It Takes A Village

Ten adults, eleven kids, and 15 gallons of paint later, Water to Wine now sports a new steely gray exterior with white trim!  

We worked in teams of two starting in the morning and ending about 4pm, just in time for Mojitos and some yummy appetizers!

We couldn't have done it without an amazing group of friends who were willing to pack up, drive over, and set up camp in our backyard just to help.  When we told people what we planned to do, they thought we were crazy and wanted to know who the "suckers" were that agreed to come help. 

Truly, God revealed to me in a new way the gift of community...those willing to share life with us, the good and the bad, the fun and the work.  He showed me how what seems impossible becomes possible with and through community.  Whether it is painting a house, dealing with a crisis, or navigating day to day life challenges, having a solid community around us makes all the difference in the world.  Thank you, dear friends!

As you can see from the photos, while we worked, the kids had a blast playing in the sand, making up games, swimming in the water, setting up forts, playing basketball, slip and sliding, and doing what kids do in the summer. 

It was so neat to see them run free from one end of the property to the other...something city kids don't always get to do!  

Just like their parents, they were WIPED OUT by the end of the day!  Nothing a little Star Wars and sleep won't cure.

The weekend was everything we had hoped Water to Wine would be...a place for fun, laughter, memories, and community!

Moving Weekend

The adventure began on Friday night when Kevin went to pick up the truck at Uhaul and they told him that we had been "upgraded" to a larger truck.   "No, thanks, we'll just take the truck we ordered."  "Sorry, that's all we have."  Thankfully, Kevin's expert packing (a la Tetris) and strategic tie off system kept the load secure and our good friend, Shawn, brought the muscles to get the job done!

Miraculously, Kevin got up at 6am and safely drove the truck through two mountain passes to arrive at our home in Chelan without anything sliding.  He had managed to unload the entire truck (with the help of our Chelan realtor, Rhett Crow...what a great guy!) and get most of the furniture put together by the time my mom, the kids, and I arrived that afternoon.  Things are starting to take shape!

We had amazing help from the Martin Family, as well as Mary Beth and her kids, to get everything into place.  My mom couldn't resist Scotch-guarding the white slip-covers...so maybe they aren't the most practical choice, but I've always wanted that "beachy" feel! 

Thanks to ALL of you for your help! We couldn't have done it without you!!

Let the Transformation Begin!

This weekend made me feel like one of those designers on HGTV....taking a plain (or dare I say ugly) place and transforming it into something special on a limited budget! FUN. CHALLENGING. And yes, lots of WORK!

Thankfully, Kevin's mom came from Arizona to help us paint. She is amazing and runs a tight ship, so we got everything done that we had set out to do that weekend. Water to Wine is now swathed in bright, fun colors, ready for a fantastic summer!

THANK YOU, JEANNE/MOM/NINA! We are so grateful for you and your servant's heart.

The kids even got into it and knocked themselves out painting the bunk room's closet. Too cute!

Our first family photo in front of Water to Wine...

The Name

Like any storied house on the campus of our college alma mater (Miami of Ohio), Kevin and I agreed that our lake house needed a name. Not just any name. We wanted to choose a name that embodied the spirit that we hope to foster in this house...a name rich in meaning, personal and memorable in character. Because we envision the house as a place to relax, have fun, and enjoy family and friends, we also wanted the name to be clever and playful. Given all these criteria, it was no surprise that it took a bit of time and a lot of creative energy before Kevin and I agreed that we had found the name for our house.

And so, Water to Wine was born! Not only is our house in Lake Chelan situated on the water and across from a winery, but we figure many of the best days there will begin with some sort of water activity and end with a little wine! But, don't worry the deeper meaning and essential spirit we wanted is wrapped in this name, too because as you know, Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine:

JOHN 2:1-11
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." ....Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Here's to Water to Wine...CHEERS!

Destined

I still have to pinch myself to make sure this is really happening. We are less than 30 days from closing on a waterfront vacation home in Lake Chelan, WA. We had only been to Chelan once, last summer. We fell in love immediately with the climate, terrain, and small town feel. We'd always dreamed of owning a second home but never thought it would happen so soon! Not only was the timing all wrong (my dad was recently diagnosed with late stage lung cancer, and I've been struggling with my own health issues all year), but we hadn't even been looking. It was destined....God wanted us to do this!

The property basically fell into our lap out of nowhere. A close friend's mom keeps an eye on the Chelan market, and forwarded the listing to my friend, who casually mentioned it to a group of us. We played around with the idea of purchasing the property together, but it didn't pan out. For some reason, I still couldn't stop thinking about it. Something in my heart just stuck the first time I heard about it. Long story short, Kevin and I drove to Chelan and back on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago to see this place. The whole way there, I still couldn't believe we were seriously considering it. After visiting the property, we made an offer that night. For those of you who know us well, this is SO out of character (and out of comfort zone) for us (analytical, deliberate people). It all happened so fast, it was surreal...still is. The only way we can explain it is that we just knew through prayer and in our hearts that we were supposed to buy this property.

At first, I felt guilty for entertaining the idea of a vacation home. Many people struggle to afford a single home, and here we are buying a second. Yet, as I continued to pray about it, I continued to feel God's leading and peace. I knew from past experience that His plans are always so much bigger and better than we can imagine, and sometimes we don't always understand. And so, we moved forward in faith, trusting that God would reveal His purposes over time. Sure enough, He is beginning to do so (hope to have more on that later!).

We look forward to the journey ahead and invite you to join us! Thanks for looking.