landscape before during and after....

 Before...

 during...

 this area proved to be the most challenging, there was a lot of cement that needed to be removed before we could plant anything.

 my cute little helpers early this spring when we started this project...

getting bark, and my dutch man scooping up the bark that the loader dropped!

 all of my hostas came from my sister Jen!  They were getting rid of them and gave them to us!  What a huge blessing!  I am still looking for the right bush or something to hide this big monstrosity! 

 we finally got to the bottom of the cement and found this big chunk with metal which Ryan had to cut out!

After...

I was content with my bushes, and a few flowers on the deck, but a friend offered me her flowers for the rest of the summer as she was leaving for a big vacation.  I had no idea what she had, but said "sure!"  She came and brought me all of these hanging baskets and deck boxes!!  I couldn't believe it!  I have never had a green thumb, ever.  But I am super motivated to keep these babies alive!  Now that it looks so amazing, I am spoiled and am pretty sure I'd like to have at least some of these deck planters again next year!

I have a great little perennial garden thanks to another friend who was downsizing her garden, and yet another friend who gave me some of her split plants!  So thankful for amazing friends and their generosity!

one more before and after shot

It was very difficult for us to sell our property back home, let go of our dream house we were going to build and move up here.  But God has given us this place and we are feeling so incredibly blessed and thankful.  We know we need to hold this place with a open hand and not hold on to the "things" of this world too tightly, it is one of the lessons we have learned.  But, we have also learned that when we are obedient to Him and put His plan above our own, we have had contentment and blessings untold!

Psalm 37:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

A few before and after pictures...

Ryan is sick, so instead of him sharing stories tonight,....I thought you may enjoy a few house before and after photos.

Dining room before...

 This is the view when you walk in the front door, you enter into our dining room.  Our bedroom is behind the black door, the red door is just for fun!  To the left is the kitchen, to the right is the living room.

 Dining Room...After

This is looking toward the living and dining room before...

and after...

 This is now the home school area which is to the back side of our living room area. It used to be just one huge room (picture above,) but now it is sectioned off a bit by a wall of bookshelves, which are not quite finished so I don't have a picture of that yet...

left side of the home school area...

and the right side...

Here is my niece and nephew trellis!  {*I am missing pictures of my 2 youngest family members...will fix this soon, sorry Jen!}

 Here is the living room area before...

And after...

the kitchen before...

And after...

 a few fun signs that are hanging in this area of the house

 main floor bathroom before...

And after...

 Kids bath/laundry room (which is upstairs) before...

and after...

 

The rest of the rooms are not quite finished the way I want just yet so you will have to wait to see them.  When we think of how much we still have to do, it helps to look back and see how much we have already done.