I started my DIY patio project in April. Now, midway through August, the end is in sight. Below is right at the beginning when I was having to wet the clay to be able to dig it out.

Here is a more recent view from close to the same angle showing more of where I am today.

I’ve got a paver pad laid down for the picnic table and started to place the pea gravel around this area. Until I ran out.

I’ve almost completed the pad for one of the swings that I purchased during the Prime sales in July. I have one more pad to make.

Swing Pad

The swing set is pressure washed and moved back into place in a bed of beautiful pea gravel. I love the colors in this pea gravel.

Later today, my husband and I will make concrete filled planters to tie the swing down to, so we don’t have to cut through the ground in this area. There are electric lines running through here—a good reason to stay above ground.

I have one more paver swing pad to make, and a paver pad to make for a fire pit to go on. I need to get another load of pea gravel and finish spreading it between the pavers.

And, I am weary.

I am tired of sweat running into my eyes. Of trying to level pavers on ground that is no where near level. My body is tired. I have other areas that are being neglected and need work. I need more sleep.

And yet, I can’t quit now.

The end is in sight!

You can apply this to any project you are working on. When you are almost finished, that’s when the weariness sets in and you feel like you can’t take one more step on the project. You have to force yourself to keep going.

Strategies to keep yourself going:

1. I’ve found that putting a time limit on how much I need to go work on the project for the day is helpful. If I know I’m only going to work for one or two hours instead of four hours, I can force myself to do that.
2. Another strategy is to focus on one thing at a time. I have at least five small projects to complete this project. I have to focus on one, get that finished, and not look at the others while doing it. Otherwise discouragement will set in.
3. My final strategy is to remember where I’ve come from. From the picture at the beginning of this blog to now, has been an amazing job for one woman of my age to do 99% of by herself. I can’t stop now, or I can’t claim a job well done.

My husband and I are taking Dave Ramsey’s class at the church we are attending—Financial Peace University. I wish we had taken this course before I started the patio. In the video last night, Dave Ramsey said that the book of Proverbs is a book on how to handle your finances. In Proverbs there are several verses that address taking “surety” for others or yourself. Dave said that surety just means debt.

Proverbs 6:1-5 New King James Version

Dangerous Promises

6 My son, if you become ^[a]surety for your friend,
If you have ^[b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
² You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
³ So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
⁴ Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
⁵ Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the ^[c]fowler. (Bible Gateway)

Dave not only counted it as co-signing on a loan for someone, but also equated these verses with our own personal debt. He reiterated to “Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids” (he said that means… work hard at jobs to pay off the debt) and “Deliver yourself like a gazelle….” He showed a video of a gazelle running like crazy from a cheetah who is much faster. He said it took forever to find a video where the gazelle actually got away. I’m glad the one he showed us got away because it was a baby.

Now, I’ll apply this to my patio project. The Bible says:

Luke 14:28-30 New King James Version

²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? (Bible Gateway)

When I started this project, I watched a ton of YouTube videos. I was assured that what I was starting was the cheapest way to get a large patio. Especially, if you did the work yourself. Now, these people that created the videos live in areas of the country where prices might be cheaper for gravel, and pavers, or they have family and friends in high places that can help get them discounts or free delivery.

I had none of these.

I should have set down and “counted the cost” for my area. But I didn’t.

Also, you have to take into account that your older stove might have to be replaced (it did). Or there are accidents and your garage doors have to be replaced (they did).

We are still making it money wise, to finish this project, but we have a high credit card debt that needs to be paid off. And we are going the Dave Ramsey route. We are going to run like the gazelle from debt and huge DIY projects. After the credit card is paid off, we are canceling it and no longer having a credit card. Only debit cards. Just making that decision has brought me so much peace.

I am excited to do the work to make that happen.

Now, I also see the “End in Sight” of future debt as we implement a savings plan and get rid of the credit card.

And possibly the end of major projects around the house that I am almost 100% in charge of accomplishing. I would just like to go back to writing.

What about you?

How do you stay on task when the end is in sight of a big project, but you are weary?