THIS OL' HOUSE

      I called my friend one day and said, "Shirley, I woke up this morning and looked at the walnut paneled walls of my bedroom and thought, how did I ever live in this dreary house for twenty-two years?  I'm going to paint every room so this house will look bright and cheery."

      Shirley said, "It sounds like a big project.  Let me know when you're going to start and I'll come over and help you."

      "I accept your generous offer. I'll call you when I have the paint and other supplies I'll need.  Thanks for offering to help."

       I decided to begin with the kitchen and dining room.  I selected antique white paint and we began painting.  By the time we had two coats of paint on the walls and thirty-two cupboard doors and drawers we were exhausted.  I hired Shirley's son Tom to paint the ceiling for me.  The place was a sorry mess for about two weeks.  But, what a difference it made.  I will always be grateful for Shirley's help and encouragement in getting the transformation of our house started.

      After a short rest more ideas for improving the house came to me day by day.  Soon I had cut a doorway from the back bedroom into the living room alcove, making it more accessible, whereas before, you reached that bedroom through the recreation room.  Then I decided an adjoining bathroom would be a brilliant idea.

      This colossal plan called for tearing out walls and constructing new ones.  One of the more difficult jobs involved dismantling the long bar I had built in the recreation room.  I had built that bar to last forever.  At the base I had place a railroad tie so it would never tip over.  I recall the many hours I spent staining the wood to just the right shade of brown and
all the work of tiling the counter around the bar sink, and the foot-rest, it did look right nice.

      However, after my encounter Jesus my outlook on life completely changed.  Somehow a bar in our recreation room no longer seemed appropriate so, with my trusty crowbar I proceeded to rip the thing out.  After a few months, the house began to take on a cheery look, beckoning you to come in and enjoy the serenity.

      Soon the back bedroom took on the appearance of a spring garden with pale pink walls and lush green carpeting, resembling an inviting, restful meadow.  The view of the Ortega mountains behind our house from the new larger window gave me a sense of oneness with God.  I could see the birds sunning themselves in the early morning sunshine atop the piacantha bush in the backyard.

      I was very pleased with the way the bathroom turned out with it's wallpaper adorned with baskets of pink roses among leafy green vines greeting you upon entering.  The pink valance trimmed with lace I made for the window complimented the wallpaper and carpet.

      I decided that this would be my bedroom and bath, and my old bedroom would be the guest room.  You may think this quite silly, but after one night in the new bedroom, I thought I did not deserve such a lovely room, and moved back to my old bedroom.  Feelings of unworthiness from messages I had received years before overwhelmed me.  It took some prayer and convincing by a good friend before I moved back to the new room.  You see, this was by far the prettiest room I had ever had in my whole life.  From orphanage dormitory and then, while living with the Halls I slept on a rollaway bed at the foot of the basement stairs next to the washing machine.  After I was grown and married, the modest homes were nice, but this was by far the loveliest room I'd ever occupied.

      Then, what a surprise!  One day my daughter Peggy arrived with a beautiful quilt for my bed, made up of colors that perfectly matched the room, and, I might add, garnered many compliments from friends.  I felt so blessed.

      In September I announced that I would start on the living room and finish it by Christmas.  R.J. said, "Impossible!"  Well, he should have known that word is not in my vocabulary.  "Of course I will have this room done by Christmas,", I replied indignantly.

      By Christmas, the ceiling had a fresh coat of white paint.  The walls had two coats of Porcelain Hue (soft ivory) paint completely transforming the dark living room.  The dull ceiling-to-floor drapes were replaced with rust colored swag treatment over sheer curtains which hung to just below the windowsills.

      We celebrated the transformation with the biggest, bushiest Christmas tree ever.  My Granddaughter Melody and I spent hours decorating it.

      What a wonderful Christmas we had!  As all the family and relatives gathered at our house for Christmas dinner, I felt so thankful to God for giving me the strength to do this monumental task of updating our old mobile home.

      At the time I did not know that it would be the last Christmas our family would spend together in our home.  As I look back I wonder if this home improvement project was my idea, or did God orchestrate this diversion to keep me from sinking into despair as I watched R.J.'s condition worsen day by day due to his illness.  It certainly does seem strange that twenty-two years went by before I suddenly felt the need to brighten up our house.

      Throughout the entire project I found that I could rely on God.  Each morning I was given strength sufficient for the day's task.  Often, in the evening I would be amazed at what I had accomplished and thanked God.  I knew the source of my strength.  Even though R.J. tried to help, most of the time he was unable; but he encouraged me.  Also, friends helped some, including Peggy who arrived after the holidays, finishing up the painting in the recreation room.

      Yes, this ol' house was transformed with God's help.