Cleansing

Being in Hawaii, living on the beach for the past week I have noticed that the beach gets full of footprints and holes and sand piles each day.  It shows that a lot of people have walked here.

Each night the tide comes in and cleansed the sand and washes away all the evidence of the day before.

It leaves a smooth, untarnished surface.  I find it incredible.  As we were walking the beach on Saturday I had a thought about the beach and how it is a type of Christ.

Each day we are given a clean slate to do with what we will.  We make decisions and some of those decisions muck up our beach and they leave marks on our smooth surface.  As we pray each evening and ask our Father in Heaven for forgiveness, he allows the atonement of His son to come in and cleanse our beach leaving the smooth sand once again.  

My goal is not to have need of my Savior's atonement, but rather to have less use of it for my dumb decisions.  I want to be kinder and less judgmental.  I want to have kind thoughts about those around me even when they do things to irritate me.  As I have consistently prayed for charity over the past nine months, I find it easier to let those thoughts go.  When I witness another driver do something foolish, instead of saying or thinking, "Idiot!" I find myself saying, "That wasn't the smartest thing to do." or "They must have something on their mind that they made such a poor decision."  I'm getting there.  My beach gets mucked up each day, but each ensuing day, my Father gives me a smooth surface to begin again.  It's further proof that my Father loves me infinitely.  He gives me more and more chances without number!

 

The Work Shop Begins

The preparation for pouring of the concrete has commenced.  It needed some added sand and Pat added way too much so now we have a sandbox that I've been wanting for the grandchildren.

The concrete truck and Tony and his hired hand showed up by 6:30am to begin the pour.

Pat was able to help for a bit before he went to seminary.  I offered to teach so he could help longer but he refused.  I offered to help Tony and he too refused.

I sent a Marco Polo so our little boys who love trucks could be in on the excitement.

It sure doesn't take Tony very long to get things going.  But then, he's a professional and this is what he does.

Everything was poured and smoothed so Tony left for breakfast.  When he came back he spent time doing the finishing work.

It looks really good.  

There was even enough concrete left for Pat to have his approach to the trailer.

Now the difficult part.  We need a variance in  order to build as the alley is too close to the back of the proposed addition.  We had our property surveyed and found the alley is not exactly where the alley is.  It cuts through the concrete pad next door as well as the Krueger shed and garage.  Also, our sheds on our back lot are way too close as well.  But then so is the LP tank for the bar and the shop next to it.  By the way, that shop used to be the town hall.  How's that for irony?

 

Preparations Begin

There is a planned addition to the back of our garage.  Pat needs a bigger workshop now that he has his lathe and spends time turning pens.  The first item of business was to get the old "woodshed" moved.  With the use of a forklift with long forks it was picked up and placed on the trailer.

Then it was moved to the Wood Fiber where it can be used for storage.  Since it was put here back in the day by my father, it only seems fitting that it should go to a place where it can be reused.

The view of the back of the garage.  I don't know the last time I saw it without a woodshed.  When I was middle school aged, there was an old back of a cattle truck that  was used for a woodshed and a place for the cats.  It was replaced by the trailer above.  In all actuality, I have never seen the back of the garage without a woodshed near it.  

The blue spruce that my mom planted has also been removed.  I recall jumping over the thing after she planted it as it was so small.

 

Kitchen Cabinets

I've painted so many rooms in my home since we've been home from our mission.  But the first thing I noticed upon arriving home was how poor my kitchen cabinets looked.  I spent some time cleaning them with Murphy's Oil soap and they looked better but still not great.  

We changed out the countertop and I love that look.  I finally worked up the courage to take on this enormous task.  I wanted to get it accomplished before it got too cold outside to do any work in the garage or yard.

I wasn't sure I wanted to do this china cabinet but after looking at the others when they were finished, \there was no question that this too needed to be done. Before I did anything I called my friend Jared and got step by step instructions on how I should do it so my finished product would last. 

I decided that I would first do the upper cabinets as there are less of them.  

I removed the doors and hardware.

Once the uppers were done, I started on the lowers.  It took a little longer just because there are more of them.  But it went pretty flawlessly.

We didn't live with no doors for very long as I would prime/paint the doors and then come inside and do the cabinet fronts.

The lowers took a bit longer and Pat put new soft close drawer slides on each of the drawers.

I always loved my oak cabinets and felt it a sin to paint over that beautiful wood.

I needed to take off the trim as well as that also needed painting and it is so much easier to paint it when it is off. 

I had some tables set up in the garage where I could paint and keep the leaves and other flying debris off of my wet surfaces. 

These are the upper doors waiting to go out and be sanded., 

Cleaning, sanding, priming with an oil based primer and then painting. 

The inside of the doors only got one coat of paint but the outside got two coats. 

 

After Pat put in the new window above the kitchen sink I told him I needed to paint before he installed the PVC trim.  I did this little space first and decided that I truly loved it and I could actually do this.

Once the cabinetry was painted we were off to Menards and Home Depot to pick out the hardware.

Let me tell you, the hardware was the most expensive part of this whole project. 

After I had the china cabinet done, I looked at the formica countertop and knew it had to change.  Again I called Jared and asked him if he'd ever painted formica.  He told me it was difficult but I assured him it was a space where it wasn't used heavily.

My first thought was to paint it black to match the other countertop but after putting some white on it, I decided it was great as it was.  I actually love it!

I thought I was done but then how could I be done with the door frames, one window frame and the base boards all still wood?

Since painting them, I see the blue wall pops!  The gray walls actually look gray.  It was a labor of love and I enjoyed doing it.  I told Pat he needs to have this done in his home to brighten up his kitchen.  I would do it too.

Since having it done, Susie asked about her laundry room and I told her we could do it together.  I think I've found my calling in life if ever I had to have an occupation.  I love painting and I love the look when it is finished!

Birthday Girl

 I never need anything special for my birthday.  As long as my husband acknowledges me, that's enough.  He decided a few weeks ago that he wanted to take me to the temple for my birthday.  It was on a Monday so that specific day wasn't going to work.  We planned our trip to the temple the weekend prior.

With all our plans in place, I remembered that Evelyn's birthday party was on that Saturday morning.  We changed our times for temple attendance.  It was wonderful being there!  I've missed it!  After our two temple endowment sessions we checked into our hotel and went out to dinner.  Delicious and expensive!  I forget when we're in Chicago how much more expensive restaurants are.

We arose early on Saturday morning and headed back to Clintonville for Evelyn's pool party.  I lounged in the warm water and enjoyed a long visit with Vonnie Fillmore.  Afterward we had brunch at the Fillmore home.

Monday was my actual birthday.  I did some laundry and finished my painting in the kitchen before spending my afternoon with little Eddie.  He's so sweet!  I really enjoy spending time with him.  He went down for his usual nap without a sound and slept for 2 1/2 hours.

All my children and their families came over for a pizza party.  Butch gave me a birthday card.  I love it!  Sammi made Pat and I matching shirts.  I love being with my family.  It was a great day!

Elder Tom

 During a lesson while we were in the MTC I had the strongest feeling that we are holding Tom back by not allowing him to go through the temple.  This guy is already guaranteed Celestial glory so why would he need these further covenants?  We contacted our stake president and told him of our revelation.  He reached out to our bishop but we never heard anything.  When we got home we talked about it again with President Lonsdale.  He said it would be good for us to reach out to bishop Hoffman.

When we sat down with bishop, he told us of his experience.  He saw Tom walking through the chapel one day and had the impression that Tom needed to receive the temple endowment.  He had a discussion with Jeff and was assured that Tom has much more capability than it seems.  Good.  Now we were all in the same place.

We knew there needed to be interviews but were unaware when the first one took place.  President Olsen did the second interview.  Last week in testimony meeting, Tom eagerly got up and told everyone how excited he was for stake conference and how excited he was to be in Elders Quorum and how excited he was to go to the temple for his endowment.

Yesterday at stake conference, he was sustained to receive the Melchizedek priesthood.  Then just after 4pm, our family along with his quorum President, Dennis Rekow, the Raddants and Newell came over to witness this event.  Andrew was voice.  Pat didn’t even stand in the circle.  He wanted his brothers to take care of this ordination.  It was tender to listen to Andrew and then to watch Tom hug all his brethren.  

Next step is to get the recommend so we can take him to the temple in October.  

Nursery Leader?

 About a month ago Chad asked to speak to me after sacrament meeting.  Pat and I met with him and he extended the calling as Nursery leader.  I won’t lie.  Not a calling I ever aspired to.  Not even a calling I ever wanted or dreamed I would have.  Because of those reasons I started to laugh.  Both my husband and Chad were a bit taken aback by my response.  I told him I would do whatever the Lord needed me to do.  I told him that I thought he was going to ask me to be the ward music chair.  He said, “Since you brought it up…”. I told him I could do both callings.  

Me, the nursery leader.  That is good for a laugh.  I know people who wish for that position.  Not me.  I’m more comfortable with youth and adults.  I guess I’m about to learn something new.  My first week was alright.  I only had Ty Ejnik and my little Eli.  Destinee’s twins will join us any day now but they aren’t regular.  Ty and Eli will leave in January so it could be a very hit and miss calling.  I may get to be with the adults now and again.