It Has Begun!

I have always loved reading others blogs and thought...I have a lot to say maybe I should start one.  I would dismiss it quickly since I figured no one would read it anyway:)

My mind has changed and is determined to put pen to paper or should I say fingers to keys and share what is on my mind!  Where to begin...

We are in the process of repairing our small abode that is busting at the seams with bodies and it has been a challenge to say the least.

 It started when we first moved in about 15yrs ago.  My daughter was 8 months old and my son had just turned 2 when we bought our 1024sqft home on about .74 acres of land.  At the time it was nice and cozy for our family of 4.  We knew there would be challenges along the way but not like what we encountered with in the first few years.  Now anyone who is on a really small budget knows just what I'm getting ready to say...you work with whatcha got! We didn't have much but we tried very hard to make everything functional.  We knew it was time for repair in the front bathroom when my husband went to pee and the the floor dipped near the toilet.  Well, we had decided just before that I would stay at home to care for our children who were still not school age yet,$250.00 and my husband's ability to use his hands and wisdom gave us (not the desired bathroom) a bathroom that worked!  I was thrilled to say the least that we wouldn't fall through the floor while sitting on the toilet! Now my mind got the best of me and at the time I was thinking about sitting down and falling through the floor while my child is playing trains in the living room, he hears the crash and comes into the bathroom(I couldn't use the bathroom without a kid during those years) and says "Mommy why are you down there?"  Oh how would I have explained that to an almost 4yr old!  I could just imagine my explanation...hahahaha! 

As our family continued to grow so did our need to make some improvements.  I can remember going from a toddler bed in my boys room to a bunk bed to a current bunk bed and twin bed.  Our boys room is full to the brim with beds and a dresser with a few storage bins.  Everyday my thoughts are consumed with how do I revamp this room so it doesn't smell, look, and feel like a dirty locker room.  We are homeschooler's now(we weren't always) and our days are spent in our home where I need to NOT feel like everything is cramped and unorganized. 

Over the years we have done many projects in our home.  Replaced the siding(most of it except for the soffit & fachea boards), tore off our back deck to replace the rotted floor and band board(back deck is still not there), tiled the front bathroom and replaced all fixtures and cabinets(turned out great but husband hated the color I painted it), tore out carpet in our room, hallway, living room and master bedroom so we could put hardwood floors down.  Our latest project is an entertainment center that my husband designed and built in our living room so that I may have sanity.  It is the most beautiful thing I have seen and I'm not sure if it is because I pain stakingly stained all the wood and polyurethaned it all outside in the cold(we don't have a garage).  My relief is felt that we will finish this project and complete the molding around our windows and floor in this same time!

My storage center being built

Some of you may say we have commitment issues.  Others may say we just don't know how to finish things.  I like to think that we just ran out of time and money for some of these things(even though I know we could stick it out the finish).  But what I have realized in time is that I have learned so much on this journey with my husband and my kids.  1) I can lay tile and paint a wall like nobodies business!(I actually enjoyed painting staining, mudding and sealing) 2) My sons would never have a better lesson in God's grace and mercy!(watching their mother extend grace & mercy to their father during these projects) 3) I couldn't have ask for a better father for my kids that actually wants them to learn to do these things.  4) Realizing that you can't always get what you want but with hard work and dedication you can get things done!

Our finished storage/entertainment center!  We still have some baskets and hooks to install and to transfer everything to the shelves.  This works for our family, for our home, FOR ME.  I can't wait to use it!  Just as it was begun... it is surely finished:)