A Virtual Tour

This particularly lengthy post is for those of you who have been asking what our house looks like. So if you really couldn't care less (and we won't be offended if you don't), then you might want to pass on this one and wait to see our next one because I included LOTS of pictures.

This is the front of our house. You can see the front door (a silver screen door) hiding behind the large hanging plant. The small area inside the gate is a great place for the kids to play when I can't watch them very closely.

This is taken from the same spot, looking to the right. This driveway is where we park our truck, but this is not it. This truck is a loaner while ours is at the shop. This F-150 is HUGE to attempt to navigate through Philippine traffic and narrow roads.This is taken from the front of the house, looking to the left. The plot of land with banana plants is well-maintained and gorgeous. There is a circle drive around the plot that the children love to play on with their friends. There is no outlet on the other side of the drive so our street is a dead-end with very little traffic.

After you come inside the gate and approach the door, there is the coolest wagon-wheel bench and a kid's table and chairs made out of coconut trees.
When you come in the front door, the small foyer has this great window that looks through to the dining room.

To the left of the foyer is the living room. All the furniture in the house is on loan to us while we are in language study. When we finish and are ready to move to our ministry location, we will have to buy our own. Aren't the marble floors gorgeous? Marble is phenomenally cheap here.

The dining area is on the opposite side of the great room. The hallway to the right leads to the office and bedrooms. The small window/bar looks through to the kitchen. The stairs go up to the loft.

Mikayla is showing off the loft above the kitchen. It is a large area with hard wood floors and lots of storage space. It serves as the kids' playroom.

This is taken from the kitchen, looking through the window. You can see the back door to the right that leads to the fenced-in back alley.

While the view from the window over the sink is certainly nothing to brag about, our kitchen is spacious and practical. At the back of the kitchen are the stairs to the loft as well as the door to the "dirty kitchen". No, we have not gotten lazy in our tidiness; this is the term in the Philippines for the second kitchen where "dirtier" tasks are performed and rags, buckets, etc. are kept.
Our "dirty kitchen". The door leads to the gated alley behind our house. This is where we dry our clothes on the clothes line. The kids also play back here sometimes. The small half gate to the right leads to the empty lot behind our house.

This empty lot was completely overgrown by cogan grass and underbrush when we arrived. The owner of the lot said we could use it if we would maintain it. So we hired a guy named Walter to clear it for us, and we are now having him come once a week to maintain it. Steve and he are developing a good friendship. It is a gorgeous lot and great play area for the kids. We also have several different varieties of root crops growing there as well as some fruit trees. Then we planted some pineapples which will take nearly a year to bear fruit.

Our bedroom is just off the kitchen and is HUGE! Jen's office is in the bedroom, and it is here that she studies Tagalog with her teacher every day. There is even room for a craft table! Opposite the bed is Kayla's school area. She and Jen do school every afternoon, and she is doing great! Through the white doors is the bathroom, followed by the closet. The closet door at the back of the closet (where a dress is hanging) actually opens to a secret passageway that leads to the kids' room! They love it, and we all use it regularly.

As you can see, the kids are all sharing a room for the first time. It has its moments, but it is going well all in all. The pink room is Steve's office and language study room. For those of you who have made it this far on the virtual tour, you have way too much time on your hands. :) No, thank you for your interest in our lives. As you can see from the many pics, we aren't exactly "roughing it" in this house. It is the nicest house we have ever lived in and the nicest vehicle we have ever had. God has truly blessed us. And, as you can see from the pics, we have PLENTY of room for guests... :)