Remodeling, Real Life, and the Ranch Dream

Y’all… remodeling is not for the faint of heart.

I knew what I married. I married a good man—faithful, loyal, and one of the hardest-working men God ever made. Scott Allen Brown has held down two jobs for most of our marriage, sometimes even three. He is my one and only, my ride or die, my best friend, my partner, and my soulmate in every sense of the word. I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

But let me tell you, this remodeling journey? It has tested every ounce of my patience.

We’ve lived in a lot of places—an apartment, a townhome, a mother-in-law suite, and finally the bunkhouse on the ranch. And why? Because we’re not just chasing a dream—we are dogging that dream. Throwing everything we’ve got at it: finances, time, sweat, tears, and heart.

We’re not backed by big money or fancy inheritances. Scott comes from a family of hardworking grocery store managers, and I’m proud of that. We’ve built our life from the ground up. We’ve lived paycheck to paycheck for the last 15 years, and while I’ve been content—blessed, even—y’all… I’ve hit my limit.

I’ve hauled laundry to the barn or garage (yes, not attached to the house) for seven years. I’ve shared a bedroom with the twins. I’ve shared a bathroom with my husband and all my kids. Six of us sharing one closet. Three dressers. Living in rotation like a game of “two by two by two.” It’s been real, it’s been full, and it’s been a blessing—but it’s also been hard.

But praise the Lord—from whom all blessings flow—we are finally moving in the right direction.

We’ve bought the bunkhouse from my mom and dad. We’re waiting on the final bank approval, and then we’re diving into an 800-square-foot addition: a beautiful master suite for Scott and me, and a private bedroom for Savannah.

This weekend, we put in new floors for Cora’s and the twins’ rooms. Tonight? Baseboards. We’ve fixed a messed-up subfloor. We’ve reworked a stubborn door jamb. We’re four days in and I already feel like I’ve run a marathon barefoot in a rainstorm… but I also feel hopeful.

Next up is painting—and that’s where I plan to let the kids jump in and help. I figured that was one part of the project they could really take ownership of. I’m actually excited for it.

I’m even a little proud of myself—turns out, I know how to lay flooring and install baseboards now! (Who knew?) All that’s left is to get that bank to move a little faster so the rest of the process can roll ahead.

To every momma out there living in a season of tight spaces, small closets, and big dreams—hang on. You’re not alone. This life may not be easy, but it’s beautiful. It’s ours. And even in the struggle, it’s worth it.

We’re getting there. One board, one prayer, one paintbrush at a time.