Building a place to do my art

We have been contemplating adding on to the house - a breezeway out the back of the garage going into a 2-story addition family room with a loft. It needs to have a kitchen area for snacking and entertaining on holidays and a bathroom. I want lots of windows and I love natural light. I have been researching a zillion or so floor plans and photos. I am working on drawing up the plans I want now and hope to be able to break ground at the end of the month. I am so SO excited about the prospects.

I want the new space to have a library area, a wood stove for warmth, and a corner where I can take some photos of people and still life. Some place with good lighting. I want it to have a porch so I can go out and sit and relax if I choose to. Next to the back of the porch, where it wraps around, I want a secluded 'secret' garden and patio.

I hope we can also do some landscaping with this project. We have wanted to landscape for three years, but got a Laborador pup and she has 'destroyed' the back yard! This summer she will be 3 and I've read that it takes about that long for them to calm down. We have loved and enjoyed her free spirit but have lost all of my planter pots, solar lighting throughout the backyard, most of the plants and shrubs, and the picket fence. All are gone now. Is it time to start over, to put out the effort and expense to re-landscape? I don't know the answer to that, but I'm willing to give it a try.

I have prayed about this for three years. With the state of the economy I wondered if we were doing the right thing. I actually think now that it might be the best time to do it since the interest rates will be low. I believe God wants me to do this, to stand in His provision. To have the faith of a mustard seed means I must trust Him totally. All things are possible through Him who strengthens me. We receive not because we ask not. That's what His word says to us. He is opening new doors for me and I will not stand in His way. I will receive with arms open and a thankful and serving heart.