Right after the patio and pergola/arbor/gate were complete, my life took a turn that put everything on hold. My 88 year old mother came to live with me, and a few months later my brother passed away. A story in itself, but I'll stick to our tale. This is one of two stored in the barn. I wish I knew the history. I wasn't able to work on the prayer garden for almost two years. Pictures of 2012 and 2013 are missing, but using my journals, Facebook posts, and receipts, I can plac

As Barefoot Rob poured and spread concrete, I felt God pouring his blessing on my faith. Because of the incredibly low cost for the patio, I had some savings left to spend on the pergola, a sitting area out of the sun. As an inexperienced novice, I had no clear idea of the cost or its design, except I wanted it to be cedar. Several contractors gave me ideas and prices, but as usual, they were out of reach. Finally, I found Nick--sincere, respectful, and patient with my indeci

May 2011 Diligently working on the pathway and listening to God speaking through rocks, my conviction grew. With an image of myself standing before God to give account, I committed to obey in faith. I would invest my small savings in a patio—a God-given dream—not knowing where it would take me. This savings was my emergency fund, meant for unexpected repairs, medical needs, or disaster of some kind. I was at a personal crossroad: would I choose to act on this persistent idea

April/May 2011 The “praise patio” that I envisioned was a big project. I wasn't ready to move forward, but a pathway from the front of the house to the back seemed a safe start. It was a fairly inexpensive DIY project, a way to put my toe into untested waters; but I had no idea of the hard work that lay ahead or how long it would take. As the “path maker”, I had a plan. The path would start at the driveway, curve around the side, and lead up to the back gate. Rock borders wou