Friday's Inspiration

 

I'm down to some micro level sorting now!  Going through zip locks I filled when clearing off my desk before the move.  Found all the pictures and cards and quotes I had under the clear desk mat, and it was such fun!

My current desk is much smaller, and I don't yet have a mat under which to arrange all these things.  I'm either going to have to see if I can find one that fits, or find appropriate new homes for the bits that are most important to me.

It's not going to easy choosing which to keep.  Every piece was cut out of a card given to me by someone who knows me well and knew what I needed at that moment.  Or it was something that reminded me of someone, like the birds remind me of my Mom.  Or it was something I found for myself because I went looking for something to keep me oriented during a specific time of change and challenge.

It was lovely finding these because I'd kinda' forgotten about them.  And, in a general sort of way, in terms of creating a positive work environment, I kinda' need them.

And the truth is, this is the positive part I appreciate about social media.  If you can put up the appropriate checks and boundaries, and keep your radar trained on the things that enrich rather than enrage, it can be such a powerful platform to encourage and be encouraged, to inspire and be inspired.

So it's Friday!  Marking this as the end of the first full workweek I've spent at my desk here in our new little house.  It's the beginning of the next chapter of our lives, both personally and professionally.  And as we continue to figure out all the ways things work in this new space, there is a sense of both deep contentment and excited anticipation.  Who knows what God will choose to do from here on out?

I am grateful for the effort, passion and courage He provided that made it possible for us to arrive here.  I am encouraged by the reminder that it's not actually supposed to be easy.  And I am beyond words undone by His lavish grace that indeed does change everything.

And as we head into what's supposed to be a deep freeze next week...Mom's birds remind me that Spring is on the way!!!

Happy Friday.  Hope you find your inspiration!!!

Etcetera

I keep thinking we should get to that place where we're done.

On Monday we'll mark one whole month since being handed the keys.  As of today, it's been a full week we've been allowed to sleep here.  And when I wrote that just now, it didn't sound like a long time.  It just feels like so much has happened, it must be longer.

I've actually only moved four times in my whole life, and the last gap between moves was 36 years.  I forget just now long it takes to settle into a new home.

And we have accomplished a lot.  All the 'big stuff' is done and we can nicely function in here at this point.  Enough, at least, to focus more on our work than on the house.  Our time is spent less and less on lugging and unpacking, and more and more at our desks, or just making supper together, or just watching the news.  You know, the normal things people do in their homes.  It's only in little segments now that we turn our attention back on the house, just working on the persnickety finishing touches.

But as we go, putzing and putting and placing, I'm wondering if "finishing touches" might be somewhat of a misleading term when it comes to settling into a new house.  Because there's still a goodly list, and I'm not entirely sure when we will be "finished."

Installing ceiling fans, for one.  And finding the exact right place for the wooden star I bought on clearance last spring, and the heart-shaped hooks I found online for $5.00 a piece.

I do suppose there will come a day when we stop hanging pictures, or rearranging things on shelves, or finding another box marked 'DECOR' and deciding what might work where.  The screw driver, stud finder, screws and plugs, and the persnickety-ness required to do it 'right', will all be put away, instead of staying out to be handy for the next little project.

Soon, I think, there will come a time when we might say we're done moving in. But then spring will arrive, and it will be time to think about landscaping, and what goes on our porch, and redoing the parts of the driveway that had to be dug up during construction, and what about the shed?

And then, when we've got all that taken care of, we'll probably leave it alone for a while.  Just go about our normal lives....until we go thrifting and I find that black wire basket that will be perfect in the bathroom, and maybe we'll find a better configuration for where we keep things in the kitchen, and change stuff around.  And so it goes.  Not unlike it was in our last house, or even at the cottage, come to think of it.  There's always something.

I suppose I'm thinking of this because we really would like to have an open house kind of thing where whoever is inclined might stop by for the 'two minute tour' (it's a small house, doesn't take that long) and a cup of cider.  That's coming, so stay tuned.  And when it does, I'd like everything to be perfect  ready.

Pause to hear myself on all of this.

One of the goals I set for myself in the 2024-2025 ministry season was to "be mindful of the process of being formed into the likeness of Christ for the sake of others (Mullholland) through:" and then I list some of the anticipated opportunities for that....the big one being the latter stages of our move.  Like, what's happening right now.

And I realize that I keep thinking I should get to the place when I'm done too.  But I'm not.  If a time of stress and upheaval reveals anything, it's what's still needs the finessing big work of the Spirit in my soul.  And if I think otherwise, if I don't allow the time, if I stop being mindful, and think it's just about what is hung on the walls instead of living abundantly within them, I risk the shallow, show-home results of living an unexamined life.

So when we do end up having you all over (just not all at once), and if we do get to know each other a little bit more, it's likely you'll notice what's not yet complete.  

Because if I waited until it was all perfect, I'd never let you in.

The Accidental Romantic

 A very distinctive heart-shaped area escaped the swirling snow on our driveway last night.  

I supposed I should have actually gone out there to get a better angle.  As it is, this could also look like a whale with its mouth open.  But to gain the better photographic proof of my story I would have had to go out in my pjs.  I was not so inclined.  So this, taken from the front facing kitchen window, is all I can really offer.

I'm not sure why this patch remained dark and wet like this.  Ken had left for a meeting about an hour previous, and at that point the entire van-shaped patch you can still see in this picture had no snow.  Might be just the way it was swirling.  Might be how some of the driveway is still recovering from construction.  Who knows? 

For fun I took the picture and showed it to him on his return, pretending to be all flattered and impressed that he'd made arrangements for it to do this.  He didn't skip a beat and happily took all the credit.  He even puffed out his chest a little.  Not kidding.

He didn't have to.  He's already demonstrated sacrificial patience and a willingness to put his shoulder to the task in all that has needed to be done these past weeks to get us moved in and set up.  With the unusual time line of our move, combined with the unique feature that we were providing our own kitchen, he made that the first priority, paying careful attention to my detailed and rather picky specifications.  (See "Jubilant Kitchens" previous post.)  Next he made sure my own work space was ready, helping to provide me the ordered calm I so badly need to be able to think straight, the lacking of which these past weeks has been wearing on us both.  He did these things first before getting at the areas that mattered more to him, like sorting out the crawl space downstairs, and re-establishing his own desk and files.  Knowing that I have felt the stress of a disrupted environment more keenly than he has, he made sure I was okay first.

This was not in the absence of any other non-moving-related stressors.  When you deal with finances like Ken does, and when your job is basically answering the phone to assist someone who's in varying degrees of freaking out because whatever they were doing with their computer isn't working, you can get interrupted and thrown into an 'immediate' circumstance at any given notice.  

Since Saturday, then, we've been able to redirect our energies to getting him all copacetic.  It won't be as, let's just say, visually ordered as I like my spaces to be, but it still needs to be functional for him.  The next little nuances of hanging hooks and pictures that I still have on my list can wait.  It's Ken's turn.

Of course, there's nothing accidentally romantic about making marriage work.  At no stage of our life together have things come 'easy or automatic.'  Staying in love is a very intentional endeavour, and does not involve any magic whatsoever, heart-shaped snow pictures notwithstanding.  I'd be less than authentic if I conveyed that these past months of housing transition, huge decisions, delayed gratification, uncertainty, and sheer physical labour did not press us to the edges of our commitment to a God-honouring covenant.  They did.  Both of us have had moments when we weren't exactly the best versions of ourselves.  

But we've also been cognizant of the fact that we continue to build a home, not just a house.  And where we lay our heads at night, as basic a human requirement as that is, isn't as important as where we lay our hearts - in the hands of God who holds us unbreakably together. 

So here's to whatever adventures this new house will hold for us.  Here's to letting nothing be accidental when it comes to our love.  Here's to taking serendipitous joy in the whimsy.  Here's to us, now.  

On to Tuesday...and the simple luxury of an ordered desk, for which I am profoundly grateful.

Happy Unorthodox New Year

I'm awake this particular Monday morning feeling clear-headed, motivated, eager and excited.

The 'back to normal after the holidays' thing lagged one week for Ken and I, as we waited out the final inspections, making it possible to move in and set up the last bits of our lives over this past weekend.

Today feels like a gigantic, long-awaited new beginning.  A Monday morning of Monday mornings.  No, more like New Year's all over again, except on this rather arbitrary date of January 13.  And while we still have a fair bit of finessing to do to finish off the kitchen and feel out where to hang what on the walls, for the most part we are all moved in.  

I write it here, and walk around and look at the place, but, to be honest, I still can't quite believe it.  

And yet it's real.  Yes!  Here we are!  Finally!  And now....Time to sit down to the work before me in a more steady, concentrated way than I've been able to do in more than a month, or longer, if I count the whole big ordeal of moving.  I have been reminded, in very concrete terms, that there is a strong correlation between a consistent schedule within an ordered environment, and the amount of creativity and productivity I might hope to achieve.  

After the bogged down disruption of not just Christmas break, but the many months prior, it's very freeing to have my work space set up and know that's where it's going to stay put.  What a concept!  My brain is no longer consumed with unpacking and putting away.  I can stop wondering, because now I know what pieces of furniture fit where.  And it helps so much when you have a regular place to hang your keys, plonk your pen, put down your water bottle, recharge your phone, keep your Bible.

Happily, the absent-minded brain fog is lifting.  That limbo-locked-down feeling is fading.  At least I think it is, I hope it is.  I hope I can now catch up a bit on emails and other outstanding communications.  I'm really looking forward to finishing up a few projects, and getting a handle on the prep work for my February trip to Hot Springs.  There's the Haiti Dinner and Silent Auction to get ready for, just before that.  And some filing.  I have a packet I brought back from the cottage that's been waiting for this day when all my binders and files were ready and open to receive. 

All systems are go, and I can't wait to get going.  That was a long stint of disruption, and it makes the normal rhythms of life seem simply and delightfully oh so wonderful!

I pause here to make mention of the friends I know who are right now experiencing anything but the normal rhythms of life.  For lots of reasons and in different situations, this remains a disrupted Monday for them.  No new beginnings yet.  Maybe that's you.  Our transitional realities over the past six months, not to mention some fairly decent disruptions in the past, remind me, in fairly basic ways, that life is complex, and surprising, and quite easily upheaved.  

Prayers and hugs, and cheering you on until the day you too can have your own unorthodox new year.

And until then, a promise.  He is faithful.

"See, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the dessert."

Isaiah 43:19

Jubilant Kitchens

We are now fully, actually, totally and for reals living in our new house!!!

We received our occupancy permit on Wednesday at about 3 p.m. and had the beds moved over and made by 5.  

The rush of jubilation for this last step has been incredible.  The long, long journey of our housing transition is done.  Thank you Jesus!  It is truly just such a simple joy to wake up in your own bed in your own home, something I will never, for as long as the Lord gives me breath, ever take for granted.

Now, how to celebrate that with all our friends?

I keep thinking I'll post all kinds of pictures in something of a virtual tour.

But the incremental way of our move means that this morning (Saturday) we're making yet another big mess in the name of ultimately gaining more order.  I hope that by bedtime tonight things will be more photo ready, but that won't be today's post.  The full tour will have to wait.

But since it's unaffected by today's hooha, and because I'm kind of excited about how it's coming along.  here are a few glimpses of the kitchen.  

This room has been our main focus since being handed the keys.  We opted to create it ourselves, rather than it being part of the construction/installation of the house, so it was game on from that first day.

The theme was 'farmhouse country kitchen' and the idea was to use as many of the pieces of furniture and accent items we already had in the last house, and build around that.

What's new are all the appliances, the apron sink and stand, and the butcher block counter tops.  Also the window coverings, plus a few odds and things picked up at thrift stores.  

And while I'm not done adding the whimsy that I still have in mind, I'm pretty happy with the result so far.

I'm particularly pleased we could incorporate the antique tea trolley from Ken's side of the family.  It's making for a perfect jam and toast station, and the side leaf extends for a sweet little breakfast nook.

Having costed out two different companies for kitchen cabinetry, and even factoring in the purchases we still had to make, we figure we have saved ourselves close to, if not more than, $10,000.00.  Not bad, since what we've been able to piece together is way more pretty and functional than I even hoped for.

In a similar way that these pictures are just a small piece of the whole 'tour,' I'm feeling a deep sense of inadequacy as to how to articulate all that's on my mind and in my heart as we reach this significant marking moment in our housing journey.  There's such a story here!  And branching off stories all along the way!!  Of the generosity of so many, of the grace extended, of the goodness of God.  This has been about way more than just the material component of building a house.  Way more.  I am overwhelmed with all of it, all God has seen fit to do for us and in us as we made this big leap.

 "It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praise to Your name, Most High.

To proclaim Your love at daybreak,

Your faithfulness in the night...

For you make me jubilant, LORD,

with Your deeds and the works of Your hands.

I shout for joy."

Psalm 92:2-5

And....just like I hope to post a virtual tour, we do hope to find a way to celebrate with all of you soon in real time and real life.  We would like to have you all over....just not all at once...and we want to find a creative way to do that, to mark this together, and to express again all our thanks for the many ways we have been loved and supported during this time.

Okay, now on to making today's jubilant mess.  

Lord, Give Us a Sign!!!

 

Oh the roller coaster this last tedious bit has been! Yesterday we had a little white knuckle ride lasting three or four email volleys as we tried to set up the final occupancy permit schedule. All of this, of course, is to allow us that last step of actually being able to sleep in our new little house, something we are quite naturally at this point, very, very anxious to do.

Good news is that all the inspector type folks from whom we needed files have now provided them in all the appropriate places for the city to access. Everyone but the electrical guy, that is. The two small tasks of installing the range hood and properly sealing the sump pump have been completed. We should be all set.

So yesterday, Ken first sent the list of everything we'd done to comply with the 'deficiency report' from December 24, including the pictures of proof requested, asking what the next steps might be.

The reply came back affirmative on all of the above, except for the installation of what's called an ADU sign (Additional Dwelling Unit), a requirement for the purpose of directing first responders in an emergency situation. This seems totally reasonable, of course. There was a note about where to order one, since the specifications of the sign are, well, rather specific.

This caught us by surprise. We knew about the sign, but thought it was only needed for the final inspection which won't happen until the spring. And, of course the idea of 'ordering' one sounded rather untimely. Ken, reading this response to me from his phone, and being understandably frustrated at this point, muttered sarcastically that it would take another six weeks!!

Only, I thought he was actually reading from the email, and that it actually would take another six weeks! In my current anxious-to-be-done-with-all-things-related-to-a-major-and-prolonged-upheaval-due-to-a-move-in-residence emotional state, this was like a gut punch.

I actually had to sit down and just be quiet, and breathe my way back towards that place of surrender this whole big deal has been from the beginning. How deep is my longing, right now, just to be able to wake up in a bed that does not feel temporary, and to fully settle, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, into our own home! But I gave that longing away again, to the One who knows everything and loves me desperately.

Ken responded to the email asking about actual time lines. Then left to continue some work on the church kitchen, leaving behind his phone in his own blithered state.

This is where I picked it up. Our guy at the city - who's been great with us by the way, no complaint here - asked for a phone call to clear things up. I got copied into that email, so I called the number. And here's the real deal.

For occupancy, the city will accept a temporary sign. All that's needed is something clear and well secured, and the understanding that a permanent sign, that complies with the specifications, will be in place before the final spring inspection.

Well okay then!!! Out with the black paint and brushes. Where's an extra piece of lumber? And there you go. This lovely little piece of art was installed at the end of our fence just moments ago.

Big breath.

So, today.

Today we wait for the electrical guy to come by and have a look. And once that's done, we will send that report and a picture of our installed sign to the guy at the city. And, if the time is right, we just might be sleeping here by the time I post next.

I remind myself that this whole endeavour of moving was in response to what Ken and I truly believed was a prompting from God in response to our prayers about how we can best steward our time and earthly possessions in this last era of our lives. We did this on purpose. We keep moving through, this step by step, quite intentionally. It's been a faith-walk the whole way.

Friends, I am soooooooooo looking forward to posting the news that we're all moved in!!! Stay tuned.

[Note: The RY in our address is Canada Post's requirement, standing for "Rear Yard."]

Monday Morning Focus

I am determined to sit down and focus this morning, starting this Monday morning over at the church with Ken. He has his 'Facilities" hat on right now, and is supervising the installation of the new counters in the kitchen here. In coordinating both our needs for the van, and considering the distractions of our new house, I decided to coming along and see what I can get done before heading off to a meeting later this morning.

I have my list open before me and am ready to go, noisy power tools notwithstanding.

We got a LOT done over the weekend in our own kitchen, including the arrival of four major appliances - stove, fridge, washer, dryer.

I'm saving any pictures on all of that until I can do a proper before/after thing, closer to the final kitchen project. But I'll just say here that I am really pleased so far, and grateful for how Ken has worked with me to understand and then put together my 'farmhouse country kitchen' vision, out of 'bits and pieces' we already had.

We also had the help of our very capable son in law to hang two tricky pieces on the wall. One is the upper cubbies that match the bench (not seen) in our entrance area. This one was tricky because it's on the wall that also houses the pocket of the pocket sliding door (to the left), and however it was to be secured to the wall couldn't interfere with that. And...it worked!!!! This isn't the final product decor-wise. But that middle basket and the fabric plant on top are a good enough start for now.

Okay, on to that list. I really have had little concentration for anything but moving in and setting up and making our home a home for us. It's been hard to focus in the midst of the nesting disorder. I have come to understand at an even deeper level the importance for me of having consistent schedules and an ordered environment in order to enhance both productivity and creativity.

No breaking news about occupancy just yet. We did get an encouraging email just now indicating that the final paperwork is actually in progress, and an inspection is happening tomorrow. Oh, so close.

We'll keep you posted, of course.