Remodeling by Committee

Sometimes it takes a community — of friends

By Lucie B. Amundsen

Published: June 1, 2009

Photo by Lucie B. Amundsen

Rev. Dr. Paul Svingen and his wife Susan Baldwin don’t believe in coincidences. As part of their belief system, they feel the right people arrive in their lives just when they’re needed. And when it was time to embark on a major cabin remodel, Paul and Susan will tell you all those right people arrived in spades.

Back in 1989, Susan had visited a northern Minnesota lake area for a retreat. Later, she brought her husband to the same vacation area for a bicycle trip. Then, as many of these stories start, they rode by the local real estate office and didn’t see any harm in “just looking.”

Shortly after touring a simple cabin with a dock chock-full of goose droppings, Paul and Susan were handing over earnest money for the sale.

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