The Importance of Good Paint Color

I had a two reflections to share with you this morning. One from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Life Together which spoke to my heart about life in the Christian community. The other from martyred, El Salvadorian priest Oscar Romero on being Kingdom workers.

REALLY? It was way too much to bear at 5:20 this morning. So I did what any burden-hearted mama would do in such a contemplative state. I got up off my prayer couch and went straight to Facebook.

Last night I posted this photo, taken by one of the Littles, on my wall:

Now most of you probably see my precious nephew. Some of you might have even noticed a middle-aged-ish, non-showered, post-carpool mama holding the adorable baby. But I dare say, not a one of you noticed what my friend Sanders noticed. The paint color at The Schell Cafe.

I must give credit where credit is due. Many of you remember the pregnancy induced total house demolition project we took on a while back? What started as a master bath renovation turned into a year long gut & re-build of our home. It was one of my finest Lucy Ricardo stunts to date. Only by the grace of God did our marriage survive.

During the entire process I was surrounded by special people gifted with talents I do not possess, but would like to think I do. Like the ability to pick the perfect paint color. Or hardware. Or light fixtures. Or tile. Or toilets. Picking the perfect toilet is hard work, people! Sanders Gibbs was one of the special people who helped me. If you live in the ATX and have any need whatsoever for paint, get thee to the South Austin Benjamin Moore paint store and don’t make a move with your brush before consulting with Sanders. He’s that good. (And, he likes birthday cake with buttercream icing if you want to get to the front of the line!)

Another saint with gifts far too numerous to list is my dear friend Vickee. By trade she is an interior designer, but the title just doesn’t measure up to what she does. Beyond an eye for beauty, she has the ability to transform ordinary spaces (or in some cases, but not mine, extraordinary spaces!) into a refection of her client’s vision of home. A beautiful mama of teenage girls, she is wise and prayerful. If you live in the ATX, or anywhere in the world for that matter, and need help transforming your nest, please call Vickee’s firm Yellow Door Design.

So where is this random post going?

Last night Husband’s very last words to me, even after “I love you,” were “can you please call your friend Sanders and get the outdoor stucco paint tomorrow so I can paint the wall this weekend?”  What you need to know is that Husband has been asking me to have a tiny portion of our outside garden wall painted for three years. You can actually see a glimpse of the wall in the background of the photo above. The painters either forgot this small space, or more likely I did, when we completed our Lucille Ball Project. I’ve asked the painters to come back. I’ve begged my builder. This tiny portion of the stucco wall that needs painting is not high on anyone’s priority list. Except Husband’s. So, he made up his mind to take care of business himself. Can I tell you how much I love this man? The very last thing I did last night before I went to bed was text Vickee to confirm the outdoor stucco paint color was Coastal Fog. Her memory (and special Schell binder) is far more reliable than mine.

Can you imagine my delight and shock this morning when upon leaving Bonhoeffer and Romero for Facebook I found Sanders had posted on my wall? Y’all I have a fair amount of peeps in my Facebook village. What are the odds that Sanders would even see the picture I posted? Much less comment on it with the memory of the Benjamin Moore OC-7 interior color he and Vickee picked for me. Do you know how many shades of white exist?

I’m off to the paint store today. To see my friend Sanders and to pick up some paint (BM Coastal Fog AC-1) for Husband. Just thought you should know.

Now, aren’t you glad I didn’t go down the Bonhoeffer-Romero path?

Love,

Kristin