A Hoosier Home

I will be honest 2008 was a crazy year, maybe not as crazy as 2020, but crazy still. January 2008 I moved into a little apartment in South Bend and Feb 1, 2008 I started a new job at Indiana University South Bend. The first week of July I decided to propose and in November, bought a house.
Yeah crazy year. 

It was November 2008 that we closed. It was a crazy process, the stock market crumbled while we negotiated home price, Heather was interviewing all over the area, and the same day, just before our closing she interviewed at Notre Dame. Fingers crossed we went into it hoping we would both have work, we would love South Bend, and this would be "home". 

This home has been great, great to me, great to our family. I got this painting done, by my friend Erin Kelley (Traveling Art Company), painted this summer as an anniversary gift. I wanted it painted at my favorite time of the year, spring when the crab apple tree is in full bloom. I love the yard in the spring, and the symbolism of rebirth and life always inspires me. 

This home has provided, not just shelter, but in so many other ways... it allowed me to host my three siblings, their families, and my parents visiting from Bolivia (like 13 people at that time), when I took the job at La Casa we refinanced to drop our monthly payment, my two youngest were brought home from the hospital here, . So in a way, the house supported me as a dad, helped in my non-profit venture making less money to make a difference in the world, and not to mention all the repair skills I learned! Then when prepping for Novalí to go to college, I knew we needed to refinance again, we took money out to ensure we could help her, and have some more for some home improvements. 

These bricks have provided. 

This home has been work, they say nothing worth doing comes easy. From yard work to painting, to tearing down walls and laying down flooring... it has been a labor a love. It is almost like thanking her for providing... painting the garage, daddy daughter decorating, giving her new windows, a modern roof (this baby had slate tiles when we bought it!), to my car cave project this summer... she appreciated the updates, and returned the favor in helping us store all of N's stuff from college when covid caused her to move back from Grand Rapids. (I tagged a few old blogs on house projects)

This home to us turns 13 (built in the 30s), the troublesome adolescent years have started... this year brought plumbing trouble, boiler repairs, and who knows what else, and I am sure 2020 isn't done hitting us yet. 

This home has challenged me, taught me, supported me, and yes I know it is a completely inanimate object but hey I have spent 12 years of my life with it. 

My bigger reflection, this home is now the longest single place I have lived. My childhood home in Saginaw was just about 12 years time, I lived in Bolivia under 7 years, so we will be my longest home. Not sure why this feels significant to me, but you all know I get fairly sentimental, and more so lately as I age. It also means South Bend will become the place I have lived longer than anywhere... I call myself Bolivian, I say I was raised in Michigan, but let's be honest, I am raising Hoosiers, and I am more Hoosier than anything else. 

It's official. I am a Hoosier.