Photo courtesy of Country Living
As the weather has been so dry, we have taken the opportunity to finish installing the floor in the living room. Because I was buying a box of flooring every now and then and storing it in the shed until I could get enough to complete the job, I misplaced the boxes for a couple of years. Other people had stored things in front of it and it got lost.
As things would go, the company that made that particular color and design of flooring has discontinued the pattern, and I was one box short of the boards reaching the entire floor. Today we are getting another box of a slightly different kind and color, but hopefully the the old couch and the old piano will cover up the discrepancy. In an old house that is disintegrating, who minds if the floor boards do not match?! As Lord Cumnor said "For that matter, who minds anythin'? It is not as if we were going to a funeral!" This was followed by a hearty laugh.(Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell)
Photo courtesy of Country Living
Photo courtesy of Country Living. This is the closest to the way my living room will look when the project is completed.
You can see here how we are "living" in the living room.
The furniture has been moved out into the big tent. I will get it all arranged properly and then have a morning tea there and post pictures.
I used the old carpet that was taken out of the living room and put in the tent. Things will look better soon. In upheavals like this I make a point of keeping the kitchen cleaned up and the laundry caught up. I can control the "food and raiment" part. That aids in contentment.
The two shades of flooring, above. We still have to put on the trim around the edges.
A lot of things are in the hall and it is a tight squeeze to get to the bedrooms and bathroom but the trauma should be over in about a week if I last that long :-)
The garden is improving. This pink impatient is making everything more full and colorful.
As I have been entertaining some thoughts about contentment, I will continue with the subject. It is very easy to lapse into discouragement when there are changes, especially sudden changes like relocating or tearing up the inside of a house in order to add improvements. Yet the Christian is admonished to be patient and content. How can that be possible, especially when a lady is wanting peace and order?
Everyone that has this experience has developed their own way of dealing with it. For myself, I find it enormously helpful to read these verses:
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Control what you can, and leave the other things alone. Keeping the kitchen clean and meals provided, sometimes sending out for fast food, helps. We cannot use the tables but we can go outside to eat. That is what I call "eating out." Keeping the laundry caught up is something I can control.
Last week there were 13 ladies in the Ladies Bible Class, where we read more about Abraham. He was a tent-dweller who packed up and moved often. His was the first edition of the modern motor-home. He was very rich with gold and silver and other precious treasures, as well as in flocks and livestock, so you can imagine how much weight he had to pack, and how slow the move would be.
All he and Sarah's household was packed up and put on camels, and tents were folded up when they got ready to move again. When they arrived, their house was unpacked and the furnishings and kitchen things were arranged again in the tents. So if you think you have trauma in your life, think of Abraham and his constant moving. He did not always know ahead of time the exact location of his next move, but he had faith. That is what faith is all about. It would not be faith if we knew exactly how things will be, down to the last detail.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Christians, wherever they are, belong to a different kingdom with different foundations; spiritual ones. So, whatever situation they are in, they have a better king, a better citizenship, a better home.
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8 comments:
I love that you are able to find contentment, even in the midst of a remodel! Remodeling, no matter how organized a person is, can be stressful. I couldn't imagine being Sarah, having to be able to pack up and move at any given moment. There is something to be said for maintaining peace and contentment. It makes for much smoother transitions. Can't wait to see your finished living room!
The floor is in, but no trim yet around the perimeters. That will be done at another time. I will get pictures soon.
I am sure the flocks grazed awhile before they had to move to fresh grZing land. Think of how they saw new scenery from their tent, ech time they moved.
You will survive the renovations, and be so joyful at the finished result!
I can attest to that...
We bought a home nearly 9 years ago, and we are just at the point where we have the money saved to begin improving it. My husband installed a hardwood floor throughout all the home's living areas this past season. Since we have a lot of children milling about, he works full time, and he is a perfectionist, it took from September until March to complete, if you include the new base molding to be back up.
Now we are adding an entire room, that will take a very long time, since we pay with cash as we can afford and as he is able to do the work!
It's worth it, though..saving and not going into debt, and doing it little by little..it's gorgeous and we all lived through it thus far, ha!
I just had to tell you how much I appreciate your blog. I am now an older woman and a first generation Christian. When you write I feel like I have a friend out there. It's hard to find many Godly women in this world we live in sometimes. It can be very lonely when you make the choice to live as God intended women to live. Thank you for your ministry and please know how much it means to me.
Dear Lady Lydia:
Thank you for the gentle reminder from God's word about contentment. You do not know how I needed that today!
Blessings!!
Mrs. B
Dear Lydia, It will be so nice when it is finished. I must say every remodeling project had been a bit difficult. The kitchen was the hardest project as eating is always going on three times a day.
Thank you for the reminder and the pictures! Also the tent is always fun to use this time of the year!
Blessings, Roxy
When we find ourselves in the midst of this kind of chaos, one that we started ourselves ;D...hence home improvement, it is good to remember that it is quite temporary. That it is not something that will last forever.
I am restoring our small cottage this summer, and I find myself planning simple meals during these days. I tend to have laundry done by early, early morning and then give myself 3 hours of work. Then I put everything away as much as I can.
So far, we are doing fine. My daughter, which is very sensitive to changes in her environment, accepts everything as long as I am showing that it is alright.
Thank you for sharing Lydia...your room is going to look quite lovely :~)
mari
I got nothing done yesterday, as it was church and then lunch and then other things. Today I hope to get a few more things put away and water the garden. The molding has not been put around the edges but it will have to be another day.
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