Every Tuesday, I share my thoughts on Family Life. 

If you’ve noticed a decided lack of P@H blog posts in the past week, it’s due to the fact that I’ve been deeply involved in a home renovation project with my husband.  The impetus is an impending family visit during which we will be hosting my parents, my sister and her husband, and their two toddler sons.  Being blessed with this many visitors at one time means that my teenage sons will be evicted from their bedrooms and the bathroom they share - this area of my home will house my sister and her family.  Looking at the boys’ bathroom, we realized that it was badly in need of some TLC.  So for the past week, we’ve demolished the shower enclosure, worked at de-waterstaining the bathtub, repainted the entire bathroom area and are re-tiling the shower.  Yesterday, my husband Greg and I spent the entire day confined in a very small space working together on the project. I’m happy to say that things are moving along nicely and that the two of us are still speaking.

Here are a few thoughts on taking on a home-improvement project:

• Challenge yourself  to a "DIY".  It would have been far easier to hire someone to do the bathroom, but we decided that this was a project we could handle on our own.  My husband has done a little tile work in the past, and with the help of some knowledgeable hardware store guys we have all the tools we need.
• Set a time line.  Ours was created for us, thanks to the visit we’re anticipating.  We’ve talked about doing this project for a few years now, but having a set deadline really got us moving along.
• Stick to your budget.  We paid cash up front for the materials, and thanks to the fact that we aren’t hiring labor, the costs were much less than they would be if we brought in professionals.
• Respect one another’s space.  Home improvements are very physical and can be very stressful.  While we spent some time yesterday talking, we also helped give each other some space for a while - I listened to podcasts while Greg enjoyed some sports talk radio.  The time passed quickly and we enjoyed being together.
• Involve the kids.  Adam helped demo the shower, mix the mortar and roll paint.  Eric gave his opinions on colors and tile.  Both kept themselves entertained all weekend while we worked and helped with meals.
• Realize your limits.  We aren’t professionals, so there will likely be a few areas where the trim isn’t painted perfectly.  But overall, the bathroom is looking great and the project is paid for in advance.  That’s a great feeling.

I hope to post an "after" picture later this week for your enjoyment.  Is there a project around your home that is calling you?  Even a coat of paint and some new lighting fixtures can lend new life to a space.  Consider taking on your "DIY" project as a family and enjoy the process together.