March Madness 2021

 

March blew in with Snow and winds and is ending with high winds and cold clear days!  We love the mountain that we live on and the beautiful Murdock Trail behind our home.  Our days have been filled with obtaining building permits, purchasing furniture, lights, flooring, meeting with contractors, planning, working hard and many trips to the local home improvement stores!  We were told it would take 2-3 weeks to get the permit from the city and we had a great surprise and received an email that it was ready after only 10 days.  We move a few steps forward and then have setbacks, but we are making progress.  

A few pictures to show the progress:

This is the before kitchenette.  They just painted over the wood cabinets and there was only a sink.  We took out all of the cabinets and sink and got ready for the new cabinets to arrive.  It is really good that we took out the old cabinets as we found mold behind one section from an old leak in the refrigerator line from the upstairs kitchen.  We were able to remove it and repair and then paint.  

We then removed the carpet that had been installed.  Not sure why they put in new carpet in the kitchen, but now it is gone!  We replaced it with waterproof vinyl laminate and I love it.  It really changes the look and it is starting to look like a kitchen.  

New cabinets in white Shaker style.  They turned out really nice and I love the slow close doors and drawers.  I have had a 50 year old home and these new cabinets are great!  The countertops will be installed along with the farmhouse sink next week.  The refrigerator can't be moved in until the new walkout basement door is installed - it is too big to fit down the inside stairs.  

It is a work in progress.  What were we thinking!  Actually it will be really nice when we are completed with this project and ready for the next.  Lights are next to be installed.  

The bathroom is a much bigger renovation than we thought - mostly finding contractors.  

We rented a jackhammer and removed the cement for the new plumbing pipe to be installed.  That will be done on Wednesday this week and then we will replace the cement and be ready for the next step.  We will have the closet/shower wall built and then have the shower pan installed.  Then we get to start the tile process.  

We found a beautiful big wood door that will be our new front door.  We have been refinishing it and just waiting for the weather to warm up to apply the stain.  Update - warm day today - put on first coat of stain and it is so rich and beautiful.  I can't wait to get the other side done - pictures next month.

Twenty-six years ago my employer purchased an old home to house the new Arlington Texas Institute.  I was fortunate to be a part of the meetings and was given a few things from the old home.  One of my favorite things is the mantle and hearth from the home.  I have had it in my home for the past 26 years.  My neighbor built this cabinet and it fit perfectly inside the hearth.  I used it for storing food and had a black fabric in front of it to make it look like a real working hearth.  When we sold our home the inspector asked if it was a gas or wood fireplace!  

With the limited space we have here, I decided to paint the cabinet black and use it to display some of my things.  It is filled with Easter now and I look forward to filling it with Nativities in December.  It is the only place in my home that has a little organization and beauty amid all of the renovations,  

Our goal is to have it completed by May 1 and then we will be ready for visitors and gatherings.  That will be just in time to start working on the outside.  

What a year it has been.  I still can't believe all that has happened in our life this past year.  

We were released as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a year ago this week.  Russ was recovering from a stroke two weeks before and we were in isolation in Wichita, Kansas because of Covid-19.  At that time we really did not know what our future looked like or what was in store for us.  Those events gave us a new perspective on life and we started making some new plans.  It was very difficult coming home to no in-person Church, no visitors, no family gatherings and acclimating back into life.  I would never have dreamed that we would sell our home and move to Utah.  We have been so blessed and know that we are where we are supposed to be.  We still can't believe we were able to sell our homes and purchase our new home in 1 months time.  The market is crazy in Utah and we know it took a miracle for us to be here.  I am still waiting for the day I don't have to do anything and can just enjoy myself.  That is not really how my life works, but I can dream.

We have both had our vaccines for Covid.  I had my second one yesterday and it hit me hard.  The first shot I did not have any reaction so I was hopeful the second shot would be the same.  I have had a fever, chills, body aches and just lousy feeling.  I know this too shall pass and I am grateful to have it.  I am ready for the future.

I never tire of the view up the street seeing the Moon come over the mountain and seeing the snowcapped mountain.  I have had several experiences with "light" this past month and I am so grateful for the Light of Jesus Christ in my life.

I was driving down the freeway and a car behind me did not have their lights on.  I was concerned that they were hard to see and how was I going to let them know they needed to turn on their lights.  She passed me but was in another lane and I was not able to do anything about it.  I came to my exit and realized that it was dark and that I only had my running lights on and did not have my headlights on.  What a wakeup call for me.  So many thoughts went through my mind.  I immediately realized that I cannot share "light' that I do not have.  I was so concerned about someone else that I was not aware of my own needs.  It led me to think about the fact that we cannot share what we do not have.  I could not even flash my headlights because they were not on.  When I turned on my lights, I could see so much better.  Not just physically, but spiritually I was learning from this experience.  I also thought about the other driver speeding down the freeway.  Someone needs to want the "light" or to change before they will.  I can't change it for them.  I can warn and teach, but each person has to choose for themselves.   Pres. Russell M. Nelson said, "Imagine how our prayers for our missionaries - and for our own efforts to gather Israel -could change with this concept in mind.  We often pray that we and the missionaries will be led to those who are prepared to receive the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I wonder, to whom will we be led when we plead to find those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives?"

March blew in and is gone.  I look forward to April and the beauty of Spring in Utah and completing some of our projects.  Easter is one of my favorite holidays - a great way to begin the month of April.  

May the coming days be filled with a love and remembrance of Jesus Christ - Holy Days - as you prepare for Easter and remember "It is not about the Bunny - it's about the Lamb. "  

Much Love, 

The Grimmett's