Like a Million Bucks

This past summer, Scott and I talked about saving up for a swingset for the kiddos. I looked at a few to get an idea of cost, and then we started socking away some money. Not only would we have to save for the swingset itself, but we'd have to save for the tree removal service, too, since we didn't have space in the backyard for a sizeable set. We knew this would take some time, especially since there were other house projects (the front porch) that took priority.

And then God, like He usually does, intervened.

Turns out our neighbors had a swingset that their kids had outgrown. A playset that they just wanted to GIVE away. Yes, GIVE.

And that upped our initial timetable.

Being the handy husband that he is, Scott borrowed a chainsaw and cut down the trees in our yard. Little. Big. They were no match for him (though a rotten tree did put up a good fight). That took about two weekends.

Another weekend, he ground the stumps down. (That turned out to be an all-day affair, much to our surprise.)

Come September, he and two of our neighbors carried the playset over to our yard so that Scott could begin the make-over. First a face-lift (power-washing). Then some nips and tucks here and there (board replacement). Finally, the make-up (stain). But she still wasn't ready.

New "jewelry" (rungs on the rope ladder). A new "hairstyle" (a new steel roof). And finally, she looks like a million bucks. And all for about a quarter of what just a new playset itself (not factoring in tree removal) would have cost us.

Don't tell me that God doesn't provide. I only have to glance out back to see that He does.

 The view from the bay window in the kitchen. Scott hadn't anticipated the tree falling toward the house. Thankfully, it was just short enough to miss doing any damage.

 Hard to tell, but notice the color difference between the playset and the ladder on the right. Just staining it made a big difference. You'll notice that there's no roof  and that the rope ladder isn't functional (the wood rungs were rotting).

 Leah enjoyed helping Daddy "paint" the ladder.

 Like a million bucks! Notice the roof that Scott designed and built, as well as the PVC rungs on the rope ladder. All of his hard work has been well worth it. The kids LOVE going outside to play.

Hunter LOVES the slide, particularly walking up it (assisted, of course) and then sliding down. He tumbled off the end and landed in a bed of leaves. I think he would have stayed there all afternoon had I let him!

 Leah had to try out the bed of leaves for herself.

 Playing pirates with big sis in the "fort". Or just looking adorable!