Finding Home

What draws you to a home, a neighborhood, or a town?
Maybe it’s a scenic walking path, an intracoastal water view, a community filled with amenities and social events, or simply open green space. Over these last few years, I’ve realized that what truly makes a place feel like home isn’t just the view or the layout—it’s the connections you build there. A diagnosis can feel isolating, but friends, family, and even a kind stranger can remind you that you’re never really facing it alone.

Lessons Early On

Military life taught me this lesson early on. Every move meant leaving behind friends who had quickly become family and starting all over again. And every time, it wasn’t the new house or the town that anchored us—it was the people.

Camping trips, Bunco nights (let’s be honest, it was more party than Bunco), travel sports, and late-night conversations built bonds faster than any closing date ever could.

These friends, much like family, left an everlasting impression.

Carrying Connection into Real Estate

That same sense of connection has carried into my real estate journey. Over the years, I’ve met clients who turned into friends and friends who became like family.

Relocations—whether it’s a military move, an empty nest or a long-awaited retirement—become more than just a change of address; all share an unspoken understanding of what it’s like to pack up, start fresh, and find your footing all over again.

Whether swapping stories about juggling multiple offers, preparing for the next PCS move, or navigating a tough day, sharing those experiences doesn’t just help—it creates a sense of belonging that feels like home.

Learning to Lean on Others

I used to think I had to carry it all on my own—as if proving I could handle everything made me stronger. As a wife, a mom, a former educator, and now a realtor, that independence felt like part of the job description.

But MS has humbled me in the best possible way. It’s shown me that leaning on my husband, my sons—who are also my incredible real estate team—my friends, and even my clients isn’t a weakness at all. It’s how we keep moving forward, together.

Strength in Community

Buying or selling a home can be stressful. Military moves can be exhausting. Relocation and retirement can feel daunting. Living with MS can be overwhelming. But with the right people around you—those who truly get it and offer support without judgment—you discover strength you didn’t know you had.

Resilience grows when you allow others to show up with you and for you.

Finding Home

This blog is my way of opening a front porch to anyone who needs it—a place where we can share, support, and build a sense of community. It has taken many years and many moves to finally settle in a place we truly call home.

We’ve lived in southeastern North Carolina for the past 15 years. What was once just another stop along our journey has become the place we were meant to land. This is home.

Join the Conversation

I believe we all need a place—and people—who feel like home. My hope is that Showing Up can be that for someone out there reading this.

If you’re simply looking for a space to feel less alone, I’d love to hear from you. Share your story, leave a comment, or subscribe to join this growing community of strength, humor, and hope.

At the end of the day, we all deserve a place where we can show up exactly as we are—and still feel like we’re home.