House Build Update + Life Lately: When Progress Is Slow but Still Counts
If you’ve been wondering where we’ve been…
If things have felt quieter around here…
If you’ve sensed that life has slowed down a bit—
This post is for you.
I wanted to sit down and share a real, honest update.
Not a highlight reel.
Not a rushed explanation.
Just life lately. Where the house build stands. And why this season has looked different than we expected.First things first—we’re okay.
We’re still building.
And we’re still here.
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When Life Changes Everything Overnight
In early November, Jamie had a serious accident.
He fell from a ladder and shattered the L2 vertebra in his back.
In a single moment, everything shifted.
He needed extensive back surgery, and from that point forward, we moved straight into survival mode—doing only what absolutely had to be done each day.
The good news?
He’s doing really well.
He’s walking.
He’s regaining range of motion every single day.
And we are incredibly grateful for that.
But recovery isn’t instant. And there are still many things he can’t do on his own yet.
That reality has shaped everything about this season.
Living in Survival Mode (And Why That’s Okay)
Before the accident, we had a rhythm.
Daily chores were divided.
Responsibilities were shared.
The workload felt manageable.
Now, most of that has landed on me.
And because we’re still living in the camper—where everything takes twice as long—there just haven’t been enough hours in the day.
But the hardest part hasn’t been logistics.
It’s been the weight.
That feeling that everything is on your shoulders.
That if you drop one ball, the whole thing might fall apart.
Some days, I’ve got it.
Other days… it feels like everything is unraveling.
And I know so many of you know that feeling.
A Real House Build Update (Where Things Actually Stand)
Let’s talk about the house.
Progress is happening—just slower than we planned. And I want to be clear and honest about where things stand right now.
Here’s what we’re still working through:
- We’re waiting on the propane tank install, which is a key piece that several systems depend on.
- Our fridge should be delivered on Friday, which honestly feels like a huge milestone after this long.
- We need to install a new wood-burning stove. The original one can’t be used, which was disappointing—and something we’ll explain more fully in an upcoming video.
- The sink still needs to be installed.
- The electrical work for the range hood needs to be finished.
- And then there’s the final stretch no one talks about much: cleanup and touch-ups.
None of these things are complicated on their own.
They just take time.
Coordination.
Energy.
And right now, energy is something we’re being very careful with.
What This Season Has Taught Me About Building (Anything)
This season has been a powerful reminder of something I already knew—but needed to relearn:
Building a home doesn’t happen all at once.
And neither does building a life.
It happens in pieces.
In order.
And sometimes much slower than you want.
We love to imagine transformation as a big leap forward. But most of the time? It’s a series of small, steady steps taken under less-than-ideal conditions.
That’s true for house builds.
For homesteading.
For motherhood.
For healing.
And pretending otherwise only adds pressure we don’t need.
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Why I Haven’t Been Editing (But Haven’t Disappeared)
I also want to share this—because I know some of you have noticed.
I have still been filming when I can.
You’ll start seeing some of those clips worked into upcoming videos.
But I haven’t had the time—or the mental space—to sit down and edit the way I normally do.
And for this season?
That has to be okay. Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is adjust your expectations instead of forcing yourself to keep up with a pace that no longer fits.
The Question That Changed Everything for Me
There’s a quote I came across recently that completely shifted how I approach each day:
“It doesn’t get easier. You get stronger.”
That line stopped me in my tracks.
Because instead of asking myself,
“How do I do it all?”
I started asking,
“What actually needs to be done today?”
Not everything.
Not perfectly.
Just what matters right now.
That one shift has helped me conserve energy, protect my mental health, and show up more steadily—for myself and for my kids.
What’s Kept Me Going (On the Hard Days)
If I’m being honest, the kids are what have kept me going.
Showing up for them.
Keeping things as steady as I can.
Letting them see real life, not perfect life.
They don’t need a flawless mom.
They need a present one.
And there’s something powerful about letting our kids see resilience in action—about modeling what it looks like to keep going, even when things are hard.
If You’re in a Survival Season Too…
I want you to hear this clearly:
If everything feels like it’s on your shoulders—you’re not failing.
If you’ve had to slow down—you’re not quitting.
If progress feels messy and imperfect—it still counts.
Survival seasons still count.
Showing up imperfectly is still showing up.
Slowing down is sometimes the bravest thing you can do.
It may not get easier…
But you are getting stronger.
Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.