In All Labor There is Profit...

Proverbs 14:23 "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." I keep on thinking of this verse over and over again while working on the house. There are many times while we are working on the house that requires much prep-work that doesn't really energize you or make you think that much is being accomplished. So many times, the work that is done just demolishes things and makes it more messy. I have kept on reminding myself that this work is profitable! Thankfully, this past week, we got to see some very large examples that this is true. In our pictures, pleas keep in mind that we are a work in progress. Our home isn't as "put away" as I prefer it, but it is a working zone. I also keep having to remind myself that "Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes with the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4

We were so blessed that my parents got to come out this past week, and boy were they ever a help! Boxes have actually been unpacked, all of the popcorn ceiling in the living room is gone, and you can actually see through the kitchen again! The old, grease-covered stove is gone (looks much cooler in picture than in reality), and we sold the old refrigerator. They installed new shelves in the multitude of closets in our home (which we are so grateful for!), and things are actually moving into their homes. New baseboards were painted and put in the bedrooms, and things are looking like sane people actually live here now! All of these words don't even begin to capture how hard they worked while they were out here. We love you guys so much, and thank you for helping our house become our home!

The wonderful job of texturing, sanding and painting that Tim has done (along with help from the Ashley family!) finally got to the point where we could see some light in the midst of the tunnel. We have carpet, beautiful paint and furniture in our bedrooms! Though I am still in the process of finding our decorative accessories for the bedrooms and putting those in place, it was an awesome reminder that we are sane people who will have a great home at the end of this process! It's like Christmas getting to unpack our artwork and decorative acessories! I got to do laundry in our own washer & dryer again, and some paint is actually getting on the walls in there!

On top of all of this, we had an experience with our plumbing this week. My parents were such troopers as we hit the inevitable vacant house wall...our showers stopped draining the day after the new carpet was installed. We were so grateful that none of the water from our Master shower leaked out onto the new carpet, and that we could take a shower at the TLC at the Church in the meantime. Two days later and many conversations with our home warranty providers (Thanks Emily!) later, we have beautifully draining plumbing again!

This weekend was a reminder that we need to actually take a break from time to time on working in our house. We were able to sleep in on Saturday, and get some much-needed rest. I really do believe that this has been the first time we have stopped and relaxed since April of this year. I was reminded that God gave us a Sabbath for a reason. We need to make sure we use what He has put in place for us!

Though much has been accomplished, much is still yet to be done! Thankfully, with the money we made off the refrigerator, I get to purchase curtains for one of the guest room windows. Our next steps are to finish putting all of our clothes in the correct closets, putting the final paint coats in the laundry room and installing the paneling in there, and starting to texture in the living room. All of the rest of the flooring in the house is still to be replaced, but it is coming! We get to go pick up our kitchen cabinets & appliances from Ikea this weekend, and spend a few days with Jennifer, Chauncey & Cohen (sister, brother-in-law & nephew) as an added bonus. We could not be more excited to get more stuff going, and I hope to have more progress pictures for you soon!