When her marriage ended, it might have been easy for Kelley Lewis to sink into depression. Left with three small children to raise and her own business to run, she felt her options were limited. But rather than giving in to that hopelessness, Kelley decided to take control of life and build her dream home... Or more accurately, a very tiny version of it in a 192 square foot, off-grid home in the middle of the woods.

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After doing some research, Kelley fell in love with the tiny home movement. She bought a 1.3 acre lot in the woods, on a lake near South Vienna, Ohio. She resourcefully used a tax refund to hire someone to build the post and beam frame, but she's built nearly everything else in house with her own two hands. Picking up tips from YouTube videos along the way, she's installed insulation, a wood burning stove, and built a composting toilet in the bathroom all on her own. She also tries to be as green as possible in the process. Nearly everything she's built has come from recycled materials.

Kelley wants the experience of building this tiny home with her kids to be just as important as enjoying the finished product together. She knows how common it is for most children to learn carpentry and building from their dad or another male figure, so she thinks it's pretty unique that they get to learn it from their mom. Kelley also knows how easy it can be to always want more from life, and to constantly be consuming. It's much harder to really appreciate what you already have and be okay with it.

That's the biggest lesson she wants her kids to get from this adventure. Their tiny home has grown to represent so much more than just a house. It's about figuring out what's really important in life and putting all of your energy and concentration into it.

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Read more about Kelley and her tiny, off-grid home:

Columbus Dispatch: Mother of Three Builds Tiny Dream Home for Her Family

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