on the road to finding home

Happy New Year!  Today is my official blogiversary.  Our Fifth House is 3 years old today!  I actually started the blog in the fall of 2010, but I only posted a handful of times.  I didn’t really commit to “being a blogger” until 1/1/2011  – it was my New Year’s resolution!  How’s that for resolutions you actually keep?!  

(via)
If you’ve been around from the beginning……God bless you and thank you so so so much!  I know how horrible the photography was way back in the day.  It’s kind of like looking at old middle school pictures of yourself; it hurts your eyes.  For those of you just joining in, you may not know that I started the blog on a whim.  I had no real plan of action…………no goals…………..no dreams………I just thought, hmmmmm, maybe if I start a blog about creating a home I’ll get inspired to actually start doing something creative with our home.  
We’d moved so many times (6 times in 10 years) and I was tired of starting from scratch.  Fresh starts are great and all, but the idea of moving is way better than the reality of what moving actually means.  Boxes up to your eyeballs, learning the ins and outs of a brand new city, finding new doctors and friends, it’s a lot to take in……………..and when you add in the regular life stuff, like having babies, losing grandparents, well it can take your breath away and leave you feeling uninspired and really 
overwhelmed!  
(leaving Pittsburgh)
And so that’s where I was three years ago on this day, I was at a low – probably one of the lowest lows – but I was also determined to not let that low get the best of me.  
To say that this blog breathed new life in to me might sound a bit overly dramatic, but the honest to goodness truth is – – – it really did.  And the funniest thing about the whole thing is that while I started this blog as way to chronicle my journey on the road to “finding home”, I had this whole crazy epiphany thing happen as I’ve realized over these years of blogging that home really isn’t a place………that home is really about a state a being.  
I’ve learned that no matter where I live or what my house looks like I’ll always be home if my heart is filled with joy and contentment.

You may have noticed that the look of the blog has changed a little bit over the past few months.  One of the main things that changed was the tag line under the title……..it used to read: creating a home for the fifth time around…….and now it reads:  where home isn’t a place, it’s a state of being.  And that’s truly a reflection of where I am and where I’ve come from.  My hope and goals for the blog in 2014 revolve around inspiring you to fill each day with joy and to foster contentment in your heart and in your home.  
Three years ago I had no idea where this blog would lead.  Who knew the idea of rolling sheets instead of folding them would land my name in Family Circle magazine?!  
I’m excited for the year ahead and am so very thankful to all of you who have made this blogging journey so fun!  Here’s to a year filled with joy and contentment.   

Share this

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

you might also love

  • I absolutely loved this post Carmel. Im so happy I happened upon your blog and Im so happy for you and all you've been able to accomplish and see flourish because of it. Here's to contentment and joy!!!

  • Carmel, your blog has been a joy to follow and watch develop. I particularly adore how you have your own writing voice, home decorating style, and love if your life and I can't wait to see what 2014 brings over here!!

  • Carmel, I am regular reader of this blog but commenting first time.
    I just love everything about your blog but what forced me to write the comment finally…..well your tag line. I am totally confused about which place should we call a home and your this post gave me a totally new insight! you are like angel send by god for my answers. May be it sounds too cheesy but I really mean it.

  • Awwww I love it! I started reading after the Fall Home tours, and I started following you. Congrats on your achievement and success, I wish you many more exciting events in 2014 πŸ™‚

  • Want to be a Fifth House Insider?

    Get the latest updates, exclusive content and behind the scenes photos delivered to your inbox weekly!