and I always enjoy your writing. :)
you speak the truth about jumping... there are so many things to miss about the hustle and bustle of urban living. we've jumped a few times--though slightly pushed once!--and our family is stronger and happy for all of our experiences, good and not so good. but, i'm always running the question about what i might wish for while on my deathbed... and it wouldn't be more shopping! keep the wonderful writing coming!
Ahhhh...what a lovely post!~ We sorta did the same. We left an area where the hustle and bustle was way too much for our family. We found our little pie in the sky, and life is so much easier. LOVE this post girl. Thanks for allowing us into your heart and your home! Have a wonderful weekend.
Very sweet post. We kinda did a jump 6 years ago as well and have very few regrets. Sometimes you just have to hold your breath, close your eyes, and take that leap of faith. Looks like you landed on your feet quite nicely. Congrats on the feature over at Whisperwood Cottage. Have a fabulous weekend. Angie
So glad you are happy in your choice. Beautiful home tour at Debbie doos.
We did the same thing - not necessarily from a really "big" city, but the city nonetheless. We live on a 23+ orchard and love it. I agree, there are some cons, the biggest being that our kids' friends are far enough away that you just can't hop, skip and jump over to see Susie, Tommy & Billy, but we make it work with lots of driving back and forth :) It is all worth it when we can live, see and breathe so clearly. Plus, my walk to work (home to shop) has great scenery. LOL. Your place is stunningly beautiful - I know I've told you that before - and it makes me want to JUMP one more time into a farmhouse renovation! Keep on inspiring me, I may just be able to convince my husband!!
Hi Karianne--I would love to know more about how you made the jump happen. I've got a place I want to jump from, but I don't know where I want to jump to. So, I'm very interested in jumping stories these days. (I might be a serial jumper. Just jumped from the mountains to the suburbs almost a year ago, but I've got a different kind of jump in mind now.)
What a beautiful post. I feel like I needed to read it today.. Thanks for sharing!
We just JUMPED a few months ago and upped and left London (England) for a more rural dream. We don't quite have all the pieces in place yet but so far I'm convinced it's the best thing ever! We're still in a city but a much smaller one - I walk to work in five minutes - and we have so much more time for each other.
Karianne, what a wonderful story! God does speak to us with those small voices! He is an awesome God! I'm so happy you had the courage, in Him, to listen and "jump"! You have a beautiful family and home! Thank you for sharing this precious reminder of His love for us! Thank you for sharing your blessings with us too!
I didn't follow you from the beginning so it was fun to read it! Aren't you so happy you took that leap? it shows so much in your writing and pictures! I so enjoy seeing you each day! Blessings, Lorraine
Thanks for sharing your previous post! I am fairly new to your blog and so I really enjoyed getting to hear about this and to see your beautiful home tour over at Debbie Doo's. This will remind me to keep dreaming and to jump (at least once in a while). Have a calm and very blessed day!
Hi Karianne, Thanks for sharing this great story. A leap of faith! Good choice. Joyous Wishes, Linda P.S. I forgot to email you to ask about the stamping on silver! How do you do that?
Guess what ? I have been around long enough, I had the pleasure of reading it that first time! So glad I found you then... and that you took the blogging JUMP too =) Shannon
Love this story and its message of faith and trust in God. So timely for me (us). Bless your sweet family, star-gazers that you are. :) xo Heidi
I did read this post before, and love it even more this time =) We sadly left our small town haven, and now my hubby is living the life of a professional on the 37th floor of that skyscraper. He works in the crazy, fast paced oil field, but we have managed to carve out our little piece of calm on an acreage out of the city. Having grown up in Vancouver, I am used to the hustle and bustle of city life, but it is quaint, cozy, and calm that I crave now. Your piece of country looks like absolute heaven to me. What a blessed life you (and we) live!
Once again this moves me to tears. Karianne, it gives hope to those who have the pleasure of reading it - and I am glad you reposted for those who may not have read it. Heading over to Debbie's now to see the front part of your gorgeous home now! Hugs. Have a great weekend.
OH do I ever understand about "jumping".... our first big jump was 7 years ago.... to Alaska. Yes my dear you read that correctly! We "jumped" almost 4000 miles to a little piece of heaven. Unfortunately we made a leap back to "civilization" and the psuedo "rat race" two years ago due to health reasons. (I was terribly allergic to the region of Alaska where we lived.... which led to over 2 years of chronic sinus infections and just plain being sick ALL the time...) We do miss it but know that blessed both our time there and our time away. It brought us closer as a family.... and I do NOT regret one single day of it. Have a great weekend and thank you for reposting!!
I'm so glad you listened to His still small voice and made the jump Karianne. Dreams are the road that lead us to fulfilling lives. I too made the 'jump'. We lived in a big city as well with all of its noise, stuff, and pressure. Once we moved to the country it was like suddenly I could breathe again. I had 'time', time to look at the amazing world of nature all around me, birds, bugs, chickens, horses, flowers, berries, stars and people who take the time to TALK to you not just pass you by without so much as a nod. I know some people love the hustle and bustle but it was drowning me and I'm so happy the Lord provided a way and I'll never look back.
"Might as well jump. Jump ! Go ahead, jump. Get it and jump. Jump ! Go ahead, jump." I wish I hadn't copied & pasted that, now the song is stuck in my head. ha ha :D Country living, that's the good life!
I juat came over from Debbies. Your home is GORGEOUS!!!! I love your style. I just started following you too. Have a beautiful, quiet, star filled weekend. XO, Pinky
That little voice tends to be the bearer of truth... listening to it requires great courage and wisdom...a BOLD move, my friend...
Well, here I am again, writing to tell you how wonderful I think you are for sharing yourself, letting us feel what is in your heart, and maybe too, helping those of use who are fearful of "the jump" to dare and think...maybe I can jump too! :) Enjoy your weekend, don't fall in any turtle holes, and know you are appreciated!
What a perfect post! I love that you wrote about this today! It's so crazy that I wrote something a little similar. We are both reflecting! I think it's so amazing that you actually did jump! So many people long to, and don't have the guts! You are living the dream for sure! Your dream, and many other people's as well. I know I would love to live in a place like yours. Wide open space, out of the bee hive. I long to simplify, and get off the gerbil wheel. I always love looking at pics of your house, but reading your thoughts is the real treat! You are such a gifted writer, and a very creative person with a clearly beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing this! xo-Lisa
This post touched me, Karianne. When we go home to Indiana and there's acres of corn fields and farms everywhere, its invigorating and makes me miss the fresh air of the countryside! I'm so happy your family found a place thats right for you.
Wonderful post! I grew up in the middle of nowhere, and I do miss it. Sometimes. And then I see the Target, and...
I don't know why your title made me think of horses. Anyway, this is a profound lesson. Sometimes even knowing what it is that we want is so hard. I feel like my husband and I took a huge jumping leap of faith when we bought land to build a house from scratch. A house to raise a family in, when I was only pregnant with our first and knew nothing about kids. But it paid off, and somehow we wound up with a perfect-for-our-family house. Girl, you jumped good. Jessica stayathomeista.com
Karianne, this is such a wonderful inspiring story. I grew up in a small town and absolutely could not wait to move to a city with hustle and bustle. My husband and I have lived in a city for almost 16 years. We have dreamed for the last few years of owning acreage. And the crazy thing is with my husband's job we can live basically anywhere. But I am paralyzed with fear. I don't know where to go because I have too many choices! I do know that I have to be within 20 minutes of a fabric store, Hobby Lobby, Target, WHBM, Ann Taylor, PF Changs, you get the picture. I am spoiled, very much so. I want the best of both worlds but don't know if that exists or where it exists. I'm so happy you found the perfect place for your family.
I'm happy you pay attention in church. ~Bliss~ (I can't tell Debbie the lipstick wearing walker (or was that dreamer) sent me, I went to her place first)
Your jump was for and to something very good. You have created a wonderful home for your family. I do know what you mean about missing the city. I grew up in large cities. Now we live in a smaller city, and I miss the hustle and bustle. But, I don't want to move - ever again.
So glad you jumped, Karianne, and that you're willing to share your journey with the rest of us. I appreciate not only your decorating style but also your style of blogging/sharing...transparent, humorous, inspiring and real. Thank you for one more post that leaves one feeling encouraged. Hugs to you!
I found you from DebbieDoos, and loved the farmhouse tour, but really love this post too... getting off the rat race, inspiring! I'm gonna find a way to follow you...LF &/or FB... come visit me too when you have time. :) Little Bit from www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com
KariAnne...i was one of the readers who read your original post...but I did not know your middle name!!!....I remember the warm feeling that I got from reading about your journey...making the life changing decision of what is best for your family...reaching for that dream...as Ralph Waldo Emerson would say...."Hitch a wagon to a star"....You did that...you hitched your wagon to a star...you took that leap of faith and JUMPED!...jumped in that wagon hitched to a star....and now you are sitting on our beautiful porch gazing at that star you so reached for.... We have "jumped" twice in our lives...making decisions of what was best for our lives, rather than what was best for our careers...Both "jumps" turned out to be the best things we ever did...so it comes to show you that when you follow your heart....nothing can stand in your way...well, maybe with the exception of that turtle from the field, crossing the road in front of you with a piece of fried chicken in its mouth!!! Kari...you "rock the stars".....
Beautiful post!
Oh Karianne- After reading this post, I felt like I was sitting in that church and heard that sermon. That is what I prefer the most about blogging- the personal inspiration we get when reading others' posts- if we are very, very lucky. The entire focus of my blog is finding delight in simple things. It is so hard to do that when busy, right? Enjoy the stars, Laura White Spray Paint
Hi! So glad to have found you again!! I followed your blog several years ago, when you blogged with your sister Kijsa. I believe I remember when you first purchased this house; I remember seeing some of the first pictures. Can't wait to read and look at more pictures and catch up with what you have been up to! I have just started a new blog and hope you can find the time to pay a visit! Blessings, Robin ~ Southern Bella
What a beautiful post! Some days, I get so desperate to jump. But I don't know yet where I want to land. And my husband won't jump with me ;-) So I'm still dreaming. Even though I don't know you, I'm so proud of you for taking the step to realise your dream.
I think it takes a bit of bravery to make that jump I do not know if I would be brave enough to do it so I think you and your family are amazing for being able to take the jump. I am glad it all worked out for you and that things are going great for you in your new life
I love this post, love it! Glad you shared it again...I feel like Laura at White Spray Paint who felt like reading this post was like sitting in church and hearing that sermon with you. And I feel like Rita from This Sorta Old Life.... I've jumped from...trying to figure out the where to. Thanks so much for sharing! Sharon @ mrs. hines class
I love your story and I'm so glad you took that small jump. Brave. Rewarding. And inspiring. :)
Just beautiful Karianne! it is always fun to see where God takes one... when they walk in His will! dee dee
I was one of those first, love reading it again :)
I just love your gorgeous home!! Everything about it is gorgeous. Inside,and out.I'm in love with your planters on your porch. I don't think i've ever seen any like that.Where did you find them. They are so cool. Kathy
I hear ya.Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith.That is what we did when we moved into our home soon to be six years ago.The best move ever! Anne
i am so so glad that you realized your dream! i know you are happy -- you can tell in every word you write! : ) alas my dream is a brownstone in that city you left -- who know -- that dream may come true some day : ) LOL!!! but for now -- i will remain living 25 minutes from that glorious city in the suburbs of jersey! : ) sending hugs my friend!
Definitely a dream come true. I think you made the right jump. We made a leap of faith ourselves for hubby to go back to school. We've questioned it many times but hopefully things will have a happy ending like your story does. I'm glad you and your family are thriving in your beautiful home!
I remember reading your original post, and I cannot remember if I commented or not. We made the jump almost three years ago. When we miss the bustle, we just make a quick trip to a city and find ourselves hurrying back home. I saw your home featured on Debbidoo's yesterday. It is gorgeous!
I am in love with those pots by the front door! Do you have a close up picture somewhere on your blog? Did you make those yourself? What kind of plant is in there?
You are so brave for jumping! I went over to Debbie Doos' blog and saw her post about your house...wowza, your house is absolutely stunning!
A beautiful story Karianne. I am delighted you jumped. Your home and grounds are amazing! I believe one is never too old to "just jump". We are preparing and hope to "jump" sometime in 2012~:-)
Thank you for listening to the "still, small voice." Thank you for sharing your venture with us. :) Jumping can be pretty scary, but when God tells you to do it, what else is there to do? (Pull a "Jonah," I guess.)
What a lovely story... thanks for sharing!
I was with you just about the time you jumped...remember? I remember the first few pics of your forever home beneath all those stars. I am sooo thrilled that you and your family have acquired that dream. It doesn't happen nearly often enuf. :) Love, bj
Karianne - thanks so much for sharing your great story. Now you have me wondering what your middle name is! Oh, and I am pretty sure I read that when you wrote it! Take care, Laura
What a fabulous post. Love your "just jump" story. So sweet and so happy for you.
Such a beautiful post! It's not always easy to listen to that still small voice, but it's always worth it! Nice to meet another KY blogger! :)
Girl, I LOVE your blog, love your home, love your writing, but mostly? LOVE your heart. :-) shaunna