I can't stain the periago, I'm wearing a boot

I guess it was around May or June that my foot started to hurt, and like any normal person I did the most responsible thing and ignored it. I chalked it up to turning the big 4-0, the move, and well, because I've always had feet that hurt. But this pain has been different, and most importantly won't ever really go away. 

So finally I broke down and went to a doctor. The diagnosis? Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, a bone spur, and plantar fasciitis. Like I said, TURNING 40. 

And I walked out of that office in a boot. 

IN A BOOT. 

It's been a dream.

Actually the boot makes it hurt more, and I've been rebellious and took it off.

But enough about the boot.

This all happened right before the weekend we had set to stain the PERIAGO (as my sister calls it) so that meant I really couldn't help stain the pergola. Some might call that coincidence, but I call it divine intervention.

See Paul up there? Yeah, that's where he spent hours.

And this was a family event.

All hands on deck.

We started out strong.

But some of us remained strong longer than others.

These two worked so hard.

 I was so proud of Pierce, he really is a HUGE help.

And then some of brought the team down.

But I was good at filling waters, and telling them how wonderful they were.

It literally took an entire weekend.

And and it ended with a vow to never stain a periago ever again.

From my seated position on the chair I could tell them it was well worth it.

And now we enjoy it.

Operation pergola

Weeks before we moved into our house Paul told me that he was going to build a pergola. I personally had no idea what a pergola was, but of course googled it and then decided that his idea was good. We only had a small slab out back and really did need something else, so sure let's have a pergola.

He didn't want to tackle this job alone, and I sure as heck wouldn't be of much use to him, so he summoned his crew and they agreed.

And really what kind of friends drive two hours, to help you build something OUTSIDE when it's 8 gazillion degrees by 7 am?  THE BEST KIND.

They were here the night before so they could get a really early start that morning.

It really was over 80 degrees at 7 that morning, such a HOT day.

I felt really bad for them, so I offered them water and stuff.

And you know cheered them on.

WHILE I SAT IN A CHAIR.

And they had that thing whipped up in a few hours.

They really are handy bunch.

And see that little boy in the bright neon shirt admiring Matt?

 It was so fun for him to be included all day like one of the men.

Even harassed and picked on like one too.

 And he loved every minute.

And let me tell you what I am loving.

One night when I got home Paul had set up lights out there for me.

We have a hammock and lights and it's just a little piece of lovely right out my back door.

Operation pergola, a great success!

Some of the new digs

I know a couple of you have been asking to see the house, sorry I've been such a slacker! 

I've been slow to take pictures because I'm always waiting to get the next thing done, but I guess it will never really be done. 

So for now I will show some pictures of the kitchen/living room. 

Here is looking from the kitchen into the living room....

This is the foyer area, and that opening to the left is the kitchen. This area still needs a rug and a new light.

But I like what's been done so far.

 I got this sweet print from Etsy.

Kitchen to the right.

And new desk in the kitchen. Most of my walls in the kitchen still need stuff, and eventually we will do a backsplash, etc.

But my favorite...

Our table that I had refinished.

Table before....

I really love how it turned out.

And also one of my favorite things in my kitchen is a handwritten recipe of my Grandmothers.

Our living room is much different than what we had before. New couches in the living room, new end table, and new coffee table that opens and has tons of storage! Since we've been married we've never had new couches, so it was about time.

New curtains...These were a stretch for me, but I love them now.

 I'm pleased with how it's turning out.

But Paul's baby of this house??

The new TV and stand. Let's just pray that we don't have an incident like that one long ago.....

But anyways, I'm loving it. 

Every night when I plop myself down on the couch, I just take it all in and smile. This is home.

Next time I will share pictures of the bedrooms and the pergola! 

Our home.

Six years. 

That's how long we've been waiting for a house. 

Six years to wait sort of felt like a long time. 

And in many ways, I had sort of resigned myself to the process of waiting. I knew the feeling of waiting. 

Waiting on Paul to get well, waiting on the phone calls from the doctors to give us answers, waiting for the surgeon to come out, and I could go on and on.  

Waiting changes a person. Waiting on a house? Waiting on a baby? Waiting on the right person? Waiting on any sort of answer? Well that is what changes you. 

It grows you, it stretches you, it pushes the limits of your faith, and sometimes it makes you angry and just plain over it all. 

But hope is a funny thing. Just when you say I AM DONE, hope will rise. 

It's this verse: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, they will walk and not be faint.

The new strength comes, and it keeps coming.

Until it's six years later, and you are breaking ground on a new home. 

Our home. 

I didn't blog about it. 

I didn't Facebook about it.

I didn't Twitter about it.

I didn't do anything much about it, except tell close friends and family.

I just kept this in my heart, with I will admit it, fear. I was afraid things would fall through, so I thought it best to just keep mum. 

So for months we've been going through this whole house process.

I won't even admit how many annoying pictures I've taken.

Paul and I would send each other the most MUNDANE pictures. OH HEY, LOOK AT THIS! IT'S A FLOOR.

LOOK SOME BABY SHRUBS.

Yeah, we've almost bored ourselves.

But all the monontoneous pictures weren't in vain.

Because in the end nothing fell through, and now we own a home.

Our home.

A moment I've been waiting six years for.