Quick project...yeah, right... :)

I will start out by saying that by the Grace of God I am still smiling. :) I have been anxiously planning this project for over a year now and after Christmas I was set to go! (That's why I haven't posted any Christmas pictures or anything recent because I started this the first week of January) Well, to make a long story, short what started out as a "patch and paint" project turned into a project of dry wall and mudding the dry wall, etc. I was just going to patch some spots and paint with new warm colors. Well, I am confident now that I wouldn't have been happy with the quality of the walls and will really appreciate what it will now someday look like. And really, this is only the third week, so it's not like it's been months of living amongst the mess, but considering that the day I had planned to paint, I was actually tearing down paneling...that was kind of a bummer.
I have realized in the last few years that I struggle at times to enjoy the process of projects (as much as I really do like projects, I'm usually real impatient and just want them done). So, this has been a real lesson for me. Mostly because I feel like we've just been waiting and making decisions and waiting. And a lot of the things I wouldn't mind doing or helping with. But. I either don't know enough about how to do it or cannot physically do it by myself so I wait until Trevor's days off. But really, I've seen God bless this process in many ways already. You can ask me if you want to know more details :)
Anyway, there are many more steps before this will be complete, but I'm excited to say that as far as the dry wall (which most people will admit is a pain in the butt), we have done what we can do and now we will have the pros come in to finish it off. So, we are moving on! Progress! Then I will paint, we will put up trim, lights, build shelves on either side of the fire place, and get new carpet (although, the carpet is just a dream -I think. How I'd love to ditch the burnt orange, but new carpet is expensive! We will see what's left from what we have saved for this project).
I do hope to post some pictures from Christmas as there are just so many cute ones! And of course I hope to post a picture of the completed room sometime in the near future. Until then, here are some before pictures and one of Austin helping tear out this little half wall. He loved it!

After I pulled off the paneling

Austin and Trevor taking out the half wall.

Dry wall up and first few coats of mud...this is where Trev and I stopped and called in the pro. He comes tomorrow- Hallelujah!