"Do everything without complaining or arguing"- Philippians 2:14

Everything? Really? Crap. I figured we could make an exception when we come home from our full-time jobs just to work on the house a few more hours. ::Grumble grumble::

Don't point fingers! You know you do it too. Think about it....have you ever even gone one whole day w/o complaining about something? A few hours maybe? Do you have a spouse? Then I reckon you've complained or argued over something...perhaps a few times each day!

Such an impossible command. Yet...it is a command. Not a suggestion. So how the heck am I supposed to do this?? Not on my own strength that's for sure. I need the divine intervention of GOD to get me through the day w/o complaining or arguing.

::prays::

Lord, forgive me for all my many complaints and give me your strength not to argue w/my husband while working on house projects, or for any reason. Help me to remember what YOU went through w/o complaining...and that should put me in my place and shut me up pretty quickly. That's what I need. Every. single. day. To quote an old hymn, "I need thee EVERY hour"!!

Amen.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

So Ivor and I spent our first week in the house...and the work projects are in full swing!! It's kind of overwhelming to think about how much needs to get done...and how much time it's going to take. I can see how easy it could be to get totally consumed by everything...using ALL of our free time to work on it. I was reminded of the verse above this morning when I was thinking about it. It's really fun (most of the time) getting to "build" our house and pick out paint colors and decorate, etc., but at the same time we're really building our home together....in lots of ways! Obviously this is our first house together. It's where we're spending our newlywed season...possibly starting a family in this house, etc. But we're also building foundations for our marriage. Yesterday was a perfect example....a newlywed husband and wife spending an entire day working on house projects...alone. We weren't able to get any help yesterday so we were on our own. We had to paint the trim for the entire 3rd floor, w/limited space available, limited light (except when we were outside, and then it was just hot and the paint was drying faster than I could keep up w/my paintbrush). Then we installed the closet organizer (just on one side of the closet). All the while trying not to kill each other :) We did pretty well w/team work for the most part....for the closet project, I read the instructions while he actually did the hands-on putting together of things. It took us 3 hours to do the closet alone but we survived w/only a few minor scrapes lol. Anyway....it was a great opportunity for growth in many areas: patience, kindness, gentleness, effective communication, problem-solving, etc. By the time the house is finished we'll be experts at all those things, right?! Probably not even close....but I'm sure we'll be farther along than we are now lol. My point is...we're building foundations: developing Christ-like character, growing closer to God, thus growing closer to each other as a result. That, my friends is what it's all about. This house will pass away....it could burn down in a fire tomorrow for all I know...but what goes on inside these walls are the things that last.

But for your viewing pleasure, here are a few photos of the 3rd floor. The 3rd floor is our master suite: bedroom, walk-through closet, bathroom. It's the only close-to-finished floor in the entire house...but we're pretty excited about it! :)

The exposed original brick wall in our bedroom, cleaned it up and put a coat of poly on it...we LOVE it! So much character :)

The master bathroom in progress...tile floor down, still have to grout and then install the vanity, toilet, tub, shower, etc.

Re-finished original hardwood floors--again w/lots of character and rich colors. One of our favorite parts of the whole room, besides the brick wall :)

So in love w/this wall :)

My hard-working husband figuring out how to install the closet organizer

Stay tuned for more pics as the rooms progress! 

That's all for now :)

Mr. & Mrs. Ivor Neil Griffiths

Well, it's official! We're married :) It was such a beautiful and awesome day. Words can't even describe it! Everything went smoothly..if anything went wrong, I never knew about it...and that's fine by me. We had an amazing honeymoon in Florida, and now it's back to reality. Our first marriage challenge: the HOUSE. Ugh. Major renovations requiring MUCH patience and humility. Our character and faith has been and will be tested under such conditions (fleas, dirt, an un-finished house, etc.). But we'll be a stronger couple for it in the end.

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."- Romans 5:3-5