Update on our Renos

 This is the additional room. Needs one more coat of stucco.

 View into the new room from the dining room. Still need flooring and built-ins.

 The wainscoting in the dining room is coming along. To the left are the french doors into the new room and straight ahead is the kitchen.

 Here is the new counter top and sink.  I absolutely love our choice.  We are waiting on some tile to do the backsplash.

 This is the new entry way closet and doors. Doors just need to be stained. I am so glad we will have a place for guests coats.

 This is the new counter in the laundry room. Our first one was dropped, bummer as I liked it more, but oh well. Wallpaper and tiling still need to be done in here.

 Living room with new fire place. Needs to be painted. Where the white paint is will be wainscoting and there will be built-ins on either side of the fire place.

 Girl's room. Bead board is up. Walls still need painting (for the 3rd time, I have got to stop changing my mind).

 The upstairs bathroom and the basement one have both been tiled. It looks beautiful.

This is the boys room. Wainscoting will be where the white is now.

 

This is a look at our new vanity and flooring.

So far things are moving along though I am trying to prepare myself that there will still be things 

that need to be finished when we move in a little over 3 weeks!!!

Count your many blessings

    This morning when I gave Justin a hug I said, "Justin, you know what? We are..." and he finished the rest "very blessed." I asked him how he knew that I was going to say that and he said," You always say that Mom."  I am so glad that I have been expressing what I have been feeling so strongly as of late. 
   This renovation has been more than I had expected. Yes, maybe I was a bit naive. Well, months into it and countless hours of looking up light fixtures, testing paint, looking at fireplaces etc. I have felt a humility, an awareness of the luxury it is to be able to make these changes. Many in the world do not worry over the color tile they want in their bathroom; they are happy to have an indoor toilet if at all. Most are not worrying if the wainscoting will look just right; they hope their walls will provide the protection they need from the elements around them. 
   Are these changes really needed, a must? Probably not. But, as the work progresses I feel it coming together and it feels like it is becoming OUR home.  I think of my Mom and how she truly feels the Lord has blessed her with her home and how she has opened it up to many in need.  I hope that this home will not only be a blessing to us, but as my mother has done, be a blessing to others.  Our door is always open.

Easter at our house

 Easter day and sunshine.

 The kids had a fun time finding their baskets after church.