Historical Moments, Part II

So with Mom and Dad leaving the farm, the question was what would happen next to the property on Northwood Road.

Over the years, a few of the grandkids has expressed interest in keeping the farm in the family…but as time passed, other opportunities came to them. Dillon was the last to take another opportunity just last year, when their long term rental was no longer available. God, in an amazing way, provided them a house in town just one short year ago.

But Dillon’s dream of owning the farm continued. Being the oldest grandkid living just up the road, and having done calf chores there while growing up, he had a strong desire to live where so many good memories originated. When he heard of Mom and Dad’s plan to move to town, he felt some despair thinking that it would not be feasible having owned the house in town just less than a year.

There were big hurdles and some doubts about taking on a bigger financial responsibility as well. It was not just the purchase, but the upkeep, and the house, built in 1941, needed a few upgrades to make the upstairs feasible for a little girl to live there now. The stairway itself, narrow and steep, was never a problem for my sisters and I, but we were not toddlers when we moved there.

However many the obstacles, Dillon and Tiffany were determined to exhaust every possibility before giving up on their farm dream. As research was done, and options explored, they decided that they would only know for sure if they were able to sell their home in town and be able to regain what they had invested in it.

They listed their house at 1pm on a Friday, and by 1:30 they had an appointment for a showing. Over the weekend there were a couple more, and then the night before my parents moved to town, their realtor called and told them they had a full price offer, with reasonable conditions. They accepted and signed the offer that night, and happily called Grandpa and Grandma (aka Mom & Dad in this story) to tell them the good news. The house was on the market a mere 5 days!

As it turned out, the market for a house such as theirs had only improved in the year since they bought it. While we worried that the timing would preclude them achieving their dream of owning Grandpa and Grandma’s place, it actually enhanced their ability to do so!

God knew…He knew it all, and graciously provided in a way that allowed a dream to be realized.

And it was good news not just for Dillon and Tiffany but for all of us. Moving Day started with a few tears shed as we realized what God had provided for us all! A place that was dear to us would stay in the family, and we could still gather at the Pavilion, Dad’s quaint and creative gathering area. Mom and Dad did not have the stress of finding a buyer or emptying out the place. There is no pressure to empty out the barns and the tool shed – and if you’ve grown up on a farm you know what a job that is and what a gift it is to have no hurry for that!

Now, paint colors are changing in the house, and small repairs are being made, as are plans for future upgrades. In typical Dillon fashion, their new home was given a name, Maidenfair Manor. Maidenfair in honor of Dad’s farm name for his registered Holsteins. We are all excited to see how Dillon and Tiffany make it their own, while knowing that what is precious to all of us, is precious to them, and will remain a treasure for our family for another generation.

We are so grateful!