It's All Connected

I apologize for the late post. Life has been extremely hectic and unpredictable . Let's get right to it then. Last week was starting the final touches of the plumbing on system one for the plumber to approve so we could begin gluing it all together. Patrick did a fantastic job of making everything perfectly square(which unfortunately meant he painstakingly chiseled away at certain studs to get things to be just right, then re-cut some pieces to fit new lengths, etc.)

It was all very well put together until my uncle and I started to glue things together. We marked each joint like we were supposed to but we started assembling them in isolation. In our efforts to move along quickly, we ended up mis-glueing two of the four pieces we assembled because things need to be adjusted to fit the space, not necessarily 'exactly' square. It may 'look square, but like most of the rest of the house, it's not REALLY square.So we tore it all apart and started over, it's amazing how much faster is goes together the third time (I had messed it up once already). Needless to say we learned our lesson of slow and steady wins the race - that sounds SO familiar for some reason...

Tim with the offending assembled pieces/The FINAL stack in place

Then Jonathon VH (who is recently home from Managua, Nicaragua worked on repairing the roof after the leak-hound Kevin F. located where we were getting rain in from the previous day's torrential down pour. Not that Kevin is lazy and needed as stand in, but he had things to do elsewhere and Jonathon was the only one brave enough to walk out on my very steep roof and fix it. After a little bit of a 'refresher' course from me, he had it squared away in no time flat.

Jon's handiwork (He didn't stay on the roof long enough for a photo)

Next were the cleaning crew that went throughout and replaced wet cardboard from the aforementioned rains, swept up all sorts of mess and straightened after a week's worth of work. We also went on an hour search for two measuring tapes. It seems that the measuring tapes that I have bought (6 to date) all must have small legs installed because they seem to misplace themselves and not end up on the storage shelf or anywhere else in the house for that matter. So I'm thinking of instituting a sign in/out system for some of the smaller tools as it's getting a bit expensive to continually replace tools. If you see any red-painted tools in your toolbox, please feel free to drop them off, no questions asked.

As I mentioned, my week has been an up and down week. everything related to my house has been a positive thing, but have had some challenges at work. Through a few discussions with good friends, I have come to feel more convicted on a few things. One is that I am continually blessed. I have spoken to this many times before and it honestly continues to amaze me how the people around me are so generous, caring and genuinely concerned about how Ellie and I are doing. Not just on the house, but emotionally, financially, spiritually and health-wise. I cannot tell you how much that encourages me and lifts me up during weeks like the past one.

Then there are the donations and giving hearts that continue to pour in. This past week I was told of another donation that is not only of substantial cost, but one that will help create the home that I know people will feel comfortable and welcomed in. For those of you who know me, that's a big deal. The friends and family that come to visit must always feel welcome and wanted and the kind of surroundings that are in your home have a great impact on that, and I am forever indebted to those that continue to help me with that.

Another conviction that I have had strengthened is that of the belief that none of these things going on in my life are 'random' or 'coincidence'. I have had so many things in the past few months happen that I think most folks would chaulk up to happy accients or being lucky. Simple things like timing of certain materials not being ready when I first wanted them, but then when they were, a better idea had come along and I chose a new route because I had time to think it through more or had time to ask for another opinion that ended up being much better than my own. Then more important things like I just recently met someone that I met because my babysitter decided to not continue full-time daycare and I was forced to find another provider. Through a friend of a friend (and after 6 calls to full daycares) I found a new day care that I'm REALLY excited about sending Ellie to that is classroom structured but is still a ton of fun that I hope will better prepare Ellie down the road. On top of that I had asked for a reference list of parents before I had decided, one of them happened to work at Meredith and happened to be someone that might be able to help with my house. Not only has that person started to help with the house, she has taken away some burden of choosing all the paint colors, all the knobs, all the tile in all the rooms, all the light fixtures. Things that I would have heavily relied upon Leslie to do. I will still need to do some of those things for most of the house, but some of that has been taken off my shoulders. Which means I can spend more time with Ellie, not just in physically being there, but also mentally because I'm not concetrating on other details as we play 'food' or ready "Go dog, go!" for the tenth time. The Lord knew that I needed that help, he knew that Ellie would be better prepared for school if I started now, He knew that I like my guests to feel comfortable and relaxed in my home, He knew all of these things and although I didn't see what was going on at the time, he put the people in my life that I need.

I thank those people that help me. I praise the Lord for never leaving me.

We Are THIS Close

The dust settles on another great week
Today was a great day all around! The crew of Angela H., Russ and Brittany VH., Jane M., Uncle Tim, Lola K., and Tricia L. worked like crazy folks and got so many things off the 'for inspection check list' that I now can start to concentrate again on finishing the plumbing.Granted a whole new list is being created for plumbing, but at least the wiring version is severely smaller. I unfortunately didn't remember the camera this week, so I'll hopefully add some later. But I have some from when the small group cam over on Tuesday.

Today we pulled wires for the front lights, installed three fart fans in the bathrooms and ran venting, installed light mounts for the first floor, installed the tread light box on the stairs and installed a new switch for the fan in the existing peach bathroom. It was a flurry of romex and sawdust that was a sight to behold. The only small things left are to install a new outlet in the peach bathroom (requiring me to cut the beautiful old tile very carefully with a newly-purchased grinder), run a new switch for the light in the peach bathroom and install the light in the wash room after the HVAC lines are installed (which should be in by the end of the week - YEA!). I think there was quite a bit of learning today of how to use power tools and other household skills by everyone involved! So for those of you who say 'can't or not good at', this is your chance to screw it up on someone else's house that won't get too upset and then you can do it right on your own - see how good that could be for you? Think of it as a Home Depot Saturday learning class, but with live product and better music!

Then outside Russ worked all afternoon 'playing' with the walk behind skid loader moving dirt from the soon-to-be flagstone patio and leveling off the ground. And an example of me not getting too upset - he only took out the bottom step of the 100 year old yards steps with me only ribbing him about it three times. Dude, you take out 100 year old lawn fixtures, you're going to get a little bit of a hard time from me;-) We also picked up about a ton of Arkansas flagstone that will look great once installed. He did a great job while Tricia and I finished off the retaining wall cap stones and filled in the remaining mulch.

Lola and company also stacked all of the brick on pallets. That in itself is a major statement, and if you've been over in the last month you'll know exactly why. Today was a day of working steadily getting things done that required patience, steady hands and a little bit of elbow grease. My hats off to you all, you put me almost back on track to have inspections in the next 10-14 days.

Early this week my small group from church once again came over and really put in a great night of work and fellowship. (I've always thought that word 'fellowship' sounded so old world...wierd.) They wired can lights together, worked on installing soaker hoses and building up flower beds, they continued the filling in of pea gravel and dirt in the retaining wall and they installed a few outlets in the kitchen (although I'm not too sure they're wired correctly...;-)

The men 'discussing' the best way/Looking good Steve

The men work while Sean smokes AND cuts/What did I say?

Heidi waters pre-soaker hose installation/Nicole wires can lights

Margie S. wires can lights/Greg S. installs fart fan (Wed. Night)

Then afterwards we sat around and chatted about life, the upcoming study on grief and suffering and shared some great laughs. I think my brother thinks we're all a bit 'off' and aren't the usual small group members, but hey it works. Our group has always been a great blend. Without Leslie we've been trying to adjust to find our new rhythm and Tuesday went a long way in setting that back on course. I think we'll continue to find that direction again as we begin to face some of the issues, feelings and loss as a group in the upcoming study. Although I think it will be tough, I look forward to it and see the Lord stat work in us.

I'm looking back and realizing that this is turning into long entry and I'm not sure how/when it's going to end. Tomorrow is the baptism of one of Leslie's best friend's daughter, Claire Nicole who was given the middle name Nicole in honor of Leslie. I'm not really sure what I want to say about that, except I know she surely feels honored and I know she will be watching over us tomorrow. I thought I'd share that with everyone just because it's a big moment in that little girl's life to be brought into the family that Leslie so cherished being a part of and one that she helped me to reconnect with when we first met.

The Lord continues on. We come, we go, sometimes in a hurry, sometimes pacing ourselves but He is always is present. He gives us the ability to hope, to dream and to give thanks. All of these things I do today. I do them with you and I'm glad that Claire Nicole will be able to do that too.

More Electrical, Half A Wall

My Hand in 3D
This week was a good one. We shared walking tacos for lunch and then sweat like crazy in a perfect weather afternoon. There was a lot accomplished by a few people and items got 'checked off" the list, problem is I got another list from the electrician. Nice guy but a real stickler ;-) Oh and in case anyone was thinking I made up this broken hand story to get out of heavy lifting, here are the X-Rays to prove the pain. This really going to kill my golf game.

We started early unloading A LOT of landscaping rock that we'll discuss later. Then jumped to what I thought was the last of the electrical items that we'd need for inspection next week. Oh was I mistaken. My sister Elisha got very frustrated when she did a FABULOUS job tacking down ALL the wires in the 3rd floor (although only a handful needed it) due to a misunderstanding from the other brother. Oh well, the roof is now FIRMLY attached to the walls. We also installed all the can lights in the kitchen - 11 to be exact. I didn't think the room was the big, but at least no one will have trouble seeing the food under the surface-of-the-sun lighted room. Sean and Sarah finished installing the ceiling rafters in the eat-in area so the ceiling is now the same height extending from the existing kitchen to the new space. The electrician spent half of Friday and Saturday running wires and prepping the area for rough-in inspection and left the forementioned 'list' of to-dos for the rest of the house. The good news is that 3rd floor was listed as 'done'. Yahoo – one down three to go. So I have that going for me. Please feel free to stop by and help!

Sean building the rafters/His finished handiwork

More of his good work/Crazy Matt's handiwork on the plumbing

Outside we started installing the retaining wall that borders the front and back yards on the South side of the house.. It should create a very nice barrier for the flagstone patio that is going in there (maybe this weekend?). It's only half completed because we got tuckered out moving all the dirt by hand - it really sucks not owning a skid steer. Anyway, it's a great start and will be a fantastic update to the yard. We also had a group moving and planting plants and flowers in the back. Again the skid loader would have been great to move the mulch, but they did a great job without them. Also a tiller would be a good thing to own with all of these flower beds we're putting in, but I struggle with that b/c it will all end (hopefully) soon. So until then I just rent and hope that I get enough notice to when folks are showing up to prepare things for them.

Ron's taking a break behind the mound of dirt

Ron measuring to make sure it ends up where it's supposed to

The 1/2 completed wall/The planting crew digs into mulch

Unloading the trailer of mulch/Spreading it to a great finish

One more beautiful flower bed installed

Like I said a great week and the next one is quickly approaching, so I'm off to prepare for that. i need more pea gravel for the wall, more can lights and fart fans for the bath rooms, more pipe for the remaining plumbing, more pitchforks to move mulch, some sprinklers for the new flowers...

I Nearly Shed A Tear

No, I'm not a mamsy-panmsy wheenie – breaking my finger hurt like h-e-double-hockey sticks, but that's not why I almost cried in front of a group of people. New flash, the first four sheets of drywall went up this Saturday! I'm telling you, after the four month road we've been traveling together, that has felt MILES a way at times.

Truth be told, the drywall only went up in the 2nd floor utility room where the second HVAC unit is going, so that it can be installed with the walls already in place. That way we don't have to try to install drywall around it when there's only 4" to work within. But still, it's a MAJOR sign that things are moving in the right direction - things are going ON the walls instead of us PULLING OFF materials. A small step it may be, but I'll take it at this point. The real beginning of installation of drywall hopefully will begin in about two weeks after the inspections of the utilities is complete.

Sean and Ryan install the drywall

Speaking of utilities, that brings us back to the broken finger issue. Yes, I broke my small finger, and yes it has slowed me - slightly - in working on my house, but no it looks nothing like the CHIPPED TOOTH that Matt B. suffered doing the exact same thing I did that broke my finger. I tried to tell him to be careful, but alas he didn't think I must have been serious. How it happened was like this. I was drilling into the floor joists with a 2 3/8" drill bit so I could install a 2" drain line. Well that bit likes to kick back and for most of the day I had it under control and let it beat the crap out of my rib cage when it kicked back. Toward the end of the day I switched my grip and the drill kicked again and it caught my two end fingers in the grip (not the drill pictured) and twisted until I heard a 'snap'. Yep it hurt real bad. Good thing that Ellie wasn't around to repeat what Daddy was saying, it might take a few bars of soap to unlearn those bad habits.

I'm tough when it's turned off/Proof that drills bite back

Now how Matt hit his mouth I can only gather that he loves to do the work so much, that he was able to get close enough the drill (pictured) and it kicked back, knocking out the right side tooth's bottom half. Man I felt bad. To Matt's credit he took it in stride and actually went back to work - man do I have great people working with me or what?! (You can substitute crazy for 'great' if you like.) Anyway, let's all hope that Matt knows a better dentist than he does the plumber that was teaching him on Saturday (that'd be me).

Before the 'smile adjustment'/The offending drill

Additionally, we started into the existing main shower stall and found that the tiles are embedded directly into the plaster of the walls - not into a thinset layer of mortar that would allow them to 'peel off'. Nope, we're going to have to get the concrete saw to cut them out. This will definitely test our deftness with power tools for sure. We also pulled more nails from trim boards, re-raked the back yard to prep for flower bed and flagstone patio creation.There was a lot of cleaning that went on in all four floors so we can be ready for drywall to be delivered so we can use the window openings before the new windows all get installed.

Amy S pulling countless numbers of nails

Oh yeah did I mention that - all new windows baby throughout the whole house. Pella windows of course - is there any other that would be appropriate, most definitely not. I tell you what, I was on the fence as to whether I was going to do just one floor or maybe the front only, but I am really happy that the complete house is being redone - they look beautiful. Yes I actually said beautiful at the risk of sounding girlie. They actually look beautiful. A HUGE shout out of thanks to the folks at Pella Corporation for helping me with these, they make the house - honestly.

The men installing on second floor

In the coming weeks I think there will be A LOT of changes every week that y'all can see out right. I hope to see you back here, that is if you're not lucky enough to share the chili dogs and subs on Saturdays.