Two years ago we purposed to get out of mortgage debt so we could adopt more kids **smile** , go on more mission trips and give away more freely. The home we were living in at the time we had built on a cliff at 7400 ft above sea level. It was not fancy schmancy, but just a large (4,029 sq ft) mountain home with gorgeous views. We saw bear walking on the rim of the canyon and yes, we even saw mountain lion – twice! Yikes! But it was beautiful!

Back when we were readying to move into that big home I said to Abigail how I wished I could get a garden in that summer. She said, “MOM! You bought a cliff, where in the world are you going to put a garden?” It was true. The deck was the back yard and the driveway was the front yard…other than that there was basically no flat land to use. The house was on a ridgeline and even turning around in the driveway was nearly impossible. BUT oh the view!! It backed up to a sweet canyon (with no neighbors – my favorite part!)….and it had a breathtaking view of the Rockies. Our friends, Stuart and Jen, came from Phoenix to visit and questioned the sanity of having the guest room the one with the view as they said, “No one is going to want to leave.”

It was a beautiful home, no doubt. But beautiful homes don’t buy happiness and you can’t take them with you into eternity, so what was the point? Mortgage debt was keeping us from doing the things we were not only created by God to do, but the very things we LOVE doing. So the house went on the market. We had so many showings on that house that I lost count somewhere towards 40. UGH.

Keeping a house clean for possible showings on a daily basis with a large family is nearly impossible, but when we are home all the time doing school….it was crazy. So when the house finally sold we all were so glad to move.

Now our home is outside town on 3 sweet little acres totally tucked in from the world. Square footage wise, living in this sweet little log home has presented its challenges. I kept wondering why I couldn’t get things truly organized? I thought maybe I had lost my touch….and then I had Dw measure. 2,011. OH! That explains it!! No wonder it was a bit tricky to organize. =) (The paperwork had said it was 2,200 sq ft.)

Our plan was to put an addition on the house and so we had plans drawn up for an addition. But then we got the bids. Okay, scratch that.

One of the things that has been especially challenging was the kitchen. No cupboard space to speak of and only a teeny, tiny pantry. So after much prayer and thought we decided to reconfigure the existing kitchen. We played with all sorts of configurations, and finally came up with one that we really believe will work.

So this past week-end our “son” Ben came over to help with the tear out. Ben is one of our “kids”. He adopted us as much as we adopted him. He is included in holidays and family fun since he is our son. When I see him at church he says, “Hi Mom” with a big smile. Ben had lost his dad a few years ago so he is loving having Dw as his new, adopted Dad. Ben had had many struggles when we met him and we have marveled at all that God has done in his life. His countenance has even changed – no doubt the miracle working power of Almighty God.

These last few months we have been praying with Ben that the Lord would bring someone special along for him. And in walked Kelly, who also attends our church. So on Sunday when Ben came over to help with the kitchen he brought Kelly He said that she needed to meet his parents. =) She is a sweetie and they look so adorable together!

So the old kitchen is basically gone and a contractor is working on moving windows and doors, redoing the floor, setting the cabinets in and eventually putting all the pieces back together again.

Over the next few weeks we will, Lord willing, see an awesome transformation – oh I can’t wait!! It’s going to look sooooo spiffy!