Letting Go . . .

I think my fascination with long hair started when I was about 7 or 8years old.  My Mom insisted that I cut my hair.  I remember someone coming to the house to cut it.  When it was done my Mom took me outside in the garage to “shake the hair off”.  She made me take my shirt off to get the hair off and “shake it out”.  I remember feeling naked, scared and not sure of what just happened.  Then several weeks later while at a skating rink a boy approached me and asked the dreaded question.  “Are you a boy or a girl?”  From that moment forward I think I was destined to have long locks.  What I didn’t realize at the time was that the “long and short” of it all changed and transformed me.  So, Mom, maybe you have given me a gift of sorts with the desire to have long hair. 

Fast forward to present day.  Over the years I have grown my hair and cut it short at least 4 or 5 times.  That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when it takes about 4 to 5 years to grow your hair long enough to donate, it is a substantial chunk of a persons life.  I have donated my hair now 3 times.  And, if I had known about hair donation prior to that I am sure it would have been more.

I made the appointment to cut my hair a month ago.  I needed a date so that I could prepare, get ready.  I almost didn’t do it.  Two weeks ago I was ready to call it off.  Every time I looked in the mirror I saw my best hair ever.  I wasn’t sure if I could do it.  My hair had become my security blanket.  Maybe subconsciously I was pulled to my preteen days of not feeling feminine and not being pretty enough to “be a girl”.  If I cut it, would I look fat, old, and not as pretty?  I guess we all have hang-ups.  As I contemplated over those few weeks I was reminded of the real reason I was doing this.  It wasn’t really about me, was it?  It was about the gift that I would give.  To give something to someone that had been through something that I hoped I never would.  So, for all of you ladies out there, this is hair is for you. 

As a matter of fact, I am dedicating this donation to the Jens.  Jen Pagani and Jen Landon.  Jen Pagani has been fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer since 2007 and has persevered against the odds.  I have known Jen P. for many years and she is an amazing woman!  My friend Jen Landon was diagnosed in the past year and has been full of treatments and life changes.  She is a gentle and strong woman.  Both of these women inspire me to be a better person!  They live with thoughts about life that I can’t even fathom.  Thoughts that a wife, mother, sister, daughter would dread thinking.  Life is precious and these 2 women get that and live it!  It is because of them that I said, “Yes, I am doing this!”  This isn’t about me, it’s about them.  So, to the Jens and the many others that I know have been affected by breast cancer.  This donation is for you. 

More than likely this will be my last donation.  Long hair and getting gray don’t quite fit.  Not that I am gray now (Yes, that’s my true color at the age of 46), but I know that in the 4 years it will take me to grow it again I’m not sure it will be what they want.

Today, I cut 11 inches from my hair.  I told Swooz to make sure there was enough.  We even made 2 ponytails so I would have more to give.  I wanted to “feel the burn”.  Feel the change, the missing piece.  My friend Swooz did an amazing job!  After the cut I was lighter, freer, brighter and had tons of new perspective.  So, I am not only giving my hair, but I am vowing to myself to live a better life!  This is the catalyst to move more, find peace, love more, care about the important things, eat better , and be more creative …  Ok, cutting my hair won’t make all those things happen, but hopefully every time I look in the mirror I will be reminded of why it is short and it will encourage me to be the person I want to be!

So, today I am liberated, inspired and a whole lot lighter!

For more information on my inspirations check out:

Jen Pagani Caring Bridge:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gojengo

Swooz Hair and Makeup Salon

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Swooz-Hair-and-Makeup-Salon/203857056291436?fref=ts

And for a little music inspiration - check out the song "Let Go":

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/vicci/id534247042

Reminiscing

I'm sitting here alone in my "not so big house" like I did many times in my single days.  The hubby took E to their first Daddy Daughter dance.  As I was cleaning the blanket of yellow pollen off my deck, memories of past days in this house flooded my thoughts. Friendly gatherings on my deck, My Blue Dog perched on the top of the stairs waiting to chase after a squirrel in the yard, and planting my first flowers.  I looked out over my lawn at the new old playset that the hubby has been recreating and I smiled thinking about when I first bought this house 20 years ago.  Little did I know that I would raise my daughter here.

We have been living in our "not so big house" now for almost 5 months.  The inside is pretty much complete as I just finished the backsplash in kitchen this week.  The long work days are gone and we are truly enjoying life here!  Last night we biked to a little local pub for dinner.  What a treat!  The weather has made something bloom inside me and I feel comfort and joy.  Can I just stay here?

We have been planning our exterior renovation these past few weeks.  A new front porch and Hardie Plank siding for our "not so big house".  I can feel this house smile with delight.  We have been mulling over house colors for a week now.  A hard decision.  At least the Hardie Plank comes preprinted and the color choices are limited.  That does narrow it down.  E likes our blue house and would keep it that way if she could.  Me on the other hand, I think it is time to do something different.  The hubby is more conservative and wants to be simple.  In the end I think we will have the best choice.

It feels good to be home!

A New Year a New Life

It's time!  Time to slow down, reflect, and enjoy life.  Well, almost.  I can't wait for the time when my to do list is only a few items (never happen) and our lives are "back to normal" (what's normal?).  Every time I finally get around to sitting down to do my post I look back on just the past month or so and realize everything that has changed and what we have accomplished since I last sat down.  Amazing!

Well, the biggest thing for us is that we moved into our "new old not so big house"(NSBH).  Just after Thanksgiving we packed it up once again and moved into our "almost" finished house.  (It sure would be nice to just stay in one place for a while.)  We received our SG shipment and have somehow managed to fit all of that and everything from our uptown condo into a house that is literally half the size of our previous home.  Yep, we had to purge once again and somehow we still don't seem to have a place for everything.  I am sure that once everything is done, there will be a proper place for everything.  

Once we moved in, we began preparations for Christmas.  My family all came to town as well as the Hubby's Mom.  What a great time!  We all celebrated with a big Christmas dinner in our NSBH.  We had 13 people for dinner and it felt festive and cozy!

Once Christmas was over it was back to working on the house.  We have completed the laundry area, added a large shed in the backyard, completed the larger bath and have put our sunroom in working order.  The to do list is still pretty long with little things, but we are living here and it looks great!  Just a few more months and we should be finished!  Then we'll begin work on the outside of the house. (Ohhh!)

We are so excited about living in this neighborhood!  We can ride our bikes all over the place and are just minutes from the light rail line and the greenway.  Our favorite brewery is just down the street too!  Not to mention we love our neighbors!

The hubby and I are both taking a week off; he for a boy's ski trip and I for a mission trip.  Unfortunately, he messed up his knee, so he won't be skiing, but hopefully he will get quality friend time and some R&R as well. Once I get back from my trip, I hope that I will be able to take some more time and write.  I also hope to have a post on the total before and after with photos!

 Moving day - AGAIN!

 Watch out Santa!

The new pad all decked out for Christmas

 Grandpa and his grandsons

 Cozy Christmas dinner

All of my family (minus a couple)

Me and my family

The hubby and his Mom

Back to work!

 Yep, that's me - tile cutter apprentice

(I did most of the cutting on the shower tiles and some on the floor tiles)

 Shower niches 

Let me just tell you, not all mosaic tiles are created equally.  These took an hour to find the pattern and match them up.  Crazy!

 Back wall

 Prepped and ready for tile

Shower tile completed!

 Floor tile

 Niches complete!

 Floor completed and grout done!

The hubby's new "man cave"

 Our first visitors!  Hello Mr. Oriole!  

(I have never seen one in our area, so beautiful!)

And Mr. Cardinal too.  Doesn't he look pretty on our cool new feeder?

More photos to come soon!

Blessed and Thankful

For some reason the month of October and early November are always months full of events in the Willis Family.  I can't say why; maybe it is the way the stars align or something.  We have been so very busy and lots of fun and exciting things to share.  

It's hard to believe that November is almost over!  It seems that we were just preparing to vote for our new president.  Congrats to President Obama by the way.  Honestly, I was glad the election was over.  Over the years the presidential election years have taken on an aire of competition and political loyalty to say the least.  It has become more like rooting for your team rather than thinking about what is best for our country.  Let's just hope that everyone can unify, support our elected officials, and do what is best for our country. 

We are in the final weeks of our whole house renovation (or at least we hope so).  So much has happened since I last updated everyone.  

• Countertops installed
• New smooth ceilings (no more popcorn!)
• Painting
• New crown moulding
• New bathroom framed out and drywalled
• Lighting outlined and switches placed
• Hardwood floors refinished
• Appliances ordered
• Old furniture and appliances sold
• New tankless hot water heater installed
• Gas lines run to the kitchen and fireplace
• The condo we have been living in now has been rented
• We sold our old house!
• Our sweet E had her 6th birthday 
• 3 days after E's birthday she lost her first tooth!

It has been a lot of work, but we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Unfortunately, we won't be settled in our house by Thanksgiving, but we will be by Christmas!   

It has truly been a blessed week!  God was thinking of us, that is for sure!
We listed the condo for rent and in 2 days we had 2 persons who wanted the place.  Our new tenant moves in Mid-December.  The best thing of the week was that we sold our house.  Our friends that have been renting it decided to buy and we closed on Tuesday.  JOY!  Both families feel blessed.  God is good!

So, this week is as packed as last!  We have our new appliances being delivered on Monday and our Singapore shipment arrives on Tuesday.  Not to mention we are finally getting to have our Uverse installed this week.  We have only had to reschedule that at least 10 times.

Our official move day is December 3rd and we still have a lot to do.  

As I close for this semi short post let me just say how very thankful I am!  Like I said, God is good!  We are Thankful for:

• Having a place to live when we returned from Singapore
• The ability to keep in touch with all of our new Singapore friends
• Our friends and family for supporting us with childcare, help at the house and just a listening ear during this renovation
• All of the businesses and individuals that have done fantastic work on our new old house
• Great neighbors who offer a beer after a long day and letting us smooch off their wireless network
• The the leaves of fall
• Halloween, dressing up, trick or treating, and traditions
• Democracy and being American
• Cooler weather
• My health
• And most of all my wonderful little family!

Thank you God!

New Countertops

 Where is she going?

 E found a little nook

 Putting in the smooth ceilings

 Now that's the way to sand drywall

Finished ceilings, preparing for hardwood refinishing

 Refinished Hardwoods

 The new hallway

Bye, Bye old window

Some more things that we found that came from the attic when we tore out the ceiling.  The slide is a picture of a military base

 Our poor toilet, just waiting to get back into our new old house

 The trees of our new old backyard

The home renovation pumpkin!

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pondering God's Plan

Things are coming along on the renovation as we continue to live our lives in the Queen City.  We have made much progress these past few weeks.  Thank goodness as I really needed a boost!  Some days our goal of a Thanksgiving move in timeframe seems next to impossible.  Every morning (I try) to take time to reflect and "be still" pondering our life, God and how everything fits together.  It seems my devotional continually reflects on hardship, adversity, challenge and how it makes you a stronger and better person.  I can't say why our lives lead us in the direction of where it goes, but I know that God has a plan.  We never know where he will lead us, but I KNOW that it will be a worthwhile path.  I have trusted in this so many times in my life.  When I lost my sister, met my hubby, never thought we would have a family, nearly lost my life, our precious E was brought to our lives, and we moved to Singapore.  Everything has a reason; we just don't know what it is until he is ready for us to see it.

So, the kitchen is nearly done with all of the cabinets in.  The hubby did 80% of the work himself with a little help from me.  Our contractor guy helped build out some supports for the dishwasher wall.  It's is amazing to think that we did it ourselves and when we step back and look at the results we are proud!  We know how every cabinet is hung and how everything works.  We put each and every drawer, hinge, door, and leg in place.  Counter tops are ordered and we are weeks away from kitchen use!  

The small bathroom is near completion as well.  We decided to hire out the tile job for the shower.  Good thing too as once I saw Paul the tile guy do his work I knew that task would have totally stressed me out!  Sometimes it's better to just let someone else do it.  Even with the extra cost it is worth it!  I learned a lot about tiling and ended up searching all of Charlotte for just the right threshold to the shower.  That took an entire morning and the results  were amazing!  We made the right choices and our teeny tiny bathroom looks almost "normal" size.

One thing that we have been trying to do is to stay true to the period of the house with necessary modern upgrades.  To keep with the style we are trying to match all of the doors and moulding that was original to the house.  That has put me on a quest to finding doors to match the rest.  I started with an architectural antique store.  I found one door, but at $65 a pop I decided to keep shopping.  On to the ReStore (Habitat for Humanity Repurpose Store).  Score!  I found the perfect door for only $8.  I had decided to strip the door and repaint it as it was in pretty bad condition.  Little did I know that it would take hours of work.  Was it worth it?  I would say yes, as the door looks fantastic and I learned how to strip paint from an old door.  After that I thought I might hire out doing the rest of the doors in the house.  Not going to happen!  The first quote for 6 doors came in at $1800.  Ouch!  I think I will find a different way to fix my doors.  I also, found another door from a neighbor via our neighborhood facebook site!

Last week demolition began on our hall bathroom.  This bathroom has had little to no improvement since the house was build.  Originally, the tile was yellow and black which I had refinished some years ago to white.  The white had since been stained and the grout cracks were back.  The hubby and my nephew started the job and the hubby finished it off.  Again, he did pretty much all of the work.  I think he is actually starting to like this work.  He even mentioned wanting to make home rehab his "new" job.  Really?  Please dear God, help him find something else he likes better!  I don't think we are cut out for that type of career.  I will say, he is pretty happy doing it.  So, we are currently in the process of re-supporting the floor and all of the floor joists.  Again we found plumbing and ductwork placed by someone cutting through floor joists.  There was so much sag in the floor that it had dropped as much as 1 inch.  Well, we know that our house will be solid and well supported when we are finished - Right?

Still much more to do and lots more shopping to come.  (tile, bathtubs, vanities, appliances)  That's the fun part, right?

Door Rehab

My door ready for a new life!

Bathroom Demo

Look how thick that plaster was behind the tile!

Mold and rotten floors

Nothing like some bangin' on a cast iron tub for some stress relief

No more tub!

Newly supported floor

Bathroom tile 

(That red stuff is called Red Guard, seals the seams and turns red when it is dry)

Ready for grout! Beautiful!

Ikea cabinet installation team!

Sink wall

Fridge and range wall

Our cutie in our cubby

Our office

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)