By Kristi Steidley

My husband and I recently remodeled our bathroom—something we’d dreamed about since moving into our home over six years ago. For a long time, we assumed it would be too expensive, so we kept pushing it off. But this year, we finally decided: it was time.

I spent a lot of time visualizing what I wanted. I smiled as I imagined the coolness of gray tile beneath my feet. I breathed in the scent of shampoo while washing my hair in our brand-new shower. I admired the peaceful light blue walls and felt the calmness inspired by the new pictures hanging on them. I soaked in the brightness of our updated lights. It felt real. It felt possible.

Sure, there were moments when the cost made me anxious. And I’m sure there were times when fear caused me to unknowingly push that dream away. But overall, I stayed grounded in gratitude. I held the vision of that beautiful bathroom close to my heart.

And then—it was like watching God go to work on our behalf.

A few months before the remodel, we had purchased a new washer and dryer. The washing machine worked fine but was much noisier than the one we had before. So I called Samsung to have it checked out. They scheduled a service appointment, but it turned out we lived outside the technician’s service area.

The representative said our next best option would be to return the machine to Lowe’s and exchange it. That sounded good to me. But the store was out of stock on that model, so Samsung offered to issue a full refund—as in-store credit.

The vanity and shower surround I had picked out? Both were available at Lowe’s.

I was thrilled to accept the credit! And the best part? We didn’t even have to return the old washer. It still works—it’s just loud. Samsung’s customer service was incredible. They stayed in constant contact, giving updates and walking us through each step. The whole thing felt smooth, easy, and surprisingly joyful.

My husband, on the other hand, felt a little uncomfortable. He told me, “It feels criminal to keep the washer and get the refund.” But I reassured him:

“If we’d lied or tried to cheat the system, that would be criminal. But we didn’t. This wasn’t dishonesty—this was a gift. A blessing we never saw coming.”

I truly believe that. I believe God was showing us a way to complete our remodel on a budget—one we never would’ve thought of ourselves. I’ve come to see that when we move forward in faith and gratitude, He’s more than capable of filling in the gaps in ways that are both creative and kind.