Here's to "New Beginnings"

I'm not sure if Anyone reads this, but it makes me feel better to post updates here and there.
SO, if you didn't see the small hint (#hashtag) on instagram a few weeks back- here goes -- we are - selling BOTH of our houses (Rockwood)- AND the other one I've been posting about recently (Brentwood) 

At the same time!!! 

 Insert Freaked-Out Face here!

Know anyone that wants a 2.5 acre yard with 5400 square feet?!?! 

It's not that I'm worried about where we'll move next, something will work itself out. That part I am certain. The right buyer here, (at the right time), and the right (new) home for us, (at the right time). I guess what I'm stressing over is -- I don't want to pack this one up, and NOT have anywhere to go (with 3 dogs) - just yet. 

Brian see's this as an adventure (hence my tag-line for this blog) but I see it as STRESS. I'll be the one home packing, organizing, and dealing with logistics, -dragging 3 dogs in and out when the house needs to be shown- basically stressing- all while yes, he's working and making money for our family. That's Stressful enough these days.  I guess I should say, it's all about prospective. 

Last night I had a dream about our old house - on Southwood. Why didn't we stay there? (I know why) but really? Why didn't we. It was a great home, and sufficient for our needs. This one, while its Amazing and all (I will miss my kitchen the most)- has taught us, we don't 'need' anything... and I appreciate the lessons we've learned here. While not all fun, I still appreciate them... which gets me to my next point - of Why am I stressing?  

Over the weekend I read about "new beginnings" - Sure it's the start of a new year, and yes, the scriptures were from Genesis - BUT I've been reminded of that scripture ever since I read it - you know how God does that - He 'reminds' you of what He's trying to make stick! Everything about this scripture, --this time of year --this point in life --we are all on the road to a 'new beginning' (IF we want to be)

Excerpt from my study: There’s something captivating about new beginnings. They arrive laden with hope and wrapped in promise, expectation strapped optimistically to their backs. The slate is clean. We hold our breath and look for the right words and best intentions to populate the page.....New beginnings are laden with hope, and they should be. But on what or whom do we place that hope?

In early December, we decided we were ready to close this chapter, (a tough interesting one) and move on. Other things had been leading up to this decision, but I'll save those for a late time. This chapter, in this home, is one I am certain, we are going to walk away thankful for -- our relationship evolved, our growth in the Lord was strengthened - and our appreciation for what we have vs. what we need was made clear. Very Clear! 
I think of the lessons we've learned by being IN this house, growing, struggling, fighting (ha), entertaining friends and family, and most importantly learning how to becoming a married couple -all of that -here! In this house.  Made me Not want to leave! 

Which is why my stress about moving, and packing, and starting fresh in a new house - made me realize I was leaving the place where we'd grown so much, and I didn't want to lose that... Sometimes it's hard to leave things behind (in my case a physical location). 

I blame this on the fact that my parents have been living in the same home since I was 2, and both parents -including both grandparents are from the same 5 mile radius of my parents home... and I am the kind of person - raised this way - to put down roots...and stay!
Plus not too many people (at our age) go from 2,000 sq feet, to over 5,000, and back down to 2,000 in a 2 year timeframe. (That is the stressful part, downsizing and selling things, and storing the rest)! 

So when I say I'm not ready, 'just yet'- it's because I feel like I'd be giving up on something, and leaving our growth place, our starting point for our marriage- and frankly, it's scary! 

So here's to a new year, and New Beginnings!  Whether I'm really ready or not, it's time. And God has been showing me that...I can't be scared of the future, because so many things are up in the air right now - I have to Trust, He's taking care of it! ALL OF IT!

And now for the reason you secretly read my blog (the photo updates) -A few pictures I haven't shared with you before- Our completed Man Cave, Office, and Pool!

This was the before: 

And one of my favorite rooms - My office - complete with wrapping closet! 

And Last but not least, if I've never shown this one before - you're in for a real treat! The old (indoor) swimming pool!

AND NOW: Converted Media Room 

Brentwood Kitchen Update

Pictures Say It All: The Evolution of the Front of Our House!

March 2014

April 2014

July 2014 

July 2014

February 2015

October 2015

Finished Nov 2015

Remember these rooms?

Remember this?

August 28

This is the entry, to the house 

...Well, that area now looks like this...

October 10, 2015

The new entry will now be an office area, (or if I lived here) the most perfect room on the planet to drink coffee! Eventually I'll show you the room from the opposite direction. Just beyond that opening is a new bedroom! And to the Left is the kitchen.

Take a look at the progress of the kitchen over the last few weeks...

August 28, 

September 7, 2015

If you can't already tell, here are a few details about that progress: 

I took the entire house down to the studs - added all new windows AND insulation! I've always wondered why I was SO COLD in my old (rental) on Brentwood...this was why! It cost me a little over $500 to get the walls insulated, and it'll be another $400 to have insulation run in the attic. In my opinion, this was the BEST money spent on the house. With insulation, and new windows this little house will be nice and warm this winter! And hopefully the new buyer (or renter) will appreciate these upgrades...

September 28, 2015

October 8, 2015

If someone asked, or was wondering - I wasn't planning on windows or insulation. I'm trying to document not only for myself, but for those interested in budgeting for a remodel. Turns out these old homes (basically anything built before 1950 and most likely before 1970 - in walls)

Thankfully I was able to give all of the old windows to a very nice guy who needed the windows (for parts) as he is restoring a 1920's home!

Next up: the walls will be textured and primed. 

Then on to flooring! And then Paint! (all of my favorite parts)

Demo, Roof, and more Demo

The day we closed, a Monday, we began demo that same afternoon. Brian was eager to 'knock some walls down' - and I was just thankful he wanted to help me with the process period.

We decided to demo ourselves, because 
1. it saves a Ton of money, and 
2. I like knowing we put some work into the house ourselves. 

Here's a look at a few of the same rooms I shared in the previous post.

We spent Monday and Tuesday 4-8 each night, then Wednesday 1 hour working no this demo. To document, it took us 9-10 hours to get the house where we needed it to be, in order to begin plumbing and electric updates.

After we did our part with demo, I hired someone to put on a new roof.

Since I'm very detail oriented, I made it a point to get on the roof myself, to make sure everything was going -as it should -

I've been asked, "are you on budget" - yes, so far. Although, the roof was not part of it, I still had an 'oh crap' line item. Thankfully the roof fit that section. And I'll be happy to have someone rent or buy this house knowing it has a new roof! 

Back to demo: As is the case with almost everything I do - I hired my sheetrock guy, and he decided he would demo the rest of my walls. I told Brian, we should have met him weeks earlier. HE did a phenomenal job with his crew getting the rest of the house down to the studs-- I would like to point out, that Brian and I did not give up here, we just thought the walls were in good enough shape to keep them as they were. Ronnie, did not agree. Which is why I showed up one morning and he'd done this: 

And while I know, these pictures may not mean a lot to you, the house has come a Long way in the last month. We have updated all new plumbing and electric, and my guys put in brand new windows!!! Such a difference having those in! 

This week we will begin insulation (which I was shocked to learn, not a single bit was in the walls before) and brand new sheetrock! 

I can't wait to see how Brentwood looks once the new walls are back up!

We bought another house...

We purchased a new house! And on August 28th it closed. No we did not sell the Rockwood House *not yet at least! 

Meet Brentwood.

This house was owned and occupied by (we think) someone that had lived there over 30 years, so no major updates. It had no A/C, and the plumbing and electrical were very out dated. 

Here are a few 'before' photos I'd like to document before the demo process begins!

Entry

Kitchen

Living Room

Bathroom

Random Space

As you can see, she's a beauty! 

When we first learned about this house, I rushed over to take a look. The moment I walked in the door I felt this odd "I've been here before" feeling come over me - it was Very strange....Almost Creepy. I finally made my way into the hallway between the bathroom and the 2 bedrooms and I turned around to Brian and said, "I lived in this house" - he quickly told me I was crazy. I said, NO - My rent house I was in for 3 years --- on Brentwood -- this is the Same house! He shook his head, and finally realized, it was the same house.

I did some research, turns out there are 4 houses in Cammack that were built by the same builder, with this same floor-plan.

I can't wait to share with you along the way some of my plans and design ideas for this house. Really looking forward to this new adventure - and very thankful we won't be living IN the house while it's remodeled!!!