Lesson from remodeling my house.

We often keep pictures in photo albums or on our phones to show them to others, or we take them out once in a while to look at them and remember. In 2013, we moved to Virginia. I didn’t want to move here, but I eventually surrendered to the fact we were moving. LeAnne helped us find our beautiful crayola house (that’s what our daughter called it when she saw the pictures). I fell in love with it the moment I saw pictures of it on a brochure. I immediately said yes to it without even seeing it in person. LeAnne Anies made the experience of buying our house flawless.

After 20 years of living in houses with white or beige walls, this house was perfect for me. Did I say, I fell in love with all the colors already? Every room had a different color and they all worked so well together.

To get ready to move in, I created a picture collage for above the fireplace. For me it was special to decorate our new house with them and it allowed me to bond with the space before moving there. I wasn’t sure if they would fit.

When I arrived and saw the house in person it was even more beautiful than I imagined. The collage of pictures fit perfectly above the fireplace. It’s been 8 years since my husband hung each frame and we placed the writing on the wall, “These are the moments to remember forever”.

We are now in a new stage of life, our children are older, some live at home and some don’t. Hubby and I contemplated selling our house and moving to were we want to retire, we definitely had narrowed down our options. After much thought, we realized that we are in the midst of various life transitions, therefore Virginia will be our retirement home for a while. With that new decision we decided to remodel our house and that includes painting the walls.

The contractor that will do the work for us said, “it’s a beautiful home and with all the remodeling it's going to look gorgeous but, if you could take all the pictures down that will be good, we can put them back up”.

As I walked down the stairs one morning to start preparing the house for remodeling I got a little emotional. I realized we have to take the collage of pictures down. Not sure why I felt emotional. I had an appointment so I could not focus on how I felt at the time.

Later, the contractor came to finalize the details to begin the work. As we talked, I shared with him why my house is filled with so many pictures. That’s another post.

After he left, I realized that the reason I became emotional was it’s been a while since I have stopped and savored all the pictures on my wall. They represent seasons of life with my beloved over the past 29 years. Our children had to move around but we tried hard to make every new house a home, and that home was going to be children friendly. In this house I have placed on the walls everything my heart desires. The kids and hubby had a “wall of fame”. I displayed all their sports trophies, metals, you name it. Wall gifts that I received from speaking engagements were on the wall. It was the first time I had so much wall space that I could make my house a Hudson Museum of pictures.

Now we are transitioning to make this house dog friendly for when Arlo visits, and parents of adult children friendly. We are hoping to host some parties for, Grown Ups.

If you didn’t know, I have the cutest grandpuppy born this year! Arlo is going to be a big boy and of course he must feel comfortable and his grandparents home.

Anyway, I have gotten a vision of our remodel house and that means, the Museum displays are going in boxes. I am excited to add pictures of Arlo and what my children that includes Peace currently look like to the wall!

My heart is full, life with all it’s up and downs is amazing. For my 49 years of life, the last 29 have been a roller coaster. I love my family. There are no other people I rather ride the roller coaster of life with than riding it with them

I am grateful for my husband, 5 yound men, my daughter, my dog Peace and now my grandpuppy Arlo for living life with me. I look forward to (and if needed ... bracing for) for new adventures.

“Cherish every season of life; for without coldness, there is no comfort in warmth, and without darker days, there is no joy in light.” Wes Fesler

If you made this far, thanks for reading my long post. You Rock!