Contributed by Tina Holland.

Have you ever heard the phrase “Room to Grow” when young people purchase a house?  My husband and I did that when we purchased our farmstead over 20 years ago.  It’s 4.5 acres and has 3 bedrooms — we only had 2 in Fargo.  So our daughters each got their own room, and we let them get whatever pets they wanted.  Turns out having horses when they were young did not make them want horses.  Instead, they bought poultry (chicks & ducklings) and showed them yearly at the County Fair.

When my daughters grew up and moved away, this farm started to feel like too much house.  That is, until I lost my corporate job due to downsizing and started writing full-timeish.  DH and I turned each one of the girls’ rooms into offices.  They now double as guest rooms.  If you’ve ever watched First Friday Lunch.  I regularly host in the largest of the guest rooms. 🙂

Also, after losing my job, there was this rush to clear the driveway of snow after every storm.  We are always stocked on non-perishables, and our horses passed from old age.  We no longer have any farm animals, just dogs and cats. Now our home feels as if we’ve grown into it despite our family being smaller.  I do love our farm, particularly in the spring and fall (no snow or mosquitoes), but I know we’ll have to trade down to something with one level just for our age.  Until then, I’ll be happy with the Home I’ve grown into.