Right At Home

We moved into a 40 year old house a few years ago and I have re-done just about every room, except for my daughter's.  She is going to 5th grade this year and has outgrown the red bows on the age-old wall paper so I wanted to paint her room before school starts in 2 weeks.  My husband was out of town this weekend and he's not crazy about my "little" house projects.  So, while he was gone, my daughter and I figured it was a perfect time to get this "small", inexpensive, project done.  So, Friday at 3:15 we started the fever pitched, crazy-high-speed wall paper stripping.  All 3 of my kids helped spray, scrape, and pull for hours so by Saturday, we were priming and painting.  I was painting in power speed mode to get it done before my husband got home so I can't say that I was really enjoying it too much.  When I gave all 3 of my kids brushes and rollers, it got a little hairy so I set a new rule in our house.  Our rule is, you have to be 8 to paint with a brush, and 10 or above with a roller. I just wish I would have thought of that before the paint-laden roller hit the floor.

So we did it! The wall paper is stripped, the ceiling is painted, and the walls are primed and painted (2 coats), now it is time to enamel the trim.  I set upon that task today and as I was nervously rushing to get it done quickly, I remembered something.  I love to paint.  I forgot that because I was trying to jam a 3 week project into 3 days.  Then, today as I was laying on the enamel (my favorite part of the project), I decided to slow down and actually enjoy it.  As I did that, I thought of other things that I forgot I love to do, like fix my daughters hair.  I forgot I love to do that because I rush through it most every school morning.  I love tucking my kids in, reading to them while in bed, washing their sweet peach cheeks.  I forgot how much I love all those things.  I am not going to forget anymore.   This fall, I am going to savor these things.  I am going to remember I love doing them.  I am going to take the time to enjoy the brief window of time that I will be able to do these things and be thankful for the daily gifts that I am given.