Welcome to our home. As all our guests know, we don’t let them leave until they sign our guestbook. : )

Yours truly in the entryway.

Heading to the dining area, our family vision statement on the wall.

Our family meal table. We were inspired by a talk on purposeful home decorations and decided to acquire a map of the world. It fit’s right into Steven’s calling (as a computer guy who makes computers work in any language of the world–yes his work is probably on your computer, too). Plus, the map is mighty handy for jumping up in geographical and historical conversations. We love it! : )

Our kitchen. Notice the valence is finally installed!!!!!! Hooray : )

Another view of the kitchen. A new rug under the sink is quite handy for drips and drops (I’m famous for these!).

The “Lahbrawree”. You have to say it with an english accent. This room’s theme is history. We were excited to discover an antique framed lithograph of Augsburg, Germany at an antique shop for only $12. The workers there were hoping we would decide not to get it, so they could. : ) Augsburg is the location of an important meeting in which Martin Luther helped to create the Augsburg Confession (Did I get the story right, Dad Serven?).

The other corner of the library has a new to us cozy chair for curling up with visiting little people. One of Steven’s inventions is in this picture. Can you guess what it is? Don’t pay too much attention to the dead fern. Yes, I’ve managed to kill it. Happily, Lydia brought me non-killable plant reinforcements from the midwest: a philodendron. Now all I have to do is plant it!

The Music room, where music is made. Literally. We were very blessed to get some special wooden chairs from Steven’s grandparents via Mom Loomis. Thank you, Mom and Grandpa and Grandma Schmidt!

The other side of the music room boasts a bookshelf of our music related books. Some of the more unusual ones include a book on conducting from the 1920s, one on English hymn authors, a fabulous book from our sister and brother in law about music in the church (highly, highly, highly recommend!!!), reference books on writing harmony, composer biographies, and lots of hymnals and psalters.

Moving back into the hallway, we have the hopeful-girls-room. It’s still waiting for girls, but it doubles as a guest room in the meantime.

We were just given this gorgeous dresser by a family in our church. J and K, you guys are so kind!!!! The oil painting fits just perfectly with it, don’t you think? It was painted by my grandmother.

For all you tech-y readers out there, I must confess: I am going to disappoint you. That’s right, I completely forgot to take a picture of your favorite part of the house. The Server Closet. Complete with lots of servers who live there. Actually, it’s been having more dominion taken over it, so now it has a little rolling cart and a laundry basket, too. So, both Steven and Rebecca like this room now. : )

But not to disappoint you completely, we do have pictures of the *STUDY*. Duh, duh, duh, duuuuuuuhhhhhhh!

This has been one of our most challenging rooms to have dominion over. Phew. But, we did it, again. This time, both of us worked on creating some new systems that work for both of us. Novel idea, isn’t it? Since this picture (last week), it’s actually staying pretty good. So, we are hopeful that we have yet again turned over a new leaf. All joking aside, the study is possibly the most productive room in the house. The Lord was convicting me of this, and how I need to serve my dear husband by making his work space a refreshing and delightful place to be, instead of the location where all things get stashed. I think you all probably have a place like that, right? : )

No. Steven doesn’t usually sit on the floor, but he was rigging up some nifty ways to keep wires off the floor from collecting dust.

It’s progress. Bear with us, people. We aren’t perfect either. [Editor's Note: Like anyone *thought* that we were! Ha.]

The other side of the study boasts our wedding sign, which some of you may remember. : ) Happy sigh. Sweet memories!

Steven has installed several handy shelves and towel racks in the guest bath. This has been most helpful for our company, especially the time we had 14 people staying with us for several nights. I kid you not. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family! : )

So, here is a scary room. Yes, we still have one left. But that is better than 4 scary rooms!!!! It’s actually had the organizing started in it, but it needs a bit more before it is transformed into the hopeful-boys-room and additional guest room. We are starting to have a collection of fun boys adventure furniture for this room. Can’t wait to set it up . . . but a bit of work first.

Here is the crowning glory! The hopeful-nursery and current sewing room!!!! Do you remember what it used to look like? Yes. It was pretty bad. A wonderful amazing sweet lady in our church came over lots of times to help me clean it out. It still has a bit of work, but it is completely usable for a guest and sewing room right now. Note to all small people: this basket of stuffed animals and dolls are the favorite play things of most short people who come to our home. Make sure to ask about it if you come for a visit.

The sewing area. Which has been getting a work out lately. Hi Sara!!! : ) And yes, you all may notice a few cute baby things that church families have been giving us in the pictures. They are so kind, hopeful, and prayerful for us. We appreciate your prayers too, that God would expand our family in His way, in His time.

In fact, one of the hopeful projects my dear Steven has for me to work on, is to paint the nursery. We are thinking about the light yellow color, aptly called “You are my sunshine”. : ) Yes, I’m choosing it on purely sentimental reasons. I’m planning to start next week!

Speaking of painting, I painted our bedroom a few months ago. What do you think?!

Our little love seat: another Salvation Army find. I love that store!

One of our favorite new “rooms” of our home, is our porch! We saved up and found a little porch set, that has already proved it’s weight in gold.

We’ve had lots of company on our porch lately, but have to we admit, this was our favorite group. : )

Our delicious spread for brunch.

Chillin’ on the porch.

Dear Dad and Mom Serven.

Peter giving Bella the evil eye.

The Hungry Toothpick, in person.

My sweet sisters working on a project Steven had for us all to do.

The Wisconsin contingent.

And later, having fun with the Serven Clan abridged. As you can see, the porch is very versatile. We love having meals out side, both with company, or just the two of us. It’s certainly our new favorite room. Now, if we can just convince Wimbrandis that it shouldn’t be *her* favorite room, we’d be good. Wimbrandis is a neighborhood cat who has adopted us. Her name? Well, it’s a long story for another time.

So, that what our household is looking like these days. How about yours?

P. S. Flashing back to the present (at the time that most of the house pictures were taken), this was the company that we were expecting. My dear Nana. : ) She brought us a lovely tart.

Welcome to our home!

We’d thought that we’d give you a little tour of our ‘Still in Progress But Slowly Coming Together’ house. Over this late summer and now during autumn, we’ve been able to unpack and get things mostly set up. We have been so incredibly blessed by the Lord through our family and friends. Each room is made homey only through other’s generosity and labor! Thank you, one and all. We thought you might enjoy seeing the results!

Wow. Green grass. It *actually* happens when you start watering the yard. Shocking, I know.

A few fall roses are gracing our yard. The fragrance is so sweet.

A pretty welcome wreath, thanks to Mom Loomis!

The view the UPS guy sees when he delivers packages, and which you would see if you knocked on our door. : )

Open the door . . . and “Welcome to the Loomis home!”

Our guestbook (don’t forget to sign before you leave!).

Our family table lies ahead.

The library is to one side of the entry.

Ready for a crowd, thanks to kind friends from our church.

More books in the library, a video screen covered by a lovely quilt, which is to be covered (someday) by a fun print (while we save up for more bookshelves!).

The music room is on the other side of the entry.

The piano has been getting a workout with some exciting hymn-writing projects. More on that later! : )

Looking back from the music room, across the entry, and to the library.

Now we have a very long, un-exciting, and currently un-decorated hallway. Someday, I want to put up a wall of family pictures.

But wait! What is this? It’s the most exciting room of the house!!!!!!

The Server Closet!!!! Yes. It’s still in progress. But, all necessary parts are working *quite* well, I’d have you know.

This is the future girls room, which is currently set up as our guest room.

Oh wait. What is this? A newly cleaned and organized room, de-cluttered of boxes, junk, and general stuff!!!!!! Whoohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The study’s OfficeMax supply section.

Steven’s work space, most days of the week.

Steven found these neat little tags to keep our baskets organized.

The guest bath. Yes, that’s real Grecian marble. This phase of the remodel was done years ago, and is quite elegant, if you ask me.

Ok. Now it’s time for a *scary* room. Du-du-du-duuuhhhhhh!!!!

Yes, we still have a few of these types of rooms left. However they are getting better. Someday we hope this room will serve as the nursery, but for now, it’s going to be the sewing room.

It was fun to unpack my fabric stash and start getting things organized.

Next, we have our room, complete with some amazing Craig’s List and Goodwill finds.

And the master bath (you can see a splotch of test paint on the wall in the mirrored reflection–one of these days, we’re going to get around to painting . . . )

Back through the dining room, where you can see the front door . . .

. . . And our lovely kitchen. Notice the Kombucha and Sourdough starters hiding underneath the towel; the ever present jars who often inhabit our culinary escapades.

Our wonderful pantry, complete with shelving, brackets, and hooks put up by Dad Serven! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Laundry closet. Not very exciting, excepting the fancy new shelving!

Looking out the back door, you can see the remains of our summer garden.

I had never grown eggplants before, so this was kind of fun!

Winter garden planted; sprouts are just coming up. A few tomatoes still left on the summer garden.

Back of the house. Someday I’d like to plant a little herb garden out the kitchen window.

And now, back inside for my favorite picture of all. My sweetheart of a husband. : )

We have 2 solar panels (12V) running a fan to cool the garage.

Generates a bit more than 12v

We even have “green” solar mounts (made of shrubbery).

12v muffin fan cools off the garage…

Me demonstrating a solar-powered Peltier junction: Hot into cold!

Edit: as mentioned in #House Update# we are using delicious library to catalog.

Music

Rebecca is very glad to have the piano tuned and in the music room. She enjoys playing, We enjoy singing together, and Steven enjoys hearing Rebecca play.

The red couch came from the Salvation Army store as did the small table.

We’re starting to unpack the china into the hutch by the piano.

Wall Decorations

We are starting to put up some wall decorations.

Office

Rebecca set up our filing cabinet for organizing everything…

Steven is setting up his part of the office (with plenty of screen real estate..)

Library

Our sectional sofa and new rug, re-installed speakers and books.. this picture is from earlier in the month, we now have most of the books catalogued. Edit: More about the speakers/video at the Tech Blog

That’s your update for now… more later!

S for S&RL

It’s springtime at the Loomis home and lots of things are growing!

Spinach.

Spicy Lettuce.

Swiss Chard.

Apple Blossoms.

Apple Tree in bloom.

Lemon tree in bloom.

Budding out.

Pea vine.

Cherry Tree in bloom.

Roses and Lavender.

Little pinks.

Lady Banks Rose.

Honeysuckle Vines.

Our view from our front porch.

The garden gate.

(Rebecca made and installed the purple one!)

We tidied up the server closet a bit by building some shorter patch wires and strapping almost everything down.

With the hanging wires out of the way, you almost can’t see that it’s anything other than a nice hallway closet (in need of a door).

Now you don't see it!

Cable management in progress..

Bolted down and ready.

I did however almost forget a cover on the doorbell!

Doorbell wiring (back)

Doorbell wiring (front)

"Drilling a hole here isn't in the manual"

all tucked in