Cheri Strange, Christian Speaker and Author

    If you can imagine, there is a lot to do around here, preparing to add four kids into the mix. We first needed to look at our finances. Could we actually afford it? Well, a lot of things will have to wait or move to the back burner -- or get off the oven altogether. We were prepared for the expenses associated with an international adoption -- for ONE -- not for four. Now, we need more than an extra bed and closet space. We need another bedroom, another bathroom, another air conditioner, a 15-passenger van, funiture and clothes for 4 more, and at least 12 forks! Where do we begin?

     Why, painting Jolee and Chloe's room, of course! Although it seems illogical since they are the only ones NOT moving rooms, painting it is what we did because we need more storage. (That should be clear as mud.)

     Let me explain. We have a large playroom upstairs we plan to utilize as the needed new bedroom. However, the room is full of stuff: toys, books, stuffed animals, babies galores, and games. The new bedroom and the stuff cannot coexist as is. Our best solution was to stack their beds as bunk beds and add Ikea storage units to match their current white funiture. With all that white in the room, the neutral walls had to go. I painted them first, before Chad put the wall of white funiture together.

     Then the ceiling fan had to go since the beds were stacked as bunk beds -- but unfortunately, not before Chloe made a trip to the ER with a cut under her eye from one of the blades. Now they have a beautiful chandelier hanging in it's place. (Thank you, Papa Bob). 

     Now, the wall of storage is complete, and I am in the process of going through everything to move things from the playroom to Jolee and Chloe's room. Although it seems like extra work and an extra expense, we are very glad we began here. 

     Next week, we'll add a new air conditioning unit upstairs; and I'll move my attention toward the kitchen -- expanding our fork count. :)