The Tiny Bathroom Overhaul

When we originally looked at this house, I instantly fell in love with it.  Specifically the camouflage style countertops in both bathrooms (I hope you read that with as much sarcasm as I said... or wrote it with).  I mean really, what was the draw to this design?  Have no fear, under no circumstances would I allow these tiny spaces go unnoticed...or....hidden.  Because they were small bathrooms, I knew I needed to make them amazing.  I’ll let you decide for yourself!
Owner’s Suite:

In the master bathroom we removed the sink altogether and replaced it with the white base that keeps this small space feeling open and airy!  We purchased it from Lowe's- and though it's one of their pricier options, it was important to factor in whether an extra $100 was worth making the right impact vs. just making due with a less expensive version.  The tiles were in great condition and were installed well... but kinda ugly.  Our options were to tear out and install new tiles, leave them, or PAINT them!  I opted to paint them.  The wall tiles had to go though, so we tore them out and replaced them with the sleek shiplap.

  

And the hall bath:

This bathroom got a little less love than the master bath, but still a dramatic change!  Rather than going with a customized sink top, I created this dramatic top using butcher block and an undermounted sink.  If you go this route... be prepared to fight that block.  It's very challenging to cut.

What do you think?

Happy renovating!

XO,

Jackie E

The Wired House Rehab

Finally.  You'd think getting our hands on a great rehab would be easy...but it wasn't.  Several offers were made before we came across this dated beauty.  The ugly kind of beautiful.  That's a thing, right?  This baby was the epicenter for being wired.  I think every room had a phone jack, cable cord through the base board, and internet hookup (plus a few extra UWH- unidentified wire hookups).  It was wired.

We went back and forth on just how much updating we should do, and between Jason's perfectionism and my subborn vision...well...let's show you what happened!

Exterior:  We didn't go crazy, but a little love went a long way!  We cleared out that funky bush...tree...thing that was planted directly underneath the power line.  Seriously, who thinks that is the ideal place to plant a tree/bush?  We painted the shutters and front deck and replaced the front door.



























The kitchen was one of my biggest undertakings of all that we did.  We painted the upper cabinets white, and the lowers a dark gray, installed a subway tile backsplash, replaced the appliances and included a built in microwave (which required us to tear out and install new cabinets above the range to allow enough clearance between the microwave and the range), installed new countertops, new sink, new faucet, new garbage disposal, and of course, the hardware.  Oh, did I forget painting walls and replacing the light fixtures?  Yeah, those things too.  BUT...it looks like the kind of place I would want to cook now!


I set up shop in the garage to prime the cabinet doors before painting.  I chose to spray the doors, but had to sand down drip marks or spots from the times the sprayer spit.  I opted for Zinsser Cover Stain Interior Oil Primer.  I chose it because I didn't want the wood to bleed through, and based on my test piece, discovered it worked better than Kilz (which I've read is better for sheetrock and walls).  I wouldn't use an oil based primer again, particularly with my sprayer, but I would use one of Zinsser's other primers next time.  

For the top coat I used Valspar Cabinet Enamel.  I bought a gallon of white and a gallon of gray.  It may have been costly and overzealous of me to buy that much...but I didn't want to have to go back and buy more (especially when the cost of 2 quarts is the same as 1 gallon).  Sure it would've been far less expensive to paint them all the same color...but that whole stubborn thing I struggle with...
In short, I didn't need that much at all.  Pros to Valspar Cabinet Enamel: it's forgiving and doesn't show brush marks, a little goes a long way, it covers well, cleans up easily, and I liked how well it hardened.  Cons: it's kind of watery so it drips and will leave drip marks if you don't go back and check on each section shortly after painting it, and it didn't hide the wood grain quite as much as I hoped.  Overall, I was happy with how they turned out, and would use this again (granted I won't be able to tell you how well it wears)!

The hardwood floors were missing a section, so we weighed the options of tearing them out and replacing with pergo or finding someone who could match and replace the missing section as well as sand them down and stain them.  After getting a few quotes from contractors we opted to go that route.  It was expensive, but less expensive than replacing them and less work...for us.  They stained them Dark Walnut and I love how they turned out!




The bathrooms.  By far one of the most dramatic changes.  Of couse we repainted the walls, but we also changed out the light fixtures, replaced the countertops (using the former bases- and naturally doubling down on my excess of cabinet paint I painted them using the kitchen cabinet leftovers), replaced the faucet, and hardware.

The detail around the mirror was a quick build for Jason (see Tag & Tibby's how to here for details on how to build it yourself), which I finished (using Cherished Blisses method which you can find here).   The master bathroom had an odd sized countertop which the in store specialist quoted around $350 to specail order.  I went home and found that the same store had options online for half the price!  It took about 2 weeks to get in, but was worth the wait!

Mission accomplished!  I got the look I was aiming for in the bathrooms and without spending a fortune!





As for my favorite element in this wired rehab:  it was the front porch.  Jason rocked this project!  We special ordered tile bricks from Lowe's and used them to cover a bland, ugly porch and give it a little personality.  It actually gave it A LOT of personality.  It was a time intensive project, and the brick tiles aren't cheap...but it certainly sets it apart!







Tell me what you think!  And please, let me know if you have any questions, or want me to go into further detail!

Until next time...happy rehabbing!


XO,
Jackie E






"After" photos credit:  Alishia Potter of The Potter's Hand Photography

 

Unforgiveness

Forgiveness has a way of sounding good, nice, and like the right thing to do, don’t’cha’think?  In fact, step into any church on any given day and you’ll likely hear the word “forgive” several times.  It’s fundamental to the Christian faith.  Easy, right?  Forgive others as we’ve been forgiven?  But what about this…

I stood slouched over the counter listening to my friend as she told me that she was struggling with forgiveness.  As someone who grew up in church, I was curious why this was her struggle.  She went on to tell me her story, which went something like this [condensed version]:  growing up, her family attended church and was very involved in it.  Her parents had another couple that were their best friends, present for just about every birthday and holiday.  When she (we’ll call her Amy) was a young teenager her family was divided when her mom and dad split because she was having an affair with the best friend which split the other couple as well.  They got married.  They called it “a part of God’s plan.”  (Note:  if our actions aren’t in line with Biblical truth, then it is NOT God’s will or plan.  God will never ask us to contradict His Word)  Amy and her younger sister watched two families unravel, Amy being old enough to witness the hurt and heartache her dad felt when he lost his family and best friend all in one fallow swoop.  And though she’s several years beyond this heart wrenching division, she was still struggling with forgiveness because there was never admission to wrongdoing.  There was never an apology.  In fact, they expected Amy to treat her step-dad lovingly and though he was Dad.

So how then, do you forgive someone that doesn’t seek your forgiveness?  This was the question mark in her life that she just couldn’t get around.  And honestly, it caused me to ask a lot of questions about how forgiveness works.  Though my story didn’t include anything of this scope or nature, I know that I hold on to a few things:  like unkind words, or being accused of wrong when I really sought to do right.  Mine seem so small in comparison to Amy, but unforgiveness in all sizes has the ability to cause damage.  I thought I’d share some insight that others have taught me in my pursuit to understand forgiveness, in hopes that it may provide a little help for you too.

   1.  “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison, hoping the other person dies.”  You alone will suffer from unforgiveness, not the person you’re unable to forgive.

    2.  “Forgiveness doesn’t mean acceptance of the wrongdoing.”  To forgive means to pardon someone from the payment of their wrongdoing, but it doesn’t mean that you’ve magically become okay with what they’ve done.

     3.   “We must hold others in the light that we’ve been held- forgiven by Christ.  We must not forget how grave our own sin is and yet Christ still forgave us.” 

    4.   “You can forgive and still have boundaries.  Boundaries are necessary to let others know what you’re okay with and what you’re not okay with.”  This mentor then went on to give examples such as an abusive father that you may have forgiven, but that you wouldn’t allow to him to be unsupervised with your children.  Forgiving someone doesn’t mean that you eliminate boundaries.

In all honesty, there is so much wisdom to be gleaned on this topic from Scripture, but today as I read I found this interesting; it is Paul writing to the Corinthians:

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him.  And what I have forgiven- if there was anything to forgive- I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are unaware of his schemes.  2 Corinthians 2:10-11  

Forgiving so that Satan might not outwit us… interesting (or alarming), isn’t it?  1. There is an enemy that is real and 2. That he schemes against us and 3. That he outwits us by turning a matter of unforgiveness against us.  UGH!  Satan uses it as ammo, or perhaps fertile ground to let other [less desirable] things grow!  

My friend, I hope that you can see the urgency we should have in forgiving others!  It may require you to remind yourself that they don’t see the wrong in what they’ve done because they haven’t been convicted by the Word, God’s Word- God’s truth.  Be the light that shines in their darkness by offering forgiveness even though they may not deserve it or understand it!  (You may not be able to physically forgive someone, but don’t let that keep you from forgiving)  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  John 1:4-5

Their wrongdoing is what causes them to be at odds with God, it’s their sin, don’t let it become your stumbling block.  Be quick to forgive, and quick to pray that they would come to understand the condition of their heart and its opposition to God, while continually seeking this same forgiveness from God for ways that you may have wronged Him or others.  

My friend, Amy, had battled this for a lot of years.  It turned into bitterness, and bitterness into anger.  She has since been able to forgive her mom and step-dad after being able to have one-on-one conversations with them.  She chased after God, and the wisdom of others who have also forgiven some really ugly sins.  Amy began journaling a list of hurts and those who caused them so that she could pray over them and release them of the offense, finding that it isn’t for THEM, it’s for HER.  And the reason she can give it is by the grace of God, the very one who extends his grace time and time again.  In her words, “forgiveness holds no burdens, it’s freeing.” 

 

I pray that for you:  freedom made possible through forgiveness.  

Father, I pray that you would help me to forgive those who have wronged me.  God help me to let go of the hurt, the bitterness, and the anger.  I pray that they would come to know you and Your Word, that they would see their need for and seek your forgiveness.  I pray that you would shine a light on anything in me that may be offensive to you, and forgive me for doing that which you find offensive!  I love you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

XO,
Jackie E

When Your Husband Just Isn't "Into the Whole God Thing"

This.  This is a source of brokenness for so many women.  I have heard this story more than any other, a story about a husband that rejects God.  From the crying woman in the church bathroom, or the many women in my small group, to the personal phone calls or messages I have received, just know this:  you are not alone.  Countless women are bearing this burden that weighs heavy on the heart just like you.  Though you may be familiar with this brokenness, take heart in knowing that Jesus desires to share His wholeness with you.

About two years into my marriage my husband and I were at odds.  When we married, he was a single dad, I was a single mom, neither one of us having been married before.  But right around that two year mark I was ready to have that “our” baby I so desperately wanted.  I thought I was finally going to get to do it “the way God designed it.”  Don’t get me wrong:  I loved (and presently love) the two we had entering our marriage and found them to be blessings, but were two broken families merging together:  I wanted to experience the wholeness I thought having a family together would create.  My husband, on the other hand, wasn’t so thrilled at the prospect of having another baby.  This was NOT his idea of finding wholeness.  Onset fighting.  Arguments.  Discontentment.  Brokenness.  Our marriage seemed to be falling apart when he finally gave in.  I got pregnant.  But as it would turn out, pregnancy didn’t exactly cure our indifference. 

The night of February 13^th I laid in bed crying, “God, I can’t do this anymore.  Our marriage isn’t working, and I don’t want to be a single mom again.  I can’t do it, God, just take this baby from me.”  ß I cry even writing this.  I was so broken.  The next morning was my first real doctor’s appointment, the 12 week appointment.  My hubby came along.  During the appointment the nurse offered to give us a quick ultrasound if time allowed.   This wasn’t a standard thing to do at a 12 week appointment, but they had just been given an ultrasound unit from one of the hospitals.  Time allowed and she squirted that cold gel onto my belly and began to look around.  I watched on the screen thinking I would see something similar to what I saw with my firstborn.  But I didn’t.  Quickly my heart sank, and my mind raced with the vast array of issues that maybe God allowed in order to answer that broken, desperate prayer.  The nurse’s silence made moments feel like an eternity.  Finally she spoke up “well I didn’t want to say anything until I was certain, but you’re having twins!”  WHAT?  WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?  My husband and I shot each other the deer in headlights kind of look.  We walked away from that appointment forever changed.

Immediately my husband went into protective mode, caring for me, encouraging me to sleep, and helping me to eat as much food as I possibly could.  We were no longer arguing, but enjoying one another once again anticipating (and a bit scared) of what was to come.  Only God knew what it would take to change my husband’s heart towards me, and mine towards him.  It was this answer to prayer that really pushed me to chase after Christ, to love Him and pursue Him…I was all in.

Prior to this I had prescribed to the method of “we grow together” regarding our walk with Christ (we were both luke warm in our walk).  It’s a terrible method, by the way.  Don’t let your faith hinge on the faith of your husband.  Instead, may I encourage you to take charge of your own relationship with Christ?  Forget whether or not he’s gonna get spiritually healthy and focus on getting yourself spiritually healthy.  It is only through Christ that you will experience the wholeness you crave even when you experience brokenness around you.  I love how The Voice Bible translates Psalm 23:3 “He makes me whole again, steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.” 

Pray for the man.  It can be challenging to know what to pray for other than the obvious relationship we’d like him to have with Christ.  I HIGHLY recommend “The Power of a Praying Wife” by Stormie Omartian.  She will guide you through some of the best prayers you can pray for your husband!  I’m not being paid for this endorsement, I am suggesting it based on what I’ve experienced when I’ve prayed these prayers over my husband.  And one of the best things?  When he says something that you know was God answering one of your prayers:  it’s like a cool little inside thing between you and God. 

Pray for yourself.  Every single wife that I know where the husband really just isn’t that into “the whole God thing” has experienced harsh criticism from her husband.  The kinds of words that burn deep into your soul and are hard to let go of.  Pray for your husband, but be sure to pray for yourself too… that God would give you the grace and wisdom to meet harsh words with love and kindness, and the ability to let go of what he said to/about you.  Pray that God will give you the perspective and wisdom you’ll need…’cause you’re gonna need it.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5

Keep perspective.  There is more at work here than meets the eye:  there is a spiritual battle happening in your home all the time.  It can be draining when we experience this battle internally- the conflict between the Spirit and our sinful nature.  The Holy Spirit in you will be in conflict with more than your own sinful nature, it will be in conflict with his too.  So be gracious, this can feel draining for him, especially if he doesn’t understand why.

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”  Galatians 5:16-17 

No need to hit him upside the head with the Bible.  It’s good to know your Bible, in fact, crucial, but don’t use God’s Word to correct him all the time.  A good friend of mine once challenged me when she asked me “why are you expecting godly behavior from an ungodly person?”  If he doesn’t know God, be careful that you don’t place expectations on him to behave godly.  After all, we’re not looking for behavior modification, we’re after a heart transformation.  Without God’s grace, the conviction of sin can feel more like condemnation, and if your husband feels condemned, he’ll steer clear of God instead of wanting to know Him better.  Your actions will be the greatest testament to what God has done in your life, so love on the man, intensely and insanely.  “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35 

Find godly friends.  These are the girls who will help you run the race when you feel weak or tired.  They will help you better understand God’s Word and encourage you to love your husband when love isn’t what you’re feeling.  I am so grateful for the many women who have come alongside me during the good, bad, and the ugly… they’ve been there.  The best part is:  they help build up my marriage rather than help me find ways to just jump ship.  Most of these friends I’ve made through small groups at church- it’s a great place to find them!

Be gracious with yourself.  Don’t put too much weight on everything you say and do.  You’re gonna say things or do things that you later realize weren’t right or the best…but it’s okay!  You and I are a work in progress!  Just remember that the same God who pursued you with a passion is the same God who pursues your husband with a passion.

Quick Prayer:

God, thank you for calling me to you, for loving me even when I run from you.  Help me to respond to your call on my life regardless of my husband’s response.  I pray that he too would be drawn to you and walk closely with you.  Help me to be a reflection of you to my husband.  I pray your protection over our marriage, that we wouldn’t be divided, but come together under You.  Help me to be loving, patient, and kind while you’re working on him, and help him to be loving, patient, and kind while you’re working on me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

XO,

Jackie E

If you have found yourself struggling with this, please comment below with his first name only, and I will join you in praying over him….and I’ll pray for you as well!  You’ve got the next step girl, now GO!