A couple of months ago I wrote a blog - LOVE IT OR LIST IT - (February 13) - about our upcoming renovations. Plans have been in place since last summer to make some changes in our kitchen, dining room and living room. It would happen (for the most part) while we vacationed in Curacao for the month of March. (A shout out to Heather and fam for keeping us in the loop with pictures and commentary while we were away).

Before we left for Curacao, we emptied the living room - den - and dining room - of all the furniture. We packed up the kitchen and carried box after box downstairs to be stored. We set up our folding table and small appliances in the basement and I must say - the air fryer was a game changer for cooking.

The first thing to happen was the removal of the old cabinets in the kitchen. Our contractor carefully extracted them and we were able to sell them to a wonderful couple from the Bancroft area - where they would fit perfectly in their century old farmhouse. Do you know how heavy those black granite counter tops weigh? It took four very strong men to lift them onto the truck! Well done!

Next - the windows. We imagined that the brand new windows would not be installed until the summer time but the B family who built our house arranged - very quickly - the removal of the walls in the dining room and living room. We were able to witness the outside bricks being removed but were not here when the actual windows went in. Heather came over that first afternoon and snapped some pictures. I was blown away.

The morning we left for Curacao, the flooring crew arrived! They had huge sanding machines that stripped the dark brown stain off of the hardwood. The three men worked tirelessly for five days and the changes were instant. After the final coat of stain was applied - no one could walk on it for three days. I know Heather and family were anxious to get in to see it and take pictures for me. They peered in through the windows and stood at the doorway and when they sent the pictures to us, we were blown away. What a difference.

I was certain that the changes to the hardwood would be my favourite part of the Reno’s! But as each job was completed……it got harder and harder to pick what I loved best.

I’m a huge advocate for natural light in a home. Studies show there is a connection between depression and darkness. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of major depressive disorder that’s linked to seasonal changes and lack of sunshine. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can impact daily life…..usually during fall and winter. There’s no way to prevent SAD - we live where we live but we can manage it……expose yourself to natural light - both inside your home and outside - and go for a walk every day.

The two new windows are game changers!

The difference these two new windows make is “night and day!” When I wake up in the morning and walk into the living room/dining room - I’m blown away.

The kitchen cabinets arrived just before we got home and were exactly what we discussed and ordered. White! The island is painted aqua - a pop of colour to accent beach living! The counter tops arrive next week and the backsplash two more weeks after that. White! The electrician has the kitchen wired and ready to go.

Not a snaggle anywhere in the process - until last week! When Harv and the electrician moved the fridge out to do the wiring for the ice maker - the rollers on the fridge left scratches in the newly finished floor. Yes! A few gouges! Not enough to notice right away - only if you look real close.

But isn’t that like life. So many of our days are filled with really good things. Children. Grandchildren. Health. Friendship. Travel. But then there are moments - minutes - hours - days - sometimes even months or years - that feel scratchy and gouged, messy and uncomfortable, gashed and slashed - far from perfect.

It’s not the uncomfortable messes though, that define us! It’s our responses to them. How do we react? In the messy - in the dirty - in the uncomfortable - in the imperfect - in the not-so-nice conversations - how do we respond? A very wise man once said - “let every person be quick to listen, but slow to use their tongue - slow to lose their temper - slow to anger!” Do we become bitter or better?

I learned much in 2014/2015 about being gashed and slashed and scratchy. Buechner wrote: To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the uncomfortable, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of thirst, to run when our legs are broken. But this is the first and greatest commandment nonetheless. Even in the uncomfortable - especially in the uncomfortable - I will love Him.”

John Newton wrote: “When you cannot see your way, be satisfied that God is your leader. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you, He knows your path; He will not leave you to sink. God has appointed you seasons of refreshment and you will find He has not forgotten you. Above all keep close to the throne of grace. If we seem to get no good by attempting to draw near Him, we may be sure we shall get none by keeping away from Him.”

When we began to consider renovations, my motive was to make our home comfortable for all - grandkids and grand-dogs - friends and family - light and airy - a place where the sand is easy to sweep up - where light pours in in the early hours of the morning when we’re sipping our coffee - where the sun is the last thing we see as it dips into the lake at the end of the day! Some day when I’m long gone and the family are sitting around - talking about days gone by - I hope they will be saying things like - “I loved being at Grammie and Papa’s beach house! I loved splashing in the hot tub! I loved sitting around the table! I loved playing in the yard! I loved that they loved having us at their house! I love that the snack cupboard was stocked full of our favourites! I loved playing games around the table! I loved curling up on the couch to watch a movie or read a book!”

The coffee is always on! The couch is comfy! Conversation awaits your arrival! Come on over! See you soon!