simply homemaker

Just a year ago, I was sitting in a very similar seat on the metro, finishing my first blog to be posted on simplifiedhomemaking.com.

I was scared, but I was determined to take this step. To put all my possessions into a storage facility in Maryland (and hire a friend who would supervise movers while I was in class for 2 hours). To reach out to multiple families from my church asking for a room to stay in for 2-3 weeks at a time. To submit a decision to study abroad in Switzerland for 3 months. To plan a cross-country drive to Fort Worth, Texas, for the summer. To start a blog.

A year later, I am sitting on the same metro line, listening to the same podcast (Elizabeth Elliot, Gateway to Joy), typing these words away.

Truth be told, just last week, I was writing a blog about saying no in this new season of life. No to new relationships so I can focus on old and dear ones. No to dreams so I can focus on reality. No to leisure so I can focus more on work. After a whole week, I looked back at what I was trying to write, and I realized that “saying no” was just the wrong place of mind to be.

For by saying yes to one thing, you are already saying no to something else. The beauty of life does not come from saying no to wrong things, even though it is so important, and sometimes, we must start here. It begins with saying yes to the right things, the things our hearts truly desire. In the process, naturally we will be saying no to other things.

By saying yes to Switzerland, I missed out on almost a whole year of community and career prospects. By saying yes to traveling to Vietnam, I said no to privacy and time to read. By saying yes to this blog, I said no to hours that could have been spent on movies and shows and reading.

Are these bad things I said no to? Not necessarily. But I had to say no to them to say yes, the yes to the things I really wanted.

So, here we are again, with another important lesson learned: say yes to the right thing, and be ok to say no to other things as a result of these yes’es.

I would like to thank you so much for journeying along with me! The journey surely isn’t over. I am planning to keep this blog until it feels like it will no longer be a blessing to others.

Yes, this is a celebratory blog, but I’ll save you the time that it would take for me to recount all the things that have happened. This blog is more of a visual collection of moments and memories that have made this time last year so special, and I want to share with you what was happening in my life last spring when this blog was coming into existence!

1. March 2024
   • Seeing my friend Julia Light in NYC
   • Living with the Wisniewski and reading Mercy Watson to the kiddos daily!
   • Finding my love for Amish markets
   • Living with the Ruffins for 2 short weeks (never would I have thought we’d have months and months left to go!). Baked bagels and started making homemade coffee!
   • Seeing Prince Caspian at World Stage Theater with Blair!
   • 3rd round of cherry blossoms
   • Victoria came visit from Texas!
   • Living with Brooke and Ellen for the last part of March
   • Vic and I had a fun photoshoot, where I found the most beautiful spot, Little Oatlands!
   • Youth group movie night!

2. April 2024

• Tulips springing in DC
• Babysitting Ellie
• Vietnamese food in Virginia
• Anna’s bridal shower
• Housesitting for the Carnahan’s – a taste of living alone!
• Blooms in Virginia in front of the Ruffin’s old house
• Living with a single lady for a couple weeks
• The kids’ speech tournament & my first time judging
• Committing to Switzerland!
• Women’s retreat
• Time outside
• Cutting bangs
• Saying goodbye to friends

3. May 2024

• Boat ride (shout out to Brad for making it a great boat ride), pho, and the philaharmonic in Berlin
• Dresden, Germany for the day
• Delivered my capstone presentation to Dogo
• Drove 20 hours with Emily to Dallas
• Literally arrived in Arlington the next before my first day
• Started my job with Southwest!
• Victoria’s birthday in Fort Worth
• Reunited with Ruthie and had a cute homemade dinner
• Dinner with Betty
• In-person (!) coffee date with Ronnie

And after this? You know it all. Adventures in Eastern Europe, seeing my family in Vietnam, and living with my favorite family!

Thanks for being here for the past year, friends! I’m so excited to be sharing with you soon about what is happening in my corner here and the plans that only God can write!

Love,

Tram