The First Bedroom Finished for the Birthday Girl
November 11, 2024
The race to the finish line was both intense and exhilarating! So much of our efforts and focus—in a VERY short time was spent poring over the construction of this room. There were fine details (specific to the taste of the tenant who has officially moved in on the eve of her birthday) to be placed—and definitely not to be missed.
Wood Beams Crafted By a Talented Carpenter
The home’s original wood beams and slabs were precisely chosen and customized to fit the style and space envisioned by Lorelai. She had wanted the ceiling above her bed to be made of old pieces of wood—of course, sanded and varnished to emphasize its original colour and texture.
The handy-work of a carpenter intertwined with impeccable taste for all things rustic and classy; coupled with a college background in architectural technology; combined with experience in managing construction projects; graced with both physical and mental stamina (and sometimes just plain-old will power); and blessed with a heart of gold for serving others…we have come to the crux of this particular assignment—one that has been a long time work in progress seemingly at a snail’s pace—but the labour of his hands brought forth fruit. And we are now seeing and touching it. And it is so very good!
Sibling Friendships
God is good and He has seen us through all things minute and grand. The details of our lives are not insignificant to Him. Even though the night time festivities of our four kids in one makeshift bedroom for the last three and a half years have been anything but enjoyable for us the parents, Michiel and I have intentionally focused our attention on the flip side of things—which is the long-lasting sibling friendship fed by the necessity to share space and cohabitate regardless of differences and bickering experienced throughout the day. This is a blessing often unaccounted for when we focus on the “should be’s” instead of the “could be’s”.
If a lesson was taught and insight given, I would say that time is short and all things fade—yet the one thing that is invaluable, more precious than material comfort or security in our earthly dwellings—the one thing we can cherish that is more than worthy of our time and attention, is the effort we put into strengthening our relationships.
As the finish line came to sight, each family member involved themselves with small and big tasks. While working away at different paces, topics relating to life experiences were brought up and discussed. We would draw parallels from stories in the Bible to instances that we have seen unfold in our own lives during past years. There were no doubt lots of questions from the kids about where we came from and what life was like before they entered the picture.
Michiel and I would talk about our native countries—where we had snippets of fond memories from our childhood. How each visit to our homes across the ocean was a new experience even though we visited the same places. What changed at each visit was the absence of the beloved people who made the memory a memory. Truly, we held those people dear in our hearts.
Lime Washed Walls Are Absolutely Fabulous!
The results of the lime washed walls in this room exceeded our expectation—even though we knew from the beginning it was going to look spectacular with the style and decor Lorelai had chosen. We spent time with her figuring out which paint brush and stroke she preferred on the walls. We even took time late one evening to practice and test different techniques with her.
It is a stunning room to say the least. The light entering the large south-facing window brought in warmth and liveliness while the late afternoon light coming through the west-facing window brought in a dream-like atmosphere. She has an ocean view through the front window as well as a tidal creek view through the side window. The blue and pink sky with ruffles of white clouds suspended over the setting sun mirrored in the waters brought flutters to a grateful heart.
Lorelai’s room is now complete—save a few hardwares soon to be installed.
Two More Rooms To Come Along
Our current new race to the finish line involves finishing two bedrooms and a staircase—expected to be completed before the end of this week! The walls have yet to be sanded and painted before the installation of new furniture—and two more kids moved in!
FYI, there is no heat on the second floor. There will be blown-in insulation in the attic before the true wintery weather arrives. Michiel will be attaching a new heating system soon. We will not be cold this winter!
More updates to come very soon.
We hope you have a wonderful day, dear friends and family!
