We Bought a HOUSE!

So officially, 

Josh and I bought a house! 

Well, technically we are "building a house".. We are in the first stages of the home buying process. We get to go to a design center to pick out all of the interior aspects of the home :) It is probably one of the most exciting/stressful things I've done.

The home is beautiful and will be brand new! It has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a 2 car garage. The Master bedroom has a sitting room area and a huge closet and tray ceilings. The first floor will have a formal living area, dining area and family room. 

We can't wait to move in and be home owners!  

So, if any of you lovely readers have any experience with buying/building a home and can offer any tips/pointers/advice, I am all ears. :)

*I have attached some photos of the model home*
I can't believe this is going to be our 1st home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We actually chose a dark brown with light trim and a red door, but this is what the home will look like.

This is the layout of the 1st floor, we are thinking about building a half wall separating the dining room and the formal living room ( where the dotted lines are)

*Note that I also have a Harry Potter closet :)

This is the layout of the 2nd level except factor in the additional layout below for the Master Bedroom. We decided on the sitting room and tray ceilings.

This is the view if you stood at the corner of the kitchen and in front of the family room.

Formal living room 

  

These are photos of the formal living room which has the huge ceilings. 

Kitchen and Lanai photos 

This is the family room

The Master Bedroom with the sitting area 

 This is the Master Bedroom w/o the tray ceilings.

 
Guest Bathroom

Master Bathroom
 
Hallway area separating the bedrooms, you can look over the top into the living/dining area which I love!

 Bedroom 1

 Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

An Angel in Heaven

Happy Birthday to an Angel in Heaven

May you rest in the Lord's arms forever

Heather Bates-Hall 

November 21, 1983 - November 14, 2012

The Sea of Hopes and Dreams

In the past few months I have felt more alive than the past few years. I truly feel the power of God working in all angles of my existence. We go through different trials to show us, or perhaps even remind some of us, what each of our blessings are. The Lord is the ultimate provider without which I know I wouldn't have anything today. 

I am thankful for learning this. 

With that said, the past few months have perhaps been some of my most favorite yet. I understand now that all I need is my family and friends. October was filled with corn fields, sunflowers, pumpkin patches, baby laughs, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, apple cider, costume hunting, parties and more.

I almost felt at times I was standing on the outside looking in. Observing the extraordinary, but "extra - ordinary" life that I live. Watching the small things that in reality are very huge things. I love my life, my God, my family, my friends and the happiness I have found within them all.