Rain revealed more problems under the house during the foundation work. During the rain, water rose in the crawlspace from underground.
The project was extended, but we were grateful the issue had been exposed and steps could be taken to avoid trouble later.
The apartment we had rented for 3 weeks was booked when our project got extended. We found another rental online, showed up to a smoke + air freshener + mold smell, black dust, and broken glass situation that should not have ever been an option with a reputable company.
My daughters and I went to check it out, and I called my husband with literal tears, saying “I’m no princess, but I don’t think we can stay here…”
Thankfully, local family came to the rescue and took us in. After our stay with family, we moved back, now on a solid foundation and fresh subfloor.
Our main bedroom and bathroom were additions in the 1980s, and the only part of the house not in need of foundation work. We had used that space for storage during the foundation work.
After the stacked mattresses were moved and set on a rug for the kids to have a space to sleep, we tried setting the couch and television up in the keeping room off from the kitchen.
Shane even mounted the television to the wall, but it burned our eye balls. We tried switching to a smaller tv then moved the whole setup and made our bedroom the temporary living room.
We bought a utility sink and had water lines run into the kitchen for dishwashing and regular kitchen chores, and set up a folding table as a counter space with our air fryer, coffee pot and InstantPot.
(At some point we put the microwave in a closet and unintentionally blocked it with stacks of heavy flooring, so we adjusted to warming our food up in the air fryer.) Our stove’s gas and electricity weren’t in place yet, so we just got to look at the new stove we had bought before we were aware of the coming renovation.
The bathroom situation hadn’t changed since day one, so we were all still sharing the only one standing… a challenge for 5 people, and 7 when our college kids were visiting.
Takeaways from living IN a renovation
- Get used to the mess & disorder. The sooner you embrace the mess, the sooner you can focus on what really matters-tending to your family.
- Don’t let the dishes pile up.
- Be flexible.
- Get an air purifier to help with dust and dirt.
- Increase your food budget if you’re able. Eating out or getting take out is easier and will be an unavoidable temptation. No, it’s not as healthy, but you’ll wear yourself out fighting this battle.
- Learn to love sandwiches, and anything you can cook in the InstantPot.
- When the weather is good, grill!
- Focus on what is going well.
- Creating beauty in your home in the midst of the mess brings refreshment and joy and is a reminder of what is to come.
- Get outside often or the walls will feel like they’re closing in on you!
Your home is a sanctuary for rest and fellowship with your family and friends, even in the mess. Renovations are messy, life is messy. Invite peace into the mess and do the next thing!
…Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.…
-Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015)
If you haven’t heard of Elisabeth Elliot before. You can read about her inspiring story of perseverance here and here.