Better Late Than Never

My husband had four solid days off work this past weekend.  We decided we would make the most of that time and try to tie up a number of projects around the house.  The basement project has been on our radar for a very long time.  I kept setting goals to complete it and they would always blow past.  It became a constant source of frustration.  Well, the extended weekend was a wild success!  We managed to clear out the art area, tidy the gross motor area and setup the music area.  There are still a few more things to tackle.  However, the areas are now usable and I think the remaining tasks can easily be completely in a solid day of effort.

This is the new art area.  I have to organize the supplies on the shelves but it's a great start.

But finished or not, the kids wasted no time drawing, cutting, pasting and creating.

This is the music area.  Yes, everything is basically thrown on the shelves at the moment but it's there.  It's already a very popular area.  Even I enjoy sitting in the area and playing along with the gang.

This is the gross motor area.  The kids can play in this area for hours on end.  The cabinets hold games and puzzles.

This is a view from the other side of the gross motor area.  I still need to take down the mirrors and put up the magnet board and chalk board.  The art area is on the back side.

And this is the remaining mess.  Ugh.  I know it's probably not as bad as it looks.  Once cleared out this will give the kids a place to ride tricycles and such.

Once we finish the areas up I'll post more details and give formal tours.  We also have plans to put a dress up area underneath the stairs.  I'm not sure when that will happen.

And in the main part of the house....

This is the visual prayer board I have been planning to do for a while.  The project was less than $15.  I love it.

New verse in the kitchen above the french doors.

And the final project completed is one I have been very excited about.  In case you can't make out the verse in the photo it says:  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I was having a rough day a few weeks ago and a friend posted this verse on my Facebook wall.  It stuck with me.  A lot.  I decided it had to go on my real wall as well.

When my great grandmother passed away several years ago, she left each of the great grandchildren a small amount of money.  I have saved it back since receiving it because I always knew it had to be spent on something special.  I immediately realized that this is what I wanted to spend it on.  I wasn't surprised when the grand total was within pennies of what she had left me.

My great grandmother was a godly woman.  She prayed for me every day of my life, even before my birth.  I feel so honored to have known her.  I felt that this verse was a great tribute to her as well because I think it is something she would have said to me in our situation.  So now not only do I get a critical reminder every time I'm in my kitchen, I'm reminded of her as well.