A Season of New Beginning’s
My last Tennessee blog update was in January. So much has unfolded in the past eight months, I hardly know where to begin.
The biggest and sweetest news: we became grandparents on February 4th at 2:13 PM, when little Beau Dean Schaf entered our world, just four weeks after helping Taylor and Dakota move into their new home and three weeks before his scheduled due date. He arrived strong and healthy at 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 19” long, and though photos and videos kept us going, waiting until our mid-March visit to finally hold him was absolute torture! I’ve always felt as though holding a baby is probably the closest one can come to God in the flesh, so pure, precious, and sacred…it truly is one of my favorite things to do on this earth.
Since then, we’ve made at least four trips to Tennessee, and each time I’m amazed at how quickly Beau is growing. At just seven months old, he’s crawling, cruising around in his walker, babbling, saying da-da, humming his little sleepy time tunes, and proudly showing off his first two teeth with beautiful smiles and playful giggles. It’s such a pleasure to witness his milestones and be a part of his life.
And as if that weren’t enough joy for one year, another beautiful milestone followed just a few months later. On June 20th, while cruising through the Bahamas, Billy proposed to Emily — and she said yes! We were thrilled to celebrate their engagement with family and friends at our home in Pennsylvania on July 15th. Witnessing them step into this new chapter, filled with love and possibility, fills my heart every bit as much as welcoming Beau. Different seasons, but both reminders of how life continues to unfold in the sweetest ways.
Of course, it hasn’t just been family milestones keeping us busy — the farmhouse has seen some exciting progress, too. During our March visit, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work on the kitchen, finishing the bar and countertops, and giving some much-needed attention to the center beam in the great room. We also inched a little closer to finishing the chicken coop (those girls will be spoiled when they finally move in!).
By May, the focus shifted outdoors, where we added stonework and some landscaping around the house. Dave also had some fun in the equipment department — he tracked down an old Massey Ferguson tractor, fixed it up, and even managed to score a free bush hog that just needed a bit of TLC. On top of that, we got started on the inside of the garage, which is slowly transforming into what will one day be our winery. Step by step, this dream is taking shape, and it’s so rewarding to see the pieces coming together.
And perhaps the biggest milestone of all: we finally have our Pennsylvania home under contract and are working through the sale process. On August 30th, Dave officially retired from Bimbo Bakeries after 35 years, and with that, we’ve made our move to the farm permanent. It’s been a whirlwind of trips back and forth to finish bringing our belongings down, but each load makes this place feel more like home. What once felt like a far-off vision is now becoming our reality, and we’re so grateful for every bit of progress along the way.
Looking back over these past eight months, I’m in awe of how much life has shifted and blossomed. From holding our first grandbaby, to celebrating Billy and Emily’s engagement, to rolling up our sleeves on the farmhouse and finally making Tennessee our permanent home — each moment feels like part of a bigger story unfolding.
It hasn’t all been easy, and the to-do lists are still long and tiresome, but the thread running through it all is joy. Joy in new life, in love beginning, in dreams taking root. Joy in knowing that God’s timing is always at work, even when we can’t see the whole picture.
As I sit here writing, I’m reminded that these aren’t just updates on a page — they’re markers along the journey. Little reminders to pause, give thanks, and keep moving forward with hope. And truly, I can’t wait to see what the next chapter will hold.
