Expanding our Outdoor Living Space: A Safe Space to Gather During the Pandemic!

Look at the intricate brick pattern in our lakeside patio!

 

Since the pandemic, people have spent much more time at home. Have you considered extending your living space outdoors? A backyard patio is a beautiful way to give your family extra room and a great entertaining area! If you’re a novice, I recommend hiring an experienced, reliable hardscape expert. We hired District 6, a local garden and landscaping center, to do all the drainage and hardscape. They were great to work with, offering layout ideas and making necessary changes as the project evolved.

Before having a patio installed, ensure that your drainage is adequate. Without proper drainage, erosion and possible foundation damage may occur. 

  • Install slope and/or french drains

  • Slope the patio away from your home

  • Install a good base of gravel and sand

See our progress below!

When selecting your materials, you have SO MANY choices! We visited our local home improvement store to see available paver options. We chose brick for these reasons:

  • Durability and fade resistant

  • Budget-friendly

  • Versatility-may be arranged in various patterns

  • Great selection of colors to complement our home

While it might take more time to build a top-quality brick patio, the result will last for many years and can look nothing less than magnificent when done. Consider using different colored bricks to create a mandala-like pattern or perhaps even an outdoor game board the whole family can enjoy.

We love our outdoor patio, which allows us to entertain when social distancing has become the norm!

Let us know how you’ve expanded your outdoor space by commenting below.

Connect Home Life

Connect Home Life is a faith-centered mentoring community created specifically for empty nesters navigating the emotional and spiritual shift of the empty nest season. We help men and women move forward with clarity, strengthen their faith, and rediscover purpose after the kids leave home.

 Jo and Beecher Wilhelm are the heart behind Connect Home Life. They have been married for over 40 years and understand how this midlife transition reshapes daily rhythms, marriage, relationships, identity, and spiritual direction.

 Together, they have walked through seasons of joy and hardship—raising two children who are now married, navigating infertility and adoption, facing health challenges, career shifts, depression, and job loss. These experiences did not weaken their faith. They refined it.

 For years, Jo and Beecher have served as small-group leaders, guiding others in practical Biblical application, spiritual growth, and authentic Christian community. They continue to grow alongside the very people they serve.

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Kitchen Faucet Upgrade: A DIY Project