Monday, May 16, 2016

Zipping Up The Alphabet

I finally feel caught up here on the blog, with the small exception of the alphabet I left dangling at the end of April. May is zooming by, and even though the A-Z Blog Challenge officially ended more than two weeks ago, I'm wrapping mine up today.

Z is for Zipping Up The Alphabet

I've been asked a few times now if I'd ever build from scratch again, and I guess my answer is it depends on the day you ask. Today I'd probably say no, because right now it feels like it's taking an absolute forever. Honestly the progress feels so slow, and while I know the end result will be lovely I mostly find the process frustrating. Building a home from the ground up is a huge project and you're kind of the project manager, except not really. Yes you make most of the decisions and of course you foot the bill, but someone else actually manages the calendar.

Hubs and I go out to the lot every week and take note of all that has occurred in a few days time. Always there's been something added which is exciting, but y'all there is still SO MUCH that needs to be done.

I look at the build and think WOW! we've got a lot done! That thought is usually followed by a lengthy mental list of all that remains to be done, and then I look around for a paper bag to breathe into-ha!

I think I'll revisit this question in six months time and see how it all looks from there. In six months time we'll have been living in the house for a bit. Note to those of you considering construction: builders do not want to give you a fixed end date because a zillion things can delay and disrupt the calendar plan. I understand that, but ugh! We'll be in sometime end of summer. How's that for precise?

We will be in eventually though, so if you ask me this question in six months time I might say absolutely, let's do it again. In six months time we'll be living with the end result of all the decisions we're making now. The waiting waiting waiting will be just a fuzzy memory.

In six months time we'll be sipping morning coffee on the deck. Not only that, but we'll be sipping from mugs that are ours. Everything we own will finally be out of storage and sitting comfortably in the new space. Also....hard as it is to fathom right now, in six months time I'll be thinking about cooking Thanksgiving dinner in my brand new kitchen (yes! Thanksgiving is just six months from now people!).

Sometimes I forget we still have to move. I know that seems like a hard thing to forget, but I've been living with rental furniture for so long now I
blockforget there's a whole big container packed away just waiting on a phone call saying please deliver.

But you know what? In six months time that will also be a done deal.

I've learned so much about the construction process, about what it takes to get a house from overgrown lot to livable space, and a whole lot more about myself. In many ways the process of building has been a life lesson in practicing the fruits of the spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control.

And like my house I'm a slow work in progress.

7 comments:

  1. A friend of mine had a house built, and she says she had to be on top of the builders and contractors every day. She said she could make a business out of going to construction sites and nagging the crew.

    Anyway, congratulations on finishing the A to Z Challenge, at last!

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    1. Yes! It's not a job I'd want though : ) Our builder is excellent and we haven't had any real errors which is fortunate. I've heard some horror stories from others who have built.

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  2. Oh, I so feel your pain, I was right where you are this time last year. But, building a house is sort of like childbirth, you soon forget all the pain. :o)) I'm so excited for you!

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  3. I think we are all excited for you and are waiting to see you all moved in and enjoying it at last! Congrats on finishing the A-Z!!

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  4. We had some remodeling done inside our house several years ago. I finally got so frustrated with the cabinet maker and overseer of the project, that I called him and told him since we had seen the way he liked to do business, he would be paid the same way - when it was convenient. We didn't get along too well after that. We probably could have built a whole house in the time it took him to do this job. So glad your huge building project is going much better than my small one.

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  5. Well done on finishing the challenge. Just the house to do now ;) of course you will get there even if it is later rather than sooner but it will be a massive achievement and one you will be able to look back on with pride I'm sure.

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  6. I'm so glad you went back and finished the A-Z challenge! I enjoyed all of your posts.
    You are right, in six months, you will be enjoying your new home, and will hardly think about these frustrating days. Wow, only six months until Thanksgiving...that's frightening!
    It sort of makes you wonder how they can build an entire house in a week on "Extreme Home Make Over", doesn't it? The quickest I've seen a home built, from the ground up, is 2 months.
    Kathy (Reflections)

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