LABOR OF LOVE

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into that action. – Mother Teresa

I remember how soon after we finished constructing our little house and got done with the interior finishing and decorating, we were kind of the talk of the neighborhood for a while. This was because our interiors were mostly finished by a two man team – my husband and I. We realized anything is indeed possible when you put your heart and mind and brawn to it. 

Because of our limited space, we needed to only have customized furniture to fit, and because customized pieces usually command a hefty price, we decided to build them ourselves. We bought all the raw materials from a local DIY store and constructed our kitchen counter and cabinetry, all our wooden furniture in the living, dining and bed rooms with our own hands. My husband was the self appointed architect and carpenter and I was the assistant and logistics person that also served as the cleaning lady, with assistance from our young children who were then just old enough to know a hammer and a tape measure and can hand them in. 

Our master bedroom renovation was literally a labor of love because we did all the masonry and carpentry works with just the two of us. It was an endeavor I still relish to this day - from tearing down a wall, mounting the windows, the door, baseboards and moldings to installing the laminates in the floor and painting the room  – because those were really tender moments of true relationship building for us. A much stronger connection was formed between and among us and our children, knowing that we can do and fulfill so much together. Our home is truly built on love.