It's Coming Along

The house renovations are coming along. Lots of changes have been made since we moved in this past January.

We've updated just about every room in the house now. When we bought this house I felt like it was an answer to our prayers.  Then we moved in. And to my dismay, I felt like it was the root of all evil. After much prayer and reflection over the past 11 months, I'm realizing God sent me here to learn about perfection. I am definitely one of those people.  A perfectionist. I admit it. It's not always bad. Except for when it prevents me from enjoying my life. Sometimes I try not to be one, but it seems to resonate from my body like the air that I breath. During my time with my dad this summer, he shared something with me that really spoke to me. It's okay to go slow. It's okay for it to be your best. Not perfect.  But my best. There is simply no need to rush.

I'm okay that it has taken me 9 months to even warm up to this house, and now I only suffer from deep-seeded resentment once a week--maybe once every two weeks--instead of every day!  I'm making progress, I must say.  God has surely grown me in ways I can't really explain. My home has always been my sense of identity, but I am learning that it's okay to live in a flawed home.  It's okay when pipes burst and cause unexpected leaks.  It's okay when screens fall off the windows and I have replace them periodically.  It's okay that the main toilet needs to be flushed twice, sometimes three times to make "it" all go away.  It's okay that my furniture doesn't quite fit the way I want it, too. I am grateful to have this home. A home that is teaching me to be okay with what I have in the moment.

Embracing the oddities of this house and knowing that God has me here to grow me in ways I didn't realize I needed to grow is wonderful. I am glad for the lessons He has to offer. I look forward to whatever it is that He wants me learn, and pray that I am open to seeing and hearing what He would like me to do next.

Don't you just love a good before and after post with pictures of the the crud and the incredible transformations of the after.  I know I do!  I can just imagine the pictures that God has collected of me along the way.  My "befores"--so to speak!  The ones where I harbored anger. Resentment. Envy. Jealousy. Guilt. Judgment. Over the years, I feel like He has taught me so many lessons. I wonder if He has any "afters" that He keeps to remind Him of how far he has come with me. I smile just thinking about it.

So I imagine that if you've stuck with this post and all of my ramblings, you must want to see some before/afters.  I don't want to overwhelm my feed, so I'll practice my dad's advice.  Go slow.  There's no rush!

Let's start with the living room.

Before.

Not a ton of changes except for the ton of paint that was used on the walls and trim.  This house was loaded with 1980's orange stain and beige paint from the 2000's. From ceiling to the floors.  Don't get me wrong. I was a beige paint lover for a decade, too. But then I realized that I felt closed in with all that brown. When we moved to our last house, I started with my favorite gray beige paint, but then after living in it for a while, I decided I wanted to lighten things up a bit. When we moved here, I knew from the get go that everything would go light. Slowly we've managed to paint just about every piece of trim in this house. We've also painted just about every wall. The verdict is still out on the stairway rails, the ceiling and the cabinetry. I'm not sure if we will be staying long term or not. Plus I want the house to feel warm not stark. I know we will for sure be here for a few years, but I don't want to invest a ton of money if we are just going to turn around and sell. I learned that lesson from the last house! I also know that I want to be content while I am living here.  So for now, I am doing the projects that are manageable and cost effective.

During:

After:

So the photos from before are the realtor professional ones. That's not me.  No professional photos here.  Just ones from my iPhone. And this is my house with 13 year old furniture. Two dogs that rule the roost. Pillows not perfectly aligned.  Blankets that are actually used. Blinds that are open. antlers and bones on the hearth for the dogs. Remote controls that are out and about because we actually use this room to live in--hence the reason it's called our living room. If I got close enough, you'd probably also see some dust bunnies here and there, too. ;).  Keeping it real, people.  Keeping it real!

Stay tuned...more before and after's to come in the upcoming days, weeks, months, years, decades?!! You never know what you'll get here!

Snow Day

With the added responsibilities of being a part time Induction Coach and still teaching 1/2 time in the classroom, I was delighted when the notification came across that school was cancelled today due to inclement weather.  The blizzard like conditions last night and most of today allowed the kids and I to simply relax in the beauty of doing nothing. God is so good!  Always. He knew I needed this day to be forced to simply relax.  And relax I did.  Not one responsibility lingered in my head today.  I laid in bed until 7:00.  That NEVER happens.  I watched a bit of TV.  That rarely happens.  I took on a craft project that brought joy to my soul.  That needs to happen more often!  It was a good day.  A good day indeed.  Thank you Jesus for the time to revel in Your beauty and glory.

A Day in the Life

Clearly, I'm not meant to be one of those professional bloggers.  I can hardly keep up with breathing right now, let alone posting updates of a day in the life of us.  Our lives have been crazy busy this summer.  If you follow my instagram feed, then I'd say you are pretty much up to date!  That's the best things about instagram.  It takes about 60 seconds to post something rather than 20-30 minutes that it takes to create a blog post. I L.O.V.E the ease of it!

But having this blog has always been my mainstay and the other day I noticed my brother commented that I needed to do an update. Back in July.  Oh well.  Sorry bro, I'm a bit behind! Plus I realized that when I print out the blog in January it will have a huge gap.  I can hear my kids saying, "Mom, did something happen the summer of 2015?"  "No, not that I'm aware of," I say.  "Then why aren't they posts in our family journal?"  "Because I'm lazy and love sitting on the couch eating bon-bons," I reply.  Well, maybe that conversation won't really happen, but I'd like to think they might have a wondering or two about the lack of posts for the past three months!

We are well into the routine of school and fall is approaching rapidly.

As usual it was a little chilly on the first day school. I love that the dog is at the begging to come out, the screen fell out of the window and the front yard hadn't received it's update yet.  Reminds me of how much love we've brought back to this place.

Ema is a junior and loving it.  Her course load is a bit heavy this year with AP classes, but she's up for the challenge. Her dad and I told her there is truly no pressure to take the tests if she gets to the end and doesn't feel prepared.  Our family is about balance. Take some risks, but remember it's okay to step back if necessary.  Theater season is approaching quickly and she is excited to start a new production. She's not sure what her role will be this semester, but she told her theater coach that she is open to whatever is needed backstage!  I love her flexibility and the joy she finds in this area.

Caleb is transitioning well into high school.  He tried out for the golf team in early August--before school even started--and made the team!  We are so proud of him.  One of two freshman that they accepted. He is also taking two honors classes this year.  When there is an 18 hole tournament, he usually misses a half and sometimes a full day of school, yet he is still doing well academically. We are so grateful for his persevence! He leaves for school at 7 am and doesn't usually get home until 7pm.  Crazy schedule for the first two months of school, but he seems to really love it!

Craig is still busy with Pepsi. He enjoys his job and the many challenges it has brought this year. Lots of new technologies are being brought on board, and he is learning them with grace!

I am falling in love my new batch of firsties.  Still teaching 1/2 time with my job partner, but I've been asked to take on a few more hours each month as an induction coach for new teachers to our district. I was humbled and honored that they asked me to take this new role on.  And quite honestly, grateful for a little extra money as we get closer to sending these two babies to college.  I can't believe we only have 2 years left with Emaleigh. It hardly seems possible.

Hopefully, it isn't another three monthes until the next post!

Hello There

Well, it's only been a month since my last update.  I love that this blog is something that I can always come back to. I find it fascinating that I'm one of those feast or famine kinda folks. When I look back at myself, I can honestly say I've always been that way.

But this blog is one of those things that I can say keeps me grounded.
I love going back an rereading different posts.
I love that I print them out each year, so my kids have a hard copy of all the great memories our family has created.
I love that no matter how much time passes, this blog is always here.

So what's been up lately?

Well, we've been steadily getting the rooms in this home painted. We hit a slow patch after spring break, but now all we have left is the dining room, the kitchen and the kids bathroom. Along with all the door transformations, but I keep telling myself that I'll be here for a while, so I'm not in too much of a rush. I'm learning to love the home I have. Shopping around the house to fill the spaces we call home is really bringing joy to my heart. Craig and I recently transformed a mirror my grandmother had in her home for so many years. We've had it for about 10 years, but during our last move it got cracked. I was so sad when it happened. But the new transformation has brought much joy to my heart. And I know that G.G. is smiling in Heaven knowing that her treasures are now my family's treasures!

Craig transformed my  mishap into beauty!

I hope this frame makes you as happy as it makes me G.G.

Found this great piece of artwork at Ross the other day.

Making a gallery wall to showcase our travels.  I espeically love the smiling little girl that is in no way special to us, other than the fact that she in the cutest barnwood frame ever!  Looking forward to adding a new photo of our own family soon.  Like maybe next year, sometime!

This move certainly took it's toll on me in many ways. I am slowly coming out of the fog I've been in for the past 6 months, and I am growing in so many ways. I'm letting go of things that brought me pain, and I am embracing things that bring me joy. I'm thankful that Jesus is so forgiving and offers Grace. Freely. Without it, I know I would be in a much worse place.

Until next time...

Life Keeps Moving...

I'm amazed at how quickly time passes.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was giving a house update, but it turns out that was almost a month ago now...phew.  Time flies!
Anyhoo, the house is coming along just fine! The carpet is in, and boy am I SO grateful. Being able to sink my toes into the soft new fibers is so refreshing! I still have a few things here and there that I want to add to the rooms that are done, but for now, I'm going to close my wallet to home improvements. We still need to paint the main living/dining/kitchen area, but I think I have enough paint left over to make this happen. I just need the motivation to get the supplies out.  I hate the cleaning up part, so I usually procrastinate until I can't stand it any longer.

The mister and I want to take the kids on a summer vacation in June, so we are saving our pennies for something cheap, but fun.  We are pretty good at maximizing our dollar on road trips, so we are in the planning stages right now.  Thinking either a trip to the Pacific Northwest or the western part of the Gulf of Mexico.  Not sure yet..

or

As I sit here typing this morning, I can believe how much I am learning about myself through this part of my journey. 

Now that I am knee deep in my forties, I am seeing things a bit differently. God is definitely opening my eyes to things I didn't realize I needed to see. Things that I thought were uber important in my twenties and thirties (money, possessions, impressing the Jones') are just not that critical. I can only imagine my friends in their fifties, sixties and seventies thinking "wait until you get to your fifties, sixties and seventies!" ;)  Oh the joy of aging. I'm so grateful to be able to embrace the idea that it's not the "things" in life that are important, but the relationships and memories that you create along the way.

This reminds me of when I was in my early thirties and reading the bible cover to cover for the first time. Mind you--it took me well over a year or two to do this! But, I remember one day when I had finished my daily reading and I sat in my brown cushy chair that Quinn has so graciously taken over.  

Wow.  What's changed?  Not a whole heck of a lot.  The people from early biblical times had problems.  And so do I. The funny thing is, the problems (both theirs and mine) are really not that important. As I reflect on this Good Friday and thank my Savior for the greatest sacrifice He gave for little ol' me to be able to enjoy life, I can't help but pray these words, "Lord, open my eyes to this life. Allow me to appreciate it in in all of it's Glory.  Help me to not take things so seriously, and the appreciate the bad and the good.  Because without the bad, the good would be quite as good!"

I pray you have a blessed day and you remember to embrace each moment for all it has to offer. Afterall, they do go by so quickly!

House Update

We have been slowing transforming this place in our home.  If you would have asked me a few weeks ago how I felt about this place, I'm sure I would have grumbled something negative about it. I didn't really have a good attitude about moving, as I'm sure you already know!

But ask me now, and I can honestly say this place is starting to feel more and more like home.

As of today, we have painted the main level/master bath, our bedroom room, the kids bedrooms, the upper level hall and the loft.  It's slowly taking shape, and its defintely beginning to feel more like us. While I would love to have unlimited funds to transform this place, I am not wanting to take a loan to do any of the work, so slow and steady is how it will have to be for now.

Here are a few pictures. They aren't the best, but a hint of what we've done!

While I am enjoying the wood ceiling in the living/dining area and the wood floors just need a little TLC, most of the orangy wood trim is slowing leaving this joint! And it is bringing much joy to my heart! I am toying with leaving the banisters in their natural state though. I'm not sure how I feel about them, yet.  I kind of like how it ties the ceiling and the floor together, but I also like the idea of lightening it up a bit. We shall see. One thing that I know for sure is that I loathe the doors and floor trim. I came up with a solution for the doors that won't break the bank, but those transformations will have to wait until the weather is a bit more stable. Tons of sanding, priming and painting involved!

As for the floor trim, we are working on caulking and painting as we move through each room, and boy does that ever feel good.

I've have had some "issues" with the carpet in this house since day one, and the relief of knowing it will be replaced in just 12 days makes me SO happy! Most people don't care for carpet because of the dirt it collects, but I like the warmth and the cushion it provides on my feet. And knowing that the dirt is my dirt provides me with much relief. Counting down until I can walk on my floors barefoot!

The other thing that we did this past weekend was finally get our vents cleaned out. When I called to schedule it in January, the earliest they could come was February 23rd. We've had a ton snow here this last month, so they had to postpone until March 7th. While I did some research about whether or not we needed to do this, the feeling in the back of my head knowing the vents are cleaner provides a little peace of mind.  Hey, you do what you gotta do, right! (In case you were wondering, the EPA couldn't provide proof one way or another if it is necessary. But I'm sure glad we did it.  The stuff they sucked out of those vents was pretty nasty!)

The one thing I know for sure is that God has us here for a reason. I have learned so much about myself in the past 2 months. I am grateful for the struggles, and I am thankful for the joyful moments. I keep reminding myself that this is just a house, and it is the people in the house that makes it a home. My faith provides me the strength to get through each and everyday, and I'm reminded everyday how lucky I am to have Craig and the kids on this journey with me.

Until next time...

Seasons

My love for seasons has changed over the years.

For the longest time, I was a winter lover. I was all about snow. Turtlenecks and sweaters. Boots. Hot cocoa. Fires. Hunkering down.

As of late, I like summer better. Blooming flowers. Green grass. Shade trees. Sandals. Pedicures. Warmth. Evenings around the firepit.

But the season I am truly learning to love is the season of Lent. The time of year where I anticipate the arrival of Easter.  For me this is a time of growing in my walk with Christ. I've been reading daily from the guide my church offers. I'm enjoying the devotions that they've included to help me dive a little deeper into my understanding of the Word. This morning, I was moved by a video link about prayer I came across. It's a part of a Lenten series found here.

I'm intriqued by the way they suggest to end each day.

I am inspired to tryout the breathing technique of inhaling and saying 'Abba' then exhaling and saying 'I belong to You'. This simple act of putting the focus on my Creator and giving Him first place in my life brings such a sense of peace. A sense of knowing that I can all embrace all that life had has to offer.  The joys and the trials. The pure of act of being grateful for things that are frustrating or discouraging puts a new perspective on living life to its fullest.

This journey is my own. But I am grateful to share it with each of you. I am moved by how the Lord provides wisdom. Grateful for His patience with me. Endeared by His everlasting love even when the choices I've made aren't in alignment with His will.  I will continue my walk knowing that I have opportunities to grow and learn. Stretch and ponder. Accept and embrace.

I am so grateful for this season.

Seeing What I Need to See

The weather here has been very snowy.  I think I've only seen the sun three times since last weekend. Very unusual for where I live.  It's almost enough to bring about a sour mood.  I feel like I've been living in a state of sourness for many months now. I have not dealt well with the change that my life has gone through. But yesterday, when I sat at the table to listen to my daughter share how her day went, and was exposed to her sourness for the second day in a row, I felt like God was opening my eyes to what He needed me to see.  My own sourness has taken it's toll on not only myself, but now it is rubbing off on my family.

So this morning, as I sit here at my computer because we have our third two hour delay this week, I have decided to embrace happiness again. I told my daughter she needed to get an attitude adjustment, but in reality it is me that needs the adjustment.

Today I plan on embracing the positives.

Having extra time to do the laundry.
Being able to take care of my banking needs this morning and not after work.
Spending extra time in my daily readings.
Having an extra hour to get paperwork done at school.
Eating a warm breakfast.
Sharing my morning with my children without having to rush to get ready.

So many things to be thankful for.  Grateful for.  Appreciative of.  So many silver linings as one of my dearest friends always says.

Today I choose happiness.

Looking for Joy

During the past several months I have been a little out of sorts.  I haven't been my normal joyous self. I realize that there are sometimes hills to climb on this life journey, but it's just as important to remember that even in the middle of the day to day gunk there are joys to be had. 

Things like:

• Realizing I saved my husband 2-3 hours of labor and hundreds of dollars in dresser costs by spending just under a hundred bucks adding to our existing closet organization system.  I was able to consolodate all of our clothing items into one of our two master closets, leaving the option of moving the laundry upstairs and creating a guest 1/2 bath at some point in the future! Woohoo!
• Going to the dentist today to fix a tooth  that has been causing some problems for the past 3 months.
• Sitting with my dogs on chilly nights sharing their body heat to keep me warm.
• Learning that we have enough cash on hand to pay for our son's braces on Thursday, so that we won't have a monthly payment.  That's worth celebrating a bazillion times over!  Yeah for "Cash is King" mentality!
• Having sunny 50 degree days in the middle of February.  Oh how I love not having to bundle up or drive on icy roads!

There are so many things to bring joy to my heart. I just have to be on the lookout for them or else they may pass by without my even realizing it.

I challenge you to find a little joy today.

In the Quiet

For the past few months I have been suffering from sleep issues.  It's usually between the four and five o'clock hours that my eyes pop open. I find it difficult to turn off my brain, so I just get up.  I'm not sure why I can't sleep past 6 o'clock. Ever. But I know that while my family sleeps soundly in their beds, I am up. Thinking. Praying. Perusing.

Quietly I awake and walk on tip toes, so as not to wake the dogs. Four o'clock is a bit early to have to deal with having to let them in and out of the house at least 2-3 times. That's the routine they've established for themselves when they wake up. And, of course, I give them everything their little hearts desire. Don't judge. They're spoiled. I admit it!

Quietly, I climb the stairs to the office area in the loft.

Quietly, I sit down and begin spewing words on the page to get them off my mind. This blog of mine has come to be something of a counselor for me. I've toyed with the thought of actually going to a real live person to help me get beyond my anger of what occured during the past few months, but fear and other financial commitments seem to have gotten the best of me.  I've been before and it helped so much, but the timing this time around just doesn't quite seem right. God continues to be faithful. Each day He puts someone in my life that helps me to get beyond the anger, and I know the healing process has begun.  The tears have subsided.  It's been over a week that one has fallen from these eyes. For this I am so grateful. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind a good cry every now and again. But every day for weeks on end is not my idea of a good time.

Today, I sit in the quiet and I am filled with so much gratitude.  Slowly.  VERY Slowly.  This house is becoming a home.  I'm learning to live with the parts I hate most.  The ginormous bathroom with 4 doors, aging toilet, and giant window in the shower is beginning to grow on me.

Here's the before.

And here's where we are today.

We've spent a lot of Mann hours regrouting, scrubbing, replacing outdated fixtures and decorating this room this month.  We still have to refinish the cabinets and complete the door transformations, but I am thrilled with how it's starting to come together.

In the meantime, I am so grateful for a clean shower, a toilet that functions properly and floors that are finally clean enough to walk on barefoot!

One of the best things about this reno was putting this idea to the test.  I think you can agree that this $5 tool did wonders to my nasty bathroom floor!

I decided to take the plunge and redo the doors and trim in this house after seeing post on Pinterest. 

One down.  3 more to go.  In this room that is!

My handy Mann replaced the faucets, door handles and light fixtures with ORB because I'm a fan of the warmth this color brings to a room.  Not to mention it hides the grunge!  He even surprised me with a new toilet handle after a toilet repair didn't turn out exactly how he had intended. 

I saw these and knew instantly that the oak cabinet above the toilet needed to be replaced.

I wasn't able to find a towel rack that I loved, so I headed over to World Market to pick up a few hooks and attached them to some leftover wood from making the floating shelves.

Here'a a snapshot of the shelves and towel rack together.  Adding the caramel color has really warmed this space up.  And the touch of green here and there has been fun, too!

Looking forward to figuring out what to do with the vanity cabinet this weekend.  Trying to decide if we should paint it or sand it and refinish is with stain to match the floating shelves.  They are pretty close in color, but the shelves have less orange and more brown which I prefer.  I went with dark cabinetry and flooring in the last house and learned that I'm not a huge fan.  The trend factor won out, but after having to keep it clean the past three years, I realized I just don't care for the darker wood tones. I'm really enjoying the lighter browns and barn grey tones, so I'm going with those colors this time around.

Until next time...

So the dust is beginning to settle a bit around here.

My mom is getting settled in her apartment in Wisonsin. And while I miss her incredibly, I am happy she is getting settled.

As of Wednesday, we are officially the homeowners of a little plot of land back in town.  It seems a little surreal that we sold our home and moved back to town in less than 5 weeks, but I'm coming to terms with what has happened, and allowing God to cover me in His Grace.  Without it, I think I'd need to jump off the deep end, and that doesn't thrill me at all!

With that being said, we are starting our first home improvement projects this weekend. These include:

• Cleaning the vents.  Just bought a groupon for a company to come in and remove the dirt and grime that has accumulated over the past 30 years.  And it couldn't have been better timing, as it smells like something has died in the duct work and Emaleigh's room smells like rancid trash. Poor kid. Thanks to a plug in air freshener and covering her vent with a box, being in her room has been bearable! She's so patient with us. We'll also be replacing most of the vent covers as the old ones are pretty banged up and nasty looking.  Some are even looking rusted out.  

• Install new locks.  Nothing says safety better than chaning out the old locks for new ones.  Not sure how many people have lived in this home over the past 30 years, but it's clear they've never been changed and the 1980's antique brass look has to go. I'm sure it was awesome at the time, but like most trendy home decor items, they don't last over time.

We have 3 exterior door locks that need keys.  My Mann prefers to have one house key, so being able to rekey them all to match was "key!"

• Head to Ikea with my dear friend, Susan.  Going to take a break from the dirt and grime to get some storage and decor ideas to bring into our new palace!

(via)

• Pick out paint colors.  This has been a bit tricky for me.  I know I want to go light.  While we have over 2700 square feet in this new place, it's laid out over 3 levels, and the spaces are not huge.  I love warm earthy colors, but this home might feel a bit closed in if I go that route. I want to go with a white tone, but as I picked up color swatches this past week, the choices are never ending.  Yellow toned whites, gray toned whites, pink toned whites...

Seriously?  Who knew there were a bazillion and one white choices.  And I only picked up 4 of the samples available Ahhh...I love making choices!  NOT!

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the number of projects to be done. In fact, everytime I try to get started with one, I get distracted by another. I still haven't hung anything on the walls, and have a few furniture placement decisions to make. I'm not loving the living room layout, and trying to figure out how to make it feel comfortable without being too cluttered.

I know it will all work out in the end, but it's taking me so much longer than any home we've ever lived in before.

#growing my patience in news ways

So You Want to See the Inside?

Well, I'm too scared to show it to you!

I'm sure many of you are anxious to see what the inside of our new joint looks like, but I am feeling a bit leary right now.  My home has always been my sanctuary and I'm being stretched in every way possible to get to a good place with my new surroundings. For the past 13 years, I haven't had to worry about someone else's dirt. Even with the country house that we rehabbed, we didn't move in until everything was basically "new." And being the clean freak that I am, I am struggling with the idea that I'm moving into someone else's dirt. We've been here for a week, and I still haven't been able to walk barefoot in the house. Even when getting out of the shower, I go from bathmat to rug to slippers! Pray for me.  I know I have issues!

The cabinets are old and worn. Some are even broken. The walls are in need of fresh paint. The floors need to be redone. The outlets and faceplates need to be updated. The vents need to be cleaned. The window coverings are old and broken. It feels like everywhere I turn, there is something to be done. Plus, the rooms are smaller.  While this house has more square footage than all of the other homes we've living in, our furnishings aren't fitting into to rooms the same. I am having to figure out new layouts and new ways to use what I already have without buying new. (It's my new motto...Save, save, save!)

I am feeling like a failure in so many ways as a result of our last endeavor not working out, but I am trying to overcome these feelings by being grateful for all that God has provided. The country house turned out to be a much larger financial commitment that Mr. Mann and I could handle, and we don't want to get sucked into debt with this one, so I am going to have to be patient, which is my biggest weakness!

I know over time this place will shine, but I am vowing to pay cash for all of our projects.  It took us many years to become debt free, and while we only had our mortgage payment when we moved to the country, it was so high because it included the cost of the home and two major rehab projects. We felt like we were sinking. Not to mention the added cost for gasoline and utilities.  Didn't realize those would be so much higher, but they were.  Live and learn!

Anyhow, I'm going to take a leap of faith, and trust that you won't be too judgemental of my "new" used surroundings!  The pictures I am about to share with you are not my own.  They are ones from the  real estate listing.  I've decided I will post my "original" pictures as we rehab each room.  Mind you, this will probably take me a bazillion years since I've decided to pay cash, but if I've learned anything from the last 3 homes, it's that I don't need to worry.  God will provide for my every need.  I can rest in knowing that He will be there every step of the way. Not to mention, I will get to use my creative talents along the way!

So without further ado...

Home Sweet Home

Living Room and Entry

Living Room

Dining and Kitchen (with a view of the yard...a little smaller than the last one!!)

Tiniest kitchen I've had since since our first year of marriage, but surprisingly easy to work in. Definitely plan on redoing this space one day.  Hopefully sooner rather than later, but remember, I'm going to be patient!

Still somewhat of an open concept which I am happy about.

Master bedroom.  Certainly leaves little to be desired, but I'm grateful for a warm room to put my bed in!

Main and Master Bath
Totally bizarre use of of space, but I've got some ideas for a redo of this area, too!

The loft is actually a great use of open space.  It has new carpet which makes it one of the easiest spaces to rehab.  Just a fresh coat of paint and some new window treatments.

Caleb's Room

Emaleigh's Room.  She's loving the corner window seats!

Kids Bath

Basement Rec Room

Lower Bedroom

Lower Bath

So there you have it.  We decided to move in and rent the place until we close next week.  While we could have saved a little money by waiting to move in until after closing, we decided that is was simpler not to have to load and unload our belongings twice. We took our chances on the appraisal coming in on target, and it did! While we wouldn't usually take a risk like this, we've felt the present of our savior during this whole process, so we took another leap of faith.

While I don't feel like this is even close to our forever home, I am warming up to it, and I wouldn't be surpised if we actually end up living in this house longer than any other house we've owned.  So far that would be our Cabriolet house at 10 years. I know lots of our family and friends aren't going to place bets on that, but trust me when I say stranger things have happened, and one should never say never.  All I can say for certain at this moment, is that we are following God's direction for our life, and if and when He feels like it is time to move on from this home, we will go!

Stay tuned for rehab updates in the upcoming days, weeks, months and years!  Like I said earlier.  I'm not in any particular rush on this house.  Going to live in it and let it speak to me.  I've never let a house do that, so I think I'll give it a try this time!