Move that Bus!

For those of you who have been following the drama

that is the Play Room, the reveal is finally here.

This is the Before shot, when the room was still a junk-filled garage:

And TaDa!!! Here’s the After:


You can’t see my curtains well but they are Pottery Barn look-a-likes from JC Penney’s.  And I do mean exact replicas for a 1/10th of the price.  Literally.  I wanted something that would work with our beloved Georgia Bulldogs without going all out and painting the parsonage walls Sic Em Dawg Red. We don’t have any art yet but you’ll be glad to know Ebay and I kissed and made up. We found a sports photographer who is selling disks of excellent action photos of the Bulldogs – particularly our favorites Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford. We are having some of the coolest ones blown into posters to hang in black frames which will coordinate with the black entertainment center. How’d you like that whole coordinate thang? HGTV’s got nothing on mine and Luke’s mad decorating skillz. I promise you he’s the only manly man you’ll ever meet who doesn’t think a focal point is what he sees through his rifle scope.

 
And since I mentioned the entertainment center, I should tell you that it is the darn heaviest thing I have ever lifted in my entire life.
 
On the day we finished the room, I ignored Luke’s protests (a pattern ’round here) and insisted we get the entertainment center moved before the kids got home from school. He gave in so we positioned ourselves on either side and he gave the three-count. On three, he lifted and I lifted.
 
My end didn’t budge an inch.   He yelled, “Lis! Why aren’t you lifting your end?!”
 
 
“Ummmmm. I am?”
  
 
I found a better place to grab on and lifted my end a good three inches off the ground. Anybody looking at us would think we were in the World’s Strongest Man competition carrying a refrigerator the way we were huffing and puffing. We scuffled inch by inch to the kitchen door where we had to walk down the steps into the room. I was seriously hurt by this point and couldn’t walk one more step. So I rested. While Luke was on the downhill side still holding the other end on step number two.
 
 
And screaming at the top of his lungs.   Oh, it was a fine display of team work.
 
 
I mustered all my Jennifer Garner as Elektra butt-kicking capabilities and willed myself to pick up and move on. But let’s just face it. Luke basically carried that thing all by himself which makes him like my Ben Affleck.
 
 
‘Cept My Guy is much hotter.
 
 
 
And our kids aren’t named Violet. Something for which I’m certain they’re thankful.
 
 
I totally get it now that I am not Elektra and I will gladly assume my feminine, delicate, flower-like role the next time the lifting of heavy stuff is concerned.

I personally believe submission is a beautiful thing, especially when it keeps me from doing manual labor that hinders my ability to walk properly for several days.

Can someone tell me how I got from room decorating to Elektra? There’s no way to recover from here people so I’ll simply bid you a Happy Thursday.

Updated: A few of you have acted shocked our church would let us redecorate/remodel the parsonage – as well you should be! We’ve been other places where this would not have been possible. I feel it necessary to thank our congregation again for allowing us to make this house our home and also for the men who finished in the garage for the simple fact they love my children and wanted them to have this extra space. We belong to the most wonderful fellowship and are forever grateful for all they do for our family!

December 13, 2007 | Filed Under Divine Design 

Comments

22 Responses to “Move that Bus!”

  1. Anonymous on December 13th, 2007 11:36 am
    1

    Looks like you two did an awesome job!! Can I please have your card? I may need some interior design help in the future.
    Oh and thanks for the cookie receipe…..I’m still drooling over those I ate at the retreat:) Hope I can do justice to them.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
    Carrie Lea

  2. Dimple Queen on December 13th, 2007 11:49 am
    2

    Looks Great! My man and I are just now finally getting to a point where we agree on things…You see, he is very much a MANLY MAN, but he does have some opinions on the decor of the house! SO….for the past 11 years (in January) we have had almost NOTHING in the way of deocoration on our walls!!!! At first it drove me nuts and we had our moments about it! But after a few years I gave up….Finally in 2003 we agreed on bedding for the master bedroom!!! WOOHOO!!!! and now at the end of 2007 we are finally in agreement on “art pieces” for the rest of the house!!! The LORD has started finally started meshing our likes and dislikes!!! PRAISE HIM!!!

  3. Laura on December 13th, 2007 1:04 pm
    3

    Looks great and I am cracking up!! I just don’t think submission is a pick and choose kind of thing – darn it! However, I have mad skillz in that area!! Have a great day!

  4. Anonymous on December 13th, 2007 1:07 pm
    4

    Wow! I can’t believe that you live in the church parsonage and they actually let you do that! You are quite the designer! Maybe you do need your own TV show

  5. Kelly @ Love Well on December 13th, 2007 2:00 pm
    5

    The fact that you can get from HGTV to Elektra in one post is just one of the reasons I love you.

    (The room looks fantastic, by the way. Bravo!)

  6. Cheryl on December 13th, 2007 3:11 pm
    6

    I knew there was a reason that I like you! GO DAWGS!!!
    My 7 yr. old has been asking if we can paint his room and he wants a bulldog room but we’re faced with that whole parsonage thing. But everyone in our church are such huge bulldog fans, they probably won’t have a problem with it!
    The room looks great!

  7. Profbaugh on December 13th, 2007 3:15 pm
    7

    Lisa,

    It’s simply gorgeous!! If you ever want a career as a decorator, I think you’ve got a great start. And yes, you are very blessed to be part of a church that helped (and allowed) you to decorate/remodel the parsonage–a real testament to how much they love you guys!! Enjoy your new room.

    ~Cheryl

  8. Cheryl on December 13th, 2007 3:49 pm
    8

    Oh girl, how pretty! You can just do anything. You are my hero!! Think you would have time in the near future for a country girl with no decorating ideas? I sure could use some tips! Anna just painted her room pink and I mean really PINK!! She is decorating with black and white zebra print! That does not sound very good but really its kind of turning out to be cute! I think???????

  9. Linda on December 13th, 2007 5:04 pm
    9

    That’s a game room? You’re a better woman than I am to let that be a play room after all that beautiful work. I’d declare that to be Mom & Dad’s retreat, where you can drink your GODIVA coffee (or your Diet DP). Hey and maybe Luke would be like the guy on the commercial and would paint your toenails while you’re at it. Or not. (I’m sure he’d at least do as well as, if not better than, Doogie!)

    And I am totally with you on the manual labor thing. Us southern gals can be steel magnolias without having to break a sweat!

  10. The Preacher's Wife on December 13th, 2007 5:21 pm
    10

    Linda,

    I’m laughing my head off…

    Were there to be a pop quiz on previous posts, you would TOTALLY have an A++

    :)))

    Lisa

    Thank all of you for your sweet compliments! Don’t think for one second Luke and I haven’t considered taking this room for ourselves…

  11. Fran on December 13th, 2007 6:35 pm
    11

    Hey!
    Y’all are amazing girlfriend. And the whole Ben Affleck, Elektra thing is just hilarious. Just is.

    The room is awesome. I bet your kids think y’all are “it on a stick!”

  12. Crystal on December 13th, 2007 11:25 pm
    12

    Looks good! I love the transformation!! You did a great job! Well, all except the Bull Dog theme! ;)

    I can’t help it… Roll Tide!

  13. Anonymous on December 14th, 2007 1:08 am
    13

    WOW!!! Its Great!!!
    well done
    Jen at http://my3boysandi.wordpress.com/

  14. Deborah on December 14th, 2007 2:00 am
    14

    Well done, and I love the fact that your church folk, just love and adore your kids, it warms my heart. Lisa I might not be on over christmas time so just want to say I love you dolla and have a blessed Christmas and New Year. love always me

  15. marina on December 14th, 2007 10:37 am
    15

    Lisa, you are too funny these sounds like I love Lucy ,,I can just hear Luke as Ricky yelling out” are you holding your end” I can just see Lucy Yes Ricky”"but not really making those silly little faces you got me laughing so hard LOL Lucy-Lisa. marina

  16. Kirstin on December 14th, 2007 11:21 am
    16

    The room looks amazing and I’m glad you were able to remodel. A smart congregation knows how to take care of their pastors to help avoid burnout.

    We are youth/associate pastors at our church and take very good care of our pastors, and in turn they take good care of us and our family. And our girls love being at the church.

  17. Anonymous on December 14th, 2007 11:59 pm
    17

    OK Lisa, I am totally confused at the fact you let Clay help move the couch, but didnt mention the ET system. I know that couch had to be a little lighter (I think).

    I well remember when we moved everything out of our house to the garage for me to get my beautiful, wonderful (LOL) new wood floors. I helped with everything until it came to moving the ET system. That is when Clay broke down and called Kyle to the rescue. We both realized quickly that I was not gonna budge my end. I am impressed with you my friend.

    Love You,
    Tammy

  18. Lindsee on December 15th, 2007 1:57 am
    18

    I am catchig up on blogs…and WOW!!

    It looks SO good! It doesn’t even look like a garage! The kids are gonna love it!!

    Will you please come finish my room now?! Thank you! ;)

    Lindsee

  19. Deedra on December 15th, 2007 2:43 am
    19

    The room looks great! As a HGTV fan, I am still completely impressed that Luke knew, and said from the pulpit, that he knew there was a show called “Divine Design”….totally impressed!…p.s.. I have some pictures I need to hang, could that be considered ministering to your flock?, I mean, since you guys are all “designery” and all! :)

  20. Lisa writes... on December 16th, 2007 9:29 am
    20

    Well done! Now may you enjoy the fruits of your labor!

  21. Janice on December 17th, 2007 9:27 pm
    21

    If you are able to, you should get the copy of Anita Renfroe’s video (from which your next post comes from). She too, lived in a parsonage… you would crack up at her retelling of it!

    I have enjoyed your blog for a while now… sorry it took me so long to say “hello!”

  22. Patty on December 17th, 2007 11:36 pm
    22

    Can I just tell you I love your new room! The curtains are to cute and I think that maybe, just maybe a little orange and white, say on the walls or orange and white checkerboard on the walls would complete the look and face it the VOLS have Smokey and you could still have a picture or write on the walls Sick em Dawgs!! I mean, I’m just sayin, thats all!!
    Now, can I hire you to redo my garage? I bet we don’t live that far from each other now that I live in the Nashville area??
    Love Ya,
    Patty