Kitchen reno

Two weeks without our kitchen and powder room as of today. 

My people have been troopers thus far, for which I am ever so grateful.  It's far from pleasant being squeezed into one room where we have to relax, prepare and eat our meals.  There's not much wiggle room- and I used to think our family room was big. 

It dawned on me the other day that this process is amounting to much like training for a long race.  The first few miles (weeks) produce excitement, because your energy level is at it's highest and you have dreamy hopes of what you'll accomplishment.  Then come the middle miles.  Settling into one's pace happens here, and the mental toughness is drawn out, as the body is taxed.  Arriving at the halfway point can be a milestone mentally- if you know when that point is (in a renovation it's not so obvious).  The last few miles require the training one has done to be put into practice.  All those pace workouts, hill repeats and long runs, were in preparation for the last bit, when the body is most tired and ready to give up.  Here is when one hits the proverbial wall. 

So where are we in this run?  If I had to guess, somewhere still in the first third of the race.  We've settled into a routine; as much as we can given the circumstances.  We aren't complaining much.  It's still somewhat fun- I say that lightly of course.  Some aspects are enjoyable, and some are not.  Friends that came by in the beginning wouldn't notice much change at this juncture. 

The best part of this process is learning to be content, flexible and patient.  God is drawing this out in all of us. 

Our neighbors have even brought dinner or allowed us to cook at their place.  This is no small thing!  My love for my neighbors has only grown.  Four years ago when we moved in, I wouldn't have expected such a thing, but it's been delightful to watch our neighborhood grow and become a place of good old fashioned kindness.  We are blessed.