Creatively Contending with Commotion

Sometimes life is just chaotic. Ever since we moved to Spokane, the pace of life has just been at level crazy-town insane. I had no idea when we chose to move here, that there would be so much "adventure" awaiting us, in the form of everything going bonkers, especially with our home. But that is the way of it... we wanted a new life here in Spokane, and a new life is what we definitely have! 

Even with all of the crazy, there has been so much good, and so much to be grateful for. One thing I have learned throughout my life is that Heavenly Father really does have a plan for us, and sometimes, His ways are not just mysterious; but also masterful in precision timing. He knows ALL things, and He can change the big "bad" into a greater good. He can take something as terrible as a tree falling on a house, and change it from a tragedy to a testimony.

Right now, the tree damage ramifications are, no doubt, hard to deal with. It is stressful having to manage all the work that is going on with it, and keeping track of the insurance process and payments. But one day, at the end of all the construction and repair, our home will have beautiful room renovations that would have never happened, without the perfect placement of the tree falling, in just the right place, on our roof. Every area that the tree damaged in our home was in need of some repair to begin with, but now, with the new tree-impact damage in each of the rooms, insurance will be covering the renovation. And just to put the extent of the damage into perspective, so far, the estimate of repair work to be done is at $90,000 (YIKES!) and it will likely increase as the project begins in the Spring. What a blessing homeowners insurance is! 

Another thing we have been dealing with lately, is the complete rewiring in our home. The old knob and tube wiring from back in the day needed to go, and it has taken more than a week with electricians in our home -- in every inch of our home -- as they go in and rip out the old stuff and put in the new. Fortunately, because we were told that the electrical was all totally updated before we moved in, the bill will land mostly with the previous owners. ($20,000.) They were kind enough to do the right thing and pay for the expense. They did not know that the electric work that was done for them was not complete, and there was still knob and tube, throughout SO much of the house. But still, because we were reassured that it was all updated before we bought the home, it needed to be replaced, and the previous owners felt awful that it was not done as they said and thought it was. Some of the way it was wired was scary upon deep inspection. The update HAD to be done, knob and tube is considered dangerous, and insurance companies don't like insuring homes with it. I am grateful to the previous owners for helping to make it right! I am so glad we will have a completely updated and rewired home! Just in time for decorating for Christmas! 

This old home is one big old project, but it feels like a sacred stewardship to tend to this beautiful property. These old homes on the South Hill deserve to be loved and taken care of. I am so grateful to have someone like David with me for this adventure, because he is so eager to learn, build, and fix things. He knows how to get stuff done, and it is one of the many things I love about him. I would never have moved into a home like this, without him by my side. 

Our home has been in disarray during this time, and that has been hard for me, and all of us. Home has almost always been a sanctuary for me, a place to settle and have peace; but we have not been able to fully settle in, because we know that in the Springtime, we have to move out for some many months, including packing up three of our bedrooms so walls and ceilings can be ripped out and replaced. I am not looking forward to that time too much, because I really do love this home. I want to be here, not somewhere else. I just will keep praying we can find a lovely solution during that time, because that will also be brand-new-baby time, and I would really like to be able to have peace and soak the baby all in fully, especially since he will for sure be the last baby to spring forth from my womb. 

Along with all the rewiring, we have had to pick out all new light fixtures to replace the old out of date ones. That has been a fun thing to do. Lucky for me (and for David), I can make quick decisions about those kind of things. It has been enjoyable to go and replace all of the lighting in the home, I kind of love that one of our first items of business in this house has been to produce more LIGHT! Since Jesus is the source of all good light, it feels kind of like we are bringing more Jesus into our home.  

Here is the new fixture in our kitchen...

And this one is in our dining room. I absolutely LOVE it. We need to find some amber colored light bulbs, I am not a fan of the super white bulbs. The fixture that was there before was so sad, and dreary, it was just a little light fixture for the huge room; but this chandelier is a beautiful source of some serious majestic LIGHT! Did I mention, this old home really is a dream of mine. I love old things, with a sense of history, a feeling of depth, warmth, and coziness. Is it a ton of work? Yes. Is the work worth the effort? Good question. Despite all the insanity right now, I really believe it will be worth it. I love this old house. 

This chandelier is in our bedroom. I love, love, love it! Notice the cracks in the ceiling, this entire room will be ripped apart and put back together in Spring. The ceilings in the house are high, so we can hang larger light fixtures. That makes me happy. 

This cool fixture is in the bathroom. The bathroom will also be totally redone in the Spring. 

Amongst all the crazy, Sammi had her wisdom teeth pulled. She is preparing to go on a mission, and so she is doing all the required medical things to get ready to go! She handled the surgery really well, and she had very little pain. She never took the heavy pain meds either, which I think really helped her, so her brain was all there as she dealt with healing. 

We quickly realized that as the electricians took over our home, we would need to get out. So, unexpectedly, we decided to rent an Airbnb nearby, so the kids could continue on with their online schooling. The interference at home for them was just too much, and for me too, I had no where to sit and rest sometimes, as needed for my pregnant self. The kids had so much fun hanging out somewhere new and playing games and just having fun together when they were not in school. It was kind of priceless time for them, together. I love that they all get along so well. I mean, they drive each other crazy too, but they also love each other like crazy. 

I love how Henry could keep up with the big kids and the games. 

Here is Sammi doing her online college at the Airbnb. 

Henry took over the kitchen nook to do his work. 

The house was right across from a park. 

The kids loved going out and playing together at the park. 

Sunshine! 

My kids are the gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Oh man I love this bunch! 

Daniel doing online school at the Airbnb. 

It was so nice to have a place to escape to, and so nearby! 

It is full Fall here. 

I sure love the trees. 

Playing at the park. 

The view from the Airbnb. 

It was such a cute house, the kids really, really, loved it. 

A brother battle. William, who is now 13, is taller than Daniel, who is 17. It is so fun watching them interact with each other. 

They are very different from each other, but one thing that has always been true, is William can make Daniel laugh like no one else can. 

Just loading up the car to go back and forth between the two homes. 

We had the house for 3 days, but it helped a lot! And oh look! My van lives! After $8000 of repair from tree damage, it is all better now. 

I took the kids out for a night walk to enjoy the crisp Autumn air. 

We decided to go all out for Halloween decorating this year. We figured if we could bring joy to those who walk/drive by, then that would be worth the effort! With everything so messed up in the world, people need a little something magical, and so we thought we would provide it in a small way. 

I found these really awesome lights called, "Sparkle Magic," on Amazon, and they light up our huge trees in such an amazing way, it is pure MAGIC! I have had multiple people walk by in awe and ask me where they could get them. And now a few of our neighbors have joined in the Sparkle Magic party too. It made me smile to see that others found them so cool, they wanted them too! 

Daniel has a need to be creative. Without the outlet of theater and music, he turned his attention to "set building." He made the coolest pirate ship out of wood we found left under the garage. Sammi also stepped in to help with the artistic aspect. 

Just adding some "bling!" 

We went to a thrift store and found some really cool cheap finds to make a treasure chest. 

We got a water light to make the ship even more magical at night. A lady walked by one night and said, "This is like Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland!" She then went on to thank us for making the effort, she said it made her day, since she loves Disneyland, but cannot go. Our street gets quite a bit of foot traffic, and I have made more new friends by just being outside, and having people talk to me about the decorations. It has been an awesome way to meet new people, and be welcomed into the neighborhood. One lady asked how we are going to top it for Christmas, and honestly, I have no idea! But I have sure loved meeting new people right outside my front door, especially during these weird Covid times! 

Sammi made this cool Pirate creation. If you have been on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, you know this is the last thing you see before a big splash down a hill into magic pirate land! Pirates is my FAVORITE ride! Oh man, I want to go to Disneyland again so bad. I sure hope that one day, we will be able to go there again... mask free. Until then, we will find ways to create the essence of Disney in our home life. 

DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES... "SPLASH!" 

We sit on the porch at night and watch as people go by. I LOVE having a front porch! 

David enjoys making new friends. Here he is practicing being social during Covid. 

I love, love, LOVE it here in the Autumn! 

This place just feels magical. 

We live near two different beautiful parks with reflection ponds.

I'm really enjoying walking around the neighborhoods for now... one day, I will run these streets again. 

So beautiful! 

Halloween is just around the corner! And then guess what happens November 1st? We take down Halloween and put up Christmas! (It takes me a few weeks to get it all up, and I love having all of my Nativities and MORE Jesus out for as long as possible!) Some may mock or question my early Christmas decorating, but I LOVE it, and so why would I not do what I love? And if anyone wants to argue with me about having more Jesus in my home than normal -- for too long before Christmas -- well, you don't want to argue with me about that. ;) 

Moving on...

I seriously cannot describe how magical these laser lights in our massive trees are, as they extend across the street, blanketing the leaves with sparkling, fantastical, LIGHT! I love to watch the joy the light-filled trees bring to others, it makes my heart happy as children go by in total awe, and grown-ups look up and wonder what is happening to make the magic happen. I cannot capture the magic in a picture or video, but it is about as close to a Disneyland feeling that we can get! 

Our world is full of commotion, but I still believe in creating magic, no matter what! I learned shortly after Charles died, that being creative is one powerful way to contend with emotional commotion and grief. 

Creating brings us humans JOY! 

So, if you want to contend against all the commotion in the world... CREATE SOMETHING! 

Bring something to life that did not exist before, and joy will follow!