One Year Update

Listing Photos

It all started with my Starting Point post. There I wrote my initial thoughts and ideas for this house as recorded last November. We bought this house and found many things wrong with it. We starting putting work into the house starting last October/November, and below is what we were able to accomplish so far.

Current Progress

As you can see just between the first set of photos and the second, we’ve made some big changes. We removes trees and bushes, put in raised beds, added an exterior door on the garage, and changed the accent color on the house from red to teal. Inside, we removed a lot of the latex paint off the utility room walls, we built and removed our builtin pantry, and installed a storage shelf instead. We removed the broken dishwasher and sealed the space to be used for my canning stuff. We also upgraded the light in the kitchen, painted cabinets, remove the old range microwave and added a new range-hood, as well as replaced the old leaking kitchen faucet. In the dining room, we refinished the wall after removing about 1/3 of the wallpaper in the house, and we also created a lampshade for our single handing bulb from a lantern we used at our wedding reception. We haven’t done too much to the living room yet; we added a projector screen and are mainly using it for storing some of our extra stuff until we finish the master bedroom. We replaced the light fixture in the hall, and upgraded all the light switches in the house to the rocker style. We repainted the bathroom, removed the medicine cabinet, changed the light fixture, and painted the vanity and changed the hardware. We also added a new shower curtain to match. In the original green room, due to it’s carpet color, we originally replaced the floor in the closet with vinyl planking. After seeing how easy it was, we took on the task of redoing the entire rooms floor, which was not an easy task. we remove the wood from the closet to be replaced with matching floor eventually, I also painted the bedroom the two shades of orange, we moved in, and that is the state of our orange room. Finally, our current project is the master bedroom, or our new green room. We just finished laying the flooring on Saturday. There is still a lot of work we want to do in that room before the new unveiling, but I hope this helps build some excitement for the next unveiling, which will be coming in the next two weeks or so.

A Year’s Worth of Projects

A year is so long, yet so short. We were able to accomplish so much because of the blessing we’ve received this year and from taking things in stride. We are happy for our new experiences and are content with this house even as we continue to find more problems. We aren’t sure if we’ll keep this house forever, but we are happy for all the good things this house is providing for us. This Lustron gives my husband and I something to do together, to bond over, and to dream for. We hope for nothing but the best for this house in the future, and we hope our fingerprint on this house improves the beauty of this old Lustron, rather than hinders it’s potential.

For more on our home improvement posts from this year, feel free to check out any of this posts below. If not, I’ll see you again soon!

Starting Point

New Light Fixtures

New Kitchen Faucet

Update and Mistakes

DIY Hidden Pantry

New Dining Room Light

Removing Wallpaper

Closet Work

Bathroom Transformation

Dishwasher to Storage

Kitchen Cabinet Updating

Raised Beds

New Kitchen Vent Hood

A New Big Project: Laminate Plank Flooring

Green Room Flooring

Finishing Our Guest Room

New Kitchen Shelf

Holiday Craziness

This time of the year has become pretty crazy these last few years. I don’t have experience with that many Christmases since, as a child, I wasn’t terribly aware of the stress and culture that existed around Christmas.

Consumerism

This year like the previous two, Walmart started their Black Friday sales at six o’clock on Thanksgiving night. This action perfectly represents what is happening to our culture related to Christmas: Consumerism. This of course causes stress to different types of people. Some people like to shop, causing stress to their close relationships, because of the inability to stop or consider the consequences of shopping. Others buy gifts to one up other family members and for “bragging rights”. While others overspend hoping to impress, buy the affection of their spouse, or fix the distance in their relationship with their child. Some are in constant stress wondering what bills can be pushed off another month in order to have money to buy gifts, because they live paycheck to paycheck. Parents struggle to afford to buy gifts that will help their child fit in, and others struggle to have food on the table, lights on, and even heat. To some, Christmas has become a hassle and never worth the meaning behind it. Their years of hardship make Christmas a burden, and keep it a burden. Years of striving to out perform last Christmas and rushing for the biggest piles under the tree, ruin any joy that others may experience related to Christmas. The stress is all consuming and is a terrible storm that disorients your heart as well as your mind.
I am reminded though of the gift-giving love language from Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages. If we were all able to see and experience giving in that way, I feel the season would be easier. That way, referring to the way those with the love language will give gifts as a sign of love, and in the same way, they are joyful to receive any gift because they see love as a gift, even if it is just a flower, note, or gift of time. But, I suppose the human heart is greedy and not teaching gratitude at such a young age can grow a greedy and even entitled heart.

Remembrance

Besides consumerism, we also see remembrance. Christmas is also a time when we remember those we’ve lost and reflect on the year that passed. Many times Christmas is shrouded is sadness and despair. Memories of past Christmases prevent us from enjoying what we have now, and who we have. The “Ba Humbug” sentiment can still be felt and quietly echos through the lives of someone you may know. Change is usually unwelcome but sometimes the way you react to the change can cause more damage than the acceptance ever would. Flexibility can help with some changes, such as changes to family structures or life events or changes in location/jobs, but others just require acceptance of reality and the finality of life.
Remembrance is normal and should be encouraged since there is much to gain from the past and better times, but constantly looping better times and being consumed by the change is not healthy. Remember those you have with you and take time to do things that are good for you, even if you do not fully want to or feel you deserve them.

Generosity, A Hope

However, we are lucky enough to see generosity. It is true that many have a “me” mentality, others still exist with a generous hand they are always willing to offer. Drives this time of year that are gathered within the community they wish to serve are examples of generosity. Toy drives, clothing drives, and even food drives directly benefiting those locally that need help remind us that this season encourages a helping nature and a desire to serve other. Even a simple action like caroling to nursing homes, or delivering cookies to a neighbor can make a large difference to the bleakness some face. One thing that continues to bring joy, is the fact that we are trying to reach our elders and children at this time of year. Christmas is a holiday for everyone. Though not everyone receives help or friendship this time of year from others, the fact that some do, still brings some joy and reassurance that we have not completely lost the spirit of the season.

I could start rambling now about how Christianity fits into all of this, such as Christmas being a day and time to celebrate Jesus’ birth, however, I do not feel I have to do that, because it is in the name. If you celebrate Christmas, than you are celebrating in his name. Even if you do nothing some would consider “generous”, a simple gift to a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor is an act of generosity, an act of service. Though Christmas has become a time of consumerism and remembrance, Christmas retains the spirit of generosity despite all else that gives a sense of hope that things will get better or we can muster on because we always have. Hope is a great gift to give to others.

If you’ve made it this far, allow me to thank you for reading my Christmas musings.

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