Here’s what happens when your community matters so much in your life that you buy a home … even when your not looking for one. Join Tom and Kat Hansen, who live in Anderson Township, as they open up their house to share our first Home Story.
HOME STORIES
Every family has a home. And every home has a story.
In this video series, we are interviewing families to learn the story of their home. How did you get here? Why did you buy this house? What do you love about it? What don’t you like about it? Every family’s home has its own unique story, and we can’t wait to collect and share them!
Winston Churchill famously said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
We plan on sharing how families have intentionally thought about crafting their homes – where they live, the unique characteristics of the home, and how they’ve shaped it to strengthen their family.
TOM AND KAT HANSEN
I’ve known Tom and Kat Hansen for over 15 years now, and would consider them two of my closest friends. We served alongside each other in the Young Life ministry in Southeast Cincinnati for over 5 years.
They are two of the most fun, self-sacrificing and caring people I know on this earth. They are simply wonderful people to be around, and I was so thrilled when they agreed to be our first episode of Home Stories.
HOW COMMUNITY SHAPES YOUR HOME
I wasn’t totally sure what I would get when I turned on the camera with Tom and Kat, and that’s one of the reasons I am so excited about these different Home Stories. I don’t think I’ll ever really know what’s going to come out!
However, what was striking to me in this interview was how valuable community is to Tom and Kat. Serving alongside of them in Young Life as well as being in the same church with them, I knew that they valued community. However, when their son was born with health issues with his heart, it was amazing to watch the community step up to another level.
That’s certainly not something that everyone experiences. When we go through life and suffer or have tragedy, the pain is still real, but your community can help shoulder that burden. It seems to be a dying belief in much of our culture, but through Kat’s words, “it’s life changing” to live next door to your best friends.
Just think of some of the they mentioned – childcare, sharing back yards, sharing meals, friends remodeling your house!, Bible studies, meals, friendships, shared school, and the list goes on and on.
Community like this doesn’t happen overnight. It generally takes years and years to develop. What’s interesting is how pain can be a catalyst to drive community and friendships even deeper. When we share each others’ sufferings, we can also celebrate each others’ victories. That is a beautiful, beautiful story. And one that makes a lot of sense to get your house ready to sell over the weekend and move a 1/4 mile down the street to experience more and deeper community.
God bless the Hansen family.
… And stay tuned for more Home Stories to come!
