My thoughts on building our own house...

Brent and I decided years ago that we would try to build our own house. We've had the plans picked out for over 5 years. We knew we wanted to build here on the family land that we currently live on. So, on May 21 of this year when we began building we were so very excited! Things have moved along well and we've actually only had a few snags - wasn't able to use our existing septic tank after all, kitchen cabinets stained the wrong color and had to be redone, some of the items were well over the amount we had budgeted. For 2 people (mostly Brent) who have never done this before, I'd say we've done a pretty impressive job. Lots of people have thrown in their skills to help us out and that has a wonderful blessing to us.

I want to be honest with you all and let you know that it has also been very stressful on all of us. Lack of routine, increased number of bills, jobs to do and people to call ALL the time have all worn us down over the past 6 months. Oh, and did I mention that I've been pregnant for most of the time as well??? Lots of people tell you when you begin to build a house (or even talk about the possibility of doing it) that it will be a miracle if you survive your marriage through the process. Our marriage hasn't suffered and we are a stronger team now if nothing else. I can definitely see how lots of couples might not make it through or never be the same again after going through the process but Brent and I both know each other so well that we've done really well. There was one time that he was doing the rough electrical part and I asked him everyday when he would be done. He finally said to me, "Don't ask me again when I will be through. I will be through when I'm through!" I took the hint and stopped driving him crazy about it. I just wanted an idea of the timeline. It has worked out well for us that I've handle the budget and bill paying and he has handled the day-to-day work involved with getting the house completed. I am so proud of my sweet and wonderful husband for all that he has done to make this dream a reality for us.

The budget and bills are a matter of stress on their own. I didn't realize until just the other day that to think that someone that has never done anything like this before and can take an amount of money and come on the other end of it with a completed house is quite the responsibility. What if we would have spent 50% of the money and only had 25% of a house built??? What if we used all the money and had a large chunk of money left to pay to supply companies and subcontractors? I can't tell you that we didn't experience some stress related to this....ummm, actually I'm experiencing it RIGHT NOW. We are going to come out in the end with a completed house and we did all the things we wanted to do in the house without having to pick and choose BUT we have had some stress here are at the end. It's quite overwhelming to be nearing the end of the money and trying to estimate what you have left to pay. We have ended up having to be creative to get finished but look at what we have accomplished with God's providence and blessings.

We hope to move in next weekend. Brent's out in the house right now trying to get the electrical stuff done so he can have the final electrical inspection done on Tuesday. The final plumbing inspection passed yesterday. If we can get some steps built for the front and back of the house this week, then we should be able to pass inspection. We will still have the back deck to be concreted and that part of the house completed but we will have to do that after Christmas. This rain has postponed that.

I am so thankful for this blessing God has given us. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who has done such an awesome job with this (even though he's about to collapse from being tired!!). I am so thankful for all the family and friends that we have who have helped so much through this process.