October 11 2014

October 11 2014 Greetings My Friend, It sometimes seems like we will never be finished with the whole house renovation we took on when we bought this place. At first it bothered me. I wanted to see a finished product within months or the first year or two like I see on DIY programs. It has not been the case. My frustration took me to prayer, lots of prayer. I did not want to nag, I wanted order now and it bothered me to see Junior working so hard knowing his back was often in major pain. I was trying to “save” him from himself. We are four years into this project and my guess we may have as many years to go before each room will have been done over. I wanted to have an open house and invite friends, family, neighbors and church family to see the wonderful job Junior has done. I have wanted to host some holiday gatherings and the whole nine yards. I don’t know why I thought I could do all this but in my mind I thought I could. As God taught me to accept the slowness of the renovation work I began to relax and understand I was in no shape to be able to do all that my brain conjured up. In the process though I have worked slowly and steadily to where I am today. I have come to an acceptance of all is right and if Junior and I are the only ones that see and know the progress that is all right as well. We are the ones living here day to day. The renovations are geared towards us and our needs. We have thought long and hard about our older years and that is a major part of the process as well. The more my balance issues display themselves I’m glad we were forward thinking. I’ve learned that Junior will finish what he starts even if it takes years and I find peace with this too. In another lifetime projects would get to almost done and never see another day’s work. The image that comes to mind is new windows he put in and never ever put up the moulding. A rumor has it that the moulding is still not in and we’ve been divorced for 17 years. I struggled thinking Junior was going to do the same thing. He is not. He does work slow but he does a great job. Part of the slowness is he is teaching himself how to renovate which means he may take apart a job several times before it is done to his satisfaction. I have had to learn to accept Junior on a whole new level. I have encouraged him to take a week off here and there for him to regroup. He has taught himself to slow down as the week draws to a close and on Sunday’s he takes a long afternoon nap. Monday he seems refreshed and ready to go again. If we had hired contractors to do the brunt of the work Junior would still be seeking to do some sort of “work” to fill his days. As he slows down he now has a better idea of how he wants to “work” in the future. We explore projects like refurbishing furniture and such. He is enjoying it as I am too. Once more God teaches me that I may have an idea of what, how things should be but He knows the best for us. My heart fills with such joy at this home that I never want to move again if I can help it. I’ve never felt this secure. All this took place in chaos turned into organized chaos to life is definitely sweet. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet