life update: we're renovating a home!

It’s been a quiet few months online here, because we’ve been so busy with life. On November 3rd, we got the keys to our 1910 home. We got this lovely 1 1/2 story home at an estate auction - and got the house and all of it’s contents (which amounted to 2.5 - 30 yard dumpsters worth of trash) and are working on renovating it over the next few months.

It has the most gorgeous trim and what will be beautiful hardwood floors - once we buff, sand, and refinish them. The home wasn’t taken care of over the past 15 or so years and was really let go. There is a ton that needs to be done - ripping down all of the plaster and lath and putting in drywall, insulation, new heating and cooling, new electric, new plumbing…essentially only the structure and the roof are staying as they are the only things in good condition. But the foundation is solid and the location is just perfect for us in this season of life.

These gorgeous doors are staying for sure! They have so much character. They definitely need some cleaning and sanding in some places, but we are going to try to keep as much of the original character of the woodwork as possible. A few people have asked why we are renovating rather than restoring - the quick answer to that is that the house wasn’t taken care of well enough for us to be able to restore it properly. The expense and time to do it justice would be insane. So we are working with what we have, keeping character and original features in the woodwork, and then changing about everything else.

Here’s a little before peek (below) - shockingly, this picture of the room is after we cleaned it out! There were literal piles of clothes and junk and trash everywhere. You could barely walk in the room. It was like that in the entire house. I’m not going to share all of the true before pictures of the house with all of the trash until the house is finished and you can see the total transformation - because I can pretty much guarantee that it would overwhelm anyone.

Our little guy has been the sweetest helper throughout this. Always wanting to throw things in the dumpster for us, always wanting to use the drill or the hammer to knock down something (don’t worry, we’re not actually letting him knock down the plaster). He is so excited to be in this new home. He has already made sweet friends with the neighbor kids and is so excited to be there full time. It’s a new season of life, that is so very full right now, but so very special.

In countless ways, this house is our redemption song. The answer to six years of prayers that have been prayed. Someday, I’ll probably share that full story - but for now, know that we are soaking in gratitude to call this place home in a few months.