He is Risen and we are home

In other news, S and I have been on the hunt for a new church home. We've attended a few without the special you're home feeling like the one we've always had for Christ United Methodist Church in Plano. (To be fair, we've spent our entire lives at CUMC, so it's to be expected that it will take a while to find one that can even compare.)

Our list of qualifications is this:
1. Must have a decent sized 20-something congregation.
2. Must have programs in place for our age group.
3. Must challenge us spiritually, while making us feel at home.
That's pretty much it...

This past Sunday, we attended Highland Park United Methodist for the first time. It might not be fair to judge the other churches (ha) based on their any given Sunday service when we attended the Easter service at HPUMC, but we loved it. Decent sized 20 something congregation-check. Programs in place for our age group-check. Challenged us spiritually-if Rev. Craig's service this past Sunday is any indication-check and check.

Although, I have to say, that I entered into the service on Sunday already challenging myself. The story of the resurrection has always been a reassuring, yet challenging one for me. Among other things, Rev. Craig talked about the importance of reflection and action–a perfect message for us. If that wasn't enough, part of their offering goes to Central Dallas Ministries, an amazing organization (that I love) doing incredible things for our struggling neighbors here in Dallas.

We're excited to learn more about HPUMC, meet some new people, and get plugged in.

We're getting closer and Hoppy Easter!

This is fairly long overdue, but here are a few pictures of the progress on the house taken during this past weekend. (In case you need reminding of what this place looked like before we bought it..., and here, and here) We had S's family to our house this year. It was a lot of fun, and thank you again for all the wedding presents... I think we used them ALL. And, ... we got to break out the Piland Silver, only used for the most special occasions–and that it was!


The place is definitely not finished, which is why I haven't posted pictures. We're busy picking out fabric for the living room furniture (a sofas and two large, armless chairs), trying to find something awe inspiring to go above the sofa on the wall, looking for the perfect dining room rug, and searching for the right table to go in the corner to elevate the perfect lamp... Of course, we've found all said pieces; however, they are pricey, pricey. So, for now we visit our champagne items, laugh about our beer budget, and deal with the bare walls.

Guest bedroom

Office/Bomber's Diggs

Hallway

Master Bathroom (shower and toilet)

Master Bathroom (drawers still need painting)

View from the Master Bedroom
(No master bedroom shots, that's a little too revealing.)


Laura cooking in the kitchen, Bomber hoping she drops something

Living room, various lovely family members,
temporary furniture brought in for said family members

Dining room
(and tops of temporary chairs)

Oh, I love this. Saturday night before retiring, I was working in the garage when I heard S yell for me. He was in the front yard mowing the lawn. Which is funny because we don't have a lawn mower. He had found a REALLY old push lawn mower left by the previous owner and was going to town on our sad excuse for front yard. This is home ownership people... Saturday night at 10:30...

Gettin' after it.

S says it looks like the goats ate the grass. I love him.