Let there be light!

The whirlwind visit from my parents resulted in this:

electrical outlets and cover plates installed AND live!

ALL of the light fixtures on the upper and main level are installed (which means that the second coat of paint is on the main level ceiling, too.)

These are the two that hang over the play/work/project table in the front of the living room. One delightful surprise was the fun pattern they create on the ceiling!

Grandma's bedroom, complete with fan - she may also need a room size air conditioner, not being accustomed to sweating it out like the rest of us are.

Bathroom light - very nice to have since this is the room without a window!

Little accent lamp in the stair landing, ready for a reading bench underneath it someday! Also note that the masking tape between the two colors of the stair has been removed giving a hint of what it will be like when the wood trim band is in. (That trim order, by the way, was finally placed this morning!)

This is the remnant of the varnishing mom did on the windows, so now all of the windows upstairs except the two large ones in Grandma's bedroom are finished.

And lastly, Matt and my dad carried the sink and toilet from the existing basement around to the upper level of the addition. Heavy lifting I don't have to do, and one step closer to being installed!

 Overall, a good weekend of work. And they also got to spend some time with each of their grandkids, too.

Krassi showing Grandpa how strong he's getting - this new skill deserves a post all its own!

As we continue to get closer to having the addition complete to the point that Matt's mom can move in with us, and I will finally have all of my household responsibilities under one roof, it's easy to get excited about the relief that will bring to our daily routine. In a very timely fashion, I was just given a book by a friend that walks through the last chapters of Genesis - the life of Joseph. As the author mulls over each bit of the narrative reflecting on its significance in the context of the rest of the Story, we get to Genesis chapter 41 and this is one of the subheadings:

This world is the land of our affliction
No matter how good it gets.

Using the few times that Joseph is referenced in the New Testament as well as the content of Genesis 41 itself, the author counters the common view that "Joseph was faithful and look how God finally rewarded him in the end - he's got it great! Power, wealth - wow, good thing he remained faithful!" and suggests instead that even when he had risen to power in Pharaoh's court, he still viewed Egypt as "the land of his affliction" and to his dying day was looking forward to when he (or at least his bones) would once again return to the land that God has promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I am so grateful for the reminder that it is not my business to seek ease in this life, or to let myself become too "at home" in this life, but to keep my eyes fixed on Him.