Things are mostly done. We're still waiting on the electrical guy to come fix a few outlets that aren't working. There are also holes around the breaker box we're waiting to get fixed...but at least we're back in the house and the stress level has been reduced after spending three weeks in a hotel.
First we start with the before pictures:
This picture shows the layout of the old kitchen. We decided to flip flop the design as you'll see we know have an island that juts out on the other side. The flooring as you can tell had been replaced and was somewhat new, but because the tile was laid around the existing cabinets, there were holes in the floor after the cabinets were ripped out that we could not match tile for. Keith, the guy in the denim shirt closest too us, had lived in the parsonage previously after his family's house burned down (if you recall that was part of the call process story of getting into the house). He suggested we change the tile orientation and pick a tile to match the back splash and thus separate the eating area and the kitchen area. Apparently, he did something similar at his new house. It turned out fantastic!
If you notice the guy in the picture and how the counter tops are below his waist, you'll realize how low our counter tops were! The flooring had been replaced so many times that it kept making the counter tops lower and lower. I for one didn't really mind :), but Stephen had to practically bend over to prepare food.
The house was retro fitted with a dishwasher and because the counter tops were so low, a portion of the counter top was taken out and this faux wood block was put over top the dishwasher that then sat about two inches above the rest of the counter tops. It also didn't really drain properly because of the way water was having to be rigged to get to it. As we continued to face problem after problem it became clear the kitchen was really in need of an over haul.
And now...
The room looks and feels 3 times bigger just by knocking out the wall that existed over the old island on the other side of the room. You can kind of tell that the counter top closest to us juts out. The 10 inch over hang will eventually have bar stools under it so we can eat there, but we also thought it would be an excellent place to put food servers out when we have people over. Notice the diagonal pattern of the tile. It stops just after the refrigerator where the old told begins again. 
From this orientation the breakfast bar pictured before is to Stephen's right. We love this picture and it picks up the orange tint in the wall. We purchased this picture at the gift shop at Cumberland Gap the summer before we moved out to Amarillo when we stayed at a family friends lake house for about five days. We still look fondly on how peaceful that trip was...the fall colors on the mountains, the lake view, the hammock I read in for hours. Looking at the picture brings back those memories and we're happy to have an honored place for it now!
Stephen hung blinds and the curtains on the window opposite the wall with the picture, as well as over the sink. He did a fantastic job. The best part about this window is the blinds were $32, and the curtain rod and curtain came from Tuesday morning for $11 and $7 respectively. Now that's an affordable window treatment!
This is a picture of the wall before the picture was hung showing this side of the cabinets. Behind the block of knives is this fantastic feature:
That's right. Our kitchen is tech savvy with USB ports right into the wall. Another shout-out to Keith for hooking us up with such an awesome outlet! It pays to have a guy who just recently re-did his own kitchen head up the project. Who knew all this cool stuff exists? Keith does! Who spoiled the pastor and his wife? Keith does!
Here's a better picture after we got things set out the way we wanted them a few days after we moved back in. Another cool feature of our cabinets and drawers? They're spring loaded and quietly close themselves after a gentle nudge shut. Great for not waking a baby while cleaning up the kitchen!
AND NOW> News on the blizzard!
Day three and schools are back in session but things are not really thawed out much. After 19 inches of snow and high winds that caused snow drifts 3-6 foot high - you can imagine that takes a while.
I was surprised Amarillo ISD didn't have a delay at least this morning because our roads are still covered, icy and slick. It sounds like most of the major roads have now been plowed, but it will be a while before that's the case in our neighborhood.
The blizzard was supposed to start Sunday morning and it was hard to believe we were going to be as bad as they were forcasting when this is what the weather channel was saying.
That's just Texas weather for you. Come this Sunday we'll have a high of 69! I appreciate this kind of snow. It melts quickly and the sun comes out!
This was the view out our back door on Monday morning. Look at the tiki light to gain a perspective on how much snow that is! Being pregnant and lacking sufficient clothing for this kind of weather (not to mention now good way to health care if I fell!) I did not go out, but Stephen just had to! A big snow and he's like a kid in a candy store!
Here's one of his famous self-portraits we all know and love!
It wasn't until things started to clear off that we realized just how poor visibility was! Yesterday he got out and shoveled the sidewalk in front of the house. (What a good husband!)
I was impressed and thankful for his hard work, because just past the steps was a four foot drift he had to dig through. I rather think he enjoyed playing in the snow though!
I've always had a theory that every time we have a wind storm that it makes a whirlwind in our back yard between all our buildings. I took this picture yesterday when the few inches left around the tree had melted...but I had confirmation based on the snow blown pattern!
My usual route to church is through the back yard here into that playground outside the nursery but if you look hard enough, you can tell there's a drift that's piled up against the door...guess I'll take the long way around tonight!
And in case you were wondering...this is what the cat thought of everything.
He alternated between this and facing out the window to see what was going on...but most of the time, we was sleeping. Imagine that.
And the baby didn't know the difference all curled up warm in my womb. She continues to kick up a storm and they are getting a lot stronger! Every now and then I feel hiccups. Last night I woke up yelping in pain as I felt a "pop" sensation around one of my ligaments low in my belly. Then, I swear I felt the rest of my stomach stretching. The weird sensations of pregnancy no one really says anything about...I feel like I did an ab workout in my sleep. Her kicks make me feel like I'm using a muscle I wore out but I'm taking it all as a sign she's growing and healthy which after what we've been through in last couple weeks, I am all for it!
Last Wednesday, I cantored Holden Evening Prayer and none of the cinctures (the ropes around the alb) would fit around my belly. I had Stephen take a picture.
I love Holden Evening Prayer, but I also loved feeling as though I was serenading baby girl and bring her to worship God before she really knows what's going on. I can't wait to take her to church and sing hymns to her and teach her liturgy so she sings it by heart before she reads...(Oh the dreams of a Pastor's wife!) It also makes me feel a little bit like a rebel serving God as a woman leading a service with a big ol' pregnant belly. :-) Yes, that's how a woman serves her God! ROAR! Girl power...hahahaha....
Hope this finds you all well! Thank you for your continued prayers!
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