Welcome!
This is an exciting time for our family! We have outgrown our current home and have decided it was time for a change. We started looking to buy a new home, but didn't find anything we "just loved". So, we decided to build one. We were so excited to find the perfect lot nestled against Burch Creek! And, we only have to move a few blocks away from where we live right now. This keeps us close to all of our friends, and the kids won't need to change schools. Habitations Home Plans created the perfect plan for our new home! Kasey Malan of Malan Homes is our builder. The site work is already underway! We hope to be in our home around the first of next year. We will keep this blog updated with pictures and eventually a camera link so we can share this experience with our family and friends.
For the past two years, the son of our dear friends, Joe and Lisa Rich, has been serving an LDS Mission in Salvador Brazil. When Alex received his mission call back in 2007 Paul and I decided that we would like to accompany Joe and Lisa to Brazil to bring Alex home upon the completion of his mission! At that time we were not planning to build a new home or anything. Well, when April 2009 rolled around we were knee deep in home building...and had just committed to having our home be in the Parade of Homes! We almost decided not to go to Brazil. However, after much discussion we decided that this would be a once in a lifetime experience for us. Yes, we could travel to Brazil at a later time, but we would never be able to experience Brazil with Alex. So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work making some last minute decorating decisions, and placing furniture orders...and then we jumped on a plane and flew to Rio. From Rio we flew to Salvador...and there we met up with Elder Alex Rich. Along with Joe and Lisa, we spent a week traveling to some of the cities where Alex had served. We met some of the people whom were important to him... We ate authentic food... We were dinner guests in the home of Mario and Marcia. They welcomed us into their home with open arms and kind smiles. Although we spoke no Portuguese, and they spoke little English (Alex interpreted for us), we felt the love and kindness in their home. And the food was delicious! We were able to accompany Alex to the Mission Home for his last dinner with the Mission President, President Silva (and Sister Silva)...along with six other Elders who were heading home. I was touched and impressed by the love these Elders had for each other and their Mission President...and for the Lord. It was a wonderful night.
I will always remember Brazil and the people I met there. But I will cherish even more the way my spirit was uplifted during that trip. It seems funny to think that a trip can bring you closer to your Heavenly Father, but I can say that about this trip to Brazil. Paul and I are very grateful to Joe and Lisa for inviting us to come along with them and sharing their experience with us.
Much has happened over at the new house in these past few months! With the framing finished, the electrical work was started. Jason Spangenberg and Wired Electric did a great job for us. Once the electrical and low voltage work was finished, we were able to get started on some of the fun custom work we had planned.
Juan has been a most valuable asset to our project! He built, by hand, our timber front porch beams, and then all the beams inside. He has also built the beautiful timber arches in our entryway! I can't say enough about Juan! He is still working on some fun design work right now!
After Juan finished with the wood working, the dry wall crew moved in. They were in and out! They did a great job! We are pleased with the "holy wall" texture. Having all the walls and ceilings in place really has made the house take shape for me. We are all getting really excited about it!
Steve Hopper and his roofing team came in and put up our roof. It was a job and a half for them! We really appreciate their hard work...and quickness.
Now that the sheet rock is up, we have moved on to the exterior work. Juan and his uncle, and Paul, stained all the wood siding which is now being hung. We also received all of our exterior doors. The front door looks fabulous! I think we are going to paint it red, and I am looking forward to that!
I just finished selecting all the flooring (minus the carpet), and all the tile. We have also chosen paint colors. I am just about finished selecting lighting fixtures. Our cabinets should be ready in about 3 more weeks. I know all this seems a little frantic, but our builder, Kasey, decided to put our home in the Parade of Homes (with our blessing, of course). Although that is exciting, it puts us under the gun! The Parade starts on June 26th! Yikes!
