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For most of March and into the first week of April, my kitchen, the usable parts of it anyway, were relocated to my 
dining room. (My cooking piece de la resistance of that season was making a breakfast casserole from scratch, but in my toaster oven.) Plastic sheets and construction equipment decorated our house. Dust was everywhere in spite of daily cleaning. And my kitchen? It spent a good chunk of that time as a gaping hole of nothing.
In other words, we had a crew come in to remodel it. We brought Nicholas & Associates, who had done such an amazing job on our guest bathroom at the end of 2016 back to redesign our kitchen—a room untouched since the house was built in the early 80s.
Unfortunately, no remodeling is instantaneous. As much as I would have preferred that our contractors had a magic wand at their disposal that they could have zapped our new kitchen into place without mess, noise or mishap, that is impossible. Change takes work and work never proceeds without pain of some sort.
All that reminded me that our lives are constantly being remodeled by the hand of the Master Craftsman, the Designer of the best this life and all futures have to offer. And remodeling is messy. When He works on us to change an area of our lives for the better, there will be pain and discomfort. There will be times when we feel like our insides have been ripped out. But that only happens so that He can replace it with something new. Something better. Something beautiful.
A few days after Easter, we had a kitchen again. But our new kitchen was just that—new. It was clean, pretty and more functional than the old one. Everything matched and worked together. Not only that, it was more energy efficient and space efficient. In other words, it was worth the wait and the discomfort.
Maybe that means that His remodels are worth it, too? Especially since He knows exactly how we are wired and how we will work our best?
Here’s a poem written at that time about those same thoughts.
Improvement
Construction always accompanies deconstruction.
It would be lovely if improvements came instantaneously
Without pain
But it doesn’t work that way
It can’t work that way.
We need the old broken down
Dismantled
Ripped away
So we can have a clean slate
Upon which to build.
Think, how ridiculous it would look
To build something new and beautiful
Upon a foundation of rubble?
Not to mention totally unstable
And insupportable.
We need to break down the old
Tear it away
And sweep out its remnants
To allow the new its room to develop.
(If only we could do it all without the discomfort.)
Celebrate Advent!
12/6/2018 8:30:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
In Gratitude to a Kind Stranger
11/28/2018 3:16:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Thankful Moments
11/21/2018 1:14:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Brave Life
11/14/2018 11:41:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Need to Do
11/7/2018 10:28:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
A Week that Makes Me Remember Mom
10/31/2018 5:06:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Trying to Understand a Just God
10/24/2018 1:10:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Our Limited Perspectives
10/17/2018 3:46:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
My Hope
10/10/2018 3:52:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Grieving through the Eyes of Eternity
10/3/2018 3:30:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
(Re) Learning to Scream
9/25/2018 7:46:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Hurricanes and Other Storms
9/15/2018 10:26:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Trusting God Doesn't Come Easy
9/7/2018 3:02:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Walk of Life
9/1/2018 5:53:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Escaping Life Under the Sun
8/24/2018 10:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Why I Know There is a Hell
8/18/2018 7:35:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
What I Can Do
8/10/2018 4:10:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Non-writing Writing
8/3/2018 10:41:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Thoughts on Forgiveness
7/28/2018 1:28:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Of Mice and Fragile Clay
7/21/2018 3:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Farewell to the Teenage Years
7/6/2018 7:45:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Living Free
6/30/2018 9:13:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Reminiscing
6/22/2018 1:32:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
A Writer's Tribute to Honest Guys
6/15/2018 2:36:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
In Balance
6/10/2018 9:35:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning from Tabitha
6/2/2018 6:58:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Still Learning to Breathe
5/26/2018 9:01:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
To Breathe
5/19/2018 5:30:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Sisters, Mothers and Dear Women
5/13/2018 6:55:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Tied to the Electrons
5/6/2018 8:08:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Powerless
4/29/2018 8:58:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
A Sestina Education
4/23/2018 7:48:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Remodeling
4/15/2018 8:55:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning to Promote
4/9/2018 7:41:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Nobody's Fool--An Easter Sestina
3/31/2018 9:44:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Week Leading to Easter
3/25/2018 9:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Off-balance
3/18/2018 9:28:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from the Hyacinth
3/11/2018 9:06:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Plant Lessons--The Aloe
3/4/2018 7:37:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Lessons the Birds Teach Me
2/25/2018 10:59:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Love... By Any Other Name
2/17/2018 11:11:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Ongoing Task of Learning
2/4/2018 1:13:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Musings About Pain
1/29/2018 1:18:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Time to Breathe
1/21/2018 7:32:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
A Poem a Day
1/13/2018 7:52:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Beginnings
1/6/2018 10:36:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Why the Gospel of Luke Speaks to Me Best
12/29/2017 10:31:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Christmas Letter
12/21/2017 5:51:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Revisiting Anna
12/9/2017 10:04:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Twas the Night
12/1/2017 2:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Quitting
11/25/2017 6:10:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Wonder of a Shoebox
11/18/2017 9:36:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
A Place to Hide
11/11/2017 3:13:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Thoughts on the Reformation
11/4/2017 9:04:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons in Praise
10/28/2017 5:23:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Why I Love Fairy Tales (and It Probably Isn’t What You Think)
10/21/2017 8:28:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
For Better, For Worse
10/14/2017 5:32:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Practicing Functional Fitness
10/7/2017 5:41:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Tired
9/30/2017 3:50:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Priorities
9/23/2017 10:33:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Teaching Other People's Kids
9/16/2017 8:02:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Crunch Time
9/9/2017 3:47:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
At War With ... Myself
9/2/2017 5:47:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Prepping for the School Year
8/26/2017 9:33:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Overweight, Part Three
8/19/2017 6:37:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Overweight, Part Two
8/11/2017 8:28:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Overweight
8/5/2017 1:58:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Creating Worlds
7/28/2017 8:58:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Prepping to Attend a Christian Writers Conference
7/20/2017 10:15:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Karl Lessons
7/7/2017 3:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
How I Learned the Feeling of Freedom
7/3/2017 7:37:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning from Marriage
6/24/2017 5:51:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
What I Learned from my Dad
6/17/2017 9:00:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from Being Sick and Tired
6/11/2017 9:00:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
My Worst Critic
5/26/2017 3:42:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
May Birthday Tribute
5/20/2017 9:03:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning to Mom
5/13/2017 3:44:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning to Mom
5/13/2017 3:44:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning Honesty
5/6/2017 6:46:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
A Tribute to my Husband
4/22/2017 5:33:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Celebrating the Resurrection
4/15/2017 3:13:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Your Custom Tract
4/8/2017 1:22:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
March Birthday Tribute
3/29/2017 8:24:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
A Tribute to Grandparents
3/11/2017 8:08:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
God as Our Rock
3/4/2017 7:45:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
February Birthday Tribute
2/18/2017 8:01:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Writing, Living and Existing
2/11/2017 9:43:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning from the Groundhog and the Auto Show
2/4/2017 8:55:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
January Birthday Tribute
1/28/2017 8:33:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Of Christmases and January Past
1/21/2017 1:28:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Welcome 2017!
12/31/2016 3:22:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Our Christmas Letter
12/23/2016 9:31:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
NaNo and Pebble Lessons
12/16/2016 10:40:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
December Birthday Tributes
12/5/2016 10:59:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
NaNoWriMo Lessons and Hopes
11/18/2016 3:34:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
My November Birthday Tributes
11/11/2016 9:41:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons of the Week
11/4/2016 5:41:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning to Speak Feline
10/28/2016 1:59:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
On Changed Hearts, Changed Minds and Politics
10/21/2016 7:00:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
October Birthday Tribute
10/12/2016 5:22:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Words and the Word (Part 2)
10/2/2016 8:20:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Words and the Word (Part 1)
9/26/2016 9:11:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Questions of Pain
9/18/2016 9:34:23 PM by: Susan Lyttek
September Birthdays
9/11/2016 4:03:50 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Standard Rescue, part 2
9/3/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Standard Rescue, part 1
8/27/2016 4:59:44 PM by: Susan Lyttek
How to Go Into Debt
8/19/2016 4:44:52 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Difference Hope Makes
7/30/2016 9:23:22 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Why Teach Poetry?
7/24/2016 7:26:09 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from My Color Bible, Part 3
7/15/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Blog-itis
7/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Reminiscing with the Patriot
7/4/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons in Fear
6/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from My Color Bible, Part 2
6/10/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Leftover Queen, Part II
5/27/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Leftover Queen
5/20/2016 9:39:00 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from my Color Bible
5/12/2016 4:40:02 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Living As Called
4/22/2016 10:37:35 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Making Writing Fun Again
4/15/2016 12:52:15 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Springing
4/6/2016 6:26:30 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Good Friday Thoughts
3/26/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Confessions of a Delinquent Blogger
3/23/2016 8:42:49 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Accepting the Gift of Free Time
2/29/2016 7:45:10 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Rest vs. the Type-A Female
2/22/2016 3:43:20 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons on Sickness and Rest
2/14/2016 9:09:30 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Sick Lessons
2/6/2016 11:17:24 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Blocked
1/27/2016 11:11:44 AM by: Susan Lyttek
When Inspiration Fails to Strike
1/16/2016 9:32:15 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Stumbling Into the New Year
1/13/2016 11:02:06 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Annual Christmas Letter
12/26/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Parent: Help with Work
10/31/2015 10:50:23 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Home
10/24/2015 4:55:48 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Benefits of Unscheduled Free Time
10/16/2015 8:03:39 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: More Empathetic
10/9/2015 7:46:24 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: More Empathetic
10/9/2015 7:39:56 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Parent: More Willing to Persevere
10/2/2015 8:50:54 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Closer to God
9/25/2015 8:33:01 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: More Intuitive
9/18/2015 7:07:30 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent--Weaker
9/11/2015 7:42:33 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Parent--Seeing God's Hand
9/4/2015 9:59:53 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Savvy-er
8/28/2015 6:49:31 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Braver
8/21/2015 7:34:00 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Wiser
8/14/2015 7:33:44 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Benefits to the Homeschool Parent: Smarter
8/7/2015 7:31:13 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Benefits of Being a Homeschool Parent (Intro)
7/31/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Lessons from my Great Aunt Ansie
7/24/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Virginia Writers Conference
7/14/2015 11:43:28 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Relearning Fitness (Part 2)
7/10/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Some Truth About Independence Day
7/3/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Relearning Fitness (Part 1)
6/26/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Under the Sun
6/19/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
A Lesson I Keep Needing to Re-Learn
6/13/2015 9:17:18 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Times of Transition
6/6/2015 8:43:26 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Blog Ideas
5/30/2015 7:06:10 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Mercs Next Door, Part 2
5/23/2015 7:36:30 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Mercs Next Door, Part 1
5/15/2015 9:00:41 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Getting to Mom
5/9/2015 9:32:42 PM by: Susan Lyttek
To Blog or Not to Blog
5/2/2015 9:57:39 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Driving Lessons
4/25/2015 2:01:36 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Gaming Education
4/18/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Fast Lessons
4/11/2015 7:37:50 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Resurrection Thoughts
4/4/2015 6:47:45 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Power of the Coupon
3/28/2015 6:18:32 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Spring Planting
3/21/2015 7:36:53 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Showing My Age
3/14/2015 7:51:06 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Teaching Women
3/7/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Beware the Ides of... February
2/28/2015 1:10:50 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Honoring a President in Fiction
2/21/2015 7:35:35 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Gratitude Lessons
2/14/2015 7:12:56 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Pros and Cons of Research
2/6/2015 8:13:38 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Off the Hamster Wheel... Part 3
1/30/2015 9:01:50 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Off the Hamster Wheel... Part 2
1/24/2015 7:55:59 PM by: Susan Lyttek
The Homeschool Hamster Wheel
1/16/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Etiquette Education
1/9/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Ready Stance
1/2/2015 7:01:43 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Our Christmas Letter
12/26/2014 8:36:08 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Sharing Christmas, Part Two
12/19/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Sharing Christmas
12/12/2014 5:32:30 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Swedish Christmas Education
12/5/2014 10:08:38 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Worry/Grumble Antidote
11/28/2014 11:07:16 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Milestone Days
11/21/2014 9:58:07 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Volunteer Education--via Operation Christmas Child
11/14/2014 8:32:03 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Veteran Education
11/7/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Reformation Education
10/31/2014 8:51:31 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Reluctant Vegetarian
10/24/2014 2:55:59 PM by: Susan Lyttek
What I Didn't, Couldn't Teach
10/17/2014 4:30:17 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Learning to Stand
10/10/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Christian Work Ethic
10/3/2014 6:36:19 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Animal Education
9/26/2014 10:54:19 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Changing the Love of Learning
9/19/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Blog Block
9/12/2014 9:50:31 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Educating Mom
9/5/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Debate
8/29/2014 7:22:59 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Interview with Jane, a non-homeschooling friend
8/22/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Homeschool Rebel
8/15/2014 8:11:24 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Other Countries, Other Peoples
8/8/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
George Washington Lessons
8/1/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Interview with Heather Day Gilbert
7/25/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
A Creation Education
7/18/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Blessing of the Church
7/11/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Free to Homeschool
7/4/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Best Thing
6/27/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
School Lite
6/20/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Homeschooling Poetry
6/13/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Homeschool Preschool
6/6/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
AWANAcation (or Awana Education)
5/30/2014 4:40:30 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Drowning in the Ideal Schedule
5/23/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Penpal Encouragement: An Interview with Sandi
5/16/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Unexpected Education
5/9/2014 8:31:18 AM by: Susan Lyttek
When Is a Homeschool Mom NOT a Homeschool Mom?
5/2/2014 8:08:10 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Relax, It's Just Writing
4/25/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Purpose Driven Homeschool
4/18/2014 9:38:10 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The Heart of the Music
4/11/2014 3:11:23 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Music Lessons
4/4/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Teaching My Testimony (Part 2)
3/28/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Teaching My Testimony (Part 1)
3/21/2014 8:16:29 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Glimmers of Homeschooling
3/14/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Failed Days
3/7/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Other Side of the Homeschool Table...Leanne Hanson
2/28/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Fairy Tale Theology
2/21/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Things I Love about Life and Homeschooling
2/14/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Limitless Creativity by Bonnie Rose Hudson
2/7/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Weaving Christ into Math
1/31/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Paula Mowery Interview
1/24/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Historic Field Trips
1/17/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Snow Days... Homeschool Style
1/10/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Homeschooled Mom Resolutions
1/3/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
Off Schedule
12/27/2013 11:17:52 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Teaching Christmas
12/20/2013 10:24:16 AM by: Susan Lyttek
The (Writerly) Benefits of Learning Together
12/13/2013 2:11:46 PM by: Susan Lyttek
Homeschooling reinforced that I am not perfect
12/6/2013 11:33:13 AM by: Susan Lyttek
And they said homeschooling would be easy...
11/29/2013 12:00:01 AM by: Susan Lyttek
