Over four and a half years ago, the Lord helped us to be able to purchase an old home, debt free! However, one of the things we didn't realize was how badly the kitchen and upstairs bathroom leaked. As a result we have slowly by God's help and as finances would allow gutted and insulated etc our home. These next few pics show one of the stages that our home has gone through! =) For if you've EVER done any remodeling, you'll know that it takes many steps... oft times painful steps to make any progress! God is good and we have done our best to COUNT OUR BLESSINGS in the midst of those steps! This "sink" Daryl rigged for me made me SOOOOOO happy to have running water on this floor after 6 long months with a "dry sink".
There were more stages before this... check OLD blog posts from like forever ago! =)
This is our kitchen as it appeared in Fall of 2010 THE BEFORE!
What would be a "bar" area in our dreams some year.
Make shift cabinets loaned to us... how delighted I was to have our food out of boxes!!! =)
Then last fall, my brother and his son came through and offered their hours of love and switched our door and window around. Bryan got some home-school 101days ~ MUCH to his DELIGHT!!!
THEN..... God showed up and Showed OFF!!! When people "show off" we are ALLL turned off. But when God "SHOWS OFF" we all stand back in Wonder! And that's just what our family has been doing recently! You see, one of our former supporters, from our days on the mission field, found out what condition our kitchen was in and contacted us. They said that they felt that God was asking them,
AS AN ACT OF FAITH, to GIVE... yes I said G.I.V.E. us a kitchen! WOW! I'm still BEYOND amazed! So we started yet another STAGE of the kitchen process... finding someone, best deal etc to build us a kitchen! I can't in one blog post begin to thank all the people who have donated hours of labor, and advice in all the steps we have taken.
We finally felt God would have us contact my cousin in GA to see if he would have time etc to build us our kitchen. The only pic I have is below and they will NOT be happy with this form of advertisement... but they have to love me to get to heaven! Hee! =) They do out-of-town jobs all the time, so if you find yourself needing a kitchen, you'll be very pleased with their work! I say "their" Jeff builds them, but his wife Susan is truly his help meet!
Jeff and Susan Hunt
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| Bryan's FAVE pose!!! =) |
I can't thank all of those other people without mentioning my wonderful husband! He has worked COUNTLESS hours to make this Haus a Home and I am amazed! God has given me the most wonderful, giving man alive! I am SOOOOOOOOOOO blessed and if you can't tell, I'm totally in love with this man!!!
And NOW the AFTER!!!!
My KITCHEN that JESUS GAVE ME!!!! Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart; lean NOT on thine own understanding. IN
ALL THY WAYS acknowledge him; and he will direct your path! Prov 3:5&6 Not that we serve God to GET.... but sometimes he gives... Just because He can! WOW! What an AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!!!
Dishwasher (not hooked up yet... but who cares) given to us by dear friends!
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| Plate rack.... fell in love with while in Russia years back! |
Yes, our fridge is small... but hey it works! =)
These countertops were another way in which GOD SHOWED OFF.... I never in all my dreams, dreamed of these fancy counter tops.... But once again, God had someone in mind. Nathan Earls from our home church came to our rescue! Funny thing was, I didn't even know he DID countertops. But GOD DID! Thanks Nathan and Connie! If you live in Cinci area, We would highly recommend "Countertops By Nathan"!!!
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| My Pantry! |
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| Pull outs, which I LOVE! |
A little Closer look...
I LOVE old things and so have been waiting
for the year when I could
FINALLY clean them off and add L.O.V.E. to the top of these cabinets. =) My kids were my right hand helpers! Home Economics at it's finest!!!! =) Yep, I got elected "Best-home-school-mom-ever", yesterday. that is!=)
Russian Hot Tea (Chai) anyone?
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| Old Lunch Boxes |
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| Wooden recipe box! |
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| Bone handled forks from Russia and old cookie cutter and jar from my Grandmother! |
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| Old Egg Basket a gift from a friend in IN... thanks Roseanne! |
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| Comfort food... beans and rice anyone! |
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| Darla listening to a story on headphones while eating a midnight snack! |
Yes, we still need to add: trim, a light fixture, an outlet cover or two... but MAN IS IT EVER FUN TO BE IN MY KITCHEN NOW!!!! I've
always loved being in the kitchen... just never knew how much MORE fun it is when it's beyond GORGEOUS!!!!! Yes, I'm still workin on being classy enough, Jeff to fit in this kitchen! =)
Would you join me in asking Jesus to bless that Anonymous supporter?! Each time I enter my kitchen, I try to remember to ask Jesus to bless them, to bless the Hunts and their business who built the cabinets and to bless the Earls and their business too.... and YOU... the many folks from CNC who have given and given and given again during each new stage of this Haus!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS
HE HATH DONE!!!! I don't EVER want to touch the glory. It is our desire that GOD always be lifted up!
~Laura
11 comments:
I have been waiting (patiently) to see the pictures. I know it is so much more fun now to prepare food and clean up in your kitchen!!!!
I can't imagine that I am the first to leave a comment on such a wonderful post. God is so good! Someone has said, if you want to touch a heart do something for their child. God has done that with His gift to you and His vessel that He used. What a friend you have in Jesus and that "someone" that so very graciouly gave to your sweet family. Also a sincere thanks to all the names I have heard over these past years since your return from Romania that have come to help make your dream come true. I also am grateful that God blessed you with a man that is not afraid of work, often long hard hours. So enjoy your gift and know that Daddy and I are just thrilled with what God and others have done for our son and daughter. Love, Moma
Everything is so beautiful! God is so good! We are so grateful for what God has given you!
Happy to be your neighbors again,
Phillip
Laura, when I think back about the "smallish" kitchens you have had and know the love you have for baking, these pictures brought tears to my eyes! I am super happy for you!
Love it!!
I love your Kitchen!!
Wow, Laura! It is beautiful! So happy for you!
Dear Daryl and Laura,
Praise the Lord for your "new" and wonderful kitchen.
As I looked at the pics I was saying, "Thank the Lord, Laura."
So happy for your amazing improvements.
And so pleased that you can now display so many nice "memories" up on top.
Blessings, Dad
[ feel free to post this - sorry but I find your post too time consuming to "fiddle" with.]
What a precious gift! God doesn't do anything halfway, does He! It's so awesome that y'all have gotten a home debt free, and now the Lord is rewarding you for your patience and sacrifice. (It seems that nowadays, people have such a sense of entitlement - they think they deserve the finest of everything NOW, nobody wants to work hard and be patient for it. So this story really blessed me!) The kitchen is just beautiful. The cabinets are so pretty, and I love how you've decorated the tops with your treasures =) I pray that the Lord will bless those who made it happen for y'all!
I love your new kitchen!! It's so neat to see how God blessed you all! I'm so happy for you.
It was so good to see you all at IHC, and to chat with you again. Blessings, my friend!
Your kitchen is beautiful! I'm so happy for y'all. God is so good!
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