I suppose my first answer to what my ideal home would look like is more about the inside than the exterior. And that being the case, I already have my ideal home.

It’s full of peace and love and stability. This doesn’t mean we don’t have bad days or disagreements or storms that threaten all of that. But it means the foundation of our lives is where it should be.

And that foundation is Christ. Scripture says He is a Rock. He is a fortress. He is a shelter, a high tower and a refuge. And I have found He is all of these things and more. And when my faith is in Him and the foundation of my home is found in Him, that’s all I need for my home to be filled with all the things that I want.

And truthfully, the exterior of my ideal is not of the world. My ultimate ideal dream home is in a land where there is no pain, no tears, no fear and no end of days. A land flowing with milk and honey, a sapphire sea, and a River of Life running through that place. Heaven will be a beautiful place, of which we truly do not have words to describe.

But now, to play along with the daily prompt and describe my ideal (exterior) home, I’d begin with a lot of land. I mean a lot, acres and acres, with some rolling hills, maybe the big Rocky Mountains or the Blue Ridge or the Appalachian Mountain Range in the background. A creek running close by with lots of big hardwoods and a good many evergreens interspersed throughout the land would be ideal. Actually, several creeks would be intermittent around the property, and one would have a grist mill and a water power sourcing into the property. Another would have an eight to ten food drop of a beautiful waterfall. It would be a big parcel of land that when you gaze out over it, it automatically causes you to inhale deeply and exhale slowly.

I’d want enough land that all our family, our sons, my in-laws, any any of my husband’s siblings could have their homes without it being crowded. Hundreds of acres that are marked by those deep stained wooden fences, and everybody who traveled by would know, “That’s the Grizzle Ranch Homestead.” Enough land that it takes a day’s ride on horseback to cover all the property, and we’d have enough ranch hands to make those rounds when needed.

It would be a land/home where everyone is welcomed with open arms, and we’d even have a couple of guest cabins where people could come and stay to rest and relax and even recoup and restore from storms in their lives. We’d have the modern conveniences of running water, electricity, internet and gas connections, but much of it would be self contained so as to not have to rely on or be effected by the local or national economic ups and downs.

And the ideal house itself? Hmmm… my dream house changes a bit from time to time, but mostly, it’s a sprawling two story ranch style, all wood and maybe some stacked stone, with a wrap around porch and several fireplaces, both inside and on the outdoor patio. And it must have one corner that is a glorious library with books from ceiling (2 stories) to floor, the rolling ladders that allow for hours of scrolling through to find a new adventurous tale, and a staircase as well that reaches to the top on one corner. There would be ceiling to floor windows to let in the sunlight with beautiful drapery to shadow the room so that reading by lamplights can be allowed when so desired, no matter the time of day. There would be sweet reading nooks and even a hand carved “tree” that invites hours of childhood fun, no matter your age or reading limitations. Oh, and on another corner, there’s be a fireplace, not too big, but large enough to cozy up on the couch with a good book or pile up pillows upon the floor with the kiddos to invite reading galore.

There would be a giant kitchen for hours of baking fun with family that opens up into a huge dining hall for endless family gatherings; yet, not ton of formality, more like an oak table with hand carved chairs with comfy cushions and plenty of space for loads of food and a fireplace on one end that would crackle with the laughter of shared family memories.

And for all our family members who love to play, there would be a music room/hall in which more instruments than one person could own but where all could meander through to share a tune or two. A baby grand in one corner or maybe an upright, a handful of acoustics and cajones, basses, violins and cellos, sprinkled with a banjo, harmonica and pan flute. All for a little friend and family enjoyment on a cool summer’s evening or a cold, winter’s night.

There’s be a big fire pit outside with lots of wood carved seating for fall campfires and summer fireless stargazing. The house overlooks all the land we own, the creek(s) with the mountains in the backdrop. Horses are grazing on one side of the backside of the property while cows are on the other because we are a working ranch that is self sufficient and self contained.