Spring 2021
🌿 How It All Began
Every dream has a starting point — and for us, it was this wild, jungle-like property on Lake Tawakoni. 🌳🌿🐍
We’re forever grateful to the people who helped turn it from an overgrown lot into the foundation of Building Morrow:
✨ Kathy Hobbs, our dear friend and Realtor, who made sure we landed this dream lot.
✨ BG&A Land Surveying, who braved the brush, poison ivy, and snakes to map it out.
✨ Perry, our best man and best friend, who jumped in with hard work and heart to help us clear the way.
This was the very beginning of our journey — from dirt, sweat, and support, the dream started here.
First Lake Party (45th Birthday)
Celebrating the first memories! 🎉
After buying the property in June, we rolled up our sleeves to clear brush, trim trees, and make this place feel a little less like a jungle. 🌿 Chainsaws, hard work, and a lot of sweat later, we had a space we could actually gather in.
Just in time, too — because that October we celebrated my 45th birthday right here on the lake.
🎂✨ Our very first Lake Party! Friends, music, food, and laughter under the stars — the perfect reminder of why this place was worth every bit of effort.
Downsizing to Dream Big:
🏕️ Building “The Camp” (Spring of 2022)
Before we could think about the dream house, we needed a place to land — somewhere simple, practical, and ours.
So we built the camp: a metal building with a septic system, scaled down so we could move in, save money, and live close to the project as it unfolded. 🚜🛠️ Downsizing wasn’t always easy, but it became part of the adventure — and the start of so many memories we’ll never forget.
Lake Tawakoni - Here we come!
🚚 Moving In!
One year after buying the property, we made the leap — selling our 2,300 sq. ft. home in Royse City and downsizing into an 800 sq. ft. “man cave.”
Talk about a lifestyle change!
The early days were full of hard work: clearing more property, dealing with the not-so-fun side of country life: Michael met poison ivy more than once 🌿
But there were also firsts we’ll never forget — like our very first breakfast at “the camp,” and our first dive into Lake Life… literally, with the dogs splashing right beside us. 🐾💦
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was ours. And every moment brought us closer to the dream we’re still building today.
This was the true beginning — not just building the dream, but living it. From here, we’re pausing to thank everyone who helped us get this far… and then it’s on to Building Now while weaving in the everyday joys of Lake Life. 🌊🏡
Our Dream Lot Comes Alive
🌱 Turning It Into a Dream Lot
After the garage was built and we moved into our “man cave,” the property finally started feeling less like raw land and more like home. That’s thanks to Robert Crawford and his landscaping crew, who transformed the space in ways we’ll never forget.
They ran irrigation straight from the lake, planted fresh sod, and created a green oasis right outside our door. 🌊🌱 Overnight, this dusty lot became a place to breathe, relax, and dream.
And honestly? That made all the uncomfortable parts of downsizing — an 800 sq. ft. house, no dishwasher, no "real" kitchen, no wood-burning stove in the winter, and a not-so-great AC in the summer — completely worth it.
Every challenge faded when we looked out at our own little paradise.
THANK YOU's
From Dirt to Dream
Every dream home starts with raw land — and ours was no exception. From overgrown brush and poison ivy to chainsaws, surveys, and a lot of sweat, this is the story of how we cleared, cleaned, and carved out the space that would one day hold our dream.
Along the way, we leaned on friends, family, and trusted local businesses who helped us turn a wild lot into a place we could finally call home.