Call it divine intervention. On a whim, Kevin took a different route home from work one September day in 1998. Driving down the road he saw a sign announcing an auction of 160 acres. The family was to leave on a two-week vacation the day of the auction, so Kevin called the owner and asked if they could work out a deal to buy some acres if no one bought the lot whole. He agreed.

“I met the guy in a restaurant parking lot on the Friday evening before to sign papers,” Kevin says. “We left town without knowing if we had it.”

The family returned home two weeks later and happily discovered they could have 14 acres, located at what would become a cul-de-sac and right next to a private lake. A quick phone call to Kim and Lavonne set the construction plans in gear, with Joe agreeing to act as general contractor. REAL LOG HOMES®, which often uses contour pine or cedar, agreed to use the Swedish Cope Englemann spruce the Reaves preferred. In January 1999, underbrush was cleared and the site prepped. The foundation was poured in March and construction began in May. By Christmas, Kevin, Belinda and the kids were cozying up to a warm fire and enjoying a magnificent view of the lake.

Next: SUBLIME VISTAS