Dearest friends,
Big BIG news over here……
After 20 years in Portland, Oregon (give or take a year or two when we left for John’s grad school, or when we lived in Seattle for a year [after John’s grad school], we have decided to move to a teeny little town in Central Oregon called…..wait for it….Sisters.
It’s been on John’s dream list to move to a small town surrounded by mountains and forests and rivers, but I’ve resisted it for years and years and years. Earlier this year, however, my intuition told me it was time. And since making room in my heart for this possibility, it seems The Universe has made all the details fall in place with ease.
(the day we left FL to move to Portland, OR 20 years ago)
We moved to Portland when we were 24 and 25 and now, all of these years later, we’re ready for the next adventure. We’ll also ready for more sun (will NOT miss the Portland rainy winters), and a much much slower life.
And you wanna know the coolest things? Sisters is named after three mountains that adorn the views of the town. The mountains (known as The Three Sisters) are named Faith, Hope, and Charity. Can you believe it? I love, love, love that we will be moving to a place where we will be surrounded by Faith, Hope, and Charity.
We are building a house in Sisters, something a bit more farmhouse/cottage/mountain vibe all in one. I’m crazy excited to be working with a builder so that we can have lots of say about all the fun decisions (tile, floors, lights, colors, etc etc). I will be Pinning a ton of new images to my boards and I’ll share the build process here on the blog with you. It’s a smaller home and we’re looking forward to scaling way back not just our home and belongings but the pace of our lives. We’re craving a slower life with more time and space to be outside.
True is thrilled. I was his age (he’s 7) when we lived in a tiny rural town and those years hold some of my fondest memories. I’m excited for him and all that is waiting for him to explore.
John is over the freaking moon. He’s never been a city person (he moved to Portland sight unseen to be with me!). Also, as a stay at home papa for the last 5 years, he’s ready to launch some of ideas that he’s been sitting on for many, many years. John is, at heart, an outdoorsman. He’s a fly fisherman, a mountain climber, a backcountry snowboarder, a backpacker, a paddleboarder, and more. This move is his dream come true and I’m so very excited for him.
I am also over the moon. Sisters has a thriving arts community (they are known for it) and a super strong women entrepreneur presence. I honestly cannot wait to dive into the community and be a part of it all. So many artists. So many cowgirls. Cowboys. Adventurers. Entrepreneurs. OMG! I will most definitely be leading retreats in this gorgeous place of beauty.
My parents will be making the move with us. I cannot express how grateful our hearts are that they are willing and excited to come with us. My mom is crazy excited about the fabric community in Sisters (they have the worlds largest quilt show each year) and my dad is excited about all the golf in the area. True retirement awaits 🙂
I am not one bit sad to leave Portland, which is how I know it’s time to go. I will miss my friends, but our new home is a quick and beautiful drive away.
So that’s the news, friends. Please keep us in your thoughts as we begin a huge, new adventure. I will be sharing the progress here on the blog as well as on Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned!
Here’s to living our dreams into Real. Feeling really lucky!
PS: We are having a gigantic moving sale in a few days. If you’re interested, please stay tuned to my Instagram where I’ll be sharing all the details.
Click here if you’re interested in reading the full story of our move.
I amvery happy for you.
I too am having the same adventure. After 14 years we are finally going to build our own home. It is very exciting working with builder to have what we really want, picking colors, flooring, etc. And…..
A studio for me YIPPEE. I’ll be happy to make this journey with you and I too will be in a small town which I love the only bad thing is very little are community. Will have to find some.
Good Luck!!
Kelly Rae, I am so, so happy for you and your family! Sisters is beautiful! You will be actually living my dream of a simpler life in the country. Keeping you in my thoughts as you move forward in this new chapter. XOXO
Kelly, I just saw a beautiful Native-American quote that seems to fit perfectly with where you are in your life right now.
“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.” Najwa Zebar
So leave your mountains of worry behind and embrace the new mountains, Faith, Hope, and Charity into you life.
New adventures keep us on our toes !!! I recently relocated at age 72 (to be closer to my daughter/son-in-law)……..I have not regretted one minute !! Be ready–it’s a wonderful ride !!
You will LOVE Sisters! It’s such a beautiful area! You won’t regret the move at ALL! Good luck to you and your family and how exciting your Mom and Dad are moving with you! Many blessings to you. Can’t wait to see the process of your new home being built.
You will regret the move! Winters will be fierce and you will be isolated You will miss Portland and it’s inclusiveness plus you will have to do your own shoveling and yard work. Just saying
You will regret the move! Winters will be fierce and you will be isolated You will miss Portland and it’s inclusiveness
I am so very excited for you- you are Taking Flight and will
Wear your joy inside and out everyday even more then now because of the special warm fuzzies!!!
OH Kelly Rae;
I am so excited for you, True, Tom and your mom and dad. This is magnificent and huge! Thank you for always sharing and leading the way of braveness and following your soul.
Love, Love, Love,
Linda
Ops, thought I typed John. I wonder who Tom is? lol.
Yay for you and your family.
Looking forward to seeing your sweet, sentaments in the future. And your joy filled sweet smile.
Best wishes ❤❤❤
Amazing Kelly Rae❤️❤️I’ve spent time in Sisters and loved the area! I can’t wait to hear of some retreats🙌🏻Very excited to watch your wonderful move. 😊
Oh Man! How freaking exciting for you and your family! wish i could attend your moving sale! happy happy future Kelly Rae!
My aunt and uncle have lived in Sisters for a very long time and love it! Congratulations and maybe I’ll bump into you when I visit them. Cheers 🥂
My blessings on your new joyful adventure Kelly Rae. I truly admire you and your beautiful spirit.
Absolutely the best news ever! Exciting! I love rural living and all sounds like the perfect spot for everyone. Icing on the cake that your parents are going too! Will follow this wonderful journey.
Wow! What a wonderful opportunity for you and your family. To live in the presence of Faith, Hope, and Charity is simply inspiring!
I’m so excited for you and your big adventures. I’m Right there along with you… We are moving from Northern California to southern Oregon in a couple weeks. It’s been a lifelong dream for my husband and I and we just can’t wait to get there. Family awaits us there and they’re thrilled to the moon that we are going to be Oregonians!!!! I can’t wait to explore new territory. I’ll definitely have to make my way to Sisters. Here’s to dreams coming TRUE.
Blessings to your family! 😉 Cheers
Oh My Goodness Kelly Rae!! So Excited for you and your Family!! You guys will LOVE it over in Sisters… I can’t wait for a Retreat!! Best Wishes on your new home and all the adventures that go along with it… What an Awesome Place for True….
Congratulations to you guys! Excited for you and your new adventure.
How Wonderful! I love Sisters/Bend. Though we live in Utah, we go to the Sisters Quilt show-the biggest outdoor quilt show anywhere-every summer, second Saturday in July. It’s fabulous. The area is beautiful and will be a perfect setting for you and your family. Change is difficult, at least it is for me. But I predict you will be sooo glad you took that leap of faith. Good luck, beautiful soul!
Congratulations – I am so happy for you!
Fearless. You inspire me. Through some of the bleakest moments in my charmed but turbulent life. Sisters is gorgeous. May you continue to be inspired surrounded by Faith, Hope and Charity. ❤️
This is the most wonderful news! I’m so happy for you all! What a dream come true! Wow! Jude
I’m soooo jealous and excited for you! I LOVE Sisters! I’m a native Oregonian/Portland- suburbs girl who has always craved a more rural setting. I hope your move goes well. Maybe I’ll run into you at the ice cream shop next time we’re stopping in Sisters💗
My Aunt and Uncle moved from Alaska to Sisters years ago and loved it. They moved to Medford when they retired and loved it there as well. How wonderful that your mom and dad are moving with you and especially glad that John will live his dream. Just an absolutely wonderful post!
Congratulations to you and your family! I’ve heard wonderful things about Sisters. Wishing you ease and grace each step of the way as you start this new and very exciting journey!
Love Sisters. You will have to visit Suttle Creek Lodge, which is minutes from Sisters. It’s picturesque. A piece of heaven. You won’t want to leave. You can use the beach for day use. They rent canoes…eat lunch on the lawn…Adirondacks looking onto the lake, etc., It’s like you are at camp from the 40’s.
Well, that IS exciting! My cousin and her family live there and love it. Her daughter might be in True’s class! Anyway I’d be thrilled to come and see your new shop/studio when you are up and running! Massachusetts is a long way away, but I love that area!
What a lovely move to make! New possibilities opening up! I’ll have my daughter keep an eye out for your house to go up for sale. They have been trying to buy over 2 years. Much love to you all!
Wait! We’re moving?
Lol
So. Honestly it feels weird to see you post pictures of Sisters because, though we live in Bend, Sisters is close enough it feels like home. We moved from the valley some sixteen odd years ago and have never looked back. And to build a house? How exciting! Enjoy your new adventure!
I am so happy for you all! I want to move there too! Wishing everyone in your family a wonderful move and happy new beginnings 💜💛💚💙
Many congrats! I hope you can pick up and move your perfect little new studio with you! Enjoy your new adventure!
so excited for you and just know you are doing the right thing. Last year at this time my partner and I moved 60 miles out of L.A to a rural area & we now live on a small one acre farm with chickens, ducks, fruit trees & a huge garden that now provides us all our produce; fortunately my partner Carl is very talented in accomplishing all we have in the last year; you will never regret taking on a slower life style.
Congratulations! Isn’t is wonderful when everything aligns and feels right? Good luck with the move, the build and the new location. I am looking forward to the details on the retreats when you are ready to share 🙂
Awesome news, Kelly Rae! I am a quilter and have heard about the quilt show they have each summer. There are quilts that hang over store railings and I understand the town gets overrun with quilters! How very fun for you to be able to build your own house. Now what about Nichole?? Is she going with you??
Wishing you much happiness in your new place!
Everything sounds wonderful, and to be surrounded by Faith, Hope and Charity, what a dream come true! We love that area! The best of luck during the building and packing process! So happy for you!
OMG! I am soooooo happy for you! I love Central Oregon!
It sounds like you and John have the same conversations as my husband and I. He wants to be close to nature and I’m not willing to give up urban living yet. Sisters and Bend are on our short list.
I look forward to following your adventure. Your journey might help me get clearer on what to do!
When we visit Central Oregon we like to hike the Tam McArthur rim trail out of Three Creek Lake outside Sisters. The views of the mountains are spectacular!
Aw sounds like the perfect place for you and your family. I can’t wait to get to know Sisters through your eyes. All the best as you prep and transition! 🙋🏻💙✌🏽
It looks magical! I know you will love it!
How exciting! New beginnings for everyone!
All my best for your new adventures! We recently made a similar move to a small town, bought a house on the lake, and are enjoying life ~ it’s the best thing we could have ever done, and wonder why we didn’t do it sooner! It’s amazing how you’ll find things will fall into place when you open your heart to the possibilities…
My first thought was “what about your mom”. Thrilled to see they are joining you on the adventure. Wishing you all the best.
Jealous but also couldn’t be happier for you. You’re moving to one of my favorite places! Congratulations!
So excited for you! Looking forward to following your new adventure!!
Kelly Rae, you’re going to LOVE Central Oregon! I lived in Bend for 25 years, worked in Sisters for many of those, and it is a magical place. We moved last year to NC to be near my sister who had been ill, but our hearts remain in Central Oregon. I’m sad you’re moving there after I moved away, because I might actually have been able to meet you and take a class in person. Many blessings to you in your new life in Sisters!
So excited for you. Brave courageous you are. Blessings I send always.
Very excited for you! OMG what a great adventure your starting and the inspiration you’ll get with all of nature surrounding you will be surreal! Congrats!
I’m so excited for you and your family! !! Sisters sounds like a something from a storybook!! ♡put me first on the list for your retreat!
Big congratulations to you and your family! I know you won’t miss those rainy Portland winters and will live the sunshine and small community!
What a wonderful i opportunity for True to be a bigger part of nature!
And Sisters! What wouldn’t be more fitting???
My heart is full for you sweet girl!
PS: the fur babies will love it too! Might need to get them miniature cowboy hats! 😉
Sharing your joy!
I am so freaking excited for you and your family! The first thing I thought of when I read “Sisters” is the huge quilt show they have every year! I am a quilter but have never been. One day I will go! Can’t wait to hear down the road more about your retreats that you will have in Sisters! What a dream come true for you guys! In such an awesome place! Congrats!