Walls to Windows!

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

I'm so very proud of how fast our construction workers have went.  They are working so hard and it's apparent with how much progress I see every time I drive by the house (2 or 3 times a day).  I think today I'm going to go by a bakery and buy them some treats.  They deserve it.

Friday before Maia's softball practice, we went by the house beforehand.  We hadn't walked through in a week and wow, it's amazing how different it is starting to look.  Spaces are looking more like rooms and so the house, well, it's beginning to look like a house!  

The first thing the kids wanted to do when we got to the house was run upstairs and see "their" rooms.  But they ran right past to mommy and daddy's area of the house to see the big room with the window . . . our closet!  Well, okay, maybe I should say "my" closet.  He he.  :)

This is Maia in her room.  She'll have the bedroom in the front of the house 

with the high peaked ceiling.

This is Noah's room.  He's thrilled to be getting the biggest room.

Noah looking out the window in his room.

Maia helping daddy do some measuring in the closet.

Maia with daddy in her bedroom.

Hi mom!

I love the little details of the building process.  It's strange to think they'll all soon be 

covered up for forever more.

Oh how I already love my porch.

And all of us with our house :)  Maia, below, is so very excited, he he.

And yesterday, look at the progress!  We have WINDOWS!!!!  They also did the curves above the garage and the porch.  Looks so pretty, I think!  I'm loving how it's progressing.  Wonder what today will hold?  I'll check back in soon!

Slow down & enjoy where you are.

“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us 

that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are."

-- Bill Watterson

One thing I've learned with our move to Omaha is to not wish for tomorrow but to savor every moment today and enjoy it.  God has made me see that with my eyes and feel it with my soul.

I know some people think, "wow, I can't believe you've lived in an apartment for so long!", and yes, while I feel that way, too, many days, most of the time I'm enjoying it.  My life, especially in the past couple years, has been a testament to, "you never know what tomorrow will hold".  And while living in the apartment has been new and fun many days, and a little crazy every day, I have truly cherished it without hardly ever complaining. But, I'll be honest, I'm ready to be settled.  Ready to make a start.  Ready to move on.  I can't wait to make our house a home.

Here's the latest progress . . .

The kids look forward to our stopping to watch the progress so they can get out and pick dandelions.

After Noah gets out of school, we always drive by first thing.  Here, here's looking out at the progress.

This was Wednesday!. . .

Waiting in the car at Noah's school.

This is the lot across the street from us!  Neil saw a lady here walking around last night carrying a baby!!!!  We hope they are the family building!!

Building my porch!! :)

This is my closet! :)

I already drove by today (without my camera) and the entire house is now wrapped and the porch is complete!  We plan to go by this evening and WALK THROUGH!  Let me tell you, I am EXCITED! I'll be going back with my camera and I'll check back in soon!

Happy Friday!  Truly enjoy and savor the day. 

Jubilant Delights

The days are getting busier and busier, not just with the house but with everyday life, too.  Noah started his first baseball game of many on Saturday.  Seems like just yesterday Noah was hitting off of t-ball stands and swinging his little heart out (missing a lot of the time).  Today, my not long ago 4-year old is now an almost 8-year old hitting balls pitched by real people.  This was the first time I had to dress my boy in a real uniform with a real hat, jersey, pants and socks.  Once he stood out there on the field with the others boys suddenly looking so grown-up, I almost lost it.  But thankfully I have 2 other younger kiddos to keep me distracted, along with my camera to hide behind. 

Noah, #10

 

My distractions from acting like a pathetic sappy mommy:

Playing "pitcher".  The coaches actually pitch.  Noah said playing pitcher was "the funnest ever!'.

He finally got a good hit and ran with the bat the entire way.  Priceless!

After the game we headed to Nebraska Furniture Mart (one of the many places owned by Howard Buffet in town) to begin looking at carpet for our house.  Once there we realized how much undistracted thinking it would require to make decisions.  We have to work with a specific person and not only do we choose carpet at NFM, but we also choose tile and vinyl for every room in the house; wall tile, too.  "Our" lady said the process will take us 3-4 hours, so. . . we decided coming back another time without kids would be the most efficient.  ((sigh))  So we head back next Saturday to make the vital decisions.  I'm so thankful for good friends in Omaha to help us out at times such as these.  (Thank you, Brooke!)  And now that we know we won't have the kids, I'm actually very excited to sit down and really think about these things, and hopefully use some of the design theories I learned in college.  Wow, I can put my degree to work! :)

So Friday and today (Monday) my "drive by's" on the house have ended with me driving away in complete glee.  You know, when you smile uncontrollably because something great has happened and makes you feel all bubbly and happy?  Actually, the definition if glee is: jubilant delight; joy.  Yeah, that's me almost every day.  I love the feeling.  I think it's knowing that we are actually, one day soon, going to be in a house that we put all of ourselves (money, design, patience) into.  It's. Exciting.  :)

So this was Friday (4/29/11):

They didn't work over the weekend.  And here is today, Monday. . .  Look, peaks!  There are peaks!

I'm really glad we chose to push out the upstairs.  Helps cut down on the harsh sun coming in the back of house.

This is the head construction guy.  He's the one that called me "OSHA" :)

I took Elyssa & Maia to school.  They stopped at the corner of our lot to pick some dandelions for their teacher :)

I love this one.  Shows off her cute toothless grin.

Look! And they're starting on the sides!!

Tomorrow. . . I wonder if tomorrow will provide me with more glee? I'm thinking probably, yes. :)