BEFORE & AFTER House Remodel

These house renovation pictures are long overdue (since we started this project in December), but I guess like any remodel project, it seems to be never-ending with the final touches and last minute details. But overall, it is done, and my hubby did an amazing job!

BEFORE: When we moved in, the house had this breezeway separating the main part of the house (on right) and the guest room which was actually an enclosed garage (on left).
AFTER: We enclosed the breezeway (which is now the dining room), and turned the old guest room/enclosed garage into the living room and our original living room into the guest room. Get it? So this red room is the old breezeway/new dining room. The doorway to the kitchen was the big window and the french doors were added in the opening of the breezeway. I was standing at the front door taking the picture. BEFORE: This was the kitchen when we firsted moved in. The dining room was just in front of the bar.AFTER: We turned the bar sideways jutting into the old dining room and put the hanging cabinets on the other wall to make an island and bigger kitchen. Still have to finish staining cabinets and siding on the island, but I love it!

BEFORE: This was the old living room which is now a third bedroom. It is adjacent to the kitchen.AFTER: This picture is taken standing beside the door to the third bedroom looking into the new living room. The opening looking into that room was where the old front door was.

And looking the other way from the front of the house.

Needless to say, it opened up the house alot. I knew my husband was talented, but he has impressed me once again!

Fire

Wildfires blew across the family ranch last week in Eastland County. About 3,500 acres were burned up including thousands of dollars of fences, but luckily all cattle, buildings, and equipment were spared. Here are a few pictures of the aftermath:

The men stayed up all night to fight fire and monitor wind direction. It got about 200 yards from the barn and pens and about 400 yards from my Granny's house.
Glad they missed the bar-b-que! These cows were placed in this field since it had been recently plowed and were saved when the fire went all the way around them.
This was such a beautiful sight! The helicopter came to the rescue to dump water on the remaining flames that kept starting back up the next day.
They suck water out of the nearby water tanks and fly it over the hotspots. It was crazy to see this happening just out the backyard! Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped my family fight the fires as well as the neighboring fire departments and helicopter pilot! Also thank you to Mr. Brooks and his vet clinic who helped vaccinate cows for free, the oil company who is graciously helping replace fence after their pumpjack started the fire, and another ranching family who offered a free load of hay.
It is amazing to see people pulling together to help other people in need.

Wuv You, Jesus

I was overwhelmed by the Lord this Easter morning.

The celebration of His resurrection was powerful enough, but then I thought about all that He has done for my family over the last few weeks through the loss of my grandpa, the birth of two new babies, a scary wildfire incident, and Audrey's ear troubles. He has been so evident, and I have plenty to share this week!

As for our Easter festivities, Audrey hunted eggs at her friend Caden's party. But it wasn't ideal egg-hunting weather...windy and cold. Her eyes watered, her nose ran, and she stuck her tongue out the whole time. But she seemed to have a good time at her first official egg hunt.

Martha Stewart, eat your heart out.

Finally, this is the song that brought me to tears this morning. In addition to the recent events on my mind, I was also picturing Audrey who has started saying "wuv you" to us. So I could see myself going before Christ like my sweet baby saying these words.

"Love you so much, Jesus...love you so much. These praises come from a grateful heart. Each time I think of you, the praises start. Love you so much, Jesus...love you so much."

Bye, Pa...

I lost my grandpa this morning.

He used to call me Am-Scam. I called him Pa-Jaw.

I loved spending time at Pa & Granny's house when I was a kid. One of my favorite memories was when we would spend the night there and raid Pa's dresser to wear his big, soft undershirts for pajamas. I can still remember how they felt and smelled as all four of us cousins ran around like we were ghosts in them. He was a very rough, work-oriented man, one who could make John Wayne nervous. But I'm pretty sure he teared up at my wedding when he looked at me.

He was an excellent team roper in his day, and I will never forget how he looked on his gray-white horse Sancho.

I said things like "That's pretty keen" and was a man proud of the family name.

Bye, Pa. You will always be so special to me.