To My Beloved Sons

Today I held you closer, asked for more of your sweet kisses, gave you more of mine, and swayed with you in my arms just a little longer, because I could not bear to put you down.  My heart wished you could know just how deep my love for you is, but I whispered to you that you would never truly know until you have children of your own. 

I thanked my God for you because now I understand a mere glimpse of what He feels for me because of the deep, unending, indescribable love I feel for you.  I think that maybe this is why He allows us to have these perfect little babies that grow up before our very eyes.  He wants to help us see that we, too, are His beloved creations that are treasured and loved beyond measure. 

Today as I held you, I willed you to know what a perfect creation you are.  No, you are not perfect by human standards, but you are perfect by mine and by His.  Your emerging personality, your quirks, your smiles, your giggles, your kisses, and that undeniable twinkle in your eye; they are all perfect to me. 

I think that's what God was whispering to me today.  I am not perfect by the world's standards, far from it, in fact.  But He created me perfectly in His image.  And He loves me and cherishes me even more than I can imagine. 

Oh dear ones, my biggest hope and prayer for you is that you can see yourselves the way that I do and the way that He does, as perfectly created beings made to know Him and love Him, do His good work, and glorify Him in all that you do.  Your mama is still learning to believe these things about herself, but she is sure they are true of you.  So maybe, just maybe, they are true of her as well. 

You are my joy, my light, and my life.  You are my beloved forever and always.

 

"How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure."

-Stuart Townend

 

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"

-1 John 3:1

 

Lincoln, 8 days old

Uppercase Photography

 

Silas, 9 days old

Uppercase Photography

Birth Story, Part 2 (a.k.a. "The Button")

Everything was much quicker this time than with my first child.  My water had broken with him, and I hadn't felt any contractions or had any pain by the time we got to the hospital.  My husband and I had parked in the parking deck and walked into the hospital together.  But this time, I had my husband drop me off at the front door, and a kind gentlemen offered to roll me up to the 3rd floor in a wheelchair.  I was getting more uncomfortable, so I let him.

When we got to the third floor, a nurse took me back to examine me.  I told her I had been 5.5 centimeters dilated on Friday without any contractions, but they were coming fast now.  Fortunately, Dr. Schwartz saw me, remembered me, and told her if I was having contractions, then I was ready to go upstairs to deliver.  I am thankful for that because it sped up the process. 

The nurse said she would go ahead and do my IV and some other things that they normally do upstairs since they didn't have an open room yet.  I went ahead and asked for an epidural to help with the pain because it was getting worse. 

With my first son, I had thought I would try as long as I could without an epidural, but I ended up getting one and was very glad I did.  The nurse said she would let them know upstairs that I wanted one.  She also said I was very calm (i.e. quiet!) to be as far dilated as I was with contractions coming as fast as mine were.  At this point, they were 3-4 minutes apart.

By the time we got upstairs to labor and delivery, I was in a lot of pain.  I continued to ask anyone and everyone who came into my room for an epidural.  As the pain increased, I could no longer sit still or stay quiet during the contractions.  No position and nothing I did eased the pain.  I know I was getting very loud, and I was flailing around like a rabid animal, in futile attempts to ease the pain.  What I would give for a video of that morning!

Thankfully, one of the nurses let me squeeze her hand during the contractions.  They were lasting so long and coming so fast that I couldn't even begin to think about relaxing between them.  At one point I must have looked like I was going to bite her because she said, "You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want, but please don't bite me!"  I am happy to report that I did not, in fact, bite her.

I kept asking for the epidural as I was literally writhing in pain, and they kept telling me it was coming.  At one point, that same nurse that let me hold and squeeze her hand said the anesthesiologist was coming down the hall.  But he must have been at the very end of the hall because minutes passed, and he still didn't come.  

At some point, I began pleading, "Please...please...please," over and over again, begging for the epidural.  I did not know what else to do, so I just kept repeating that over and over again, thinking they would surely grant my request if I asked nicely.

Side note: This kind of verbal repetition is a habit of mine that has become a coping mechanism.  Whenever I am particularly nervous, stressed, angry, freezing cold, or just need the time to pass faster than it is, I sing "Jesus Loves Me" over and over again in my mind.  I do not know when I started doing this, but I know that it helps because it gets my mind off of whatever it's fixating on.  I remember reading a story about an abused child who had an older lady as a mentor.  The child had never really responded to the mentor, but the lady didn't give up on her and would often sing to her.  At one point, something traumatic happened to the child and she ended up in the hospital.  She had completely shut down, and the only person the hospital knew to call was the mentor.  The mentor came, and even though the child was in a very bad place, she opened up a little and crawled into the lady's lap while she sang to her.  I don't even remember if "Jesus Loves Me" was what she sang, but it's what I sing.

OK, back to the birth story...

I can still remember looking at my husband in a moment of desperation, wide-eyed and panicked, "What if it doesn't come in time?  What am I going to do?"  That was the most physical pain I have ever experienced, and I believe that was the most panicked I have ever been in my life.

At one point, I felt like the baby moved down and I felt more pressure, but there was no way I was going to start pushing.  The nurse wanted to check me to see how far dilated I was, but I turned over on my side, shut my legs, and cried, "No!" because I was afraid that I was fully dilated and that they wouldn't give me an epidural if that was the case.  

Dr. Schwartz even asked if I wanted to just go ahead and push, and I said, "No," but in my mind, I was thinking, "Are you insane?  Of course I don't want to just go ahead and push!  What kind of a question is that?" 

In that moment, all I could think about was my amazingly calm, stronger-than-I-am yoga teacher.  She had shared with us that she had not had an epidural, and that she'd been OK during the contractions, but that she was surprised how painful it was when her baby's head crowned.  I wasn't making it through the contractions fine, and I sure didn't want to know what it felt like when my baby's head crowned!

During all of this, I continued to beg, "Please...please...please," hoping that my good manners would make my epidural come faster.  I was sweating all over, and I remember thinking, "This is what labor looks like on TV." 

I didn't sweat with my first son, but I think that's because I was never in that much pain with him.  I remember looking around and seeing all the nurses, standing quietly around the perimeter of my room, as they respected my wishes and waited.  For a moment, time seemed to stand still. 

Believe it or not, I am normally not a very vocally demanding person when it comes to health care.  But in this kind of pain, I became one.  I felt like this was one time in my life when I had the right (probably, more accurately, the privilege) of demanding to get what I wanted.

Finally, finally, finally, the anesthesiologist walked in the door, and the first wave of relief came.  I was so thankful he was there, but I knew he still had to get the epidural in; I also knew that sometimes epidurals don't work. 

I pulled myself up as fast as I could and got into position for him to insert the needle.  I remembered that with my first son they waited to insert it until I was in between contractions, but this time the contractions were coming so fast and lasting so long that I was worried the anesthesiologist wouldn't want to give it to me.  I assured him that I would be still, and I willed myself to do so because I knew this was my only chance of relief.

The anesthesiologist began his work, and it seemed like everything was going well.  A few minutes in, I remember thinking, "This should be working now."  Then I remembered that with my first son there was a button you could push to release more medicine in the epidural.  They had told me to push it if I started feeling pain again.  I only had to push it a few times back then, but I can not tell you how ready I was to push that button this time. 

So then my constant plea changed from, "Please, please, please," to "Push the button, push the button, push the button."  I was still in immense pain, and I looked over and saw my husband laughing at me.  Normally, I would have lost it, but in that moment, I hurt so much that I didn't even care.  Later, when I asked him about it, he said that he was not laughing at my pain, cries, or contortions, but at the fact that I just kept saying, "Push the button!" over and over again.  I guess I can forgive him for that :)

"Push the button, push the button, push the button,"  I softly, methodically begged. 

"Right now, I AM the button," my anesthesiologist said, somewhat emphatically, somewhat matter-of-factly, and definitely perfectly timed.

That is my favorite line ever.  "Right now, I AM the button!"  I will never forget those words.

Fortunately, the epidural did work, and I did get almost immediate relief once it kicked in.  I stopped sweating, and I became very relaxed.  They let me rest a few minutes before I started pushing, and I am thankful for that.  "This must be what it feels like to be high," I told my husband.  I felt so amazingly calm, relaxed, and happy, all of which stood in stark contrast to the excruciating pain, fear, and desperation I had felt only minutes earlier.

Soon after that, our beloved second child was born.  He entered this world at 8:27 AM, less than 3 hours after I had my first contraction.  He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.  He was and continues to be absolutely perfect. 

 

As I think back on that morning, I often wonder if I could have delivered him without an epidural.  I was so close, and maybe I should have tried.  But then I imagine myself back there, in that hospital room.  And I remember that I was in labor for 12 hours the first time, and I didn't know how quickly my second child would be born.  And I remember the unbelievable pain that I can not adequately describe and the desperate sense of panic I felt when I thought I might not get the epidural in time.  And I remember the sounds I uttered and the way my body moved in that bed.  And I remember the button, that blessed button, and the amazingly complete, utter relief it gave me.  And I remember the way I was able to relax and watch my second child come into this world.  And I smile.


The Button!!

I would also like to add that I am currently reading Half The Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide with a group at my church.  I never realized how extremely fortunate I am to receive the amazing healthcare I do until reading this book.  I was not naïve enough to think that everyone has access to epidurals during childbirth.  But I did not realize how many women around the world have virtually no access to health care professionals or facilities when delivering their babies, or how many women's lives are drastically changed forever from things like obstetric fistulas or other complications during childbirth, or how many women and babies die during the process. 

So many women and babies around the world are negatively affected by a lack of financial resources, hospitals, and/or medical professionals.  This all becomes very real when you read their stories just after giving birth.  I highly recommend this book, as it is eye-opening to many different challenges that women face around the world, including human trafficking, sexism, lack of education, and extreme poverty.  Interspersed throughout the book are stories of hope and redemption, along with those of the people and organizations that make them possible.  This book has reminded me once again how unbelievably fortunate we are to live in the time and place that we do.

 

Birth Story, Part 1

"Have you been having any contractions?" Dr. Helman asked at my 39 week appointment.

"No, I don't think so.  I've had some tightening in my stomach, but I've had that for a long time and it's not painful."

"Let me check to see if you're dilated.  I don't think you are.  Your cervix is really far back, so it's hard to tell.  Wait a second, there it is.  You're 5.5 centimeters dilated!  Are you sure you haven't been having contractions?"

"I don't know; I don't think so."

"Let's hook you up to a machine and see if you're having regular contractions.  You could have this baby today."

I was surprised to find out I was that far dilated without being in any pain.  They hooked me up to a machine for 30 minutes, and it did not show regular contractions, so I went home.  The doctor told me to make any last minute preparations that afternoon since I could have the baby any time!  My husband thought we should go ahead and call my parents so they could watch our toddler in case I went into labor soon.  We called them and told them there wasn't a huge hurry but that it would be good if they could come sometime that day.

We picked up our toddler from his half-day preschool and put him down for his daily nap.  While he slept, I packed our bags for the hospital.  Then while I waited for my parents to come, all I could think about was that I needed to go to school and get a few last minute things ready for my long-term sub.  My husband didn't think I should worry about that, but I did.  So I called my friend, Kristen, to come take me to work because my parents didn't want me to drive in case I went into labor.  Then I called my husband, and he came home to stay with our slumbering toddler.

I got everything situated at school and came home.  By then, my parents were here.  Now what?  We just sat around and waited...waited for contractions or my water to break or something.  Later that night, nothing had really seemed to change, but I was still having the tightening and it seemed a little more intense.  I didn't really think it was that different, but at that point, I didn't trust my ability to know since I hadn't known that I was 5.5 centimeters dilated earlier that day.

We decided to go to the hospital that night to get checked to see if anything had happened.  I knew that second babies often come quicker than first babies, so I wanted to be ready if I was in active labor.  We went and were there for four painfully long hours only to find out that nothing had changed.  They said I could walk for an hour and get re-checked or I could go home.  I had already been walking, so I didn't think that would do anything.  I was tired, and I wanted to go home and sleep.  That was Friday night.  Saturday and Sunday came and went...still nothing.  No contractions, no pain, no baby.

Sunday evening, I decided I would go to the doctor on Monday morning instead of going to work so I could get re-checked without having to go to the hospital again.  I emailed my principal and long-term sub and told them my plan.

I woke up on Monday morning at 5:30 with what I thought may be a contraction.  I looked at my phone to see what time it was so I could know how far apart they were if I had another one.  Ten minutes later, I had the same feeling.  I told my husband I thought I might be going into labor.  He wanted to take a shower, so while he did that, I kept my eye on the clock to see how far apart my contractions were.  The next contraction was 9 minutes later, so I called my mom and told her to come over. 

I got dressed and put on make-up because I wanted to look good in the pictures when this baby was born!  I ate breakfast (because they don't let you eat at the hospital, which has never made any sense to me) and emailed my principal and secretary to tell them I thought I was finally going into labor!  My contractions kept speeding up, and soon after my husband was dressed, I called Mom back and said, "Come, now!"  My husband had made himself some oatmeal, but I told him he'd have to make it to-go because we had to leave now!  My contractions were only 5 minutes apart even though they'd only started 45 minutes earlier, and I was afraid to wait any longer.  As soon as my mom arrived, we were off to the hospital!

* Part 2 of the Birth Story coming soon! *

It Won't Be Like This Forever

"It won't be like this forever," Mom said. 

This was her response when I asked her if it was too much to continue taking Granny to see Pa multiple times a week in his assisted living facility. 

"Can't she go by herself?  How long are you going to keep doing this?" 

I was worried about my mom's emotional health, and I thought she was taking on too much, as her dad continued to decline.

My mom went with Granny daily at first, then multiple times a week, for over a year, as Pa's dementia worsened.  Granny wouldn't go by herself- it was too hard for her to leave Pa- because sometimes he begged her to go home and didn't understand why he needed to stay there. 

Granny, Mom, and her sisters had kept him at home as long as they could until it became dangerous to do so.  Fortunately, they found a loving, clean facility that was only minutes from Mom's house where Pa could stay.  They were continually impressed with the staff there, and it was certainly a blessing to my family.

"It won't be like this forever." 

I remember Mom's words so clearly because they held so much.  It meant what she was doing was temporary...because Pa wouldn't be like this forever.  He would not get better; he would get worse, and eventually he would pass away.  Now, I can focus more on that meaning.  But then I focused on her, and the fact that she wouldn't have to keep on like this forever.

Despite all of the visits and excellent care while being in the assisted living facility, Pa's condition continued to worsen, and eventually my family decided it was best to move him to the Hospice House so that he could be more comfortable.  I think this was the first time my grandmother allowed herself to believe that he may not get better.  She had always clung to the hope that he would get back to his old self.  Though most would deem this hope illogical, why should she not believe that her husband of 60 plus years would return to normal?  She loved him, and we always hope for the best for those we love.

 

Mom had asked me to pray for a peaceful death once Pa was moved to Hospice.  She also asked me to request prayer on his behalf from people I knew would pray and treat his condition with dignity.  Heartbreakingly, he was unable to eat and had become restless and uneasy near the end, and she just wanted him to go in peace.  Though it took longer for Pa to go to glory than we had hoped, the staff at Hospice was able to make him more comfortable and there were a few miracles along the way.

Pa was able to tell Granny that he loved her.  I count that a miracle. 

The night before he died, Granny sat by his bed and rubbed his hand, as she wanted to stay by his side.  One of the Hospice nurses asked if she wanted to get in the bed and lay next to him.  I don't think my family had ever thought that was possible, but Granny said, "Yes."  She laid there with him until the end, and I can only imagine how special that was to her as he had been away from home for over a year.  I count that a miracle.

The next morning, Pa passed away, and one of the nurses said it was one of the most peaceful deaths she'd ever seen.  I count that a miracle.

My mom had been with Pa a lot during the days he was at the Hospice House, but she was not there when he passed away.  Thankfully, though, she didn't need to be.  She had been there with him through everything, and she was the epitome of a "good and faithful servant."  She was sad, yes, but even more than this, she rejoiced that Pa was with Jesus.  He was more than restored to his former self, as my grandmother had hoped; he was transformed to his eternal self.

Pa meeting Lincoln for the first time

I share this story because those words from my mom, "It won't be like this forever," have continued to resonate with me.  On good days, when I am intentional about remembering them, this is the way they speak to me. 

When my toddler won't stop whining over the same things every day, I tell myself, "It won't be like this forever," and I have more patience.  Because he is a child and those things matter to him, and he deserves my patience.

When he wants me to read one more book, I tell myself, "It won't be like this forever," and I read another book.  Because I know that one day I will wish he wants to sit in my lap and read just one more book with me. 

When my baby gets up in the middle of the night to eat and I am tired, I tell myself, "It won't be like this forever," and I am able to receive those precious moments with him with joy instead of burden.  Because they are precious and time moves too fast sometimes.

When my husband, who is a saint, and I argue because we are physically and emotionally worn out in the midst of these two children, I tell myself, "It won't be like this forever," and I am able to choose kinder words.  Because he does more than anyone to help me with these two boys, and he deserves kindness.

I share this with you because I want you to know that whatever difficult thing you are going through won't be this way forever.  If you can accept those words, then maybe you, too, can find patience, joy, and kindness in the midst of your trials.  These words have given me perspective to see that some of these things that are hard for me now are some of the very same things that I will look back on and treasure. 

For better or worse, this world and everything in it are temporary.  It is my deepest desire that I do not waste my short time on this earth, so that one day I will hear the sacred words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" uttered over me as well.

Dad's Birthday

Last week was my dad's birthday, and he has always been hard to buy for because he says he already has everything he needs.  This year I decided to write something for his 63rd birthday, and I think those of you who know him will enjoy reading it.  Special thanks to my friend, Nissa, for this great idea!

63 Reasons to Love Don Ramsey!

1. He is sacrificial.

2. He treats Mom's parents as if they were his own.

3. He gets up early and stays up late to come visit me.

4. He drives a smelly, old car and doesn't even care.

5. He rarely buys things for himself.

6. He usually does whatever Mom wants.

7. He is a church leader in many ways.

8. He is a devoted deacon.

9. He truly cares about the senior citizens of the church.

10. He drives people to doctor's appointments.

11. He is a great Sunday School director.

12. He has served on multiple committees.

13. He is a talented musician.

14. He plays the piano by ear.

15. He is a great saxophone player.

16. He is a first-rate tenor in the choir.

17. He sings beautiful solos.

18. He is in the community band.

19. He has had a long, successful career.

20. He served Buncombe and McDowell County as a sheriff's deputy.

21. He served McDowell County as "major."

22. He mentored many young people in the Explorer program.
23. He trained many officers in the BLET program.
24. He helped many prisoners as a Case Manager at the prison.
25. He served 12 years as the Clerk of Court of McDowell County.
26. He is a devoted City Councilman.
27. He is handy around the house.
28. He fixes everything.
29. He owns any tool you will ever need.
30. He hangs blinds, pictures, and curtains.
31. He even goes into muddy basements to dry them out.
32. He is a community servant.
33. He builds ramps for people who need them.
34. He enjoys visiting and talking with the residents of Rose Hill.
35. He serves meals at Thanksgiving.
36. He helps people on the Dread Disease committee.
37. He has good taste in food.
38. He loves Mom's home-cooked food and prefers it over eating out.
39. He is a huge supporter of Jack Frost!
40. He loves BBQ!
41. He has become an avid reader.
42. He finds a truck and moving blankets whenever you need them and then helps you move!
43. He moves furniture however many times you need him to until you get the room looking just right!
44. He is a great Dad.
45. He stayed up until I arrived safely at home every night of my life.
46. He was always calm and pleasant on the phone if I called and said I'd be late.
47. He provided everything I ever needed.
48. He also provided mostly everything I ever wanted, although I am still waiting on that Barbie Jeep :)
49. He built me a tree house and took me on roller coasters.
50. He let me have lots of cats and a dog and even a hamster.
51. He bought me my first car, a used Jeep that I wanted.
52. He bought me a safer car, a new Honda with side airbags that saved my life.
53. Then his insurance bought me a third car, with no complaints from him.
54. He paid the remaining balance after scholarships for me to get both of my degrees.
55. He takes me to Fatz when I visit because we don't have one here.
56. He always answers the phone, and he texts faster than Mom.
57. He has always treated me as the apple of his eye, until January 22, 2012, that is.
58. Now he treats Lincoln and Silas as the apples of his eye!
59. He is the best Poppy!
60. He is flexible, evidenced by the fact that he didn't mind when Lincoln recently changed his name to Pop-Pop.
61. He builds a mean Lego tower and doesn't care when it gets promptly destroyed.
62. He loves to babysit so I can go out.
63. He lets Lincoln do whatever he wants, within reason, of course!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAD AND POP-POP!

We are thankful for you and love you very much!

 

Dad and Lincoln

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Days Before Silas Arrived!

 Dad and Silas

 

 

Goodbye, Cable

It was Christmas Break, and I was in Big Lots.  I got a text from my husband that said, "I cancelled the cable."  I called him, because although he had threatened the cable company many times before, he had never actually cancelled the cable.  When I talked to him, he confirmed what his text had said.  He had actually, really, completely cancelled the cable.  We had just moved into our house the week before, so we were busy and weren't actually watching that much TV, so it was not a huge, big deal.  I had even told him in the past I'd like to try it, so although I was surprised, it didn't really bother me. 

Every year, the cable company goes up on the rates.  Every year, my husband calls and after waiting and talking for hours, he gets them to come down on the rate.  That had happened this year, too.  They had gone up from $80 to $110 for cable and internet, and he had called and got them back down to $85 a month.  But then the bill came, and it was not $85; it was $110.  He patiently called again to remind them that he had called earlier and negotiated the rate down.  Normally, as painful as it may be, that works.  This time, it didn't.  They insisted that there was no way anyone could have given him that rate.  So he cancelled. 

He knew we couldn't do without internet, so he called another provider and got internet for $30 a month for the first 6 months and $42 a month for the remaining months.  So we will save $80 a month for the first 6 months and $68 a month for the remaining months.  That's $888 that we'll save this year, and $816 that we'll save in future years if we make it that far.

I have learned some things through this process. 
 
1) Cancelling cable doesn't mean you can't watch TV.  Who knew?!

2) You can hook your laptop up to your TV and watch shows for free from the major networks' websites if you don't want to watch them when they're normally on.  Hence, our version of DVR.  Yes, there are commercials, but not as many as when you watch on cable.  Apparently, there's also a way to use your laptop to watch shows on your TV without hooking up an actual cable, but we don't have the right equipment for that yet, although we are looking into it.

3) Antennas are a lot smaller than they used to be.  Ours is a very slender, square, black box about the size of a one subject notebook.  This is what I use to watch TV when I need some background noise during the day.

4) When you have 2 children as young as ours, you're often too tired to watch more than 1 show a night anyway, and sometimes you don't even want to watch that!

5) For all these reasons, I don't miss cable as much as I thought I would.

6) Because of this and other reasons, I've been wondering if I should give up my smart phone and go back to a "dumb" phone.  I think I would spend more time PRESENT with my loved ones if I did this and be a little less obsessive about checking my email, Facebook, etc.  But, I'm trying to have more self-control and wean myself from my smart phone instead of giving it up completely because there are a lot of benefits to having a smart phone!

There have been some nights when none of "our shows" have new episodes to watch from the Internet.  This happened when we had cable, too, but back then we could watch Home and Garden or Food Network if there was nothing else on.  There have been some delays in the buffering and some frustrations when this happens.  There have been a handful of times when I just want House Hunters International to take me away.  But for the most part, it has been just fine.

I am not saying that we are perfect in the area of cutting back- far from it.  I still have major weaknesses: nice furniture and professional photographs of my sweet boys are the main ones.  Eating out used to be one as well, but having kids helped with that one.  Regardless, I am proud of my husband for cancelling the cable because he gave up ESPN, which is a biggie.  I guess for now we will just have to wait and see what happens come football season :)

I leave you with a question and a thought to ponder.  Where could you save money?  If you give it a try, you may find that you don't even miss whatever it is that you find the courage to "give up." 

New House

We moved last Wednesday, and I took these pictures with my phone that morning.  I knew the house wouldn't be presentable for awhile, so I wanted to get some shots of it to show you before we moved in!  I've tried to organize the before shots with the after shots so you get the full picture of the renovations :)  Even I was surprised when I looked back at these shots.  It was a nice reminder of how far we've come.

Living Room (before)

Living Room (after) with new entrance to the kitchen- Steven's idea!
Also, we got to design the fireplace mantel and we love it!



Living Room (after)- Now that the paneling is gone, you can appreciate the beamed ceilings!



Entrance to the Kitchen from the Dining Room (before)



Entrance to the Kitchen from the Dining Room (after)



Old Kitchen (view from the back of the house)



New Kitchen (view from the front of the house)



Front Coat Closet (before)- You can barely see it because it's all paneled!!



Coat Closet (after)- with a much better door!



Niche (after) that leads from Living Room to Dining Room- it was paneled before.



Dining Room (before)- with built-ins I originally wanted to save.



Family Room (before)- beyond Dining Room



Dining Room and Family Room (after)- So glad Steven convinced me to remove the built-ins!
We don't think they were original to the house, and it was the single best decision we made!
Thank you, Steven, for having the vision and encouraging me to see it!



Lincoln's Bedroom (before)



Lincoln's Bedroom (after)- I LOVE the blue!



Nursery (before)



Nursery (after)- with closet door that connects to our new Master Bedroom!



Master Bath (before)



Now it is the Hall Bath (after)



Another view of Family Room (before)
Now the window is gone, and there is a door that leads to our new Master Bedroom!



New Master Bedroom Addition



Double Closets for us and Pocket Door/Closet leading to the Nursery
(I don't have to walk all the way around the house to get there!)



Old Hall Bath (before)



Another view of Old Hall Bath (before)



New Master Bath (after)
We closed off the old entrance and put a new entrance from our Master Bedroom

 

There are a few minor things that did not turn out the way we had hoped, and it was a stressful process at times.  But in the end, the layout and space is perfect for us, and I absolutely love our new house!  I love how small it is and how conveniently located everything is.  (I don't know why I ever worried about moving to a smaller house.  I actually prefer it over our larger house, and I didn't think that would be the case.  It's less to clean and more to enjoy.)  I love that it is all on one level.  I love that it has a flat yard.  I love that we will soon be using all of the space once Baby Boy #2 arrives!  I love that we accomplished our goal of lowering our debt and still have a nice house in our beloved Ardmore that's even closer to our church than we were before.  I love that we've taken a house built in 1925 that many people would've written off as soon as they walked in, and turned it into an updated house with a modern layout that I think everyone can appreciate.  I owe most of this to my visionary husband, Steven, because he saw the potential in this house, and he was absolutely right!