Progress

Our time line of events looks like this:

March 17th: was told that there was mold and mildew and moisture under master shower

March 19th: Plumber came out

March 27th: Insurance placed us with a contractor

March 29th: Apex demo'd the shower floor and cleaned mold and mildew. also contractor came out to submit estimate to the insurance company

April 3rd: insurance company approved the estimate but contractor wasn't thrilled with total

LOTS OF WAITING!

May 1st: while we waited i decided to purchase the new mirror for the space

Mirror from Wayfair

April 30: contractor came out with tile guy and the took more measurements and looked at a few more things to resubmit a new estimate

May 3rd: new estimate was sent to insurance

May 6th: insurance accepted and we got a call that we needed to go to the tile shop to make decisions. 

 This was our inspiration for the bathroom. Now, we understand that there is not way to get our bathroom to look like this because like 4 of our bathrooms could probably fit in this space. but, out of all of the colors schemes and bathrooms that we looked at, this was the one that we both liked. 

Our Victorian Italianate

The floor in the above shower room is real wood and the tile on the walls is a real marble. We found out that we would have to modify some choices since real marble is way more than we had to spend and we were told was probably not something we would want to go with even if it was less cost.  I had been searching for things that we liked. the tile i had in mind ended up being real marble, so i knew that i had to put that out of my mind.

we thought we had decided on a wood looking tile for the floor and then my hubby thought he wanted something with more red in it. the wood tile he originally found was way more red that i wanted and we ended up agreeing on the one below. it is actually the one that i had originally saved on my Pinterest board and screen shot on my phone to remember. 

So the wood tile will be on the bathroom floor, the marble looking porcelain tile will be on the shower walls in 12x24 and the shower floors will be the same porcelain tile in 2x2s matte with a gray grout.

writing this out seems easy but let me assure you that it was not. the tile guy was showing us what he would pair with the marble looking tile and it just didn't feel right to me. sure it looked good and i was sure that it would look good in a bathroom but it was not what i had envisioned in my bathroom for the last 24+ days.

In fact we ended up having to leave the tile store and let them know that we would call back the next day after we had a chance to talk about it and think more on it.

May 7th: we called and let them know that the above picture and the 2x2 floor tiles were what we wanted to go with. We have a bench going back in but it is smaller than the one that we currently have ( you can see it in the photo below) we also will have a build in nook to hold soap and shampoo.

Also the mirror came in today and it is heavy and beautiful. I can't wait for it to be hung in the space.

 May 8th: This was a last look at the shower floor, covered with plastic because it is opened to the crawl space.

May 9th: the contractors came to fix the joists (photos to come)

What i have left to do:

*decide on paint color (we are leaning towards Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (that is the color of the cabinets, i our inspiration photo))

get an electrician to add a vent/light in the shower

buy:

*new light fixture

*shower head

*buy vent/light

I'm sure there is more to do but right not this is all i have.

Bathroom Reno

Over spring break, my hubby and son were on a missions trip, my sons first missions trip, and my daughter and i woke up on Sunday morning March 17th to a very cold house. We called the AC guy and he came out to let us know that i would be something that he could fix but that he also saw some mold under the house where a bathroom may be. he was pointing right to our master bathroom. 

i showed him the master bathroom and he said that where the shower was, was the location that he noticed mold and moisture. 

I wanted to get a bunch of before picture so that we could remember what the bathroom looked like before the haul of replacing everything, which after getting water mitigators out and a contractor out is what is going to happen

The bathroom is very small and there really is no way to build it out, without taking away someone closet (mine) or busting into someones room (my sons)

it also has way to much stuff in it for being such a small bathroom. something we plan on rectifying once we get it all fixed

looking at getting a new mirror for over the sink, we are just resetting the existing pedestal sink. also hoping to get a new light fixture for over the mirror and a new faucet for the existing sink.

the space to the left of the door (actually in our bedroom) is going to be a tall, skinny tower from ikea (anyone want to take a trip to Atlanta with me for some shopping) with a mirror on the front of it.

The door to the bathroom will be a sliding barn door which we have dreamed about for a few years.

The tile we chose years ago was travertine for the floor because we loved the look of it. NEVER AGAIN. it is a nightmare to clean and can't be sealed for fear of being extremely slippery.

the water mitigation group came out and demoed the floor they fell through the sub-flooring from being rotten and found rotted beams, one of them actually mobile.

it as been covered with plastic since March 28th. 

We meet with the contractor on April 30th to sign the papers and get the ball rolling on this.

I have a variety of things and ideas in my head for this new bathroom. here are some details we are considering and some tile we considered.

The Next Right Thing

Today is the day. If you missed out on pre-ordering Emily P Freeman's latest book, The Next Right Thing, today is the day that it is available to purchase. 

Launch Day. 

I can't imagine how excited she is for this day to be here. I have followed Emily for a while on Instagram and read all of her books. Grace for the Good Girl was the first book of hers, that I read and started following her after that because as i was reading it, it was like she was in my head. I could have said those very same words sometimes. Since Grace for the Good Girl, she has written 3 more books and her latest, The Next Right Thing is named after her Podcast that you can tune into every Tuesday. I am not 100% caught up on her podcasts but have enjoyed every single one that i have listened too. 

Congratulation Emily.

Your book is stellar.

Are you struggling with decision fatigue? Would you like help taking the next right step for really any decision you may be facing? Consider purchasing Emily's book.  Her wise words, analogies and endearing stories will help guide you on what that next thing may be.

Decisions

Have you ever wondered what your Decision Making style was? Here is a test that you can take that may help you. 

And if you want to know and learn more about decisions and doing your Next Right Thing, pre-order your copy of Emily P Freemans book The Next Right Thing at multiple book stores here. Remember you can get freebies when you pre-order.

Things I Learned This Winter

Linking up with Emily P Freeman for the Winter, things I've learned. 
you can find my fall one here.

1. i love when books come to like in movie or tv shows. Poldark is one of my new favorite obsessions. 

2. I am excited and nervous about the fact that i am attempting to read the Bible in a year. Sure people have done it before, i have probably even done it before, but this year i want to read it and learn new things, see things i've never noticed before. So far there have been a few. Here they are: Genesis 6:20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.
KEY WORDS: WILL COME TO YOU.....how cool is that? there was no fetching them. they came. God sent them.

The other one is Genesis 8:21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
KEY WORDS: every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood...This is hard to remember when those tiny humans drive you crazy and make the toddler in you come out.

3. Last year i was very good about exercise and eating right in the beginning of the year. Somewhere it died off. Eating right, i can do that, most of the time. The exercising has me all BLAH. I just don't really like it. I have told myself that I WILL DO IT for a number of reasons but the toddler inside is still kicking and screaming and pitching a fit.

4. clearly i am wrestling with some bratty attitudes inside of me


5. my one little word for 2019 is Listen.

I want to listen when my pride gets in the way of something my husband is trying to tell me.
When my kids want to talk, about things that are important and/or silly. When a friend or neighbor has something going on in their lives to share. When family talks about ups and downs, Joy's and sorrows. #listen

6. Growing up can be so hard
i mean i have already lived through it, but reliving it through your child may be even harder. Golden boy is a pretty great kid and he is kind and friendly and doesn't seem to have many problems when it comes to people being kind and nice to him.
there just seems to be a lot recently that we have had to talk to him about and deal with that makes this growing up process really hard. we talk to him all the time about how when things are hard, we know he can do them. but the pushing through it is so raw.

7. Just how much I need community.
It has been way to long since I've enjoyed the fellowship of some of the people I love. To see their kids. To see their faces, more than just in passing. To talk about life. Boy how I have missed these women.

8. 5th grade boys have the stinkiest feet.
I had the pleasure of chaperoning my sons field trip to a local camp. A week before we were to leave I got the news that I would be in a cabin with another mom, full of boys. 10-5th grade boys. To say I wasn't thrilled about it would be an understatement. So, to say I had a delightful time getting to know these boys, despite stinky feet, would be spot on. It was a great three days filled with.......nature, others, food waste, conservation, we crossed bridges and streams, hiked trails and hills. It was a loud but also quiet, void of most phone access, only occasional spotty service and it was glorious.

Books read in December:
Demelza-Winston Graham
Jeremy Poldark-Winston Graham
The Read Aloud Family-Sarah MacKenzie
Warleaggan-Winston Graham

You can see my list of all the books that I read in 2018 here.

Last year I started writing a post at the beginning of the year with books that I hoped to read in the coming you. you can find that list here.

My reading challenge this year is to still read 52 books but 26 of them are going to be part of an A to Z reading challenge.

Books read in January: 
The Black Moon-Winston Graham
A Proper Proposal-Lynn Austin
The Four Swans-Winston Graham

Books read in February:
The Angry Tide-Winston Graham
Legacy of Mercy-Lynn Austin
The Great Alone-Kristin Hannah
Four Winds-Lisa Tawn Bergren

What I Plan to read in 2019....

Last year I wrote my very first post about what i planned to read in the new year. You can find it here. Out of the ones that i mentioned wanting to read in 2018 these were the ones that i didn't get around to reading:

I am hoping i will get around to reading them this year and added to this list will be:

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield I read her book The Thirteenth Tale years ago and it was strange and interesting and i loved her writing so i am excited to read this one.


Who doesn't love a good Nicholas Sparks book. I believe that Every Breath may be his latest book. I hope to get my hands on a copy and read sometime this year. Maybe it will be a good Valentine's read.



I have been insanely obsessed with and captivated by the Poldark series, and that was before i saw the handsome Aidan Turner, who plays Ross Poldark and Eleanor Tomlinson who plays the delightful Demelza, in the Poldark series on PBS Masterpiece. I read book 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 2018 so i am excited to read the rest of the series.

Of course there is a ton of non-fiction that i would love to get my hands on and read as well. And i am sure there will be quite a few in there aside from all the fiction i am excited to read as well. Here's to another great year of reading.  My plan for this year is an A to Z reading plan. That is only 26 books so that is my goal but i am still hoping to maybe pick up a few others and read 52 books.

Books read in 2018....

The goal for this year was to read 52 books.....and i completed it with 21 days to spare and added 3 more to the 52 
Totaling 55, for those who struggle with simple math, #handraised because honestly i usually struggle. 

Sisters-Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours-Lisa Wingate

Matched-Ally Condie

Kissing Father Christmas-Robin Jones Gunn

Waves of Mercy-Lynn Austin

The Precious One-Marisa de Los Santos

At Home in the World-Tsh Oxenreider

The Light we Lost-Jill Santopolo

The Noel Diary-Richard Paul Evans

The Masterpiece-Francine Rivers

Beartown-Fredrick Backman

The Turquoise Table-Kristin Schell

In This Moment-Karen Kingsbury

The Broken Road-Richard Paul Evans

The Shadow Sister-Lucinda Riley

The Broken Way-Ann Voskamp

Murder on the Orient Express-Agitha Christie

Bittersweet-Shauna Niequist

Flora & Ulysses-Kate DiCamillo

Miracle on the 17th Green-James Patterson

A Name Unknown-Rosanna M. White

An American Marriage-Tayari Jones

Crossed-Ally Condie

If I Run-Terri Blackstock

The Christmas Wedding-James Patterson

If I'm Found-Terri Blackstock

If I Live-Terri Blackstock

I'll Be Your Blue Sky-Marisa de los Santos

There You'll Find Me-Jenny B. Jones

The Pearl Sister- Lucinda Riley

The Invisible Library-Genevieve Cogman

Sandy Toes-Robin Jones Gunn

Salty Kisses-Robin Jones Gunn

Sunset Lulaby-Robin Jones Gunn

My Plain Jane-Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Austenland-Shannon Hale

Three Wishes-Lisa Tawn Bergren

Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately-Alicia Cook

Book of  a Thousand Days-Shannan Hale

Come & Eat-Bri McKoy

Discipline that Connects-Jim & Lynne Jackson

Horseradish-Lemony Snicket

Embraced-Lysa Terkeurst

The Mysterious Howling-Maryrose Wood

The Ministry of Ordinary Places-Shannan Martin

Poldark-Winston Graham

Cozy Minimalist Home-Myquillin Smith

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage-Ann Pattchet

Where We Belong-Lynn Austin

Chasing Slow-Erin Loecher
Demelza-Winston Graham
Jeremey Poldark-Winston Graham
Warleggan-Winston Graham
The Read Aloud Family-Sarah MacKenzie


Then there is this fun detail about the books i read this year.
you can click here on last years book list and see the book list from the previous years as well.

Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

A Thrill of Hope

Click below for....

Christmas photos through the years

Good Grief

The Stages of grief are an interesting thing. How do you walk through the first stage when another one faces you?
I don't really have the answer except to just walk through them all individually. Every stage is important for one reason or another.

Things I Learned this Fall

I participated in this link up with Emily P Freeman when she did what she learned every month. she has now revamped it to what she has learned in each season. 
Here is mine:

1. Bridges to songs are my favorite

2. Who actually really cares

3. There is something special about borrowing a book from someone and seeing what they underlined and marked and circled and noted. It gives you a little glimpse into their heart.

4. I feel like i have known this for a while, but actually writing it down and marking it as something, for whatever reason in the fall i usually slow down on the book reading. I really haven't figured out what it is about the season that makes me slow down. The books don't seem to be uninteresting but for some reason i slow down which is shocking to me because chilly weather and warm drinks make me think, i want a cozy chair and a book but it just doesn't happen that way.


5. On our last night of our cruise, I mentioned to my hubby that i was glad that we waited till our kids were 8 and 11 to take them on their first cruise. that i couldn't imagine taking them any younger. he leaned in and said, "and maybe they could have even been older."
I made the comment after seeing a set of parents juggling a 9ish month old baby and a toddler at dinner and not seeming to enjoy it all.

6. The Month of October holds a new meaning for me. Aside from it being my most favorite month, it now holds the realization that breast cancer has touched our family.

7. a mammogram appointment seems scary, especially when your little sister is walking through the battle of breast cancer.
I posted about my very first one and this was what i said:

So this happened, yesterday. 
Maybe you've seen my posts about my sisters journey, you've most likely seen hers.
.
My very first mammogram 
These gowns aren't the prettiest but there is something comforting about them.
They aren't scratchy like the paper drapes. And while I know they get cleaned between patients there is something soft and comforting about them. Knowing they have been draped over the shoulders of countless women who have gone before me, had this procedure, been brave and strong through positive and negative outcomes.
I didn't feel nervous but teared up when i started talking to the tech. She was kind and compassionate. Gentle in her answers and instructions.
.
I was told I would either get a call back and not to worry about that call back, it was in fact my first. Or a letter. It's been over 24 hours and I haven't gotten a call back. Guess it will be a letter. Also guessing that means all is well. .
So here is the first year of tests to be preventative and proactive as my little sister told me. #checkyourself

Books read this Fall:
October:
Poldark by Winston Graham
Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

November:
Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner
Where We Belong by Lynn Austin