Bathroom Refinishing

So, we are finally done with our bathroom refinishing! Well... aside from a few little projects ;)

What was my motivation?  Well, it was neutral and fine, but I'm not fond of baths... I really missed having a shower. 

What took so long?  Well, after over three months of thinking about what would be functional and aesthetically pleasing, we did the refinishing in four phases.  As you will see in the pictures, our bathroom is quite small.  Also, it is the only place in the house to bathe. 

I was challenged by limited storage, but that was easily solved by getting organized.  Thanks to Pinterest, I had plenty of ideas and a few links for cute labels.  I put magnets on the back of my makeup to utilize all of the space in the vintage medicine cabinet.  We have a few baskets under the sink, but the tiny vanity only stores a small garbage and essentials like shampoo, conditioner, soap, and other hair products.  Everything else goes in the well labeled linen closet, just outside the bathroom door. 




You may laugh, but my guys still have problems finding things and putting things away. 



If you want some labels, I'd suggest these links:
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/free-printable-storage-labels/?rb=Y#page=8
or
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/free-printable-storage-labels/?rb=Y#page=1







The main challenge was the small footprint and odd position of the tub.  Most shower kits assume your bath is built in, but our bathtub sits against two walls.  Also, there is no building any type of wall at the end of the tub, because it would get too close to the toilet and project in front of the window.  I didn't like the wall board options available in single sheets, but we did find something we liked in a kit with three separate wall pieces (and just used the two we needed).  In case you are wondering, we needed to replace the vintage plastic tiles, because they didn't cover enough of the wall and many of them were very loose.  But, we did reuse the toilet paper holder, medicine cabinet, and vintage lights.  Also, we were able to find an L-shaped or corner curtain rod, which solved the other problem of how to hang a curtain.  To keep the room all white and cover all the mastic, which was painful to remove, we chose a beadboard.  I really love how the room is all white and the texture of the beadboard draws your eye up.

Here are some pictures from before and during the refinishing:

 

 

Phase 1: After removing tile, mastic, wallpaper, and old glue, we installed the two shower walls, a new diverter and the shower hardware.  Then we put up the beadboard on three of the four walls.  Eventually, we found and hung the curtain rod and shower curtain.  

Phase 2: Refinishing the window trim and hanging an old decorative window (instead of using a fabric valance or curtain).  Painting the walls, ceiling, and other trim pieces.


Phase 3: Removing the toilet, vanity, medicine cabinet, and lights.  Spraying the vent cover and refinishing the vanity in white.  Putting up the beadboard and putting everything else back.


Phase 4: Finish installing all the baseboards, top trim, and cove moulding.  Then caulk and paint some more.







Now, the bathroom after:


TJ Maxx was the fifth and final place I looked for a shower curtain.  I'd almost lost hope of finding something I liked.  Thankfully, they had one in a great color and the design mimics the shape in my old window.  Also, I got the shower curtain, clips, and a basket for towels for less than what I would have paid elsewhere for just the curtain :)


As for the small projects.  Well, I think it's best to put a small shelf over the toilet before my boys break the vintage jars and cute candle holder my dad made me. 




Also, I'm going to put three hooks on a board and trim that out to hang on the wall left of the sink.  I'm hoping that maybe the hand towel will not end up on the floor if we transition from a towel bar to simple hooks... I can hope.

Loss and Lies

Lately, I've been noticing so much loss around us. It can be overwhelming, and I'm not even living it right now.  But, don't be fooled, pain and loss happen in all of our lives.

If one in five children in America lives in poverty, then 3-4 children in my son's class could be going to bed or to school hungry.  So many children I've worked with have lost innocence, security, safety.  I think my sister ran out of fingers when counting the number of children we know living without a parent because of suicide.  Then there's the children who have lost parents to an accident, cancer, etc.

How many adults have lost a child too soon?  How many adults have struggled with mental health issues?  How many people deal with addiction?  How many adults are fighting for their life?  Do you know someone who's lost their good credit, their job, their house?  How many people have lost their marriage?  So many people have lost hope, lost their way.

Lately, I've been thinking that sometimes we don't want to see these things.  We don't want to talk about these things.  Certainly, we often don't want to keep living the pain and suffering.  But, what if we were honest?  But, what if we asked the hard questions and wrestled with the truth?

Sometimes we tell others or ourselves half-truths or all-out lies, so we can feel better.  Sometimes we just misunderstand.

Confronting the lie: God won't give you more than you can handle
(Click this heading to link to the article.)

As Nate Pyle, the pastor and author of the above article, said, "questions are only to be asked by the courageous.  It is easy to spout trite Christian platitudes designed to make people feel better with bumper-sticker theology....  Ultimately, it isn't about the questions.  Behind the questions is a deep current of emotion threatening to overtake us.  But too often, when the fracture in the universe threatens to swallow us up in pain we fail to get fully present to our emotions.  In those moments I think we do one of two things.  Either we ask the questions but never investigate what emotion is driving those questions, or we resort to some banal Christian slogan to try and make us feel better." 

After my cousin fought Hodgkin's lymphoma when we were just 13 and when our family's world was sent spinning with my dad's Leukemia diagnosis when I was just 16, I realized that sometimes what we think we know is all wrong.  I thought I knew what it meant to be "strong."  I realized that you can't always, and often shouldn't, be stoic.  I realized it takes a strong person to be honest, to be vulnerable, to lean on others.  Also, I realized that growth can come through the struggle.  I realized that asking questions, challenging ideas, and crying out can be so much healthier than just pushing it all down and just pushing through. 

I value the article's final reflections on our need for God's strength, our need for resurrection, our need for His healing and restoration.  Nate Pyle states: "I believe expectant waiting can only happen when we exchange our feeble platitudes for an authentic faith that engages God with the full brunt of our emotions and pain."  We need to be honest with ourselves, others, and God.  We need to do some work, but ultimately we need to know we need God.

Also, I appreciate that Nate Pyle, like many other great teachers, goes to the source and looks at what the Bible actually says.  "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to human kind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."  He states what we sometime miss: 1 Corinthians 10:13 is about temptation.  The Bible has many examples of how we live in a fallen world and of what is common to human kind.

Another article I recently read speaks to the reality of the pain in our world.  The author does a great job of exploring another common question:

Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering?
(Click this heading to link to the article.)

Lee Strobel gets to the point in stating, "But if you've never asked why our world is infected with pain and suffering, you will when they strike you with full force or they come to a loved one.  And Jesus said they are coming.... He told us the truth.  He said in John 16:33, 'You will have suffering in this world.' He didn't say you might - he said it is going to happen."

Both articles are honest that we don't always get all the answers, but they also underline the importance of still asking questions and looking for some answers.  The author of the second article does not pretend to have all the answers to "Why...?" but quotes Corinthians 13:12 that we see things imperfectly now and won't get the full answer in this world.  However, Lee Strobel does have an excellent exploration of and explanation of why we may experience suffering in this world.  As he sates, "even though we can't understand everything about it, we can understand some things."  I appreciate how he outlines "some key Biblical truths that can illuminate some points of light for us." 

1. God is not the creator of evil and suffering
*This part pulls together so many things I've thought about separately but never been able to pull all together: facts about creation, choice, love, moral evil, natural evil, joy, and redemption.

2.  Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good.
*You don't think God can help you or work in your circumstances?  He has a great case for why God can!

3. The day is coming when suffering will cease and God will judge evil.
*What a thoughtful and often overlooked reason why God may be delaying... food for thought.

4. Our suffering will pale in comparison to what God has in store for his followers.
*Another great Biblical reference, analogy, and conclusion.

5. We decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage.
* You have free will.  What happens if you run to Him?  What's your choice?

I hope Nate Pyle's article brings you context and comfort.  I hope Lee Strobel's five points of light bring you some perspective, healing, and hope.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9... Amen!

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world.  But be courageous!  I have conquered the world." John 16:33... Thank you Jesus!

Family Fun & Prairie du Chien

Thanks to sis for an open invitation to her "2nd home" in Prairie du Chien!  We have made many summer memories there this year.  We are looking forward to seeing her family and our parents there again this Labor Day weekend.

Pirates Katelyn & Asher

Ezra gets hugs from Aunt Holly

Daddy gives Ezra a ride.

Ezra & Chase throwing rocks.

Cousin fun on the banks of the Mississippi at sunset.

Snuggles and sleep with daddy.

Happy Father's Day

Kisses for Father's Day.

Uncle Mark takes the kids out fishing.

Katelyn caught a fish!

Pirates were happily surprised that a ship came to town.

The boys have experienced a number of firsts this summer, many because of Aunt Holly.  I took Ezra to his first movie this Summer at our local theater, and Holly introduced him to Kool-Aid.  The boys enjoyed Mark & Holly's "speed boat" and also fishing with Mark and daddy on the Mississippi River.  Also, we took them canoeing for the first time on the Cedar River, and the boys tried out tubing tied up to Holly and family (pictures in a soon-to-come BLOG post).  Ezra still remembers Aunt Holly cuddles and napping with Holly on her tube.  And this year is the first time my children have ever been able to stay up long enough to view 4th of July fireworks.

Carrot cake... an early birthday celebration.

Picnic time.  Grandma smiles, but the boys are too hungry.

Time to play.

Asher and Katelyn with glow necklaces.

Sunset over the Mississippi.