Some background about my big fat Greek renovation project

I learned about inheriting the house from my cousin, Leonidas, after he sent a friend request to me on Facebook. Our fathers were brothers and were separated after the war. My father was sent to the US with his older sister, who suffered mental illness following the abuse from German soldiers. My uncle stayed in Ano Meros with Yia Yia to rebuild the house and the olive farm after the Nazis destroyed the village and killed all the men. 

Both my dad and uncle were our conduits and kept the whole family updated on each other. Leonidas only speaks Greek and my Greek is dreadful. My older brother suffered brain damage at birth and as a result, specialists recommended we not be bilingual in order to make it easier for him to thrive. The Greek community was small in Kansas (no one my age), but this was where there were more activities for my brother.

We lost touch with Stelios' family when my father died. I was in university and Leonidas was busy with his new family. The only time I managed contact again was when Uncle Stelios (through the help of translators) helped me to get my Greek passport. Because the Nazis has burned the village and all records, my uncle got the entire village to sign an affidavit that I was indeed a member of the village. 

I returned to Ano Meros just after our oldest was born to find Stelios and his family, but we didn't get to see them. As fate would have it, one of the biggest storms to hit the island was forecast for that day and the cleanup from it lasted until we had to leave.

We are going to bring the home back to a traditional Greek style inside and out. This front door will be replaced right after the roof is finished!