the beginning

Well, I must say, the beginning really began with a dream. Yes, you see, since the children were young, we had wanted a place in the country. Until recently, we had quite given up on the idea, just a dream you know. Each place we dared to look at was out of reach, too much money. This is not to mention the places we didn't even bother with looking at.

Then it happened.....Bruce was doing some work for a realtor and just mentioned that he would be interested in a place in the country if something came up. Of course, it would have to be very cheap. Just a couple days later, he was called about this place and we made an offer the same day. The next couple of weeks were an emotional roller coaster. This was a lifelong dream, we could hardly believe it could happen. Was this even God's will for our lives at this time? We put it in His hands. It was still an emotional roller coaster. It looked like we weren't going to get it when we were told another offer came in. Oh, I can't tell you how nerve racking that time was. If I could have slept through it, I would have! In the end, we got the place for a mere $25,000. Does that even sound real? Four and a half acres, ours. There was a catch. There were mountains of trash, everywhere; in the house, in the yard, on the porch, in the barns; just everywhere. Most of the people we have shown it to just look on in disbelief. We have a ways to go, but here are the first pictures. When we got this place, I actually felt like I was in a dream.