I've been thrifting for a smallish square dining table for our smallish kitchen since we moved in a year and half ago.  I finally found the perfect size, shape, and priced table.  It came with two chairs and I just so happened to have two smaller black chairs that I salvaged (for free).  The top needed refinishing and the chairs needed reupholstered.  I used leftover upholstery that someone gave me and I was inspired by We Are THAT Family to use chalkboard paint for the table top. 

The kids LOVE it's functionality and I love the whimsy!  I don't want my house to be super-serious. 

Thanks Chief for being my sander/painter. 

We are celebrating one year in our Elkanah House!  Wow!  What a whirlwind of projects and fun we have had.  Looking back at the delayed house closings, packing boxes, moving furniture... I'm so happy to be settled in!  I'm so happy to be ticking off the list of improvements and enjoying life without boxes! 

Here's to year two in the Elkanah House! A new baby, a 2nd bathroom, a new kitchen sink, maybe a palmetto tree?  Who knows what else I'll add to the list?

Just don't tell the Chief. 

When we moved into the Elkanah House we had six people in 1100 square feet.  After we converted our garage into additional living space we increased our square footage to 1800 square feet.  Which is still just a modest size house, especially when you consider our family size (soon to be seven). 

When choosing which house to buy in our area, we wanted a bargain.  That meant we had to forgo some wants and settle on what we absolutely needed.  We absolutely needed a house with the potential for extra bedrooms (a bonus room, multiple living rooms, or a garage).  We settled on the Elkanah House with a huge garage.  We were fortunate to buy it at half the median house price in our area. 

This one decision has turbo charged our ability to pay off debt.  ($77,000 in less than four years!)  It has allowed us to manage on my husband's pastoral salary, keeping me at home. 

The amazing part?  The Elkanah House has quickly become our favorite house of all the houses we have lived in!  We have an awesome backyard that the previous owner completely fenced in.  It has beautiful architectural shingles.  It is very well insulated.  Our electric bills are much more manageable than any of our previous homes.  Our water comes from a well, also saving on our monthly utilities.  There are so many little details like sliding shelves in the cabinets, a dishwasher, ceiling fans in every room (remember I'm in the deep South), and an unfinished 2nd bathroom that we hope to finish as soon as our savings allow. 

Not everyone who saw our little house in the beginning shared our feelings.  It was dirty and stinky. Signs of mice everywhere.  The kitchen floor was in terrible condition.  No appliances.  The carpet appeared stained. The light fixtures were dated.  Holes in the wall, lots of holes.  The yard was wild and overgrown.  There was a huge pile of dirt in the backyard just perfect for filling all the huge holes that were also in the backyard.  Enclosing the garage looked like a lot of hard work.

We rolled up our sleeves, started cleaning, and fixing.  The huge pile of dirt turned out to be lots of entertainment for our children.  They rode their bikes over it.  They enjoyed shoveling it into buckets and filling holes.  I'm serious.  It was great fun for them.  The carpet came clean with a good shampooing.  We replaced the kitchen floor, replaced the dated light fixtures with ceiling fans, and installed our new appliances.  The yard - oy.  We mowed and mowed and mowed.  This summer we have enjoyed our tame yard and discovered underneath all that wild and overgrown was some pretty landscaping.  The garage was a lot of work but with the most expensive elements already in place (foundation and roof), we were surprised how little we were able to complete an addition of 600 square feet of living space. 

Everything in life is a choice. Realize that as you live your life, each moment you are either adding to or taking away from the quality of your life. You are either creating and enjoying, or dying and destroying. There is no "standing still", for that is time wasted and therefore takes away from your life. The choice for your life is up to you! - Mrs. Dunwoody

Focus on life's blessings, as this is continuously uplifting, and affects who you are as a person.  - Unknown

That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest. - Henry David Thoreau

Coming next Thursday - "Making the Most of Our Little House by Doubling Our Closet Space in a Day"

The church pew use to sit on my carport. 

Then I moved to SC, and it was in our rental house kitchen. 

Now we live in the Elkanah House and the church pew needed a new place and a new look. 

This was my inspiration for the new look.

Yep, it's still hanging around.  I'm kinda attached to it.  It's the starfish that does it for me. 

Well hello there! 

I'll end with the roses that I just can't stop smelling.  Can't you just smell them too?  Seriously. 

This week's Love Dare  focus is praying for your spouse and praying together.  Choose three specific areas to pray for your spouse.  Areas that would transform your spouse's life and your marriage.  This is your chance to experience the power of prayer!  A farmer cannot make a seed grow into a fruitful crop.  He cannot argue, manipulate, or demand it to bear fruit.  But he can plant seed into fertile soil, give it water and nutrients, protect it from weeds, and then turn it over to God. 

Today as I spent time praying for the three specific things for the Chief, I decided to tidy up the master bedroom.  It isn't very big but I want it to be relaxing and stress free.  As I prayed about the first thing, I changed the sheets.  I started decluttering the room and praying over the second thing.  It was a wonderful feeling to see the room transforming and to know that God is working a transformation in the areas of prayer as well.  By the third thing, I was dusting the furniture and lighting a scented candle. 

When I look at photos of us, I remember why I married the Chief.  It reminds me of the happy times.  Every couple needs a framed photo in a prominent place in the bedroom.  Not just a wedding photo.  A recent photo too. 

Marriage is a beautiful mystery created by God, joining two lives together as one.  It's physical, spiritual, and emotional.  You start off sharing the same house, the same bed, the same last name.  Your identity as individuals has been joined into one.  When your spouse goes through a tragedy, both of you feel it.  When you find success at your job, both of you rejoice.  You are a part of one another.  When you look at your mate, you're looking at a part of you.  So treat him well.  Speak highly of him.  Nourish and cherish the love of your life.  Together remember the happiness and love that brought you together. (Love Dare)

Happy "Love Daring" this week, friends!  Next Sunday (4/10) is our final week.  

Did I tell you about our tiny little Elkanah House with a huge garage? 

Just perfect for converting into the sister suite. 

In the pic the curtains are laying on the window seals waiting to be hung.  The chief hung them for me and they are so pretty but I'm too lazy to retake the pic.  What in the world, right? 

Conversion complete. 

Before:

After:

Read my previous Elkanah House posts here. 

The Kitchen

So happy to have a dishwasher!  The rental didn't have one. 

We'll also replace the light fixtures and the sink.  For today, there is banana bread and a pot roast in the oven.  Mmmm...  Enjoying my simple country kitchen. 

(So that text is way smaller than I thought.  It says, "Coming Soon!  Additional living space.  Farewell, garage.")

To be continued...