Triple Bunk Beds!

Knowing that we re-opened our home for foster care, in hopes of adopting once again, we have been looking at the sleeping arrangements in the bed rooms.  William has his own room.  He has earned his space, some peace and time away from the others.  The room was Stephen's when he lived home and then it was Tyler's (my nephew who lived here with us for three years till he grew up and moved away). So for now that room is not an option for any more children to be added to.  (notice I said for now, ha ha, I have heard never to say never...)  So that leaves the boys and girls room.  In the boys room we have a bunk bed, Antonio's hospital bed and a`crib.  So we have an extra un-occupied crib and bed in that room.  Check!  Good on boys if God sends them.  But the girls room...there was just a huge doll house bunk beds in there and not much room for any other beds to be added.  We might could squeeze in a crib if needed.

Tim and I talked about it and decided to sell the girls bunk beds and build a triple bunk bed in there.  The thinking is that the beds they were in were really cute and functional but as the girls have grown the boards underneath are sagging a little with their weight.  Our girls might be living with us forever.  So sturdier beds are in our near future anyways.  So we decided now is the time to build the triple bunks.  Carolyn could have the top bunk.  Elizabeth the middle and the bottom one for whoever God might send.  :)   The girls also have a friend that comes to visit sometimes.  So even if we never got any other girls permanently, the bottom bunk can be used occasionally for guests or makes a great place to read books and relax.  Also building the triple bunks would make more room in their room so we could fit a crib in there if needed!  Can you feel the excitement! :)

So we sold their little girl princess beds and I asked our friend to come and help me build the triple bunk beds.  God has helped me do a lot of huge building projects in the past.  I have built several beds including the bed Tim and I have slept on for years.  I knew I could not safely do this project on my own.  I am not as strong as I once was and I would need help to hold the bed boxes up against the wall while screwing them into the studs.  To dangerous for my kids to help me with for sure.  I also knew that together our friend and myself could get this done in a day.  Instead of it taking me many days just to build them.  Ok...here is the disclaimer.  Build something like these at your own risk.  :)

Our friends Mr. D and Mrs. M are the sweetest couple.  They actually did the add on to our single wide trailer.  Going from this.  Where we had this repo'ed single wide brought out to my dads farm and set up in 1999.

 I don't know how many foster children we had come thru while living in just the trailer.  It was a bit crammed at times but comfy and we were grateful for it.  We lived in that four bedroom single wide for six years before saving enough to start to add on little by little as we could afford it.  Below is after living in it for two years.  I had grass and started landscaping a bit!

Below is the same trailer with an add on to make it look like a house.  Adding on a handicap bathroom and a few more rooms.  God blessed us with Mr. D who was patient and did work for us after we would save for a while and have enough to do more.  It still is not totally finished to this day.  It is a work in progress. 

Needless to say we are grateful to God for all He has provided for us and for blessing us in knowing Mr. D and his wife.  

We built the bed boxes out side in the drive way and brought them in to mount them onto the studs in the walls.

After all three boxes were secure, we then built the tall ladder/corner support post.  I put the mattress in there for a moment to see how much space there would be underneath.

We then built the small ladder/support post for the middle bed and put on the bed rails.

 Then the upper bed rails.

 Ta Da!!

Then I took everything out of the room and hung a sheet over the door and took a sander to the whole thing rounding all the corners and making every part on them smooth.  The mess to clean up once done was...well...just a large dusty mess. I could have used a snow shovel there was so much but now the beds are nice and smooth.

After everything was swept up, vacuumed up and wiped down it was time to plug the screw holes with wooden buttons!

 Zekes job was to hand William what he needs.  Williams is to glue in all the buttons!

 Lightly tap them in if needed.

 Wiping off any extra glue. 

Primed!

 

Painted!!

Occupied!  

Look at those happy faces!

I love it that the middle bed is like a fire escape in case of an emergency just like the other bed they had in there.  We do fire drills so that just makes me feel better. 

Thank you Mr D. for all your hard work.  You have always been such a blessing to us.  May God abundantly bless you and Mrs. M.  We love you!

The girls are really enjoying these beds so much.  I love to see our kids happy.  God is so good.

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Blessings!
susan