Family & Home

We bought our century-old home when COVID started in early 2020, so thankfully we had plenty of projects to keep us busy during the shutdowns. We’ve touched nearly every part of our home and had the most fun completely gutting and renovating the kitchen and living room to create our unique sanctuary. This has led us to often dream about experiencing this special space with children of our own.

Our house sits on half an acre of land with most of the lot in our backyard. After work and on the weekends, we truly enjoy unwinding in the backyard and have done many things to make it our own. Amongst other things, we’ve built a hammock station under one of our towering cedar trees, two fishponds connected by a bubbling stream, a firepit, and multiple flower and vegetable beds. Outside our home, we live on a quiet dead-end street with multiple other families with children. We love walking our dog, Shiner, to the nearby elementary school in the evenings where children come to play on the playground, neighbors play with dogs off-leash, and local pickleball groups are often playing tournaments. Other evenings, we walk or bike to the nearby trail system that follows a scenic creek with multiple trailheads connected to our neighborhood.

(Brant) Growing up in Indiana alongside my twin brother and older sister, family has always been central to my life. Now, as an uncle to five nieces and nephews, ranging from ages 3 to 12, I cherish the moments we share during visits. But beyond those times, family remains a constant in my life. I keep in touch with my brother almost daily, valuing his support and camaraderie. Similarly, I still seek advice from my parents, knowing their insights are grounded in real-world experience. Their parenting style has influenced me profoundly, shaping my approach to raising my own children. These connections underscore the significance of family bonds in my life.

(Mark) I am from a small, tight-knit town in Texas and am the youngest of seven siblings. I have been an uncle since my early teenage years, and now have seventeen nieces and nephews on my side of the family. All of my parents and grandparents grew up in large families in my hometown as well. Looking back, it was a very unique childhood experience. Growing up, I didn't think twice about running into multiple relatives on a daily basis, whether it was at school, the local grocery store, or at a church event. It definitely had an impact on me to value the importance of finding community wherever you eventually call home.

Though neither of our families live locally, we make a concerted effort to visit multiple times a year, whether in Texas, Indiana or anywhere in between, as our family loves to travel.