From Concert Nights to Community Life...
Meet the Albus Family!
Some stories come full circle in the most unexpected ways. Dustin and I met in 2011 at a Corey Morrow concert at Nutty Brown Café. At the time, I was living downtown while he was in Kyle. We had no idea that years later we would be raising two kids, and grocery shopping, on the exact same property where we first met.
After our oldest child, Luke, was born, we knew we wanted to get away from I-35 and the daily nightmare commute Dustin faced. We spent months searching for the right place to call home, and when we found Belterra, we knew it was it. We loved the sense of community and the fact that the elementary school was right inside the neighborhood—it felt perfect for our growing family.
As luck would have it, the builder had just one lot left for our preferred floor plan, and it sat on a greenbelt. It truly felt meant to be. We moved into our home in November 2015, and it has been such a blessing for our family ever since. Over the years, we’ve not only built a home, but also formed lasting friendships with neighbors who have become like extended family.
These days, life keeps us busy in the best way. Luke and Natalie are both involved in sports, so you can usually find us at a field or a game, cheering them on. In addition to sports, Luke shines through his humor, while Natalie shines through her creativity—but what stands out most to us as parents (and we may be a little partial) are their big, caring hearts. They are both deeply passionate about their family and friends, and we feel so grateful for the incredible support system that shows up for them in all their activities. From teammates, coaches, teachers, mentors, family, and friends, that sense of community is what brings so much joy to our hearts.
Music has always been a big part of our lives. Dustin and I connected through our love of live music, and it’s something we still share as a family. We love having music playing whenever we can, and anytime there’s an opportunity to hear live music, we jump at it. It feels like such a full-circle part of our story. Natalie has especially taken a love for music, she loves to sing and enjoys showcasing her talent at the Rooster Springs Talent Show, which is always such a fun highlight for our family. It’s been so special to watch her confidence grow each time she steps on stage.
When we’re not running between practices and games, we love spending time at my parents’ farm in Weimar, where we can slow down and enjoy a more laid-back country lifestyle. It’s a place where the kids can just be kids, and where we can all reconnect away from the busyness of everyday life.
At the farm, we embrace that low-key country life. Whether it’s fishing, Luke working on his bow, practicing on our chip shot driving range, or driving the trails in our Polaris vehicles, there’s always something going on. We love playing washers, jumping into pickleball games, and enjoying a friendly little competition. Even the simplest moments, like riding through the property at sunset or sitting together on the porch listening to music, become lasting memories.
Our favorite way to end the day is with something on the grill, surrounded by family. As the sun sets, we gather under the oak trees strung with lights, music playing in the background, and kids running around. Before long, someone is always dancing, and laughter fills the air. It’s almost always a big family affair, and those are the moments we cherish most—the ones that feel simple, genuine, and full of love.
Our children are incredibly fortunate to have their great-grandfather, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all within a two-hour radius, which makes it easy to spend meaningful time together. Whether it’s holidays, birthdays, or just a last-minute get-together, we never take those opportunities for granted.
We also love being outside as much as possible. Whether it’s baseball, fishing, biking, being on the water, snowboarding, having a picnic, hiking, or working on projects at home, we enjoy it all and try to make the most of our time together. We also never pass up an opportunity to be at home on the couch watching a movie together.
The photo shoot for this magazine felt like a perfect fit for us, capturing our family’s style in a way that reflects who we are: stylish, yet always casual and comfortable. It also captured something even more meaningful, the joy, connection, and energy that define our everyday life.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, from that one night at a concert to building a life in a community we love. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best journeys lead you right back to where it all began, only this time with a whole lot more love, laughter, and memories. And while life looks a little different these days, with busy schedules and growing kids, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re grateful for where we started, proud of what we’ve built, and excited for all the moments still to come.
After our oldest child, Luke, was born, we knew we wanted to get away from I-35 and the daily nightmare commute Dustin faced. We spent months searching for the right place to call home, and when we found Belterra, we knew it was it. We loved the sense of community and the fact that the elementary school was right inside the neighborhood—it felt perfect for our growing family.
As luck would have it, the builder had just one lot left for our preferred floor plan, and it sat on a greenbelt. It truly felt meant to be. We moved into our home in November 2015, and it has been such a blessing for our family ever since. Over the years, we’ve not only built a home, but also formed lasting friendships with neighbors who have become like extended family.
These days, life keeps us busy in the best way. Luke and Natalie are both involved in sports, so you can usually find us at a field or a game, cheering them on. In addition to sports, Luke shines through his humor, while Natalie shines through her creativity—but what stands out most to us as parents (and we may be a little partial) are their big, caring hearts. They are both deeply passionate about their family and friends, and we feel so grateful for the incredible support system that shows up for them in all their activities. From teammates, coaches, teachers, mentors, family, and friends, that sense of community is what brings so much joy to our hearts.
Music has always been a big part of our lives. Dustin and I connected through our love of live music, and it’s something we still share as a family. We love having music playing whenever we can, and anytime there’s an opportunity to hear live music, we jump at it. It feels like such a full-circle part of our story. Natalie has especially taken a love for music, she loves to sing and enjoys showcasing her talent at the Rooster Springs Talent Show, which is always such a fun highlight for our family. It’s been so special to watch her confidence grow each time she steps on stage.
When we’re not running between practices and games, we love spending time at my parents’ farm in Weimar, where we can slow down and enjoy a more laid-back country lifestyle. It’s a place where the kids can just be kids, and where we can all reconnect away from the busyness of everyday life.
At the farm, we embrace that low-key country life. Whether it’s fishing, Luke working on his bow, practicing on our chip shot driving range, or driving the trails in our Polaris vehicles, there’s always something going on. We love playing washers, jumping into pickleball games, and enjoying a friendly little competition. Even the simplest moments, like riding through the property at sunset or sitting together on the porch listening to music, become lasting memories.
Our favorite way to end the day is with something on the grill, surrounded by family. As the sun sets, we gather under the oak trees strung with lights, music playing in the background, and kids running around. Before long, someone is always dancing, and laughter fills the air. It’s almost always a big family affair, and those are the moments we cherish most—the ones that feel simple, genuine, and full of love.
Our children are incredibly fortunate to have their great-grandfather, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all within a two-hour radius, which makes it easy to spend meaningful time together. Whether it’s holidays, birthdays, or just a last-minute get-together, we never take those opportunities for granted.
We also love being outside as much as possible. Whether it’s baseball, fishing, biking, being on the water, snowboarding, having a picnic, hiking, or working on projects at home, we enjoy it all and try to make the most of our time together. We also never pass up an opportunity to be at home on the couch watching a movie together.
The photo shoot for this magazine felt like a perfect fit for us, capturing our family’s style in a way that reflects who we are: stylish, yet always casual and comfortable. It also captured something even more meaningful, the joy, connection, and energy that define our everyday life.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, from that one night at a concert to building a life in a community we love. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best journeys lead you right back to where it all began, only this time with a whole lot more love, laughter, and memories. And while life looks a little different these days, with busy schedules and growing kids, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re grateful for where we started, proud of what we’ve built, and excited for all the moments still to come.