Let’s get it started…
It all began with LOVE. This was our old hay barn in 2016 that became the place where our hearts joined as one. That’s right! My husband and I were married in front of this little red barn. This was the original barn, the way it all started.
We had always loved its rustic look and country setting that put it smack dab in the middle of our 21-acre hay field. It was a two-story hay storage barn for us at the time. Little did we know then what was in store for this Izard county icon.
In January of 2021, the little barn was destroyed by a massive oak tree that stood behind it. The tree was uprooted during a storm and crushed the 1940’s wooden structure. We were devastated, with no insurance coverage, and no money for reconstruction; the barn sat beneath the tree for months until finally being cut up for firewood.
The fragments left looked irreparable, but God had a plan for this little jewel. A local craftsman said he could fix her up if only to store hay again. The idea of repair thrilled us, but the price tag was scary. We decided to stick to the bare minimum. Anything able to be repurposed was saved. Original boards, hardware, gates, and latches, all were saved with reuse in mind. Several family members worked evenings and off days. Rough lumber was brought in from a nearby sawmill, and the labor of love was all worth it when the rafters were mended and straightened; then the patched roof made it seen whole again.
It was then that we realized her true beauty, and we started to see her potential. We started to dream and “what if,” so we prayed. It wasn’t just an old barn anymore, she became our dream. We had always loved her, now we wanted to make her beautiful and share her with others.
God blessed us, so we were able to floor her, then came the native cedar staircase to access the loft instead of the old ladder through the floor. There was new fencing added and the driveway widened. We added a back deck, kitchen counter space, sliding barn doors, and electricity. Now she had outlets, lights, and a ceiling fan.
But… no bathroom. What would we do without one? If we wanted guests, we had to figure it out… Instead of using the barn’s space for a restroom, we added an outdoor facility for his and her toilet and sink - restrooms. The cute structure is rustic with hardwood slabs for the walls and a tin roof and a small front porch where the entrances are. Today, the rain barrel feeds both and is working well, but in the near future, we hope there will be a well drilled.
Added after the fact was a beautiful bridge connecting the back of the property to the restrooms. Solar lighting gives it a friendly glow at night. Recently, my husband built me a large swing from a cedar plank; it hangs out of a nearby tree and gives a clear view of the bridge and the field.
This is why we call it our work of HEART. Love is where it started, and love is what kept it in our hearts when we thought it was a lost cause, a pile of splinter rubble to the beautiful blessing she is today. Her story of transformation is posted in pictures on her wall. It commemorates her resurrection, but her story continues to unfold as visitors become part of her life. We hope the journey of love lives through her as she brings people together in joy.
God is good. Psalm 37:4