Hindsight is 20/20 {and How My World was Turned Upside Down}

We have finally almost finished our back porch renovation. It’s lovely… and useful… and amazing…

but that’s not what I’m here to share with you today.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

Today is a bittersweet day. A day when I show you our beautiful new back porch (which, yes, still needs some paint and plants… but I couldn’t wait to share it with you)…

Stamped Concrete Patio (back door and orange tree)- Maison de Pax

and a day when I tell you that we won’t be able to enjoy it as we thought.

Stamped Concrete Patio (grapefruit)- Maison de Pax

The antiqued brick I carefully selected.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

The herringbone pattern I craved.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

The lovely stamped concrete we chose.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

The back steps holding the basket where my boys collect twigs for the fireplace.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

The sunlight streaming through the trees…

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

Because we’re moving.

That’s right.

Maison de Pax will become Maison de – um, somebody else.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

Don’t worry, I will still be sharing. I’ll be sharing more details of our gorgeous porch.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

And the final product once we finish painting and landscaping.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

And a full account of the kitchen renovation we are starting today…

And amidst the final renovations, and house showings, and relocations, and moving away from my family and friends, and finding a new home, and creating a new life, and seeking a new church, and starting new schools and new jobs, I still plan to be here.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

Not on this porch…

but on this blog. Sharing how we pursue peace in the home – wherever that home may be.

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

So now our major porch renovation won’t be ours to enjoy.

Not for long anyway…

But you know what?

stamped concrete and antiqued brick patio | maisondepax.com

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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42 Comments

  1. It’s almost surreal to hear. It’s almost finished and your moving in the same post. I do hope that the move is something that you have wanted and not from a bad situation. The outdoor space is beautiful.
    Have a beautiful day, Hope

    1. You are so kind, Hope! It is definitely a bit surreal, but we are really excited about the job opportunity for my husband. It will be hard to leave family (my parents and brothers all live about 10 minutes away right now!), but it will be good. Thank you!

  2. Oh goodness Rachel, it is so pretty and now you have to move… I guess we should think of it as an adventure. Smile!

  3. Oh I am sad :(. I loved that you were local. But for you what an exciting adventure. And what a lucky family who will get to live in your beautiful home. That porch is amazing. You have such a wonderful eye. And your photos are amazing. I do have a question? Where did you get your old brick? We are going to put a brick wall in our screened porch and I wanted old Chicago looking style brick. like yours. I will say too I love how you put the bits of old brick into the exterior wall on your porch it looks so lovely. :). Excited to follow you on your new adventure.

    1. Thank you so much, Holly! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. We chose the brick at Western Brick Tile and Stone. It’s not a real antique brick (they had some of those, too, but the ones they happened to have were too orange for my taste), but it definitely had that look. I hope this helps! And thank you again for following along!!

  4. Bittersweet is right! I have a friend in Indy who found out she was moving from Cincinnati days after completing their 5-year remodel, making her home exactly what she had always wanted. Her transition here was tough, but she is really loving it now. I pray that your transition will be smooth and know that the Lord will bless you, wherever you are. I look forward to continuing to walk this journey with you and can’t wait to see what is next.

    Praying for you and your family!

    1. Oh man… that must have been hard. But God is good, and He has better plans than I could ever make. Thank you for your sweet comment, Tiffany, and especially for your prayers! xx

  5. Yes,you are moving but that just means God has a brand new adventure for you which will be bigger and better, i just know. You have fixed your house up for someone who probably doesn’t know how to do those things you have done to make it special. I do love your porch it is wonderful.

  6. I’m glad to hear from your response of the first comment that your whole family will be moving together. I too was worried by your words “Maison de…um somebody else”; I thought it implied a family break-up but now realize it is the house itself which will bear a new name and not you. It must be very hard to leave such a beautiful home you have created, but I look forward to the wonderful projects which will result from this challenge. Best of luck in your move!

    1. Oh you’re so kind, Catherine. No, thankfully, we’re all headed on this new adventure together. Thank you for your sweet comment!

  7. Not what I expected to read, but you have the right attitude about this next chapter being a new adventure. It is always difficult moving from family ( I have done it several times and unfortunately it never got easier for me), but somehow it all works out – and having facetime and video chats definitely makes things a bit easier. Your home is so lovely and I have enjoyed following all of your projects, and I just know wherever you move to, you will turn that space into a warm and welcoming home for you and your family.

  8. I actually just found you recently and this was my first actual email received. I love your style inside and out. I know the new home you create will be just as stunning. I look forward to being a part of your life and thank you for the opportunity.

    I wish you much success and while it is always emotional to leave comfort behind, I hope you have amazing, fun-filled adventures to share with us. One of my favorite quotes, having always moved a lot myself, is by Oliver Wendell Holmes : ” Home is where our feet may leave, but not our hearts. ”

    Best of luck and not too many tearful goodbyes. xo

    1. I can’t thank you enough for that, Terri! Beautiful sentiments… I’m so thankful you’re here to join us! xx

  9. Your back porch turned out so magnificent Rachel..it’s funny that we had just finished a very large front porch in a former home…brick pavers also in a herringbone pattern…a porch that was 15’x60′ and we enjoyed it for a short time and then moved…sounds like it is a great opportunity for your family and being that you are moving away from your family, I hope it is a place where you will be happy starting your new adventure…The prospective owners will love your beautiful home and I so look forward to seeing your new home and the love and creativity that you will be pouring into it….

  10. Such a range of emotions for you! Excitement, hysteria and scarry all at the same time! I know this has got to be hard for you but I believe that God has a plan for everyone. He is taking you and your family down this path for a reason and as hard as it is (trust me I understand) but sometimes you just have to let go and trust! Hard to do I know! I’ve been there myself. We had just added a screened in porch to our house in Maryland when my husbands got transferred to Colorado. It was difficult to pick up a house and home, a place where I didn’t think any other place could be ‘home’ and move us all to a new state. Exciting at the same time though. I know your adventure will turn out just as well as mine did! You’ve got this!

  11. Rachel, I’m glad you got so much wonderful encouragement and words already… you are going to do such a gorgeous job of making anywhere a fabulous and stylish and welcoming home.

  12. Lots of luck on your new adventure! If it makes you feel better…I bet your beautiful home will sell super fast! 😀

  13. Dear Rachel (Maison de “World Travelers “), Oh I so feel for you Rachel. I could feel the joy you put into this home. It really shows through your photography. But as many of your followers have written, you will be fine. God does work in misterious ways. I think alot of it is that we are women and we can always make a nest for our families where ever we go. I, too have moved away from my family before and it’s so very hard, but it will get easier once you are in your new home and it certainly sounds like you have your work cut out for you when you arrive there, 😀 So your mind will be busy too, with all the wonderful things that must be done. You will make it work, as you did with this beautiful home. Sometimes it’s fun to start all over, think “all the things you learned along the way :D” ! So I will miss you when you’re gone but can’t wait for you to get back to normal (whatever that is 😀 ! ) so I can follow your life on your next adventure. I will still be watching 😀 Sincerely, Diena <3

  14. Rachel,

    First of all the back porch is gorgeous. I need to come sit with a box before you move so the new owners will not think I am some crazed woman sneaking into the backyard with a book. I am so sad to hear you all are moving but that just means you will have more to blog about and new rennovations and ideas. I wish your sweet family God’s peace and love.

    And where on earth are you going to find better babysitters than the ones you have in place? 🙂

    1. Oh Hilarie, thank you!! You are welcome to come over any time. 🙂 Before we move, that is.. And you’re right, I’m never going to be able to replace that!!

  15. I found your blog through the Spring blog Hop and this post caught my eye. You see, just before Christmas we finished the biggest, most amazing, expensive driveway ever…and tomorrow is the first showing of our home that was listed this weekend. Before the driveway was the kitchen, the master ensuite addition, the back porch, the front porch, the other bathrooms, the small apt for our son and on and on. Sigh. I feel your pain. I think I’lll hang out with your a while and see if you handle things with more grace than I am feel in’ right now 😉

    1. Oh my, Pamela… You get it! I am so so sad to leave this home, but I am excited to see what’s in store for us in our new home, too. We’ve had so much fun making this old house a home; I am praying the next process will be just as wonderful. And I hope the same for you!! xx

  16. lovely post- your home is beautiful! Do you have the specific name of the brick you chose at Western Brick Tile and Stone?
    thanks very much,
    Amy

    1. Thank you so much! I believe it was called red and brown antique, and it was a queen sized brick. I hope this helps!

  17. Is the red brick edges and staircase stamped as well? If so, what is the color and technique did you use to white wash it? Thank you!

    1. The red brick is actually all real brick. We chose a mix of red and brown bricks at a local brick yard and had them installed with a messy mortar to enhance the antique look. I hope this helps!

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