Getting Things Done in 2026

Each year my aunt and uncle send a Christmas letter to friends and family recounting their year.  Their 2025 letter described multiple home improvement projects they completed throughout the year.  As I read it, I came to the realization that we had done nothing to improve our home in 2025.  When we first bought this home in 2021, the obvious projects were the renovation of its 2.5 original 1979 bathrooms.  Those were completed very quickly, then a large tree had to be cut down and the grass replanted.  I had the garage windows replaced and finished the room behind the garage; I’ve painted nearly every room.  We had to replace the downstairs HVAC after a series of power surges in 2023.   In 2024 we remodeled the kitchen, and I love it!  But, truly nothing was done in 2025.  Then it hit me - April 12, 2026 will be 5 years in this home and there were things I wanted to do from my first walk-through that had been put on the backburner and soon it would be 5 years.     
I found myself trying to justify in my mind that while some of the projects I wanted to do in the beginning had not been completed, there were others that were not on my radar that were done because they had to be done.  I then wrestled with why - it was obvious procrastination, but not all of it was negligent.  The air conditioner had leaked in the attic and damaged the upstairs ceiling.  I had asked several painters to come out to give quotes, but they wanted to know what the insurance said, even after I insisted it was not a claim, it was self-pay.  The ceiling remained damaged for 3 years!  
It was a Facebook memory from Dec. 31, 2020 that convicted me and changed my 2026 goals.  It was on that day that we listed our home of 15 years for sale.  My children had planted the seed about moving and I started decluttering in the summer and fixing things up and on Dec. 31, 2020 we listed.  In four days it was under contract.  Oh the prayers I prayed!  We had no idea where we were going, but trusted that God would lead us to our next home.  He first led us to an apartment, but after a week, I found this house and it checked all my boxes!  Five weeks later we moved in.  I questioned why the apartment as I walked the neighborhood one day, and God gave me a vision of our packing to move out and simultaneously a couple was discussing moving.  We can trust His timing.

               Proverbs 10:4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

    As 2026 began, I decided that if it is the Lord’s will, I will complete this house!  I asked for recommendations of honest painters and received several.  Two quoted the ceiling repair and I chose the lower quote.  On February 6, the ceiling damage I was concerned about for 3 years was repaired in 3 hours!  I couldn’t believe it!  On Friday, I have someone scheduled to put beadboard up in the garage - something that should have been done 40 years ago!  I prayed for a home, God saw fit to bless us with a beautiful one and now it’s time to make it look its best!  Amen!  What have you been putting off?  ​