We've Got Walls

Does that remind anyone else of the Dumb and Dumber quote? I know Katie will get it.

Well last week they officially completed our sheet rock (see pics below) and yesterday they began texturing them! Our external re-bricking is also complete and new windows are in! So exciting, it's actually looking like a house to me now. Our cabinets are being worked on and we're just praying through and trying to work out some details on what is left on the house related to our budget. Please pray we make wise decisions and that even if we CAN do something, it doesn't mean we SHOULD. Pray we seek wisdom, heed instruction and are faithful to him because we know that is all he asks of us and he will take care of the rest. God has been teaching us ALOT through this house and building process. Sometimes it's frustrating and tiring while other times it fun and exciting. But we are definitely learning alot (from different wall textures, how to make big decisions while trying to remain wise and faithful to what Jesus has taught us, each other, tile, love and community).

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

"I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." Luke 6:47-49

We want to be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. We want this house to be used, not just by us, but for HIS greater good and we're excited to see what that looks like because the possibilities are endless.


Backyard view from Master


Hallway


Kitchen/Pantry/Laundry room


Living room

Not much is new outside of the house. We're absolutely loving this weather Dallas has had lately (lows of 40's highs of 70's and SUNNY!)

Last night we tried this new restaurant in Blake's office building, OceanPrime, very nice, very yummy and very Dallas..aka a fun place to people watch. Sadly I didn't take my camera but we had a BLAST! They invited Blake's office (and friends) to try it out for their "soft" opening (what does that exactly mean anyway) with the food comp'd and all you paid for is drinks...long story but we had 4 people, ordered the biggest meal EVER (3 appy's, 4 salads, 4 entrees, 3 desserts and some wine) well magically our ENTIRE meal was comp'd. CrAzY! We even had the waiter quadruple check and sure enough it was paid for. So whoever paid for that meal, THANK YOU!

Oh yes, with the help and connections of my first cousin once removed-she get's feisty when I don't say it properly, Nancy Bloede and my second mom, Debbie Trippet, I have signed up at Episcopal School of Dallas and Parish Episcopal School to substitute school nurse! SO MUCH FUN!

Our First Blog!

So after prompting from my creative and wise cousin, Sarah, Blake and I have decided to start our own blog to share about our adventures. Mostly this blog is in "dedication" to our family, especially our grandparents, so we can keep them up to date with our daily lives since most live many miles away :( Right now our BIG adventure is remodeling the house Blake and I bought back in June. While all of this is very exciting it is quite overwhelming and time consuming (the blog and the house-haha)! I have no clue how any of this works (the blog), and I'm positive Blake doesn't either, so please forgive us as we navigate this new territory.

On June 16th we officially became homeowners! Yet, we have yet to spend one night in our new casa as we COMPLETELY gutted the house and are currently re-wiring, moving rooms around, knocking down walls, etc, etc.... To sum it up we pretty much we are doing anything and everything you can do to a house while keeping (most) of the external walls the same. For the last month and it looks like until the house is complete we are blessed to be paying rent to Mama Mertz as she has graciously let us (and our lab, Makenzie) invade her home. For the time being we are hoping to be in our home by the end of November, although the end date seems to change weekly, so don't hold your breath. But seriously, hopefully by the end of next week we WILL have walls back up-that may seem pretty normal for a house, but it's a HUGE deal to us as we've been without walls since June! Right now we're still in the process of picking out paint colors (interior and exterior), cabinets, lighting, granite, etc, etc....Here are some of our most current pics of the house.





It has been a fun and challenging journey thus far, we don't even feel like it is "our" house-but a project we are doing. Needless to say we can't wait to be living in it, even though we know once we are in, we'll still have lots of work to do (landscaping, cleaning, pool care, etc) Blake is an incredibly hard worker and spends lots of time re-doing the sprinkler system, cleaning and fixing the pool, making tough decisions that stress me out and is in constant contact with the builder. He'll hate that I'm bragging on him, but I LOVE that he is a "Do-It-Yourself" handyman! Those DIY guys are a dying breed and I pray that he passes it on to our kids one far away day. (incase you didn't catch that we hope that God blesses us with kids but that he gives us some years to enjoy each other, learn and grow together as husband and wife first) Thank God for Blake, his dad (who hooked us up with a builder) and everyone else who has been putting in time at the house. I can't wait to have you all over!

On another note, we are fortunate to live in a city that has a church we LOVE, Watermark , and a close knit community of friends and family. I think it's pretty safe to say that we both have an itch to eventually live elsewhere, if only for a little while. It goes without saying, 2009 has been life changing for us both so here is a brief summary of the year in pics (plus some from our engagement which was technically 2008)


Our engagement in Virginia Beach


www.sarahkatephoto.com
One of my favorites...our photographer, Sarah Kate, is INCREDIBLE, we hope we are privileged enough to use her again one day. We've already convinced another couple to book her...you should too!


www.sarahkatephoto.com
Mertz's and Bowen's Unite!



Our first trip as a married couple to the Williams' fabulous beach house...yes, Blake obliged my desire to be a kid and let someone burry us in the sand


Blake on his annual Lake City, CO fishing trip with the boys


Our first use of our OSU season tickets...we're a little dramatic since it was raining AND a surprising loss for the Cowboys

Until next time...
Vios con Dios