Tag: home maintenance

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous

A Heart and Home Make-Over

This last month, I have been redecorating and reorganizing my house. It all started when I replaced my plain eight-year-old shower curtain with a more colorful one! Woohoo…

😉

Before long, I noticed how much the shower curtain brightened the bathroom and my mood. I hadn’t planned on revamping my entire house, but soon that’s what happened!

new shower curtain

One day, my neighbor came over and helped me assemble a little side table I had bought. We discussed where to put it and came up with several options. Two hours flew by as our kids played and we rearranged my upstairs!

We moved two chairs in the living room, and noticed the (old) side table didn’t really “fit” in my new plan. So, I sold the entire matching set, including the coffee table from my basement. As I removed furniture no longer serving its purpose, I grew more excited.

I began to see my house differently, as I sensed God filling me with creativity.

Ultimately, I also sold with my dining room table with eight chairs—most were stored in closets around the house—and replaced it with a smaller set. I parted with my patio table and ten chairs—way too many for us—and received a bistro table and two chairs as a birthday gift.

My house looks so trim now!

table

Yes, this last month has been a refreshing experience for me! I have sold or given away many items, and returned things borrowed from friends.

Still, most of the changes have been ‘in-house.’

For example, I hung up pictures and wall décor, which instantly made my house more inviting. I moved tables, chairs and bookcases, opening up a ton of space.

I cleaned and reorganized my office and gained mental clarity as a result! I am so pleased to see the immediate changes in my environment. I’m amazed at how lighthearted I feel!

stairway

And then, to top it all off, I decided to re-stain my deck! It had been done two summers ago, but was looking worn. With the boost of energy I gained from my inside home makeover, I felt empowered to tackle the outside too.

Two years ago, Lydia was far too young to get much accomplished on my own. I often needed help with inside and outside house maintenance.

Even simple tasks felt like a chore when combined with grief and an active toddler.

Back then, six or seven men from church spent several hours one Saturday staining the deck, laying mulch, and organizing the garage. What a blessing that was! This time, however, I decided to attempt it on my own.

Earlier in the month, a friend helped pressure-washed the deck. Another friend gave me a few tips and walked me through the process. (I’m sure they would have helped more if I truly needed it.) But I was eager to finish it before cooler weather comes.

My goal was to have the deck completed by Labor Day, and I did it a week earlier than planned! I’m proud of myself for accomplishing a time-consuming task like this. What’s more, Lydia played all afternoon with the neighbors, helping me focus! (Many thanks!)

sitting area

My house definitely feels more like home now. Everywhere I look, I see something that makes me smile. What a difference a few updates can make!

Indeed, small changes can yield growth mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course, before we can move forward in life, we have to let go of what is in the past. It can be a lengthy process…and that’s okay.

I’m curious how this will set the stage for new memories as we step into the fall. I’m also interested what the impact will be as we move toward the holidays. Last year was more difficult emotionally than I thought it would be…

green picture

Yet regardless of what the coming seasons hold, I trust God’s wisdom in prompting me to make these updates. He knows exactly what I need in order to keep moving forward.  I’m grateful He provides creative inspiration and direction along with peace and joy.

He renews us day by day, and has good things in store. He’s watches over us, provides for us, and is always there to encourage us with His grace!

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Heavenly Father, You are so good to me! Thank You for the grace and resources to make changes long-overdue. Help me keep moving forward with courage. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: Have you made any home improvements lately? How did it affect your outlook? Are there other life changes you can make?

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #25

I love the concept of giving God a shout out for what He has done.

We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot. I find grace overflowing in God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

poppy

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

  • Compared to last week, this week was rather low key. For many local kids, school is back in session. Yet, I feel like we are in limbo because Lydia’s preschool does not start for a couple more weeks. I’m thankful for a little more time with her, but I am also eager to start the change in our schedule.

  • Over the last week, I have been trying to get ahead and anticipate what we will need in the coming weeks. As such, I have been catching up on a million little tasks, like hanging pictures, organizing my office (still a work in progress), washing windows, and cleaning out the fridge. Not super exciting, but necessary—especially since these little things often get neglected for the bigger (daily) chores.
  •  Lydia has been diligently practicing riding her bike without training wheels , and I am happy to report she’s now able to ride on her own! It may sound funny, but it feels like a big milestone. There were many times when we both wanted to give up, but praise God we stuck it out!
  • Yes, things are slowly changing. We will soon be in a new season of the year… and life. It is exciting but will also stretch us. I am thankful for God’s love and grace through it all!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Where did YOU see or experience God’s grace this week?

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #13

I love the concept of giving God a shout out for what He has done.

We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot. I find grace overflowing in God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

maple-leaf

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

  • This week was relatively low-key, though I accomplished a lot! In the quiet moments, I read some more about my personality type. It was fun to see how this impacted my choices, thoughts, relationships, etc. Our personalities work like a filter on how we see each the world.  However, it is most important who God says we are. (Click here for a great handout; I didn’t write it, but refer to it often!)
  • After a little prompting, I did something I had been putting off for at least a couple years: I bought some trees for my backyard! I hadn’t done it yet, partially because landscaping decisions have a long-term impact..so I was hesitant to make a quick decision. (For me, that often means delaying.) 🙂 Indeed, it was challenging to figure out all the details on my own! But after discussing my options with others, I was compelled to move forward with it.
  • I am thankful for God’s help in the tree process, because I struggled to make those decisions. Yet, God went before me and gave me peace! I researched trees I liked, measured the area, and made a list of questions. I looked at two local nurseries, and the choice was clear. One nursery had fewer trees in my price range and I could not find any staff to help me. The one I chose had a wide selection of trees, with a knowledgeable staff. And for an additional fee, they are going to deliver and plant the trees for me next week! It turned out to be fairly easy once I started the process. (I had some friends volunteer to help me, but I will have them help me with another upcoming project instead.)
  • It turned out to be an expensive week! In addition to the trees, I also got an oil change and some other timely maintenance done on my car. I questioned whether or not to bother with the extra maintenance. On the other hand, I know our gracious God blessed me with the car, and so it is my responsibility to keep it in good working order. Like a good steward, I spent the money wisely, knowing God is a good Provider. He always takes such good care of me, as I rest in His grace. Finally, the dealership did some extra work I requested at no additional charge.

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Where did YOU see or experience God’s grace this week?

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #5

I love the concept of giving God a shout out for what He has done.

We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot. I find grace overflowing in God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

tulips

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

  1. This week was unusual in that I got a new water heater on Monday! But first, I had to “rough it” for a few days. I was so grateful for God’s provision. Be sure to read all about it in ‘Water Heater Heroes’.

2. On Monday, Lydia and I saw a friend from church at the bookstore in the mall. She helps with the children’s ministry and knows Lydia. She gladly helped us find a Phillips, Craig & Dean CD, which Lydia has been asking for since we saw their Christmas concert in December. We have since enjoyed singing many of the familiar songs.

3. Starting with the new water heater, this week turned out to be heavy in the home improvement area. (Nothing else major, and I am thankful for simple fixes.) Several electronic items, from games to tv remotes, needed new batteries. Light bulbs always need replaced, and many of them are difficult to reach. This week it’s a light in the garage door opener. I’ll have to ‘phone a friend’ since I can’t figure out how to get the cover off. While light bulbs are relatively minor, I am thankful for the kindness of others!

4. This week, I needed an extra dose of God’s grace for parenting. Yes, I lost my temper a few times when Lydia was being disobedient or not listening. Later, I apologized, but God gently reminded me to lay aside my agenda and play with Lydia or read to her. We enjoyed finding hidden objects in a picture book, reading together, and talking about our day. Many times, Lydia said spending time together was her favorite part of the day!

5. This year, I’m focusing on implementing more rest in my daily and weekly routine. It’s still a struggle at times to stop and take a break, but I managed to soak my sore feet while reading. (Yay, me!) Lydia was very interested in this, so I let her try it out too. She loved it! Interestingly, it opened up dialog about being a servant to others, and I explained the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (see John 13). I was thankful for the opportunity to show-and-tell my little girl about Jesus.

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Where did YOU see or experience God’s grace this week?