Terry and Lori both work in service related professions in local government. Lori's hobbies included kayaking, canoeing, camping and quilting. She volunteers for her church with the church garden. The produce from the church garden is donated to the local food pantry. She has been to Haiti twice for service trips. Terry's passions revolve around keeping his yard(s) and vehicles in tip top shape. They have two grown children that both live in the general area. Terry was born and raised in Bellevue and has only had one zip code his entire life. Lori was raised in DeWitt, Iowa and moved to Waco, Texas immediately after high school graduation. She returned to eastern Iowa in 1999 and married Terry two years later. She embraced Bellevue, Iowa as her home. She and Terry are both involved in community organizations and are not strangers to area fish-frys, fund raiser dinners and auctions.

Lori wanted to buy a house in Bellevue specifically to use as a guest house since 2007. Terry was very apprehensive and did not easily get behind the idea thinking it was a risky financial venture. Terry and Lori were talking with classmates that were back for Terry's 30th class reunion in the summer of 2014. Terry heard of their difficulty to find affordable family style rentals in Bellevue. Lori asked the classmates their opinion of a guest house that would rent to one group of family at a time for about the same price as most pay to rent just a room. The classmates welcomed the idea and said they wished it was available already.

As soon as Terry was on board with the idea, Lori went to work to find the "perfect" house for their venture.