Paint colors!

 I've finally got my paint colors picked out!  The blue (Dream .01) and yellow (Kansas Grain) are the colors we have in our apartment now and the purple is a lavender that Sherwin Williams has called Potentially Purple.

In other news, we found a guy who is going to remove the batten strips, finish the trim out work, and repair the hole in Max's room.  Now we are trying to figure out what do to about the skirting.  We've been going back and forth between the block skirting, which is more expensive, and either a metal or vinyl option (cheaper).  

Once it gets cooler, I will continue stripping the cabinets.     

Reflecting On Our Journey

 I've been thinking back on our journey and it's been so cool to see God working things out for us on this new adventure!

This whole thing started last year when we voiced our dreams for our growing family.  We both want to have more kids and for that we knew we'd need a bigger place.  Our 2 bed, 1 bath apartment has been a lovely home for the past 10 years but we felt it would be easier to grow our family in a bigger place of our own.  As someone who has moved over 10 times in her life already, I know the stress and struggles of moving (throw in a baby on the way and ooof!).  So I started looking for a place we could buy before we added any more little ones.  

We looked at pre-existing places - and quickly realized that with the awful housing market, there wasn't anything we could afford in our immediate area.  We looked at Clayton Homes, and determined the house floor plan that I liked best was too expensive.  We went back to looking at pre-existing places an hour away, because they were budget-friendly.  Turns out they were either too small or the floor plan didn't feel right.  Several times it felt like we wouldn't find the right place...but we kept looking.

Eventually, we came across a listing for a used manufactured home.  It had 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a large kitchen, and even a fireplace!  It was listed for an amazing $80,000.  We jumped in the car and drove out to look at it.  After walking through it, hubby said, "I can see us raising a family here!"  I was so surprised to hear him say that, but I felt the same way.  We looked at a few other homes they had on the dealer lot, but this one stayed in our #1 spot.  We went home excited, and I started looking for plots of land that we could buy and put it on.  

Through Zillow, I managed to find 2 half acre lots next to each other that would allow for a double wide.  We went out to look at them and we liked what we saw and heard from the owner.  They would need to be cleared and graded, and the neighborhood offered fiber optic internet, which was a huge selling point.  The price was also good, though we offered $5K less than asking price and that's what they ended up appraising for.  We got the ball rolling and were graciously helped by hubby's family!

Even before we started looking for our house and land, God's provisional hand was at work.  Turns out another lady had considered the land but decided against it when she learned about what it would need to prepare it for a home.  Our home was repossessed and came from Alabama, which is unfortunate for the family that lost it but God worked it out for our good.  

The same way God brought me together with hubby, God brought together our house and land.  Funny enough, the line that runs down the center of our double wide is called a marriage line.  Two become one. 

"‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."  Mark 10:7-9

Paying for the Water Line extension

 

Yesterday I spent the afternoon driving around and being productive.  I paid for the water line extension (they couldn't give me a time frame), bought new outside light fixtures and paint stripper, and printed out the list of things we need to do to pass inspection.  I also drove by the house and snapped these pictures. 

Today I bought a paint sample of the lavender I want to use.

Setting the House

 Yesterday, we drove out there in the early afternoon and did a walk-around the house with the movers.  They pointed out some things that will need to be addressed in order for the house to pass inspection.  I took pictures of all the light switches and outlets so I could get an accurate count for the new ones I want to buy.  I didn't get any other pictures because we were kind of in a rush to get food after.  But when we got home I started looking for someone to help us install the chimney stack. 

We decided to go with city water and have them come down our street like they're supposed to, instead of bothering our neighbor for an easement.  Let's hope they can get out here soon!

We also think we'll be following the recommendation of the mover and using block skirting instead of the faux stone we found.  This will help with drainage and keep our house from getting water underneath it.

Electric poles are staked!

 Just got word that the electric poles have been staked going down our road to our property!  This will tell us which trees need to be cleared.

Front Half Delivered

 Today was a busy day! 

Hubby and I went to the water company around noon to see about getting the water situation figured out.  Things are more complicated than we thought, since the water lines do not currently run down our road (being as undeveloped as it is).  Our options are 1) to get permission from our neighbor behind us to run water lines through his yard (called an easement); 2) have the water company run the lines down our road for an extra $5,000; 3) have a well dug. 

We then made our way to the lot in time to watch them bring the front half of our home down the road and back it into place!  While we were there, we met and talked to the neighbor who lives diagonal to us.  He informed us that the neighbor we'd be asking about the easement isn't exactly agreeable, but maybe we should ask anyway? 

They got the house backed in and informed us that due to a family emergency, they'd get one half set today and the other half would be joined and set on Sunday.  The movers have been amazing and we can't be more grateful for their hard work! 

Still waiting to hear from the electric company about the poles they'll run.  We had a big storm last Monday so they are trying to get everyone's power back on.  Then we are also trying to finalize some other details and my dad is researching siding options.  I should have him help me find doors and windows too!  Once we get the power on and the AC hooked up, we should be able to start cleaning inside and prepping for paint.

Back Half Delivered

 Max and I drove out to the lot after he woke up from his nap and ended up in time to watch them drive the back half of our house around the bend.  I drove in the other entrance to our road and parked with the excavator and his guys at the lot above ours.  From there, we were out of the way and had a good view of them backing the house in place!

Due to the rain we're supposed to get tomorrow, the front half of the house won't be delivered until Monday, but that's okay!  Here's to hoping we can do our septic for less than the other company quoted!

Best Birthday News!

I got a call yesterday (my birthday) from the movers saying they're moving the house today!  I have to take my Escape for her 200K mile tune-up this morning and then we'll go out there to watch! 

Stay on Target

 Eeeee!  Just got off the phone with the movers - he said as long as the ground is dry, we're looking at moving the house sometime next week between Wednesday and Friday (Aug 9-11)! 

Please pray for no rain!  The ground out there is clay soil and it gets really muddy, so much so that even 4WD vehicles struggle.  My van doesn't have 4WD so I've had to go out there in my Escape, which does.  Even then, I struggled with traction. 

Pouring the Concrete!

 We all arrived at the lot around 11:30am, and ended up right behind the guys with the concrete pump.  We pointed them in the right direction, since they weren't sure how much further down the road it was.  Once we got there, we pulled into the empty lot next door and set up camp on the ridge overlooking our lot so we'd be out of the way.  It also gave us a nice view.  Once the concrete truck arrived, they got to work pouring into the dug out border and footer holes.  We didn't get to stay for the whole thing because we had other things to do, but we're very excited to have been able to see the beginning!  Hopefully the rain keeps away long enough for them to finish pouring the concrete.  I heard they're calling for rain Thursday and Friday.  I'm possibly meeting the electric engineer out there Friday, so we'll see!