Wellness and Wildflowers

For years I’ve dreamed of owning my own homestead and providing my own food, but it seemed like that goal was out of reach, or at least several years away. But, it may be closer than I originally thought!

As a single Airman, I would normally have to live in the dorms for three years. I’ve already spent eight months in a tiny dorm room during tech school, and then another six months here in Louisiana. Since my base has a lot of young Airmen, I hoped I might be able to move out about a year after I arrived. Well — God has answered my prayers!

Last week, I went to dorm management to check my place on the moving-out list. They didn’t think I’d be leaving anytime soon, but they checked anyway. Everyone started guessing my number on the list, and so did I. Out of more than 600 names, I somehow guessed exactly right — number 410! They laughed and said they’d work extra hard to get me out since I managed that impossible guess. They told me to check back in a week once they updated the list.

When I returned a few days ago, I hadn’t moved up much. But then, to my surprise, the sergeant helping me pulled out a form, signed it, and told me I had 60 days to move out. At first I didn’t even process what she said — but she had made the executive decision to release me early, seeing that I was prepared and excited when so many others aren’t.

I walked out of the building in shock and immediately called my uncle, who is a real estate agent. We had originally planned to start my house hunt two months before moving out, which I didn’t expect to happen until December. Since most closings take about a month, I now had just 30 days to find a move-in-ready house.

And I think I can make it happen.

You may be wondering why a 19-year-old single Airman thinks buying a house is a smart idea. Honestly, most people wonder the same — and I don’t blame them. I feel imposter syndrome all the time. It almost stopped me from starting this blog, from giving my best at work, and from taking on extra responsibilities. It’s been a constant demon while preparing to buy my first home. The way I fight that doubt is with logic. Without going into my finances here, I know I can afford it, and it’s cheaper long term. More importantly, it’s worth it.

As an active-duty service member, I qualify for a VA loan, which requires no down payment. That means I only need to cover closing costs upfront. This is a huge advantage for military members and makes it possible to buy a house well before 30 — in my case, before 20.

Still, it isn’t easy dealing with coworkers’ doubts. I’m the third-youngest person in my entire squadron. If I were a sergeant hearing that a brand-new Airman straight out of tech school was buying a house at 19, I’d probably question it too. But I’m blessed to have unwavering support from my family. My parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts all believe in me. Their confidence alone reassures me I’m making the right choice.

So what does this mean for my homesteading dream? Realistically, I can’t build a full homestead while serving in the military. But that doesn’t mean I can’t start small and build skills. I’ll have a yard for growing food, space to practice canning, and room to bake sourdough and learn the skills I’ll need later. Louisiana has an incredible growing climate, even if the soil isn’t ideal (and soil can always be improved). I plan to grow basics like carrots, potatoes, onions, and broccoli — maybe more as I learn. I’ll also try berries and an herb garden, something I’ve already started in my dorm. With more space, I know I can expand.

None of this will be easy. I’m starting from scratch on a tight budget. I own about two suitcases of clothes, and the rest of my belongings wouldn’t even fill my car. But the Lord has guided me this far. With discipline and hard work, I trust He’ll keep leading me where I need to go.

Thank you for reading. Just knowing someone sees this gives me courage to keep pushing forward. I hope you’ll follow me on this journey as I search for my first home. At the very least, I hope this warms your heart — and if you’re like me, just doing your best to make progress in life, I hope this gives you strength to keep going. I’m simply a girl with a dream who truly believes that with enough determination and perseverance, almost anything is possible.