Over a year ago I started a goal of paying off my student loans. After about six months I made a decent sized dent. Then covid-19 hit. Amidst the confusion and uncertainty of this pandemic, we decided to hold tight to our money. Until we didn’t. Half of my student loans went into deferment. Bailout after bailout from the federal government, and with the money we scrimped together we saved the money to payoff my student loans in one year. Then a epiphany hit.

A New Chapter In Our Life

As a child, my family was tasked with managing other people’s land. Tasks included keeping weeds off the property so that fires wouldn’t damage structures. Every week in the summer we were tasked with watering rosebushes and trees by hand. In blazing 100+ degree weather we would have to water 104 rose bushes. How did I know it was 104? Trust me I counted them every week. No sadness when we lost 2 bushes one year. For years I had nightmares of watering bushes. In addition to taking care of plants, other maintenance my grandfather and dad were requested to do.

Fast forward 30 years, give or take, I found myself creating my own secret garden in my back yard. I had six huge amazing rose bushes. A plant I despised when young, now a prize possession in my back yard. Additionally we grew blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, apples, plums, pluots, and a lot of veggies. However, not enough plants to do much other than a random smoothie, or mouthful snack.

One thing I missed as a child was having land that I could walk around on and go outside. Track homes doesn’t offer the same feeling. A feeling I wanted my children to experience. I also wanted a horse. I wanted a pool. I wanted an orchard. I wanted beehives. I wanted more than what we had. I know that is a lot of wants, but in reality those wants are my dreams. As time goes on, I am only getting older. If I chose to let life pass me by, I will have lived life wanting, and not experiencing. The epiphany, stop wanting and take action in achieving.

So we switched up our plans of paying off my student loans and searched for some land that would help us achieve our dreams. We decided to sell our home which sold well over asking. 100k more than it was in the 6 months prior. We placed an offer on a home with 8 acres and lost out. Then we placed an offer on a home with 2 acres, which we successfully purchased. Now it isn’t perfect, no landscaping, but many of those wants will be realized in short time. Plus we have a nature preserve with over 8 acres that our house backs up to.

My children will get to grow up experiencing some of what I experienced as a child. They will get to roam the land, get dirty, water plants, raise bees, swim in a pool, ride horses, and do so much more. I kept putting things off saying we will do that someday in the future. Day after day went by, and I came to the realization that it wouldn’t happen till my children moved out. No longer so, that future is now.

Creating The Bearden Ranch

Growing up we lived in Joseph Canyon Trail Ranch, now we will have The Bearden Ranch. Something we will own, something we will put blood sweat and tears into (that’s already happened), and something we can pass on to our two children. Just like that, we own a million dollar ranch. Literrally.

The past two months I have put in irrigation for multiple areas of the land. We have beehives lined up. A pool going in at the end of the year, and a garden to make dinner time some of the best meals we have ever had. Student loans, yes we I still have them. Those are not going away any time soon.

Timothy