Don’t pray for a lighter load. Pray for a stronger back

life after august 1 2007

To say the past year has been tough would be an understatement. Trying to get two businesses up and running (Appraising and property management) to a point where it’s making money is not easy, nor should it be. Nothing easy doesn’t come with a lot of work, a lot of prayer and a lot more work! Ryan & I joked a lot this past year how we’re living our dream and nightmare at the same time. Last July we bought 628/630 garnet. We lived in one side and completely remodeled the upstairs. I don’t think anything was the original when we moved out. It took us 11 months to complete with putting in 85 plus hours (between our jobs and the duplex) for the last month and a half. Including an all-nighter the night before the new tenants moved in. We certainly couldn’t have done it without our family & friends who REALLY stepped up to the plate and helped us out when we needed it the most. There were many times Ryan & I questioned our sanity in doing this. Then this June we purchased another duplex located right behind the east Hy-Vee here in Ames. So, that’s where were at right now. We’ve learned so much this past year about ourselves, God’s grace, love, and working hard for your dream. Was it worth it? All the late night hours, time and commitment? Absolutely.

helping grandma

ryan & I helping grandma around her house. we ended up trimming bushes and we even got some kringla!

kitchen/living room wall removal part 2

tearing out the wall to make a breakfast bar










getting ready for demo...








breakfast bar looking good...





wow!

deck

added a deck

tile floor

laying the ktichen floor









my friend from work (jen) and I "buttered" the tile for ryan.

hallway

hallway before












hallway after. took out a closet, put in a door, and a deck out the back.

kitchen

living room before/after

living room (from the other side)


















how the carpet looked when we bought the place









how the windows looked when we bought the place.






finished, WOW!

upstiars bath before

bathroom before








before











bathroom after





bathroom before




bath after

kitchen/living room wall removal

the wall before. separated the kitchen and living room








making the marks









checking them twice








starting demo





the hallway looks WAY different!

closet removeal

closet before






starting to tear it down























hallway before





look, its getting longer!!

picture from the hallway (we expanded the hallway to have a deck off the back)







new closet semi-finished

I know, right?!

okay, as many of you have noticed we haven't posted anything in AWHILE. we are STILL trying to get our Internet hooked up to our new place. (hopefully by MONDAY, the latest) i have ALOT to update, so please check back soon!

we moved!

well, we just moved! so it might be a few weeks til i am able to post something new. after we get Internet hooked up at our new place, i have alot of "catching up" to do. by the way, our new address is 311 South Walnut Ames, Iowa 50010.

Ryan's new part time job

for those of you who don't know, ryan got a part time job taking care of 75 rental units in Boone for a company called "Real Estate Service Group" (http://www.resgi.com/) he works roughly 25+ hours a week and really has been enjoying it. check out the website if you'd like to take a look!