Not as easy as it looks.

We have truly realized over the past couple of weeks how amazing it is to have the support of our friends and family throughout this process. We are so excited to be able to share this time in our lives and look forward to the memories that will be made now and in the future of this home. We were very excited to have some friends stop in to see us this weekend, Alaina, Robby, Alex and Brittany. Thankful for their encouragement and excitement. I am sure that once we get to the decorating part of our home, we will get some wonderful ideas from Alaina's blog... check it out... recycledinteriors.blogspot.com 

Another week hard at work! Throughout the week the crew worked on finishing up the framing for the first floor and started framing the garage. The trusses were finally delivered at the end of the week and have now been installed on the garage. Will start on the 2nd floor of the house this week!

Over the weekend, the two of us did some more yard work and have the lot pretty well cleared. We used a push behind bush hog to mulch up some of the brush left behind.

Somehow we managed to build another 4 piles of brush! Can you find Matt?

 Here are some pictures of the yard after we finished clearing. It is amazing how much it all opened up once we got all that mess out of there. What a beautiful place. An absolute blessing.

And here are some pics of the house and garage.

 Resting on top of the garage after a long days work! Taking it all in :)

Concrete & Lumber.

What an awesome week! We made so much progress! It is starting to look like a house! We started the week with inspections... thankfully all went well! We poured our concrete slab for the garage on Tuesday. Although Wednesday was a rough day, we are so thankful for the true miracles that God showed us... and through trust and faith, the concrete slab was poured for the house! We were able to be there as the concrete was drying... and of course, we had to write in it! In one corner, we inscribed "1 Corinthians 3:1" which is the verse we have focused on in our blog. And we also put our favorite saying,"Live to Love. Love to Live." We pray this is how we live out our lives.

Thursday morning, the lumber was delivered and by Thursday afternoon, the first floor walls were up and framed! This is when things became so real to me (Lindsey). Very excited to see all that is to come.

And as for Friday.. again, we had a few mishaps but thankful that everything worked out and also thankful that my parents were here for some great advice! They worked on framing the doors and windows for the first floor. It is looking so good! Check out pics below.

Trucks lined up to pour!

House and Porch slab finished!

First wall going up at 11:00 on 4.7.2011!

End of Day 1 Framing!

View from the backyard

View from the garage

So excited!!!!

Blood, Sweat and Dirt!

We are making progress! The foundation is coming along so well. The stem/block wall is finished and filled in. Plumbing under the slab is roughed in and ready. The footers for the garage have been dug and ready to get going. So we plan to pour the concrete slab first thing this week! And slowly but surely we will see the house take form! YaY!

Over the past two weekends, we have been out to the lot to do a little "cleaning up" in our woods. You would not believe the amount of vines that had overtaken the oak and pine trees. Not to mention all the palmettos and weeds that we had to get out of there. The blood, sweat and dirt sure is worth it! It is looking so beautiful! Here are a few pictures of our work... and they truly don't do it any justice.

After cleaning out all the vines... he could finally do some climbing!

Our first pile of brush... now we have about 5 of these piles!

A look down at some of the woods cleared out

Here is a look back at the trees by the drive way before.... then after...

Cleaned out the vines from the front entrance

Looking down at the house ( last weekend) Looks a little different now!

All the trees were covered like this! aghhhh

Simple solution to pulling down the vines...

Our front "woods"