Coming Full Circle: A Journey Back Home

Larry and LaWayne have shared 50 years of marriage, but their story begins long before that, in two tiny towns nestled in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. They first met in a restaurant where Larry, then just 17-year-old, worked. A 16-year-old LaWayne would visit the shop with her brother, and before long, the two fell in love and were married.

LaWayne still laughs when she remembers how small their hometowns were. “If his town had a population of 100, then mine had a population of 96.”

That sense of humor and down-to-earth charm has carried them through decades of adventures together, building a family, traveling for work, and eventually finding their way back to the forest where it all began.

Growing Up in the Woods

Larry’s father was a pastor, and Larry would help him build Sunday school rooms for their church, sparking his first interest in woodworking. It was such a small town that his father was also a part-time logger. Larry spent weeks at a time in the forest with his father and uncle, learning the rhythms of logging life, but more importantly, falling in love with the forest itself.

That early connection to the woods would come back full circle later in life.

Young Marriage, Big Adventures

Despite marrying young, Larry and LaWayne were determined to pursue education. Both attended college before Larry joined the Air Force, serving an impressive 26 years. LaWayne worked for the Air Force, as well, dedicating 17 years to service.

Their time in the military took them around the globe, often moving every year or two. They raised two sons and a daughter while building memories on bases far from Arkansas. Looking back, both agree they loved every minute and “would do it again in a heartbeat.”

But home was always calling.

Dreaming of the Forest

When their service years ended, they settled into what they thought was their forever home. Yet, surrounded by neighbors, LaWayne would sit in the backyard, squinting her eyes pretending all she could see were trees. They both longed for the forest life again.

Then came a call from their son. Would they consider moving out to the country with him? Larry hesitated. LaWayne did not. Her excitement carried them both forward, and soon their son found a property - 160 acres tied up in a trust.

The owners didn’t want to split it, but after some discussion, they were able to purchase 50 acres that had no road access, no power, and no water hookups.

They bought the land in the fall of 2021. To even reach it, they had to walk through fields of knee-high grass. By January, they began carving a road through the overgrowth. It was raw land, but it was theirs.

Building a Home from the Ground Up

One of their first calls was to a forester, who marked overcrowded trees for removal to improve the forest’s health. Harvesting those trees left them with an abundance of logs, which turned out to be a blessing.

Larry, remembering his childhood in woodworking, knew he needed a portable sawmill.

He’d heard good things about Woodland Mills’ customer service, so he checked out their lineup and chose the HM126. Larry worried that the pull-start engine might be tough, but it’s never taken him more than two pulls to fire it up, even after sitting idle for months while he recovered from hip surgery. “It has never let us down. Ever.”

Their connection with Woodland Mills grew stronger when they visited the company’s showroom in Port Perry, Ontario. They were so excited walking in that it took them a moment to realize the man holding the door for them was co-founder Neil Bramley himself. The sales team made them feel right at home, and they even had the chance to chat with Neil and co-founder Josh Malcolm.

For Larry and LaWayne, that personal connection confirmed what they already knew: Woodland Mills’ customer service is second to none.

Along with their sawmill, they also bought a wood chipper, which they put to good use maintaining their property. 

From Blueprint to Reality

Building during 2021–2022 was no easy feat. Supplies were scarce, and their contractor warned them that they would be lucky to get any windows at all, urging them to stay flexible. Within a year, however, their dream home stood on their own land, a design they had been envisioning for years.

To share the journey with friends and family, they started a YouTube channel called Full Circle Ozarks. What began as a family project has blossomed into over 350 videos and a dedicated following who tune in as the couple mills their own lumber, builds structures, and tends to their growing homestead. Their love for nature, family, and each other shines through every video.

Today, both of their sons have built homes on the property, and their daughter lives nearby. For years Larry and LaWayne measured family closeness in hours of travel, now it is measured in seconds.

Retirement Reimagined

Larry likes to joke that retirement has kept him busier than when he was working. He has built countless structures for his property all with his home grown, hand milled lumber.

His mill now has a beautiful shed to reside in when it is not travelling around the property. He also built a tool shed, lovingly nicknamed “the bacon shack”, made from cedar with strips that resemble bacon. Larry has built a dresser for his niece, a cedar hope chest with his son, and continues to mill lumber for their church.

Each of the three houses on the property feature a custom fireplace mantel milled from their land.

These projects, along with the many practical structures on their property, would have cost thousands to build had they not milled their own lumber.

LaWayne, meanwhile, is looking ahead. She loves all animals and currently has a flock of hens who live in a beautiful home-made chicken coup, courtesy of Larry and his son. She would love to, one day, add cattle and pigs to the homestead. They have embraced gardening, canning, and preserving so that they can enjoy their own harvest year-round.

Family gatherings are central to their vision. “We want this to be home. For our kids, for our friends, for our family.” They’ve already built a fire pit and installed an above-ground pool. Along with a deck for the pool, the couple is planning to build a pavilion to welcome gatherings of their loved ones. All made with their own lumber.

A Life They'd Choose Again

These days, mornings begin on the porch, coffee in hand, as they watch the sun rise over the trees. The chirping of the birds and the occasional deer wandering through give them the sense of being on vacation without ever leaving home.

For those dreaming of a similar life, their advice is simple:

“Go for it.”

They emphasize patience, hard work, and sacrifice, but also encourage people not to wait too long. The sooner you do it, the longer you can enjoy it. Larry recommends starting with a forester – and of course, investing in a sawmill.

From small-town Arkansas sweethearts to a lifetime of travel and service, and now back home in the Ozark National Forest where it all began, Larry and LaWayne’s story is truly one of coming full circle.

To follow along on Larry and LaWayne’s homesteading journey, check out their YouTube channel Full Circle Ozarks.

Subscribe to the Woodland Mills YouTube Channel for more stories from seasoned sawyers and landowners as they share amazing projects and provide inspiration for new ideas.