Marvelous things.....

I have had so much trouble with the post I did over the week-end...I finally just deleted it.  I think I exceeded the photo upload limit - 25 was too many I guess!  So...here we go again...second try with less pics...

So beautiful!  We first saw this property a year ago and none of us remember seeing these beautiful apple trees blooming!  In fact, we thought they were dead and cut one of them down!  So grateful we left two of them!  No doubt they need a good pruning and not sure they will actually produce anything - they look pretty old...but...the blooms are beautiful right now and we are enjoying them!

"O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago."  ~ Isaiah 25:1



Hannah and Connor were big helpers removing the last kitchen cabinet and sink.  Still trying to remove the 3 layers of linoleum from the kitchen floor and the particle board.



Thankful that we uncovered this mess during demolition...we guess that the previous refrigerator/ice maker leaked.  The mold removal company sprayed this with some sort of chemical to stabilize it so it can be safely removed (and so we don't spread any potential spores).

Scott and Connor working so hard!  All of the old kitchen cabinets, appliances, and sink are GONE!!  Oh happy day!  This floor is such a challenge to remove!



The mold removal company worked in the basement for three days.  They took out the workbench and cabinets that were along this wall.  We didn't want to take any chances that any mold (white spots) would be left to spread again.  Everything that could be removed (shelves, old wood, insulation, cabinets, etc) has been taken to the landfill!  Looks much better!



Air scrubber creating negative pressure while the technicians were working down here.  They removed everything that was left (Scott had already done most of it), vaccuumed the white mold off of everything, then sprayed a "hydrogen peroxide solution on steroids" everywhere.  We also keep a commercial-sized dehumidifier running constantly to keep the humidity low (mold likes high humidity).

Cleaned out!  We will also be doing some work outside to redirect the water away from the house.  All of these steps should keep us from having a mold problem again.  This house has been vacant for more than a year and closed up...things started to get out of control...until now...

This is the brick front porch hanging out over the basement - not a good idea.  The previous owners also had water leakage problems here - we see caulk everywhere and these members have rotted.  The framer will replace these and beef up the support.  We also will be closing in the existing front porch to create a bigger foyer and closets, and adding a big front porch.  These steps will also keep water away from this basement wall.

The only thing we didn't remove were these metal shelves - they are so heavy!  We've been told that mold doesn't like metal too much.


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Scott and Connor were very busy on Saturday removing the last kitchen cabinet and sink.  They also removed almost all of the rest of the particle board subflooring on the main level.

I stand in awe of the "marvelous things" God is doing as spring is unfolding.  Beautiful!  We first saw this property just over a year ago (March 12, 2010) and none of us remember the apple trees blooming.  They are so pretty!  I've been studying the short, but powerful book of Habakkuk recently with a group of ladies and this verse keeps coming to mind...

"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known, in wrath remember mercy." 
~ Habakkuk 3:2

Friday was a crazy day - we received an email from the County stating that we would receive building permit approval that very day if Scott walked in with our revised plans.  Then two hours later, we were copied on email correspondence that indicated our permit would be denied due to the septic tank being too close to the house (it is original to the house).  Scott and our architect friend have designed the front porch footings to avoid any type of loading to the septic tank and the County building department agrees with the design, but the VA Department of Health is not satisfied apparently.  Waiting on a decision from them...

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal." 
~ Isaiah 26:3-4

Building permit approval!

All the glory to God!  Scott walked into the permitting office yesterday with our revised plans and walked out with building permit approval! 

This is what I sent out yesterday via email........

Whew – it’s been a much longer process than we ever expected….Jan 2 was our goal for a permit.  But, we praise God that today is the day!  The whole permit denial/attorney issue with the County (because of our 40 yr old septic tank being too close to the house) somehow is a non-issue today (it was a big deal for VDH just 4 days ago!).  I don’t care how that got resolved!  We just praise God that the issue is dead and that we can now finish destruction (almost done) and start CONSTRUCTION!  I was literally just finishing up praying with the kids this morning about how God would have us use Forge (among other things) when Scott called saying we have approval……amen!…..praying for God’s favor with contractors and inspectors…..we’ve been told this will take 3-4 months if things “go well”…..that’s exactly how long we have until our lease is up 7/14…..this is going to be interesting!  Two things I know is that Scott cannot work any harder than he is and nothing is too hard for the Lord!  I can’t help but wonder if God didn’t allow this to take so long to bring greater glory to Himself….kind of like the Gideon account…..instead of too many men, maybe it was “too much time” for all to see that it was Him alone??  hmmm……..His thoughts and ways are so much higher than mine…..I just bow the knee and say, “Your will, not mine, be done.  Please use us for Your glory.”

~Dawn

Progress!

We thank God that we are seeing progress once again.  We've had lots of delays for various reasons lately, but things are now moving.  The kids and I picked Scott up from work this afternoon and we met with a kitchen design company.  They built the kitchen cabinets in our last house and we loved the quality.  We actually met with the same lady that we did more than 11 years ago!  The kids did well during our 2 hour appointment, especially Daniel who sat in his stroller the entire time (that is not typical!).  As a "treat", we went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner only to see that "The Cow" was there!  Uh oh!  Daniel cannot stand that cow (person dressed up in the costume)!  He is absolutely terrified of it (this has happened before) and said - before we even got out of the van - "I don't want Chick-Fil-A!  I want to go home!".  Wow.  That's saying a lot - he LOVES CFA!  He kept his eye on that cow the entire time!

LuAnn had some great ideas with the kitchen design, but it would require another LVL between the kitchen and school room.  Scott will talk to the structural engineer about that...We were encouraged to look at some photos of another kitchen renovation that LuAnn helped with recently.  The improvement is amazing!

The mold removal company is starting their work tomorrow.  They will remove all of the insulation that is in the basement ceiling (whatever Scott didn't get to) and the couple of cabinets that are left.  Then they will create negative pressure with a big fan at the basement exterior barn doors and "vaccuum" the mold off the rafters, etc, then spray everything with some sort of hydrogen peroxide spray in case they missed any.  We've had a commercial-sized dehumidifier running constantly for quite a few months now and that should control it.  Scott has also painted all of the walls with a moisture barrier.  Later we will condition the basement with the HVAC to keep the air moving, install gutters around the entire house (there aren't any on the back of the house right now), replace the siding and roof, and close in the front porch while adding a new, bigger front porch.  All of these steps should greatly reduce the amount of moisture around the house.  The house/basement has been shut up for more than a year with no one living there and it got very stagnant which created the prime conditions for mold to grow.  We are told that we have a "minor" case....let's just get rid of it properly!

Scott (and the rest of us!) is realizing how challenging it is to act as the general contractor - and maintain his other (paying!) job.  It's a lot to keep up with!  He just headed over there for a few hours (it's 9:30 pm!).....

~Dawn

Kitchen cabinets are almost done...uncovering floors...

Trying to get a head start on spring - Ashley finished cutting the weeds all the way to the road - hasn't been done in a few years!  Yea!  Such a big help!

Removing more cabinets...Scott's "getting into it"...  This room does look bigger with the tray ceiling removed.



Hmmmm...Couple of saws to choose from...I think he used all of them on this cabinet!




Connor and Ashley raking up "hay"...Daniel's gonna go help...



More kitchen cabinets to the "gift shop"...

Peeling away linoleum - surprise!  Another layer underneath!  This glue is a nightmare!

Connor and Daniel pulling up the old kitchen flooring...

One cabinet left...

More particle board to pry up - in fact, the whole first floor has it...very challenging...getting up a whole piece like this one is rare!

So grateful for hot showers, washer and dryer...Thank you, God...we get SO dirty out here!

Beautiful day...lots of outside work done yesterday...

It's been so fun to see the daffodils come up that we planted in the fall!



Scott taught Ashley how to drive the riding lawn mower.  This has been a big help to us (and she loves it!).




Scott and Hannah removing kitchen cabinets.




Loading up Big Red again.




Another set of cabinets removed.




Looking down the hall from the family room to the master bedroom.




Scott and Connor removed the green carpet in the master bedroom and have pulled up the particle board that was underneath.




New kitchen area looking to the old...



"It's Peter Wabbit!"...Daniel LOVES Peter Rabbit and the Beatrix Potter stories (we also have them on DVD which he constantly asks to watch!).  Actually, our whole family enjoys Beatrix Potter - love her art, too!  Anyways, there are LOTS of these HUGE bunnies out here!  This guy would clear out our beans in a day!  We definitely need to fence in our garden!



Pasture looks ready to accept residents...




Four stall barn and small apartment/screened porch.




This room attached to the barn was the "in-law suite", then the "summer kitchen", and now the kids call it their gift shop..."The Four Seasons Gift Shop at Liberty Farm"...They have BIG ideas!




That's a LOAD!




Trying to figure out the well that supplies the barn.




Blackberries - new growth!




Blueberry bushes (with lots of our citrus peels from the winter - blueberries like acid)...




Blooms on our bush cherries.




Site of the future vegetable garden - and bonfire.




Daniel sitting on the barn's well.




"The Four Seasons Gift Shop at Liberty Farm"...we'll see...  ;-)



Daniel's supervising...he looks really stressed out!



Hannah is practicing her gift shop phone skills...unloading the kitchen cabinets into the gift shop...




Daddy and Hannah




Ashley getting her first driving lesson...




Total concentration!



The kids and Dawn have been studying Botany, so they were all very excited to find these great samples of lichen!




We spent hours picking up sticks and making piles like this one...




Nice appliances for the gift shop/summer kitchen... ;-)




Gift shop/summer kitchen...




WE'RE   EXHAUSTED!!!