I am married to a man that is beyond wonderful. He is not perfect but he is as close. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments but well, he is perfect for me. This guy who is sending his wife and daughter on a trip to Peru, staying home to work, not taking a summer vacation himself, guiding his other daughter through a college search, asked me how important a garage is to me. I carefully responded with 'very important'. We have lived here 20 years and will likely be a minimum of 20 more years. We are not getting any younger and fighting the snow and ice is getting harder with each year. He nodded and let me sit while he pulled a piece of paper and began drawing. I became cautiously optimistic.
We discussed the size of the garage, the amenities of the space, the type of structure (wood or steel), and the exact location of the structure. My man of many talents drew out the garage of my dreams, a three car stall with an attic above, included a full concrete apron out front with a basketball hoop at one end. My excitement began to grow as he began to collect bids for such a fabulous building. The prices came in and we had a bit of sticker shock. We then discussed exactly what did we need in a garage versus want, are there areas to cut back in the structure to make it more cost friendly.
I waited in a somewhat quiet, non-begging manner as hubby figured and collected data. Okay, I was not that quiet, I asked a lot of questions wanting to know if we were really building a garage. Shortly he presented me with a drawing of the garage of my dreams: a two car garage with a gambrel roof with a lean-to third car stall, and windows!!. Oh! How lovely. He was planning on putting only concrete in the two car area with a small apron. I jumped with delight. I was so excited to have a garage for my car this next winter, near the back door, as well a place to host a graduation party next spring. AND - I was also going to Peru. I am truly the luckiest girl and the most spoiled.
The story is not quit over yet, this amazing man then decided that if he was going to do this project he may as well do it right and do it all the first time. You can imagine my joy when I understood the stakes he put out laying out where the building included stakes indicting a 25 foot apron of concrete out front. I am nearly giddy with the knowledge that less dirt and mud will enter our home with all this concrete out the back door. Our dream garage is to become a reality.
The man I married is wise and generous. He has wisely waited until we had the money saved to build rather than taking on debt to burden us for years. He is patient and puts up with an impatient spouse as he leads our family as a wise steward of our resources.
I am still living with partial walls, worn flooring, unfinished woodwork, lack of woodwork yet I am get the privilege of a short term missions trip with my daughter and a garage. God wasn't done blessing me as donations started to arrive for our trip. Approximately 50% of our trip is paid for through donations. As my friend and fellow traveler said "you cannot out give God." She is so very right.
The garage is in planning phase, going through blue print design and approvals, etc. Although the building site pad is ready and waiting. The process is taking much long than my impatient personalty prefers. I keep reminding myself that the wait worth it. I real relish each time I pull into the garage, near the back door of the house this winter rather than traversing the icy hill to the big shed, maneuvering the big sliding door, tromping through the snow to lock it all up. I desire to remember how I though the dream was lost to have it given back to me with much more than I expected.
I'll post a picture of the lovely structure when it is built.
P.S. 10 days to our departure for Peru.
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