Wow – it has been so crazy this week as we move into our new place. I don’t even know where to start. How about one word: Exhausted!

We spent a total of two nights at the new place so far. Everything is out of storage and loaded up in the nooks and crannies of our home. Home. Wow – that’s weird to say. I can’t say that I feel “home” yet but I’m holding out hope that such a feeling will come in time.

This is my favorite part of the house, and the only one even somewhat settled into. When I need to crawl away to a space that isn’t loaded with boxes, I go here.

While the inside is being unpacked and organized and beautified, the outside is also a major undertaking. Chris is putting together a porch railing to keep the space up there kid-friendly. I found an old wooden porch swing at a flea market for $20 – which we will paint, along with the new railing, a color literally called “Mystery Purple”. Nice way to introduce us crazy Portlanders to the nice little neighborhood, heh? We also excavated (seriously!) an old rock path/walk way leading the porch that we are laying with small pebbles and lining with solar path lights. We’re putting in 2 raised beds (of cedar logs that Chris actually took down!) in the front yard featured peppers, herbs and tomatoes, and planting butterfly/hummingbird flowers through out the flower beds where some crocus(es? crocii? lol) and daffodils are popping up. There will also be a tire swing from the front yard tree.

The chain linked fenced backyard will feature many rows of clothes lines, a sandbox, a chicken coop and 100 sq ft run, and a long rock wall of an old city ally way on the property will be turned into a large raised bed for corn, peas, beans, squash, pumpkins, melons…

Long term goals include cleaning up a storage shed for use as storage for our bulk foods and a chest freezer, and possibly keeping bees to grow our own honey. Fruit trees some day…

Looks like we have our March work cut out for us! Pray that we’ll maintain some stamina, sanity, and fun.

We’re doing what we can to make this place a stepping stone – a place we can remain comfortable in while we get our “ducks in a row” and one day find our more permanent Home. There are so many choices to weigh and await Divine Leading on, but in the meantime we are hunkered down in Fayetteville, AR in our cozy little For-Now-Home.

I’ll leave you with some random pictures: