(A love story about how one resident found her forever home.)
Deborah Farris-Ruka is a Stepping Stone resident on a mission: to make people feel better. “I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to help people get out of pain without drugs or surgery!” declares Deb.
An acupuncturist and personal trainer, Deb and her husband Tim Ruka moved to Stepping Stone about a year ago. In fact, it was getting closer to her private practice in the Park Meadows area and to Tim’s job north of downtown Denver that inspired the move.
“We had bought a home in Castle Rock, but the commute was getting worse and worse with all the building going on down there,” she recalls. Now Deb is at work within 10-15 minutes and Tim within about half an hour. And their frequent trips to events at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts—a favorite venue—are easier, too.
The house mid-construction. Photo courtesy of Deb Ruka.
A better commute wasn’t the only thing on their wish list, though. They wanted a ranch floor plan, in case Tim’s mother-in-law should move in with them; they wanted modern design; and were looking for a reasonable price.
“First we looked around SkyRidge, but those ranch homes were double the price,” Deb estimates. When they found Shea Homes at Stepping Stone’s modern designs—and knowledgeable Customer Representatives—they knew they’d stepped into the right spot. “The sales process was so comfortable and the people so accessible. Shelby and Judy were fantastic. Very informed about the area and they answered all of our questions.”
The Rukas bought Model 5001, a garden-level ranch with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, which they refer to as their “forever house.” Deb and Tim decked it out just the way they wanted, because they plan to stay, well, forever. “This was the first home we’ve had built from scratch, and we got to choose everything from outlets to cabinetry,” Deb explains. “The interior design choices were far beyond what we imagined, so we got everything we wanted.”
The neighborhood trails and nearby open space are also important to Deb, Tim, and most importantly, their Yorkie, Axl. (Axl is perhaps the biggest fan of the Shea staff, regularly pulling his owners over to the sales office to see “the girls.”) Deb notes, “There are very nice trails that we take Axl on. The landscaping is beautiful here, really inviting with ponds and parks.”
The Ruka family enjoys their new Stepping Stone home at Christmas. Photo courtesy of Deb Ruka.
Obviously, being active is important to Deb, since personal training is the other half of her job. She trains people primarily using free weights and their own body weight and helps her clients with diet and nutrition. “It feels great knowing that I’m helping people feel good and take care of themselves,” she says. And now, Deb is taking a little better care of herself by living in a place that makes daily commutes—and walks—even better.
For more information about Deb’s practice, visit http://debrukaacupuncture.com. Learn more about the Shea SPACES Discovery Collection 5000 Series at http://www.steppingstoneco.com/shea-spaces-discovery-collection-5000.
