What kind of an idiot schedules a large-scale home remodel around Christmastime? Well, apparently that idiot would be moi.

After three weeks of remodeling, the new tile floor is done, the lavatory has been tiled and so has the master bath.

We’ve got new doors and trim, and generally, I’m really happy with the results. The problem lies with the timing. Today the contractors are removing the stairs and replacing them with new ones that meet code. Then they will fix the drywall, stain the wood, and paint everything. It’s going to be wonderful when it’s done.

So why am I crabby? Let’s start with the fact that every day since I FINALLY started my Winter Break from school, I’ve had to get up at 6:20 AM to get showered before the contractors come. Granted, that’s an hour later than my wake-up time for school, but still… can’t a girl catch a break on vacation? I couldn’t bear to publish a photo of my dining room table, but it’s covered in papers, bags, boxes, and wrapping paper, the leavings of a month of shopping and gifting — and there’s nowhere else to put anything because every other room is being used for storage from the remodeled rooms.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The process was supposed to start in early October and be done around Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, it took almost a month to get a permit from the city and my contractor had to take another job in the meantime. Don’t get me wrong; I love my contractor and the final results are going to be fantastic, but I wish it would just GET DONE.

Here we are, five days before Christmas and my house looks like this, but all is not lost. I’ve saved the best for last. We’re not celebrating Christmas at home. We’ll be winging our way west for a lovely Christmas celebration in the gorgeously decorated home of my husband’s brother and his family. Our grown-up kids will be joining us and all will be fabulous. And, when we get back after five days of great food and drink and family togetherness, my house will be almost done, just in time to try to put everything away before I return to school, renewed and refreshed.

Today I plan to clean off the dining room table and put up some Christmas decorations. It probably won’t look like Martha’s, but at least I’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that I decorated a little. That’s the blessing of Christmas, isn’t it? Little things become big gifts if we take the time to recognize them. I’ll take a picture to share my clean table with you tomorrow. Until then, keep looking for the little blessings to get you through the next week.