Pantry not food safe.

Well, today was an interesting day.  I enjoyed making a list of work that needs to be done in each location of the home as well as un tangled the clematis so that it will travel up our trellis on the front porch.  I also took the liberty to climb into the attic and check out the insulation.  Thankfully it is blown in grey stuff.  Definitely good stuff.  However, over the pantry and dining room it is well... Just look at the Pictures:

 

Yup, I took out the ceiling due to a leak in the roof.  Hopefully it will be a small repair where the corner of the add on and the old house is.  Thankfully it is a small part of the roof.  So it will be a cheap fix.  Most likely it will be a temporal fix with plans to reroof the whole house next year.  Time well tell.

The next two days I will be finishing my basement office/guest room remodel project at another house.  Perhaps I will post on that next. :-) But now is the time to sleep.

Trenching for a New Water Line.

Marriage is a big step.  Knowing the person you are marrying really is not an option.  Before you “take the plunge” you have a short glimpse of who you think your future spouse is, but you don’t really know.  Same with a house...

Our house is a quaint little shack that needs a love, care, respect, and lots of trust in our Father to care for us as we work on it.  In reality, it is a big barrel of work. Today Samuel helped me dig a trench to replace the water line.  Anna installed our new door handles and locks, weeded the hostas, swept our sidewalks and brought us supper.  Sam helped in the trench, repaired the front porch stairs, entertained me, took pictures, encouraged me, mocked me, jeered at me, and all together made me feel like a wonderful brother.  Thank you Chops.  

As I was taking out a rose bush, trenching, digging around the curb connection, I had some “helpfull” advise from on-lookers.  One neighbor, Mike, is a nice and respectable individual (and has a pitbull named Charlie).  The guy that lives a few houses down is a bit… kooky in Anna’s words.  He acts partly drunk(maybe he was???), past contractor, used to have seisures, knows just about everyone around our home, is kind and generous(gave us a tarp and a small digging “tool”), and he is very good at talking.

Overall it was a good day of hard work.  Met the people around us and even finished the trench.  Only thing left is to find out why the water company line is leaking, tunnel under the sidewalk(using a pipe, or just go through the old pip was) and to install my new water line after drilling through an 18” foundation.

Appreciation: Spirit

We rarely think about the Holy Spirit.  Often we offer praise to the Father and the Son, but little do we think of the Spirit.  Today, I am thinking of Him, the Holy Spirit that is inside of each Christian.  I really appreciate the way that the Spirit moves: sanctifying, speaking, leading, interceding for us.  It amazes me that the Spirit works in each person a different way.  For some, the Spirit is subtle and hardly a whisper, and yet for other the Spirit speaks directly and openly.

As strange as it may seem to the "conservative" mind, I love talking and listening to people who walk with and listen to "their Jesus" and to individuals that listen to the Spirit talking and leading them.  I also love hearing the answer that God gives people who have been on their knees for days, months, or even years, asking the Lord to speak and show Himself to them.

I am incredibly thankful that we have the Holy Spirit in us - leading us - as we search the scriptures, commune, and worship our God.  Thank you Father.

You add the Caption. :-)

Appreciation: Marriage

I am rarely thankful enough for all the blessings that God has given me.  Starting today, I am going to attempt to spend 10-15 min sharing what I am thankful for each day(or so).  Today it is marriage.

I am thankful that 7 months ago Anna and I were married. As I have been thinking about our marriage and what it is in God's eyes there are a few truths that I greatly appreciate.  God loves His Church so much that he has done everything for us.  God loves His church so much He will never abandon us.  God's covenant with His church is unending and nothing can break it.  Similar to that, marriage is a covenant that Anna and I have made with God.  It is a covenant that neither we nor anyone else, except death, can break.  I appreciate that thought.  That God can bring a man and woman together in such a way that no law, decree, human, or anything else except Him bringing one or both of us home can end this covenant in His eyes.  In His eyes, we are, and always will be - till death separates us- husband and wife.

I appreciate God and His promise about marriage being man and wife.  I appreciate that the world sees and recognizes our covenant before God, yet it saddens me that they do not understand the Spiritual significance, and often corrupt His beautiful covenant that He has offered mankind.

Copyright Thompsons Photography www.rdtphotography.com

Our Future Home

Since I have been married I have been in search for homes.  Only in the last 3 months has it become serious home searching.  The Lord has brought us people into our lives that have helped us so much.  The two biggest blessings have been fellow Christians.  A dear gentleman who is a very skilled and retired carpenter, and a wonderfully patient lady who has been a very helpful realtor.  Through their expertise, their many prayers, and our many prayers, we have found a home, and are currently in the closing process.  But there are two things that may make this all fall through.

1) the mortgage is only applicable to a house that is "move in worthy".  So, if the appraisal says that the house is uninhabitable, then we loose the mortgage and thus the home. (which is unlikely, but still possible)

2) we have 45 days to complete the loan processes.  The bank thinks it is really tight, but probable assuming all paper work goes smooth.

So, two prayer requests, that the appraisal deems the house livable, and that the bank will be able to finish all the necessary paper work.

Enjoy the pics below!  :-)

The Front

Most of the back yard

The garage

Sick Days

Last week we skipped church because I was sick.  Today, Anna stayed home because she was sick.  Both of us have been a bit under the weather for too long.  However, I realize that when I am sick I am much more thankful for the days that the Lord gives us good health.

Yet, having a sick wife gave me another picture idea!

Anna reading “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" by Charles Dickens, on her new V-day gift. :-)

Presents...

The year is coming to an end, which means Christmas is almost here. That means presents have to be made!  :-D In trying to draft my creations I have thrown out the paper and fully embraced Google Sketch Up. Yes, another lovely google product that has once again entangled me into their lair of goodies.  However, I can't TELL you what I am making, you will just have to wait till AFTER Christmas :-D But tomorrow is shopping day to buy two of my favorite hardwoods.  I can't wait to smell the fragrance of dried wood, sawdust, wood glue, and mmmmmm yes. happiness.

In other news, Anna and I finally put up our puzzle that we spent WEEKS putting together.  Also, Anna is knitting gauntlets.  Pretty neat. :-)