(I took this picture on Monday when we had all that rain, I was standing on the access road for the State Land that our land borders)
Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
~Robert Montgomery
The history of our homes:
1. 3 bedroom ranch–our first home in NY
2. Apartment in Albany, NY
3. rented Townhouse in Seven Fields, PA
4. Apartment in CT
5. 3 bedroom cape in town in CT
Then, last July we found this house in the country here in CT. Hubby and I were tired of living in town with neighbors all around us. It was a little difficult for us to feel at home in a neighborhood setting because we are both from the country. But, the biggest reason is because of our children. We felt a need to live in a house with a big yard, with enough room for the children to roam around and have adventures. We started our search by looking for land in order to build. But then, Husband saw this house in a “for sale by owner” booklet–the ones you pick up in gas stations. He went and looked at it by himself and LOVED it. Then he took me and I loved it too, but because it was a 1/2 hour drive to church I said, “NO”. To make a long story short, God changed my heart and I came to my senses! 
We moved in and ever since I’ve been pinching myself to make sure it is not a dream. We have 3.8 acres of our own land, with 2 ponds and a stream. Not only that but we border state land. There is a big field nearby in the state land with an access road and trails so we can walk and hike. It is beautiful here. You know that song, “Showers of Blessing”. . .the Lord truly showered us with this dream place. So much so that I say, “Stop Lord! I don’t deserve this, I don’t want anything else!”
I cannot tell you the tears of happiness I have had in my eyes since moving here. It makes me so happy to see the kids come back in the house, dirty and loud, after hours of exploration and play. . .with wide awake happy eyes and lots to tell me. We’ve seen snakes, turtles, all kinds of birds, they caught a tiny mouse once (her name was Lydia), one of my sons managed to catch a mole once and it went right down the back of his coat.
I hope and pray that we are able to raise our children here and use our home to encourage others. We don’t ever want to move again, that’s how happy we are! I love going outside with my camera and the pictures I put on my blog are ones that I’ve taken here at home.
Anyway, to God be all the glory!
This is a picture I took yesterday of little one picking up a rock to throw in the pond:
And the sun is shining! Trott was in a sunbeam and when Son woke up this morning,he stumbled his way over to join him:
My boy and his dog. Yet another blessing!
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More pictures (updated this afternoon):
Today’s catch! Tadpoles, a frog, and a turtle from the pond.
Good to be Home 
What a beautiful home you have! I can tell by reading how blessed you feel. We live in a similar setting in the Western NC mountains and though I’m a city girl at heart, I love to see my children being raised in this home. God bless you today~Laurel
Beautiful home in a wonderful setting! Ashlyn was dancing in the sunbeams here this morning. It has been forever since there was sun here and her pure delight was so sweet to see.
Sorry I have not been back over sooner but… YES! I am pregnant and this time things are going wonderfully. That, of course, translates to me being sick the entire day and barely able to function…. hence the lack of visits from me lately!
I love the country! You have a gorgeous place to call home =) I can tell by all your pics that your children are lovin’ it as well =)
I love that your family has such a wonderful place to call home. I know you are wonderfully happy there. We have been outside all morning… enjoying the sunshine.
It’s beautiful!
I can’t wait to come visit – So that our kids can make memories exploring together. I know they had fun exploring our property last year together. I’m sure they will tire themselves out!
Love You ~ Col
I agree it is a beautiful home, and I am so glad that you feel so blessed to be there.
What a perfect place to raise your family! Yes! You are blessed.
Good Morning….you have a very beautiful home. The picture is postcard perfect!! I grew up in the country so I sure miss the wide open spaces. You are truly blessed!!
Isn’t God so, so good to us!? To God be the glory, great things He has done!!
Ah, Shanda, I am just a wee bit envious and trying not to be. I would have loved to have raised our children in such a place. Now my grandchildren have their homes in the country and I am so grateful.
Oh, you don’t know how much this post blessed me, and struck something within!! Even brought tears. We’ve recently sold our home in town, and are looking & praying for our little “spot” in the country too! It so happened (God, I’m sure) that we are able to stay in our house(that we just sold!) and rent it for a year or whatever till we find that “spot”.
oh, btw, your place is very beautiful!
love the catch of the day pics lol
How beautiful … you are truly blessed.
Every kid should have the opportuniyt to grow up by the water!!!Lovely place and pics!
Your home is so beautiful! God has truly blessed you and your family. I love the pictures! I am a bit envious of where you get to raise your children, we live on a fairly busy (by my standards) street with neighbors all around.
Since you updated, I just gotta comment again ~ love those pollywogs! And Grace testing the water ~ precious.
What a gorgeous house!! It is a picture of serenity…and what an adventure for the kids.
I lived in an apartment in Albany for a while, too…during med school (I went to Albany Medical College). I lived on Morris Street a few blocks from the hospital in one of those ancient two-family flats. It was quite an experience (especially when the front porch caved in). While our current home is not quite the same as yours, it is a far cry from my Albany days!
I got your letter today! Perfect timing because it was raining, and I could snuggle by the heater as I read each word, then I slipped it all back into it’s envelop (with the daisy sticker) to be read again when I sit down to answer all your questions!Your home is like a Rockwell painting…it warms my heart.how funny that 1/2 an hour seems far for church, most people in California think nothing of a 1/2 hour drive, maybe it’s because we have easy driving weather.
Shanda, I am so happy for you and your family that you have a “special” place. God richly blessed you. I love your property and home, it’s beautiful. I think many of us here dream of having what you get to see and experience everyday. I would be pinching myself too! 🙂 Thanks for blessing us with your beautiful pictures of your family and home. Love, Tara
I think your one of the most blessed people I know!! 🙂 What a beautiful home, land and family!! Your kiddos are toooooo cute!! 🙂
I love it! I love that you said that God has showered you with blessings so much that you have tears in your eyes and have said ‘Stop Lord, I don’t deserve this!’. I’m there too. I know there may be valleys in my life in the years to come. And I can look back through hard times He has taken us through. But right now, surrounded by my wonderful little family in a new home at the end of an absolutely GORGEOUS spring day, the Lord’s day, I am so content… my heart is so happy and grateful… my cup overflows. I guess we need to savor His goodness and SOAK it in, so that when the dark and stormy times come we can go back to that place in our hearts and remember when He opened the storehouses of heaven to us and poured out blessings beyond all we could ask or think.
It is any woman’s dream come true..it is the kind of property kids write about when they are older. Will it be Jacob? Publishing a book on all his adventures here? It still seems like yesterday you were mailing me pictures of the ranch when you first moved in! Juls said just today that we should crash at your place sometime this summer for a big sister’s get away!
Shanda I love your home and the land around it! We live in town with a regular/cookie cutter yard (though its bigger than the yards they have with the new houses nowadays. Our house is 40 years old!). Your pictures are beautiful and like a dream that some of us will most likely never have! Enjoy your home and never take it for granted as I can tell you don’t because your love for your home and God and family clearly shines through your blog.