Friday, January 13, 2012

before and after


One year ago, we became the elated owners of one. big. ol'. mess...
laced with wondrous possibilities.
Folks, the "before" and "after" day has officially arrived.
Here she is!  
Before: January 12, 2011
After: January 13, 2012

|the back|
before
after!


|front door|
before
and, after!


|living room|
before

in process...


after!

|one of my favorite spots|
before

in process...

after!

|standing in the kitchen, facing the dining room/living room|
before
after!


|the kitchen|
in process...

after!










|hallway|
before {we tried to salvage those cool built-in cabinets, but couldn't because of the mold and the nasty}
after!


|guest room|
before
after!


|stairs|
in process
after!
{hubby put some elbow grease into these babies}


|the boys' room|
before


in process...
after:





|master bedroom|
before 
in process...

after!



















|upstairs bathroom|
before {astroturf and all}
in process...

after!






|downstairs bathroom|
after 
{wish we had a good before pic, but just imagine...
it was way worse than the upstairs bathroom...}


We made it!  Oh man, I can't believe what we just we did.
Some dinners looked like this {daddy scraping paint}:


Saturday mornings looked like this:


But, it's done.
And we are so very thankful.


Thankful for this season of life the Lord has brought us through.
Thankful for lessons learned along the way.  To not lose the vision of what could become.  To pour our energy, courage, resources, time into repairing something the world had condemned.  To not give up hope.  Oh, how I want my life to be so much more of this!  Not redoing another house, but investing in something that will outlast these four walls.  One great day this will all pass away when the ultimate Before and After returns {Revelation 22.12}.  

Thankful He doesn't just leave us in our helpless state.  But continues in His work of transforming, renewing, restoring.  May the pictures of this earth never outshine the beauty that is to come!  And, may the award we are seeking be for the honor of the One named Faithful and True, the King of kings, Lord of lords {Revelation 19}.  

Then the King will say to those on the right: 
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, 
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  
For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  
I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  
I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  
I was in prison, and you visited me."  Matthew 25.34-36 {NLT}


Thankful for the chance to be involved in His restoration project.  
This house may look nice.  But it is worthless if it is not used as a tool to invest in our true home.


At that time, I will deal with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
~ Zephaniah 3.19-20a {NIV}

13 comments:

  1. So lovely Sarah. And so happy for you five.

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  2. it's beautiful!!! and so is your perspective.

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  3. This is beautiful! You guys did an amazing job!

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  4. What a beautiful home you've all created:)! I love your decor and style, and as always, I so enjoy your blog. Blessings.

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  5. by far your best post yet. and i've read them all. LKL

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  6. Congratulations guys! It really looks awesome! Miss you all
    - Kim Humberd

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  7. Wow. Wow. Wow. You guys--this is so amazing!

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  8. Sarah, your spirit is as beautiful as your home! I love your heart forhte Lord and He shines through you and your family in such pure ways. Be blessed! And may many others be blessed by the Royers and this gem of a home!

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  9. You guys have worked so hard on this house. It looks GORGEOUS! Now kick back and enjoy it:) You deserve it more than anybody else.

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  10. Hooray for getting finished! Now you will be able to take a break from all the toxic stuff you had to endure with all the remodelling :) A Betty Wyma

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  11. Wow, you guys. I don't even know how to say how meaningful each of your words is. Thank you for celebrating with us!

    Yes, I think we will kick back and enjoy it (atleast 'til it's warm enough for Andy to build a shed out of pallets...) If you're in the area, please don't hesitate to stop by!
    Thank you, and you are WELCOME!

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  12. Sara - I don't know if you remember me, but I worked with you at Grace a few years ago. The reason I'm commenting is - I lived in your house when I was a kid! My family lived there from 1958 to 1968.

    We lived on the first floor. (The second floor was an apartment at the time.) My sister and I shared the back bedroom. We spent hours playing on that screened-in front porch.

    I have some great memories of that house and am amazed at what you did with it. In the years after our family lived there, the house really fell into disrepair, which made us so sad. You've rescued it - and brought it back. I'm sure the original owner from years ago - James Heaton - would be smiling.

    Judy Daniels
    Winona Lake

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  13. Judy, Of course I remember you. I love that you said something! We love this old house, the great memories live on :)

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