checking in..

I’m BACK! I apologize but our life hasn’t been that exciting, but it has been busy so instead of blogging about nothing I just didn’t blog. That totally makes sense, right?

Anyway, I can’t believe we’ve been living in our house for almost 2 months! Can you believe it? When we started this project everyone said, “if you can get through this, you can get through anything”. At the time I didn’t understand what they meant. We’re just building a house; it’s just wood, some ceramic tile, and a little paint. How could this be the most challenging thing that two people could face?!

Boy was I wrong. I’ve learned so much through this process, beyond how a mortgage works, how to apply for a tax credit or what the process of rehabbing a 100 year old house happens to be. I learned that good things are worth waiting for, good things are worth working for and Tom Hanks was right, “it’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great” (A League of Their Own, just one of the best movies ever) The last 6 months haven’t been a cake walk, RC and I have had to make sacrifices and re prioritize things in our life to make this dream of ours come true. I would be lying if I said there weren’t times during this process where I was extremely stressed or overwhelmed. Remember this?

A couple of weeks before we moved in RC asked if I would do this again and if I would tell someone else to do this.  My answer would be absolutely, 100% yes. I would do this again and I would tell everyone I know to do this as well. My only advice would be to make sure you have a great support system. You can’t change the weather, you can’t change how long permits take to get, you can’t make paint dry faster but you CAN choose who you go through this process with. There were days when I was exhausted and just wanted to sit around and catch up on “Say Yes to the Dress” and RC had to drag me out of the house to look at vanities and light fixtures. Beyond RC, there were so many people that were vested in our little project. To be completely honest, it came from the most unexpected places too; co-workers, friends of friends, friends of our families, “friends” from Facebook.

What I did learn was that, there is nobody that I would have rather have done this with. RC and I are a great team, we’re not perfect but it works for us. I think he is a jerk sometimes and he thinks I’m crazy most of the time but somehow that all balances out. We’re good at compromising (giving in) and making the best decisions for us.

I once read an article about the ups and downs of life and the author referred to child birth as “selective amnesia” I’ve never had a baby but I’ve had tequila and that’s practically the same thing. When the shot of tequila is offered I jump at the chance but the next morning I’m lying in bed, holding on for dear life and cursing that exact liquor that I was so quick to drink the night before. When the bartender is pouring the shot I completely forget how I (awlays) feel the morning after I drink tequila. Something happens and when I’m offered a shot all I can remember is the good taste and fun buzz! This rehabbing experience is kind of the same thing. Right now, I can’t remember those stressful days and all I can see is this beautiful house that we are both so  proud of. When I think back on the process all I remember is the good times, the fun we had choosing paint, vanities and the exhilarating feeling we had every time we walked into the house. All I can remember are these days..

So that’s where we are now, just enjoying our brand new house. Trying to get back into the swing of normal life, hanging out with friends, sleeping in, etc. We're slowly trying to finish rooms and hang things on the walls. We’re not even close to being done, we’re not even close to being half way there. We did buy couches for the living room but they won’t be here until the end of July! So stay tuned, more updates coming.. PROMISE!

xoxo

E