Slow But Sure!

Hello all! I know, it's been a while since we've talked. Things really have been happening, but it's starting to be the less visible stuff. Don't worry, there's more coming. So far, here's what's been happening...

Notice the lovely windows and a back door! We also have door leading into the house from the garage and a door from the garage to the outside. The front door is sitting in the garage waiting on a piece to make it right, oops. :) It'll be on soon.

Do you see them? Wires! We'll have power coursing through these veins! A special thanks to Kevin and Jerry. Not to mention Scott and family for coming up from TN to help out. (I'm sure collecting the kids had nothing to do with it.) Sorry it turned into such an adventurous event!

Finally, today, is a front view so you can all see the big picture.

Eyes are the WINDOWS to the soul

OK, so they're not really eyes, but we have windows! We've got the house mostly wrapped. Now it's all blue. :)

And the windows are all in. Here's some pics.

Clay colored on the outside.White on the inside.

Oh yeah, we got a shower/tub too!

Getting a Makeover!

Won't she be beautiful! The roofers have started putting the shingles on! Yeah! And another big YEAH because we're not doing that ourselves! WOOO HOOO!

Our niece Rachel was asking what color the house will be. She's pushing for blue, because she likes blue. I guess she'll have her wish thanks to the house wrap, if only for a short time. :)My friend Jill, liked the "plaid" look that came with the sheeting. So this next shot is for her, the plaid with pinstripes! (caulk, see previous post for more caulk)

Not so little things.

There are many things on the old "To Do" list. They may seem like small tasks but in reality they are far from little. Here's the pics.

Here's the half wall by the stair well.

Here is the wall going farther up to match the cathedral ceiling.

All I can say here, is Caulk, caulk, and more caulk! AHH!

Tarred but not Feathered

Here's a couple of shots just to bring you all up to speed. The tar paper is on the roof and the guys may come on Saturday to start shingling. Woo Hoo!

One Piece at a Time

Well, it's been a slow process but we are getting there. Finally all the wall sheeting is up, the roof sheeting is on, and now we can move on. Getting the shingles on is the next step so that the inside will actually stay dry. (That'd be a good thing :) ) We are hoping to hire someone to do that but we'll just have to see if anyone is available for a reasonable price.

Courage/Bravery-is not the lack of fear, but doing what needs to be done in spite of fear. We could all use a little of this in life, couldn't we? I wouldn't say that I'm really afraid of heights, but they do unnerve me a little. Especially when you are 2 stories up, at the peak of the roof on a 2 foot ledge, trying to hang over it, to hold a board underneath said ledge. Repeat several times. I have 2 insights related to these experiences. One is that the more you do such crazy things, the less scary it becomes. And two, is that Jeff is quite amazing in all he does to get the work done on this house. I can only assume that he gets a little nervous doing such things, but doesn't show it in the slightest. What a man! So the moral of this lesson in relation to faith in Christ, is that no matter how scary the task (witnessing, teaching a class for the first time, venturing out of the 'ol comfort zone), you won't fall and next time it will be easier. Easier said than done, I know. If I could just push my faith as much as I push my body, I think the Lord would be more pleased with me.

On a lighter side, Caleb and Rachel (nephew and niece), are here. Caleb had his first experience with a circular saw. The first try, he missed the line completely. The second try, he was a whole lot closer. The third time's the charm because he did good on that one. He'll be a pro by the time 3 weeks is up.

Alright, onto the pictures:

These three pics are of the pieces that were finished up this weekend with the walls, and roofing.

Here's Caleb on the ladder, that's about as far as he would go!

Poor Help

I really feel useless this past week. I've had something going on every time Jeff works on the house. Last week it was a concert with my delightful Strings students. Saturday I had a women's meeting for church that took longer than expected. Now it's graduation season. There are some young teens at church that I really need to support and encourage by going to their special events. Then again, I feel like dirt to leave my wonderful husband to work on our house alone. What do you do!? Well, I went to one graduation, and I hope that Sosha knows how much I care and grows more faithful as a result.

Our adopted son, Bruce, has had family things going on so he was unable to help. All of this just adds to my feelings of inadequacy in just about everything I do. I'm spread so thin. But school will be over in just a few short days. That ought to lighten the load a little.

What is the moral of this story, you may ask. Well, the progress has been a bit slow this week. But hopefully you'll notice a few changes in the looks of the place. Much love to our family and friends who continue to help and encourage us. Here's some pics.


On Saturday, after I finally got home, we put sheeting on the front bedroom walls.

Monday night, Jeff started putting the roof sheeting on the front bedrooms.