“It’ll be so nice when we have running water.”  In no time, we have water that comes out of a faucet instead of a big pan on the shower floor.

“It’ll be great when we have hot water.”  Shortly, there is hot water to bathe in.

“I sure love having a sink and vanity.  What more could I want?!”

But in a few days, I’m thinking how convenient a towel rod would be.

“Umm, do you think we could get a washer soon?  And could we bring the dryer in the house so I don’t have to carry the clothes from the shed in the rain?”

“Won’t be great when we have doors?  It’s awkward to have to wait to use the bathroom till our guests leave.”

“Who would have thought of appreciating doorknobs?”

“Hooray!  Soon there will be no more sheetrock dust.  All the trim will be done.  No more bumping into  corners and making pieces of sheetrock fall off.”

Each step of Husband’s construction saga seemed like a monumental accomplishment.  . . until I thought of all the things that still needed to be done. It was a lesson in living in the present moment and being thankful for what we had instead of spending energy being anxious for what we didn’t yet have. There’s a tricky balance between planning, having goals and drive, and being content, peaceful and appreciative on the journey.

Here’s what I’m learning;

Saying, “Thank You” to God for even small things I’m thankful for gets me on a positive track when things start to bug me.  Appreciating Husband for his hard work and skill go a long way in making us both feel better.

Taking time to read Scripture, attend Bible class and church services give us a Reset button.  We are helped to get perspective in view of eternity.

Giving my attention to our grandchildren gets my mind off the To Do List and helps me think of the needs of others.  They refresh me and give me a boost.

Having friends and family over even when our house is less than I’d like it to be is a lifesaver.  Just being generous with our time and sharing what we do have, brings so much joy.  And our guests are gracious and encouraging, cheering us on each step of the way.  Great not being in this alone!  Thankful that our family and friends were willing to visit even tho it was uncomfortable in our RV and later in an empty house.

This week we started moving our possessions into our new little house. Initially, I was just plain overwhelmed.  I was mad at myself for bringing things from our old house that I didn’t need and that wouldn’t fit in our new, smaller house.  I was beating myself up until I stopped and listened to the junk I was telling myself.  “You’re stupid.  You’re never going to get all this stuff organized and put away.”  I realized that being angry with myself was self-defeating, so I admitted that I had been foolish and let it go.  I reminded myself that I could give away or sell what I don’t need.  Mistakes about stuff are different than intentional wrongdoing against another person.  I decided to cut myself some slack, pick up my courage, and get to work.

Husband kept reminding me that we’re not in a race.  We can take our time getting our things out of storage in our daughter’s barn because she and her husband are gracious and patient and put no pressure on us.  He decides we can just bring home one pickup load at a time and put those things away before getting the next load.  Breaking it down into small bites gave me hope that I can do this.  My lagging courage was renewed when I got the first load of kitchen things washed and put away.  Sure felt good to pile up empty totes!  And opening my cupboards and seeing stacks of dishes and pans made this place feel homey.

Later, some of our clothes were brought home.  Every piece of clothing had to be laundered after spending more than a year in a barn, but it’s good to get a fresh start by sorting and organizing and putting away.  Most of the few pieces of furniture we brought were damaged in the move.  But even that offered the benefit of a new start.  Husband sanded our table to remove the gouges and I got to put fresh stain on our tired table.  It looks better than before.  He sanded and re-stained the bookcase he made many years ago.  I got one dining chair re-stained to better go with the table.  Three more to go.  Husband repaired two pieces of my grandmother’s furniture which had come to me through the kindness of my cousins.  (You can read that story here.)  Then he put them in the guest room and together we arranged them and thought about the guests who will come and enrich our lives.

For the first time in 15 months, we have a real bed.  After one year on an RV mattress, and three months on a hide-a-bed sofa we sure do appreciate a supportive mattress.  For the time being, we’re sleeping on the bed that will eventually go in the guest bedroom.  Our bedding and decor don’t go with an antique.  When we have time, we’ll build or buy a bed for ourselves.  Husband finally has his recliner back which is why I heard his slow, deep sleep breathing behind me as I typed this blog at the kitchen counter.  Love seeing him relaxed and comfortable.  We now have more than two dinner plates and two glasses, and we have more than 4 shirts.  But does this make us truly, deeply happy?  Although we sure enjoy these things, our real happiness comes from relationships, not things.  Our new house makes it easier to have family and friends over.  Already these walls have seen happy gatherings.  Conversation, both deep and silly.  Laughter.  Cooking together.  Smiling faces around our table.  Grandchildren happily entertained with g’ma’s toy tote.  These are our treasures.

What nasty things have you been telling yourself?  Do these negative, accusing lies help you accomplish what you want?  What thoughts can you replace them with that will enable you to move forward?  How can you cut yourself some slack this week?  How can you divide an overwhelming project into smaller bites?  How can you remind yourself to slow down and appreciate the small things in this present moment?  What positive spin can you put on inconvenient circumstances?  Can you think more about the benefits than the present hassle?  What relationships can you nurture this week?  How can you put less emphasis on stuff and more on people?