A little over nine months ago, we packed up our lives in Texas and set off on a new adventure. As we drove away, A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman began to play.

“I close my eyes and I can see
A world that’s waiting up for me
That I call my own…”

Tears streamed down my face as the music filled the car. I hit repeat and let the lyrics wash over me again and again. It felt like the song had somehow found the words my heart couldn’t say out loud.

“There’s a house we can build
Every room inside is filled
With things from far away…”

Those words landed deeply. We were leaving everything familiar behind to chase something many people didn’t quite understand — a dream, a home we would build, a life we would design for ourselves. To some, it sounded unrealistic. To others, maybe even a little reckless. But to us, it felt like hope.

When I graduated from graduate school (the first time) my dad gave me a small sign with money tied to it that simply said Dream. From then on, many of his gifts carried the same message. I remember one in particular that reminded me dreaming wasn’t enough; you also had to act.

For years, I hung those signs on my walls. But if I’m honest, I didn’t even know what my dream was. I wanted to dream. I wanted to feel that sense of purpose and direction. Instead, I focused on the next logical step — continuing my education, earning my PhD, building my career. I’m proud of those accomplishments, but they weren’t dreams that stirred my soul. They were milestones. Responsibilities. The “right” things to do.

Tonight, Matthew and I sat quietly on our deck, looking through the trees at the stars. Music played softly in the background when A Million Dreams came on again. And just like that, tears filled my eyes.

This time was different.

I realized that somewhere along the way, we had finally done it. We didn’t just dream — we acted. We took the leap. We chose uncertainty. We kept moving forward even when it was uncomfortable, even when it was complicated, even when not everyone understood.

As we talked, we both admitted it: we dreamed bigger than we ever had before, and we found the courage to build those dreams into something real.

“However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me…”

Dreams don’t always arrive with clarity. Sometimes they live quietly within us, waiting for the right season, the right courage, and the right partner to help bring them to life. Looking back, I see that dreaming wasn’t the hard part, trusting the dream enough to act was.

Nine months ago, we drove toward uncertainty with tears in our eyes and hope in our hearts. Tonight, sitting under the stars, I realize we weren’t just chasing a dream.

We were building a life that finally feels like home.