A little TLC

Well, it's Day 3 for Heath being gone in the Boundary Waters (hopefully we can post some spectacular photos to make up for all the nasty ones we've taken lately!).

I just finished my cereal and I decided I'm probably way past due for getting another post online. A lot of things have been happening lately! A good friend is now a mom, another good friend is now a wife, my new neighbor is going to be a mom, a sister-in-law is going to be a wife and a mom...and our house just keeps on soaking up TLC like a sponge.
(I'm shucking garden peas here, by the way.)

Sam is up visiting my folks this week...darned if Heath and I didn't miss his antics. :( I will admit, the house has been a whole lot quieter this week, but I haven't decided if I like that or not?














Heath looks pretty forlorn here in his "HIV Awareness" shirt. This is the part where he and dad totally destroyed our bathroom floor (and my kitchen ceiling). I'm happy to say that the bathroom floor is now tiled (we still need to grout it) and Heath installed the toilet and a makeshift wall sink! We now have running water upstairs...even if it is only cold water. :)

A lot of you have been asking to see our "new" bedroom. Here are a couple of pictures we took right after it was "officially" ready.

I'd just waxed the floor that morning and we figured we couldn't wait any longer to put in the furniture. :)

The quilt is special gift that my great-aunt Renetta quilted for our wedding.

We still haven't decorated the room with pictures because I can't bring myself to put a hole in the wall...even if it is a nail! We decided that when we had a few more rooms done, we'd decorate together. :)

Heath starts school again on the 12th already. Next week, football starts. He's now the assistant 7th grade football coach. What he doesn't know is that next week after the staff meeting (I'm supposed to check all his email) he'll be going over his new "coaching position"...he's the official QB and Defensive Line coach. Hurray! That should be lots of fun for him.

Well...at this rate, I'll be late to work, so it's goodbye for now.

I'll try to write and update more!

- the kelleys

The Kelley's Home Improvement Video

Sweat Equity: the burning out of oneself (and family) in renovating a home.

Until purchasing our home, this phrase was merely a laughable description of how to improve home equity - we now have a greater appreciation for the term and the people who daringly take on an "old house" project!

"Uncle Donny" (who is really a great uncle on Stephanie's side) took a look down our kitchen sink to find the source of our clogs...what he found was disgusting! A drain so built up with yuck that only something thinner than a pencil would actually find its way down the pipes.

On a brighter note, we're now one kitchen ceiling less! ...And once more looking at terrible plumbing, this time underneath the bathroom. Surprise surprise. Okay, on a truly bright note, our master bedroom is completely new (thanks to Mom's efforts). We mudded, sanded, textured, primed, and PAINTED our bedroom and it looks brand new. Heath and I also finished repairing, cleaning, and painting our front porch - which now looks positively amazing!

Here is a video we put together for you all - maybe you'll find this more enlightening than our commentary. ;) Enjoy our version of "Sweat Equity".

It looks crazy, doesn't it? Don't worry, we're actually having a great time! We hope you enjoyed our video. :) The Lord has really blessed us throughout the process of buying and "renovating" our home.

Here's the really incredible part: the day we found out our central air was "kaputt" (broken, unfixable, dead) and our thermostat started reading 87+ degrees, the Lord provided for us in the form of our neighbors; they had just decided to sell their two gently used air conditioners. Needless to say, we now own both units!

I don't want to make it sound like it's been all peachy and wonderful...the heat can wreak havoc on our "marital communications" (in other words, it's a whole lot easier to get irritated and argue). But, through the grime and the sweat, the Lord is making Himself evident in our lives. :)

Oh! And hallelujah, thank you LORD, morning sickness is a thing of the past! I am now just a tired pregnant lady. :D

Blessings and Hellos to everyone!

- the kelleys