The wallpaper border in the bathroom officially bit the dust. Nike’s famous slogan, Just Do It, penetrated my mind. After 3 years of having a “when I get to it” attitude I finally, Just Did It. I used a mini-spatula from a camp cook stove, a washcloth, and steam from the shower as aids in the border removal task.

I pushed away the guilt for letting Molly cry after waking up too early during nap time (all the while convincing myself that I am letting her build character) and for letting Ryan play computer games unsupervised. I lost myself in thought somewhere between my sweat becoming indistinguishable from the wallpaper adhesive and my shoulders shaking from overuse.

Note to self: do not do the push-up challenge endurance test the night before removing wallpaper.

I smiled at God in gratitude for the quiet I found while I worked. I scraped and slopped prayerfully, tearing up as I used my hands for such a minimal chore. I remembered that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. He is the Great Restorer. He wrote upon my heart to be a restorer too. In the simple act of removing a wallpaper border I was in union with the Spirit.

I will be the first one to “roll my eyes” at over-spiritualism. However, I do want to share about the times in my life that have brought me closer to God. I am slowly finding pieces of me as I learn to view myself as God views me.

How does God view you? You were made in His image too. What are you reflecting? Encourager? Father? Creator? Forgiver? Lover? Find something that you can do that reflects what God has written on your heart. You will not regret it.

And yes, both Molly and Ryan fell back asleep, eventually.

The During. An important phase in the process of Before and After.

There is actually some sort of sadness that occurs in me when someone remodels their kitchen and they forget to take a before photo. There is a minor importance about the before that I can’t quite place.

Befores set the stage for the wow factor in the after. As if the after alone wouldn’t be amazing enough? Would the effort to get to the after somehow be lost on all who viewed it? Maybe the issue lies more in the history of the before than anything else. Does the world need to know a fragment of what went on in the life of a chair, kitchen cupboard or set of clothes or a person? Perhaps it does.

View some designer before and afters at bhg.com or at design sponge.

In the meantime here is a before photo of my bathroom. I am attempting to push myself to get an after photo by the end of the summer. After all I’ve living in the before photo for over 3 years. It is time. Any ideas for me? Please post some comments about reinventing this space (remember we have to think resale though so nothing too outlandish) Thanks!