Glasses Comparison

In conjunction with my last post, I found a glass in storage that we haven't used yet. I'm glad that most of our glasses we've accumulated over the years are just jelly jars turned glasses. If you had any doubt as to our water hardness...check out the difference of just a couple of months use at this new house.

Water Water!

Over the past few months we have noticed that our water is incredibly hard. Our glasses which were once clear, are now cloudy and scratched. The dishwasher wasn't even cleaning our dishes, liquid soap even would be left on the dishes or in the dishwasher. Our dishwasher and washing machine, both which were new, have a white film over the inside. Troy and I were pretty concerned about what it was doing to our appliances, clothes, pipes. We had Kinetico come out and test our water. Hardness was 26 grains per whatever it calculates. I think he said that was twice as hard as West Des Moines' water. They had a system they tried to sell us, $2500. Yeah right.... It may last a good long time, but that's pretty expensive for us. So we did our research and found a 15 year old Culligan model (dual tank which is really nice) for $200. Troy got it hooked up for us last night. Though we were almost without water. The valve to shut the water off to the whole house came off. Troy was able to get the water back on...and not leak... but there's no shutting it off now until he has a day that both he can fix it and the city can shut our water off. I'm really excited. I've wanted a water softener for a long time for taking showers, and now I get one. :)

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.

(Heb 10:22)

Joel and Isaac's Room -Before and After

Finally after months of "nesting" and not being able to do anything, I am able to post before and after shots of our nursery. Like the bathroom, there are still things to do. Toys to add, pictures to hang, closet to paint and put up closet doors. However, I think you'll be as amazed as I at the transformation.

Before

After

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down,

and thy sleep shall be sweet.
(Pro 3:24)

Painting Bedrooms

This weekend we brought the paint out and worked in the bedrooms. We should be getting carpet soon! Yay! Joel was such a little helper. He got quite a bit of paint on himself, but he had such a good time. And I must admit, he did pretty well for one so young. I mean...he only stepped in the paint tray a few times.

Here's Joel from this weekend.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
(Pro 20:11)

Updates

I don't have any pictures uploaded on this computer, but thought I'd mention a few updates.

Our kitchen has been in working order a few weeks now. It is SO nice having a stove again. I've made cookies, soups, eggs, custard, apple crisp, muffins. I don't have all my pans, I still miss my cast iron, but have enough for making nearly everything now. Having a dishwasher is so wonderfully nice. We've ran into a few problems with it and even now are not sure if it's the dishwasher or the soap I was using or the water pressure in the house. Everything is getting rinsed and wet, but just not "clean" like it should. And the powder soap was even remaining damp in the dispenser...

The flooring is down in the kitchen and dining room. Thanks for my family for coming out on a Saturday with that project! It is so nice to have a real floor in most of the house. Now only when I do laundry do I HAVE to wear shoes.

Troy's been working on replacing some more windows in the bedrooms. He bought new construction windows which takes more time and now replacing the drywall around them. As soon as that is done and the last of the texturing is done, we'll be set for a full day of painting! Anybody want to come help?? :) Seriously, it's getting harder for me to spend much time up on ladders and the floor and I've been the one doing most the painting so far.

So by December 3rd we have to finish drywall, paint the bedrooms at least, if not the dining room and kitchen as well, lay the carpet in the bedrooms and living room (which means moving lots of stuff for that job) and then moving our stuff out of storage and into the house. Especially the rest of the baby stuff and my winter clothes! I'm looking forward to having a couch back again soon. There's nowhere comfortable to relax my 8 month pregnant body! And having a bed that I don't have to climb DOWN to get in.

And also that every man should eat and drink,
and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
(Ecc 3:13)

Bathroom: Before and After

It's not finished, but the shower basically is. So, here's some before and after shots of the shower. We do still have quite a bit to do, including still installing the door and painting the ceiling. We're waiting on a space saver which I purchased online from Target (and may not get it until the end of November! boo hoo) But Troy and I are pleased with how nice the bathroom looks now. It's currently our only "normal" room in the house, so it's been our haven. And after showering in a small camper stall for 2 months, it feels quite nice to have room, and a jacuzzi to relax in.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
(Psa 107:29-30)

God's Granting Our Desires

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psa 37:4)

This is the scripture Troy and I have come to realize that God has granted to us with this home. Many of you may say, how can something that needed such repair be a desire in your heart? Here's our answer.

This picture is one of the delights that our Lord gave my husband. For years Troy has always said he wanted to live by the river. Not only did He grant that desire, but he gave him the best possible location. We live at a popular entry point (or ending point) to one of the most scenic rivers in Iowa…. Just a few paddles downstream there are beautiful bluffs and cliffs with all kinds of wildlife.


Troy and I also have always talked about our finances. Neither of us care for the financial system and how credit seems to be the answer today. Our goal has always been to not have a mortgage. Of course, in reality we always seemed to plan on that being before retirement. We were able to pay all but a few thousand for this property with cash and then fix up the remainder on home equity. So in the end we are going to be with a small amount of debt on the home that our personal goal is 5-7 years to pay off. Leaving us debt free by age 35!


Our prior home in Perry was a beautiful home. I loved it, and we always got so many compliments on it. However, my desire was for a smaller home. When we first bought it, we enjoyed owning such a large house. After we purchased it, every time I would walk into someone else’s smaller, one story home, I felt “cozier.” Yes, we bought a house that was just too big for us. Did we really need a living room, den, dining room, large kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms (well ok..that might be nice someday.. J ) and a basement that you couldn’t store anything in? All the rooms were large as well as big. Even though we are still working on getting this house to be “cozy” I see already how nice it is going to be.


We have a large yard. Both for our dog and for our kids. Joel will stand at the door and cry to go outside, he loves it so much. Chloe has much more room and now that we have her wireless, that also means no fence, no leash. I am amazed at how many outdoor toys we’ve already gotten since we’ve moved. At least with 2 boys they will be used a lot.
We wanted to be in the country, but didn’t really. Here we feel as if that’s what we got. River to the west, dam to the north, conservation to the south… we have one neighbor. So we have country living (included with coons…) yet right on the border of town.

These are just a few, but I hope that it encourages you that God delights to give you desires. All we must do is ask, just as the Bible directs.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
(Mat 21:22)