a wide place

David and I have daydreamed about getting a pool for the last five years or so. For a long time it felt unattainable, but was awfully fun to talk about. In the meantime, David sold one of his rental houses. So this past year, we began talking in earnest: What if we really put a pool in the backyard?

We made a pros/cons list. I could think of a dozen reasons not to do it, the biggest being: umm, college is coming in two years. But David talked me out of obsessing about that one and pointed out how a swimming pool fits our vision for our home: lots of intentional time outside, quality time together as a family, and hospitality. It’s particularly a great way to spend time with teenagers, of which we now have three.

When we bought this house 11 years ago we had a dream of taking a 1,500 square foot, very modest house that wasn’t our favorite — but was a steal in price — and turning it into our dream home over time.

I’m thankful to say that, thanks largely to David’s hard work, investing, vision, and some frugal living, we’ve been able to do just that.

The funny thing to me was that David’s main hang up about getting a pool wasn’t the cost but the question: “Do you see us living in this house for at least ten more years?” And I said “Of course!”

I have no desire to move. Thankfully, our experiment of homeschooling in the high school years has thus far been a success, so while there was a time we wondered if we’d need to move to a different school district, that time is past. Plus, with the housing market the way it currently is, we could never afford to move to a house that’s the size ours now is, with the updates we’ve done.

I also realize it’s an incredible blessing that we love our job and church as much as we do and Lord willing, see ourselves spending many more happy years here.

So the next step in our dream house? A pool, naturally.

At first we looked into buying an average above-ground pool but just realized we could not make something like that look nice in our particular backyard (some neighbors live on a slope and did it very successfully by building a deck around the pool).

This winter we got quotes from two different companies, and the big question was, “Can we have a pool large enough to make it worth the money?” The second company said, “Sure!” and we liked the plans they drew up. We signed a contract, and over Easter weekend David, his dad, and his brother Joe proceeded to dismantle our pavilion.

In April, the construction crew showed up and began digging an enormous hole in our backyard.

We have several little neighbors who are very excited about the pool and wanted to come see the process.

Side note: can you believe how enormous that trampoline is?? We ordered a 16-footer this last time to fit lots of growing kids but when it was propped up it looked completely ridiculous. You could see that thing a block away.

That’s been the one sad part of this process — saying good-bye to our beloved trampoline. We’ve owned one for almost 9 years now, and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you it has been used daily for those 9 years. Rain and shine.

All three of our boys have felt a little lost in these last few weeks without it. Noah said, “Momma, I just don’t know what to do in between my school subjects when I can’t run out and jump!” But thankfully, we were able to bless our friends, the Williamsons, with it, just as a family in our neighborhood blessed us with our first trampoline. And now they are enjoying it every day!

We chose the most economical pool option, which was a rectangular shaped vinyl pool, and it was shocking how quickly it went in. I think it was four days from start to finish.

By the end of that first week, it was filled with water, and Amie and Noah jumped in for a swim. Despite the fact that it was still April and the water was freezing cold.

As with our previous building projects, we learned that the first part goes so quickly it raises your hopes, and the last half drags out a very long time. By very long, I should say it’s been 8 weeks now, so it’s relative, I realize that.

Here’s where I’ll also say we’re actually combining two huge projects into one.

Ever since we bought our house, David has wanted to have the backyard graded and sod laid so it looks more crisp and finished. This was a natural time to do it, since the pool required a retaining wall.

The surprise for us (and also the contractors I think was just how high the ground was raised to fit the pool, which is 6-feet deep. Therefore, we ended up needing two retaining walls installed for drainage, so our yard is now three levels. We’re learning a lot about just how much drainage you need when you install a pool. That’s what all the rocks are surrounding the walls and up against the back porch; they cover drainage pipes.

Like I said, not what we planned, but we have some ideas to make it pop. And we’re already loving this low wall, which will be the perfect spot to sit lots of people when we have cookouts and pool parties. In the meantime, the kids lay out in the sun along it to warm themselves up after swimming.

The woodpile will be moved out of sight, and in that general area, David and his dad plan to build a smaller pavilion for shade in the summer and fire pits in the winter.

So I’m sure you are noticing all.the.red.dirt.

Yes, it has been the bane of our existence for two long months. With four kids, a dog, 4 chickens, and now pool upkeep chores, some days I just want to weep. Every time it rains we start back at square one with having to keep Kira inside or take her out to the front yard on a leash to go potty. As she considers the backyard her personal domain, she has not taken kindly to that rule.

But, once again, past home renovation projects have prepared us well. This too shall pass. And when it’s finished, it will all be so very worth the inconvenience.

As you can imagine, it’s also been a bit of a learning curve with keep the pH balanced in the water. We have a saltwater pool, which is supposedly simpler for that. I’m trying to take in a sample every week to our pool store in Forest Acres, and they’ve been super helpful.

As of right now, we have footers in for concrete to be poured this coming week. And in the meantime, we’re developing a plan for laying our own sod. By “we” I mean David is developing a plan.

We’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the small steps we need to accomplish first, like kill weeds and pick up about a million small rocks before the layer of topsoil can go down and move the woodpile and purge the collection of about two dozen miscellaneous planters that Amie and I have accumulated over the years.

But we’ve scheduled an hour before dinner for Family Yard Chores (it’s on the kids’ summer lists!), and whoever is home will pitch in and then jump in the pool.

My job is to think about re-organizing David’s workshop to make room for a pool storage system. Our back porch is not a permanent solution.

In the meantime, we’re doing our best to take things one day at a time, relishing the process of receiving an incredible gift that we will enjoy for years to come.

Anyone want to come for a swim?