Alice Vol. 4 No. 2

With an original budget of $10,000 and a
team of her family and friends, Espy-Brown
began constructing a tiny house in Belk,
Alabama. Her father, an attorney and civil
engineer, was instrumental in the construction
and obtaining legal permits pertaining to the
home. And even though they rolled their eyes
at her giddiness upon receiving a chainsaw
for her birthday, Espy-Brown believes that
her sons secretly appreciate her willingness
to defy the stereotypical motherhood mold.
She said the bonding aspect of laying new
foundations brought her family a fresh sense
of purpose.
“The tiny house was integral to the healing
process,” Espy-Brown said.
However, she also recognized the need
to coax forth essential, personal healing. Her
husband’s passing had thwarted the dreams
and plans she had sculpted around their
relationship together. Espy-Brown equated
losing a spouse to simultaneously losing one’s
past, present and future.
“I always compare it to looking out over
a field covered with trees,” Espy-Brown said,
“And each of those trees is a milestone in the
future - all the obvious things like our boys
graduating and getting their first jobs, but
also things like traveling and running races
together. When Warren died it felt like that
field got wiped clean and was just this vast
space as far as I could see.”
For Espy-Brown, the tiny house became a
tree on that field. It was a tree she needed. A
landmark to work towards and look forward
to reaching.
“I have to repopulate my future with
things that will be meaningful and, honestly,
things that will just be fun,” Espy-Brown said.
“‘Fun is underrated.”
The cabin itself now measures 240 square
feet on the main floor, dwarfed in comparison
to the acres of surrounding piney foliage. It
features a galley kitchen, porch, bedroom
loft and both an indoor and outdoor shower.
The team was responsible for tasks ranging
from surveying to laying wheelbarrows
full of cement in the unforgiving Alabama
summer sun. Other family and friends
donated materials that contributed to the
house’s eclectic personality. Windows were
transported from a Habitat for Humanity
Restore, while her aunt offered wood that had
been in her great grandmother’s home. Espy-
Brown said that she loved the idea of giving
these pieces new life through her project. She
credits the completion of the project to those
who partnered alongside her.
Continuous Growth
Looking back on the journey, Espy-Brown
can attest to the personal growth that she has
experienced through choosing to step out of
her comfort zone. She advised that others,
especially women, take initiative and pursue
new, adventurous tasks, no matter their age.
She understands firsthand the initial fear
of failure, but it pales in comparison to the
rewards reaped in the decision to simply try.
With the project’s slow progress measured
in fish fries, games of fetch with her dogs, and
fear being conquered in learning to operate
a chop saw, it became apparent to Espy-
Brown that the little things in life are merely
a reflection of things far more significant.
In the most daunting wilderness, there is
refuge in community, rest in the deep sighs
following a long day’s work, and healing in
sunsets that make one’s soul simultaneously
ache and rejoice. This place is a monument to
her husband’s legacy. A testament to the daily
choice to be brave. For her, the tiny house sits
as a microcosmic reminder of the human
spirit’s deep-rooted tenacity to overcome the
reality of a love not lost, but simply redefined.
In the midst of every season, it beckons:
“Slow Down. Life is good.”
58 Alice Spring 2019