A couple of weeks ago, we were able to spend a night at a tiny house. Alone. Without kids. By OURSELVES.
I asked my parents, as nicely as I could, if they would mind watching my children for a night. When I called, she said, “Hmmm, let’s see…..” as she looked at her datebook. In my mind, I totally pictured her taking time to “check her calendar”, hoping there’d be a penciled in home extension meeting, a pedicure, an oil change, a date to wash her hair. OR ANYTHING that would give her an out. You see, our children are not children who sit nicely on couches, eat what they are given, or go to bed without a fuss.
I promise, we have tried to raise children much like we were raised; push them outside, encourage free play, limit electronics, let them battle it out, give them independence, etc. But somehow, they have not turned out. They are not like the good, well-rounded children we were.
For some reason, guilt maybe, my Mom said yes. We got 24 blissful hours to do what we wanted. We had no plans to do anything except to relax.
Last year, we bought a stay at a local tiny house, called Peace on the Prairie at a silent auction. The Peace on the Prairie tiny house is located in the rural countryside near Woodson and Murrayville, Illinois. Just about twelve miles outside of Jacksonville, it is close to restaurants and entertainment but is also completely secluded, providing for the ultimate location for rest and relaxation.
On the tail end of a very busy basketball season, I was excited to relax. From the moment we walked through the door, I could feel myself starting to exhale as I took in the cozy surroundings.
Owners Kevin and Jaime have thought of everything. EVERY single thing I could think of wanting or needing in a nightly rental was in place at Peace on the Prairie. It was SO much nicer than staying in a hotel and was perfect for the downtime these tired parents needed.
Here are some above and beyond little touches I noticed: A coffee bar (complete with Chia Latte Spice), recycling bins, honey from their own beehives, s’ mores supplies, microwave popcorn, clearly labeled cabinets, and drawers, pretty artwork from local artists, maps to pin where we were from, a personal sign welcoming us, a reading nook, heated mattress pads, reading lights on the bed, adult coloring books and colored pencils, WI-FI, homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies upon arrival, toiletry dispensers in the shower, washer and dryer, motion lights outside when returning home after dark, a peaceful wind chime, and feminine products expertly hidden from sight but available if needed.
They have done a marvelous job of making their guests feel at home. We know the owners but even if we didn’t, I feel that I would have gotten an accurate picture of the thoughtful people Kevin and Jaime are just by the time they spent perfecting the details of their tiny house. This is not your standard ‘slap some paint on a builder grade apartment, outfit it with IKEA furniture and open up shop’ type of place.
In direct contrast, Kevin and Jaime have built their tiny home with intricate attention to detail. The grounds are no different. When you drive up, the car park area is at the rear of the house. When you enjoy the view from the front porch or upper balcony, your view is unobstructed. Even though we were there in the dead of winter and there was snow on the ground, I could appreciate the wild grasses, art elements, and sculpture around the house. I want to visit in the summer to have the full effect of being able to spend more time outside in this beautiful space and enjoy the nature and trails.
Did I mention the homemade cookies?
There were five or six on a plate when we arrived. I was determined to take some to my kids since, you know, Mom guilt for leaving them. But we made it home with ZERO cookies.
Somewhere between our second nap and third cookie we were reminiscing about our many years together and how we found each other. We realized that we have now been together longer than we were apart. Then we realized that our first date was 20 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH. (I was inspired to write the story about how we met and started dating. Set to be published next week. Stay tuned!)
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 20 years with your soul mate than a night away from the children you made together.
As we packed up on Sunday morning, I found a hidden gem that was the last little perfect gift from Peace on the Prairie. On the bottom of the nightstand, I spied an ornament kit and a handwritten note to guests from Kevin and Jaime that asked guests to take the supplies and make an ornament to commemorate their stay. Likely it was for guests staying throughout the Christmas season but the thought was touching all the same in January.
This ornament will make a great addition to my Christmas tree. Every year when we decorate the tree, we’ll remember our stay at Peace on the Prairie and how we made that ornament to commemorate the 20 year dating anniversary of Shawn and Stef. I can’t wait to tell my kids how in January of 2000, we had our first date. A first date that was only made possible by a fearless Stef, who shamelessly flirted with Shawn, paying no mind to the girlfriend he was with.
As I said, you might not want to miss this.
Love,
Stef