Tour My Home - part 8: {main area}

Part 1 {The outside} 

Part 2 {Garage entryway}

Part 3 {Brianna and Micah's Room}

Part 4 {Main bathroom}

Part 5 {Master bedroom}

Part 6 {Master bathroom and closet}

Part 7 {Boys' bedroom}

Welcome to... the grand finale!  This last area, the main area, consists of our living room, kitchen, dining room, and office space.  In reality, this living space is the whole second half of our house, and I am showing it all to you in one post!

I don't think you will ever know how much we sacrificed to get to this point in our home.  (You can actually see a little of it here and here.)  But, let me tell ya... it was worth it.  We scrounged and saved to get to this point, and are now enjoying the benefits.   

{Below}  I am standing in the door of Brianna and Micah's room, taking this picture.  If you turn right, you will be heading out the back door.  If you turn left, you will find the master bedroom and both bathrooms.  But, since we've already been to those spaces, let's walk straight ahead!

{Below} Welcome to our big, open space!  I timed this post just right so that you could see it decorated for the holidays.

{Below}  That door to the right leads to our boys' bedroom...

 {Below}  Since we do not have dryers in Ukraine, many people have asked where I hang our clothes during the winter.... Here is your answer... (Yes, I would prefer that they be hidden in a bedroom somewhere, but I don't like the mugginess it creates.  They dry faster out in the open, and we hardly notice them anymore.)

 {Below}  This is hubby's desk.  I also want you to notice the picture hanging on the wall, which is what we gave him for Father's Day this year.  Love it!

 {Below}  This is my desk which sometimes has a laptop setting on it (when hubby hasn't taken it to the church to work).

{Below}  My view from the kitchen sink.  I see nearly everything that goes on in my home (but my kids still think I have eyes in the back of my head... LOL!

{Below}  No such thing as dishwashers here, so are you wondering where I put my clean, wet dishes to dry?  Wonder no more.... See that drying rack that is disguised as a drawer?  Pretty smart invention, eh?

{Below}  You might remember our wood-burning stove that faithfully kept us warm our first two winters in this home.  We are actually thinking of selling it now!  Our tile floors are heated, and now that we have worked the kinks out, we love them.  The only heat we have in this entire area comes from the floors, and we stay cozy warm this way.  Gotta see (feel) it to believe it!

{Below} See that hole in the ceiling?  One day we dream of building a wooden staircase in that wide, open area that will lead to the attic.  And, in the attic, we plan to build our three boys a big bedroom!

{Below}  Since hubby and I both play the piano, having a piano in our home was a very high priority.  I am teaching all three of our oldest children, and when they "outgrow" me, we will find them a "real" piano teacher.

 {Below}  Looking back to Brianna and Micah's room (left) and the main bathroom (right)

Left to finish in this room:

*  Baseboards

*  Staircase

*  Curtains

*  Large, area rug for living room

*  Light fixtures in several sections of this area

*  Office cabinets and bookcases to replace the two desk  (and our big boys will get the desk for their homeschooling spaces to replace their tables.)

* Decorate, decorate, decorate....!   I still have all kinds of decorating dreams for this room...  But, one day at a time...

So, that about wraps it up!  I really hope that you enjoyed this "Tour My Home" series.  I enjoyed having you come along.  Do you feel like you know us better now?

God has been so good to us!  Even though we have seemingly made many sacrifices by leaving our comforts back home, the Lord has provided for us in great, big ways that we do not deserve.  Yes, we have had to be smart with our decisions and spending, but that is no different than if we lived anywhere else in this world.

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful home You have given me.  And thank you, hubby, for seeing your dream of providing me my first OWN home ever fulfilled.  

I am forever grateful.