Three years in the making. That’s how long Nathan has been working on the patio. Our backyard started with a screened in porch and a tiny semi-circle patio right off the porch. And now, we have an entire additional outdoor ROOM to enjoy.

I just want to take a minute to brag on my guy. Ya’ll. He designed this patio expansion – the whole thing, which is impressive as is. And THEN, he (with the help of his dad) BUILT 85% of it. What happened with the last 15%, you ask? Harrison Thomas Lane entered our life, and somehow, there was no such thing as free time anymore. Free time. What’s that again?

But first, the before pictures:

And the after…

Ya’ll. It is so beautiful, and has really made our backyard homey. I love spending time on the porch, or rocking on the rocking chairs. And I sometimes stand back at our fence at this angle and stare at it in awe that my husband designed this. And then he built it. And it just couldn’t be more perfect for us.

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The creeping jenny falling over the walls softens the edges perfectly.

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This garden path is growing beautifully together. We just finished planting this path in June, so it’s only been two months, and so many of the plants are growing perfectly. I’m so pleased with how it’s turning out.

Being in the garden and watching things grow and evolve over time is my happy place. It’s where I go when I’m anxious. It’s where I go when I feel like I’m going to lose my patience if I don’t take a minute to step away. It’s where I go when I’m happy and want to soak in all of God’s glory and goodness in a perfect evening. It reminds me of my mom, and the hours she spent with us in the garden. It reminds me of my grandma, who passed her love of flowers down to my mom.

It’s a thin space for me between heaven and earth. And it’s where I feel most at peace.