A Journey of Faith, Resilience, and Finding Our Unseen Home

When I was a little girl, my imagination was filled with dreams of true love, a beautiful wedding, the joy of darling babies, and a warm, inviting home echoing with laughter. Life, as I soon discovered, has a way of introducing a much more complex reality. As I grew older, I learned that sometimes, the journey to a home filled with children and happiness can be far more challenging than any childhood fantasy could ever predict. It’s a path often paved with unforeseen obstacles, testing our limits and strengthening our faith in ways we never imagined.

The yearning for “home” is a profound human desire—more than just a structure, it’s a sanctuary, a haven where a family’s story unfolds. This deep-seated longing became a central theme in our lives, guiding us through trials and triumphs.

My husband, Cade, and I share a story that is uniquely ours, filled with moments of hardship, immense faith, and unexpected miracles. While we’ve shared glimpses of our journey on Instagram (@Ohsweetbasil—do follow us if you haven’t!), the limited character count there meant we had to break it down into tiny fragments. Many of you have reached out, asking for a more complete and continuous narrative, a place where the whole story can be read without interruption.

And that’s precisely why this post exists. Every Friday, we will unveil a new chapter of our incredible adventure here. However, if you’re eager to catch up sooner and delve into the full emotional tapestry, simply head over to our Instagram profile and explore all of our non-food posts. You’ll find the entire saga laid out there.

So, settle in. Perhaps grab a cozy blanket, some tissues, and your favorite chocolate. You’re about to embark on a deeply personal journey, one filled with raw emotions, tears, and ultimately, an unwavering testament to faith and resilience. Keep watching, as we’ll be sharing a new piece every Friday and Saturday, inviting you deeper into our world.

An Unexpected Path: When Childhood Dreams Met Adult Realities

The innocence of childhood dreams often gives way to the complex realities of adulthood. For me, the journey to creating that picture-perfect family and home was far from straightforward. It began with an almost unimaginable struggle, a debilitating illness that cast a long shadow over our lives and ultimately shaped the decisions we made. This wasn’t just about finding a house; it was about finding stability, peace, and a future for our growing family amidst profound personal challenges.

The Shadow of Hyperemesis Gravidarum and a Home Unseen

The reason we bought this house without me ever seeing it firsthand is a testament to the sheer magnitude of the trials we faced. For a significant period, my body was too broken, too ravaged by an extreme form of pregnancy sickness known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). This wasn’t just morning sickness; it was a relentless, debilitating condition that caused severe nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, often leading to hospitalization. There were days I feared for my life, days when every ounce of energy was dedicated simply to surviving.

During that time, participating in house hunting was an impossibility. Even the thought of stepping foot outside, let alone touring multiple properties, was overwhelming. My world had shrunk to the confines of my bed, battling a relentless illness that stole not just my physical strength but also my ability to engage in the everyday decisions of life. It was a period defined by extreme vulnerability and an absolute reliance on Cade, who became my rock, navigating the complexities of our lives while I fought to stay alive. To him, I entrusted the monumental task of finding our new home, sight unseen by me, a decision born out of necessity and profound trust.

Two Years of Searching: The Elusive Dream Home

It’s only been a few years, but the memory of that tumultuous period is as vivid as if it were yesterday. I can perfectly transport myself back to the exact moment our lives took a pivotal turn. For two long years, we had been on an exhaustive quest for a new home. Our journey was a roller coaster of emotions: initial excitement giving way to hopeful anticipation, then confusion, deep frustration, and finally, a quiet resolve to simply hold on and wait. This relentless search wasn’t merely about finding a building; it was about discovering the emotional and spiritual anchor we desperately needed.

Isn’t it fascinating how deeply ingrained this inner yearning to find “home” is within us? It’s a desire that transcends bricks and mortar, reaching into the very core of our being for a sense of belonging, security, and purpose. I believe this isn’t by chance. It’s a profound instinct, perhaps even a spiritual prompting, that deserves our thoughtful consideration. But for the purpose of this particular story, I’ll continue tracing our path…

A Divine Detour: Cade’s New Opportunity and Our Shifting Landscape

The first year of our seemingly endless house hunt slipped away, marked by one property after another failing to resonate with us. Then, quite unexpectedly, Cade received a compelling job offer. The position was an hour south of where we had been focusing our search, an entirely different region. It was a moment of profound clarity and immense relief. Suddenly, everything clicked into place. The reason why no house had felt right, why every promising lead had ultimately fallen flat, became abundantly clear. We hadn’t pushed to force a fit, and for that, I was incredibly grateful.

But this new development also presented a fresh set of challenges. Where would we look now? The hunt, which we thought was nearing its end, simply shifted gears and continued, still yielding no viable options. It felt like we were constantly moving towards a destination that remained just out of reach, yet this detour undeniably paved the way for something greater.

Embracing a New Chapter: The Emotional Road to Adoption

Amidst this prolonged house-hunting saga, another significant and deeply personal decision unfolded in our lives. Given the extreme risks associated with me carrying another pregnancy—a direct consequence of my prior battles with Hyperemesis Gravidarum and other complications—we made the heart-wrenching, yet hopeful, choice to pursue adoption. The paperwork began, and with each step, we felt a sense of rightness, a quiet confidence that we were actively searching for two missing pieces to complete our family.

I state that simply, but please understand, the decision to adopt was one of the most incredibly difficult and emotionally challenging choices we have ever made. It involved grappling with the grief of not being able to have more biological children, while simultaneously embracing the profound love and anticipation of welcoming a child through adoption. It was a journey of letting go of one dream to make space for another, equally beautiful one. It was a testament to our unwavering desire for a larger family, born out of love and resilience.

Despite these significant life changes and our unwavering commitment to our family’s future, the house search remained stalled. Every property we considered seemed perfect on paper, but as soon as we would leave, an unsettling feeling would creep in. It just wasn’t right. We grappled with immense frustration: “How?! This is a righteous desire, a good and honest pursuit, and we are ready! Everyone else seems to effortlessly find a place and move on, while we are standing still, stuck in limbo.” It was an incredibly hard period, testing our patience and our faith.

A Universal Struggle: When Sincere Effort Meets Stubborn Obstruction

Have you ever found yourself in that place? Are you currently standing still, pouring every ounce of your effort into something truly meaningful, only to see nothing come of it? That feeling of being stuck, of giving your absolute best and yet remaining rooted to the spot, is profoundly isolating and disheartening. It’s one thing when you know, deep down, that you could be making more of an effort, pushing harder. But when the pursuit consumes you—when you’re investing all your time, energy, and prayers into a righteous desire—and the universe seems to offer nothing in return, well, that just hurts. It’s a pain that touches the soul, challenging your belief in your path and your purpose.

The Inspiration from Nephi: Building a Ship Without Blueprints

One morning, as I woke early for my workout, I opened my scriptures and began to read. My eyes fell upon the story of a man named Nephi. His family had been commanded to leave their comfortable life and embark on a journey into the wilderness, suffering greatly along the way. Then, one morning, the voice of the Lord called to him, instructing him to “arise and go up unto the mountain.” There, he was given an extraordinary directive: to build a ship. Not just any ship, but one unlike anything he had ever seen or built before. He was told he would have to rely entirely on the Lord to guide him through this impossible task.

The parallels to our own situation were undeniable. We, too, had been called to a new path, to an unknown future. We, too, felt like we were facing an impossible task without the necessary tools or knowledge. Nephi’s story resonated with profound truth, offering a glimmer of hope in our time of despair.

An Act of Faith: Packing for the Unknown, Waiting for Inspiration

I finished reading that passage, and immediately, I fell to my knees in prayer. My heart poured out questions: “What do I need to do to build my ship, Lord? How can I prepare myself so that I can go, even when I don’t know where I’m going?” The answer didn’t come in a thunderous voice, but in a quiet, undeniable feeling, a profound sense of knowing that settled deep within my soul.

I knew what I had to do. Despite having no homes on the horizon, no offers accepted, no inkling of our destination, I began to pack. Day after day, more and more items came down from our walls, each memory carefully wrapped and placed into boxes. I started packing our entire life, preparing to move, without any idea of where we would go next. It was an act of absolute faith, a physical manifestation of trust in a plan far greater than our own comprehension.

Looking back, I never in a million years could have written the events of the next year of our story. It unfolded in ways more miraculous and unexpected than I could have ever conceived, proving that sometimes, the greatest blessings are found when we step into the unknown with nothing but faith to guide us.