How Many Steps?

Ever make a complicated recipe?  Or begin a project only to realize what you thought would take 2 days actually takes 2 months?

I decided to paint Haris’ baby crib.  Yay!  A do it yourself (diy) project that is fun, memorable, and sentimental.  I’ve never painted a crib before, looked easy enough from the internet, did my internet research, and off to Home Depot I went, excited and brimming with expectation.  Literally, I was smiling in the paint section as I talked to the employees about no VOC paint.  Bought primer (thankfully I read on the can that it was for water based paint, because there’s different primers for different paint).  I only bought one can . . . ended up needing 2.  Picked out a pretty Tiffany blue color (should’ve picked a spray can).  That’s right I brushed this thing on both sides of the 4 walls of the crib, and allowed drying time for each side.  Bought sand paper for distressing the wood, since I wanted an antique worn look (too much HGTV).  And I thought I was done.

That’s when I learned that I needed to seal it.  Apparently, babies like to chew on their crib sometimes, who told them to do that?  I had never heard of sealing furniture, so more research on all the different types of sealant.  Off to Home Depot again and brushing again (should’ve gotten a spray can – some lessons we learn more than once).  This sealant suggested 3 coats, sanding in between coats, and at least 2 -3 hours of drying time per side.

The more steps, the more slower I went, until Haris was obviously getting bigger . . .

This project took about 2 months – I have excuses and I have real scheduling things – taking care of the little one that goes in the crib, auditions, taking care of home, guests in town, etc., and then just moments of nope, I’m going to sit on the couch for 5 minutes uninterrupted.

Now, what did I learn?  Learning is in doing, knowing is in reading.  Until I can do, I haven’t learned.

Sometimes it can be discouraging and disappointing when getting to a goal is taking longer than expected.  But skipping steps isn’t an option unless you want risk the outcome of the goal.  Unless you or I want to quit on a goal/dream, we have to keep on stepping regardless of how long it’s taking.  Speed up the process by not procrastinating, just take the next step.  Commit, persevere, and be dedicated.

Having a consequential/rewarding (whichever motivates you more) deadline is helpful, even better if you have to meet the deadline. Haris was getting too big for the bassinet, so the option of stopping/quitting on the crib wasn’t an option.  The crib took longer and cost more than expected, which I’m pretty sure is prerequisite for all goals and dreams.

The goal for the crib was for the experience to be fun, to create something unique, pretty and sentimental, and most importantly for it to be safe.  It wasn’t fun all the time, in fact it was sometimes grueling, uncomfortable, or boring.  It’s safe, unique, sentimental to me and hopefully will be to Haris in the future, and pretty is subjective lol!  So, I’m one happy Momma and I can put that in the books as done.  And as for other cribs in the future (God willing we have more kiddos), we’ll probably just buy the crib the way we want it, even if that means altering what I want. lol!  Maybe . . . I can be pretty stubborn, but I bet I’ll get it done faster and with spray cans. Lol!

“So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” – Genesis 29:20

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” – Luke 14:28

“And as for you dear brothers and sisters never tire of doing what is good.” – Thessalonians 3:13

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6