Smile at the Mountains

We're here! We're here! What a day...doodle-lee-doo! We pulled into the driveway at 7:00 p.m. after spending all day cleaning at the farm. Daddy snuck away early in the day to come to the new house and set up our temporary basement haven. Here is a peek at our big BEDroom, complete with bedding! What a treat to arrive to a space that was already ready for a little bouncing.

My sister, Laura, texted me early in the day and said the she and her hubby Dan wanted to have supper delivered for our first meal in our new house. Squeeeeeee! Oh but wait, no one delivers to the top of our mountain! So they paid for us to big up a big bag of takeout from our favorite restaurant, Chey Thuy. Mmmmmmm...those spring rolls were as big as the moon! Such an amazing, thoughtful way to reach out to us across the miles.

And lastly...our place of connection and rest. Matt had this little room set up too! He knew I would feel so much more grounded if a little bit of home was already here...and I breathed a sigh of relief when I opened the door.

As I type this, he is sound asleep on the plaid couch and Maia is cuddled up next to me snoring. Maggie is sprawled out on the rug. American Idol contestants are crooning from the TV...and my three birdies are sound asleep one room away. Coffee goodies have been carefully set out on the counter...I take care of the important stuff of course!

This is all still feeling a bit surreal. It's OUR house! Our very own. And tomorrow morning I will hold a steaming cup of coffee in my hand, look out the window...and I will smile at the mountains.

You Had Me at Flags

I took several photos tonight revealing the complete destruction (better yet, deconstruction) of our current house. The final 24 hours of packing are always the hardest. A million little bits of our life that seem to have no home. I end up throwing them all into one big box and forgetting them for 6 months. Only this time, it seems like that is every box. Each one packed with the words "are we done yet?!" ringing in the air. 

And so, I'm not posting those photos. Because honestly...I never want to see them again! Eyes forward. Onward. 

Instead, I'm sharing a perfectly timed happy mail gem that my girl Em sent me. In the midst of feeling like we will never finish, like the day will never end...Matt hands me a pile of mail from our PO Box. 

Right on top is a delicately watercolored envelope with sewn edges. And after reading her note, my heart started racing. 

FLAGS?!  Eeeeeep!!

They are the sweetest little flags you've ever seen! I went through each one, feeling the different textures, imagining where I might hang them in our new home. Art room? Above my sink?  So fun to decorate in my head.

Thank you friend for thinking of me!! xo

New Things

This man. Hard-working. Faithful to his core. Hero to three little girls. When I am frazzled and stressed, he is my rock. He never falters. When the boxes pile high and I can't find Emma's socks for the 49th time this week, he pulls me close and whispers reassurances. 

Every day when I arrive, he has fun new developments to show me. I am starting to see how it's going to come together. Oh how thankful I am to call him my love and to be working side-by-side with him on our new home.

Our living room is grand central...the hub for tools of transformation! We'll move into the basement on Thursday and will create a mini-kitchen/living area there while we finish the upstairs. I can hardly wait for this great room to be completed...it's so hard to wait! This process is growing me in so many ways. Patience patience patience!

A picnic in the exact spot where our table will sit. I anticipate the laughter of friends and family and delicious aromas to rise from this place...

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness..." *Isaiah 43:19

Yes! I do see new things! So many new things. I breathe deeply of the wild mountain air every time I walk out the door. The snow is still glittering down on a regular basis and there are bright shiny stars overhead.  Lots of things are changing. This is a good life. 

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Side note: I have started a renovation timeline here and a renovation gallery here. I'll try to update those daily as we are creating our new space!