Not Good . . . but Better!

It’s no secret I have a yen for home improvements but with bathrooms and front doors finished, and no plans for the near future, I've been getting a little antsy. So I set my sights on improving the space right here...my blog. Welcome to my spruced up corner of the blogosphere.

I’ve been writing here for more than three years—sporadically more than anything, but pressing on nonetheless. It's been a place I've pondered and processed and grew and shared. As I reflect on these last years—almost 300 posts and tens of thousands of words written—I see that while I've changed the look of my blog, God has changed me.

When I started writing here I was playing lots of tennis and having a great time with it. Much of my days were filled with tennis matches and drills and lunches with friends. Life was good and full and carefree. But tennis had become more than a hobby; it was more like a part time job (that I paid for). And something inside told me that God hadn’t put me on this earth to spend my days that way—that He had more planned for me.

I pulled back from tennis a bit, but continued to play competitively. And then in a match almost exactly three years ago from today, I went for a shot and hurt my elbow badly. The diagnosis? Tennis elbow. What should have gone away in 12 weeks lingered for months. I saw many doctors and therapists, and tried all sorts of treatments. Nothing worked. “Give it time,” most of the specialists said.

The fall tennis season started without me and I mourned the loss of a big part of my life. I looked for ways to fill my surplus of free time and started to write more. I started to focus less on myself and more on others. I discovered gifts I didn’t know I had. And my relationship with God became more intimate and personal.

When I look the last three post-tennis years, I am amazed at the places God has led me. How He’s changed my outlook and centered my thoughts on His work. His children. His purpose for my life.
Since I set down my tennis racket, I’ve:

• Been to writers’ conferences
• Joined a writers’ group.
• Had stories and articles published (and actually got paid!)
• Been on—not just one—but four mission trips. And have plans for more in the near future.
• Developed a deep love for missions and Haiti in particular.
• Joined the prison ministry.
• Backpacked the Grand Canyon.
• Confronted (although not conquered) my fear of public speaking. 
•  Made close friends who have a heart for writing, for missions and especially for the Lord.

I don’t know why I hurt my elbow…or why it refuses to get better. Was it bad luck? An accident? Divine intervention? Perhaps. I do know that when one door closed, a wonderful path came into view. One I started on reluctantly, but now travel enthusiastically. On the road I’ve experienced God in rich and powerful ways. He’s opened my eyes and broken my heart to love His children. And He’s awakened a sense of adventure that is such a part of who I am now.

With the improvements God’s done in me, it’s fitting my blog reflects that change. I no longer see myself as primarily a thinker. A ponderer. An observer. Now I’m a do-er. A risk taker. An adventurer.

And with our awesome God as my guide I’m discovering I’m not so ordinary after all.

We may be happy and comfortable in our lives, but our plans are not always God’s plans, and the good things we do are not always the best He has in store.

Where is God be leading you from "good" to "best" ... from thinking to doing?

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Haiti and Me . . . March 2010

They're In and They're Perfect!

Sorry to keep you hanging! A few of you asked about the grand door adventure and how it turned out. I am happy to report that all went well. The entire installation process went smoothly and we are now the proud owners of new front doors. The front of my house is smiling and so am I. I can't believe what a difference the doors make to the outside and inside of our house.

In the end it was worth the wait and worth the indecision. I am one happy homeowner (and Dan is too).  

Thankfully they are the correct doors! Fresh off the truck and ready to be installed.

What a difference. The foyer is so bright now! (The green in the glass is the grass and foliage.)

After so much indecision, I am SO happy with our choice! And SO happy to be done thinking about it!

What home improvement projects make you happy?

Today is THE Day!

Today is the day! After months and months of deciding, hours of researching choices, dozens of times changing my mind and weeks of waiting for delivery, today is the day our new front door will be installed!

Before

As you may recall, deciding on a front door had me tied up in a knot of indecision. Dan and I have made lots of home improvement decisions in our twenty years of home ownership, but making this decision was the hardest. Don't ask me why. All I know is that I'm at peace with the decision we made and I now know A LOT about entry doors! I also know the staff at our local Lowe's very well.

Wesley, my main contact in the door department, deserves an award. I told his boss he needs a raise. Through all of my mind-changing, re-configuring, re-estimating, follow up phone calls and repeat visits, he kept his patience and sense of humor. Last month when we sat down to finally write up the order I asked, "Has anyone ever taken so long to buy a ..."

Goodbye banged-up, dingy, wobbly door

Before I finished my sentence, he said, "No!"

I joked, "But, look how much joy I've brought to your life!"

I've been in Lowe's a lot recently and whenever I have a few extra minutes I swing by the door department to say "hi" to Wesley. He told me he'd been keeping an eye on my door while it sat in the back waiting to be installed. (I think he wants this job finished as much as I do!)

Customer service is such a lost concept these days that when I actually receive it, I'm surprised--and appreciative. My door's not installed yet (and I'm not getting paid for this endorsement) but I must say that all the staff at our local Lowe's is terrific. They're attentive, friendly and thorough. 

I'm hopeful my door will testify to these facts as well!

** This just in . . . the installer just pulled up to the house! I am so excited!!! I just love changes and improvements. Especially when someone else is doing the work. Stay tuned . . . **

It's finally here! But is it the correct door?

It is Finished...finally

The supplies have been put away. The mess is all cleaned up. The accessories have been purchased. And order in the house has been restored. Our powder room renovation is officially— and finally—finished.

It took much longer than expected, but I'm so happy with the results. Especially since the vision I had in my mind's eye turned out even better in reality. (That certainly isn't always the case!)

This wasn't a "fun" project but it was certainly satisfying. And besides saving a lot of money by going DIY, I got some good spiritual insights in the process. Maybe I'll write about them one of these days—perhaps while sitting on the floor of bathroom. As it is, I stop in many times a day to enjoy the ambiance. (Now instead of looking for me at my computer, my kids first check the bathroom! :-)

I thought I'd share the results so you can see for yourself. (The room is so small and hard to photograph but hopefully you'll get the idea.) Or stop by for a visit and see for yourself.

Remember the before:

Here's the after:

 

 

 

The final touch will be framed pictures from our backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. Then it will truly be complete.

What projects are on your mind for 2011?

From Chaos to Glory

These last eight days have been quite a whirlwind around here! Between our “minor” home renovation that turned into a major project and my adventure to Dallas I’ve been grasping to control the chaos, let alone my day-to-day responsibilities. The good news: I’m sitting at my brand-new desk in my almost-finished new room (and it’s looking great!). I promise to post pictures when we’re done, but first I want to go back a few days to when we were in the peak of disorder around here.

Perhaps Empty Me may become my theme for 2009. It’s certainly been apropos this January. In order to lay the hardwood floors, and do the other construction, in our living room and dining room we had to completely empty both rooms. (When half of one of those rooms is my office, it's no small task.) Add to that the necessary tools, supplies and equipment, our house has became an obstacle course. “Stuff” was everywhere…and I’d just gotten the house back in tip top shape as I reclaimed it from Christmas.

Did I mention we’re doing all of this work ourselves, under the expert direction of my sister who is the brains behind the operation. This isn’t a sit back and watch, and offer the workers refreshing beverages, project. No, we’ve paid for the results with our sweat equity. By the end of each day (like midnight), Dan, my sister and I are spent—emptied physically. (We’re fast tracking the project because my sister has a deadline to go back home to Florida.)

This business of transformation is hard work. It isn’t for the faint of heart, those without a desire to see it through to the end, or those who need continual order. If you don’t believe me, here’s the view to our front door last week. (This area usually has nothing in it except a coat rack by the front door.) It’s like an obstacle course navigating through the cluttered pathways in our house.

But today, I finished assembling my desk and began the process of putting the piles of "stuff" away. This is when the fun starts and we can see the rooms coming to life.

The Bible says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corin. 3:18) … AND …
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” ( Corin. 5:17)

The transformation promised by Jesus is beautiful and miraculous. For me, it’s the hope of my “old” becoming “new” that spurs me on. But, transforming into the likeness of Christ is hard work. It shakes up our ordered lives. It requires perseverance. It's uncomfortable and often messy. And it takes time—a long time. However, God won’t do it all while we sit back and offer beverages. We’ve got to roll up our sleeves and participate in the process. He directs, we follow. We take down, He builds up. We empty, He fills.

If our home renovation is any indication, the work is hard, but the results are more than worth the effort.

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.
--From "Empty Me" by Jeremy Camp