Since getting married, we’ve lived in homes from the 40s, 80s, and a flipped home that was built in the 70s, but was practically new. I decided my idea home age was one what was older than my grandparents (charming and full of both history and character) or younger than I am (somewhere between vintage and new). We found a house that fit in the latter category, and when we bought it just over a year ago, I knew there were several things I wanted to change.
The first major things that absolutely had to change were the light fixtures. Not only did the previous owners have some really strange lightbulbs (think color changing in the kitchen and spinning projection type bulbs in front of the garage), our first few nights here had me feeling like I was going blind because the bulbs were so dim! I believe most of the fixtures were original to the house, but some of them were just way too small for the rooms they were in. Changing our main floor fixtures has made a huge impact.
Next on my list of changes to make were our kitchen countertops and backsplash. They were also original to the house. Our backsplash consisted of large, diagonal beige tiles, and our countertops were a very textured brown laminate with a wood front. It may have been the kitchen of my mom’s dreams 20 years ago, and she thought I was crazy for wanting to change it because it was still beautiful to her. The texture in the countertop made it less than idea for baking, and it had to be scrubbed, rather than just wiped clean. Between the color and the texture, I never felt like it was fully clean, even after being scrubbed down. The backsplash and countertops needed updating.
Unfortunately…my list got reordered when the deck balusters started falling out, and we realized the railing was rotten. As our friend was starting to replace the railing, he noticed that the other boards were also rotting and…the whole deck needed replacing. So we replaced the deck. And it’s beautiful, but it’s not kitchen countertops.
Finally, the day came when my husband took me to look at countertops! We found a few options and narrowed it down to the one. Then came the scouring of hardware stores to find a tile in a complimentary color. With new countertops, we decided to also take out the Y2K kitchen desk and replace it with a custom cabinet. Thankfully the company that built our cabinets is still in business, and we were able to have them come out to match the stain.
Three days ago our faucet got disconnected, and our countertops went in the next day!!!
Today the backsplash installation began! As I rock my youngest daughter to sleep, I’m excited and thankful, yet weary. It’s been three days without a kitchen sink, and it’s challenging. The backsplash is looking beautiful, but the grout isn’t in yet, so I’m not yet able to fully see my vision brought to life.
Our countertops and backsplash are in already, but they’re not yet completed. I feel guilty for my weariness and impatience when I already have my beautiful updates in process.
As I sit in this tension, I’m reminded of the tension that exists in our salvation. We are already cleansed and justified, but we are not yet made perfect and complete. Our salvation has been purchased already, but we are on earth and are not yet enjoying the glory of eternity with Christ.
Someday (hopefully tomorrow!!) my kitchen faucet will be installed and my backsplash will be grouted. And someday, I will be both with and like Jesus. While I am thankful for what Jesus has already accomplished, I anxiously await the completion when every tear will be wiped away, sin will be no more, and I will glory in the presence of my Savior for eternity.
It’s easy to become wearied by the wait. It’s easy to be weighed down by the things we see and face here on earth. But we can be encouraged because someday is coming.
Imperfect Pearl 