Cowboy threw a leg over my four wheeler and pointed me down the back road. As we came to a slower pace an abandoned little ranch home came into view. He shared his dream of finding a place like that to call home someday. It was a little window into his ever hopeful soul. Although we didn’t know when, where or how…we promised that if we were ever given the chance, we would bring a place like that back to life and share it with others in whatever way we could.
I’m Tenneil — yes — like “The Captain and…”
I clicked publish on my first blog post almost fifteen years ago after leaving the executive world to stay home with my son. Then, the unexpected, the unwanted, the unforgivable (or so it felt). Divorce. I tried and tried to rebound into blogging and creating, but I felt so unworthy & so ashamed.
In time, I met a swoon worthy cowboy and in him I found what it was like to be friends with the one you love. There was just one detail — that um…he had 4 kids! There was also the complication that he too felt unworthy, ashamed and unforgiven.
We took each other hand in hand and made up our minds to walk in God’s grace knowing that Jesus’ blood could cover all of our hurts and wrong doings, even — USE them. So just like that life went from me and my baby boy to a family of 7!!
That four wheeler ride was just the beginning of us looking for the unexpected in what might seem lost or forgotten. From homes and rental apartments to chicken feeders and porch rails, we like to walk into a mess and imagine what it could be. Some days that looks like repurposing projects and barn picking. Other days R7 is simply a reminder of how we are committed to viewing our messy, beautiful, sometimes complicated life.
R7 was first our family nickname to give everyone a place to belong. Although we know how undeserving we are, we want our kids to know that we love them and God loves them. From that simple mission, a legacy was born. When it all gets messy — and believe me it does….we return to where it started.
Simplicity. Love God. Love each other.
We call our family R7.
There’s 7 of us settled on 7 acres. We invite you to spend time with us and if you happen to find yourself in the Midwest maybe a trip to R7 Reclaimed Barn will be in your plans.
I can’t wait to meet you!! There’s always room for one more around here!
