Weekend Winds

We didn't get the worst of the weekend blizzard. Only about 2.4 inches of the thick heavy flakes fell on our portion of the Great American Desert. Further north and west of our location folks had to contend with upwards of 16 inches. Then there is the story of the thirty inches that fell on the US\Canadian border country in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I was out driving between our old place and our new place in the midst of the 35-40 mile an hour winds and driving snow. The little car above did not stand a chance. On that section of highway 14 you have protection in the form of a winrow every mile or so. The thing is the winrow causes snow to build up on the highway and accumulate in sufficient enough quantities to cause a great deal of slippage. Then when you get to where the winrow no longer is blocking the wind it comes across the road full force. I assume that is what happened to this little blue car. I went around to check and make certain that there was nobody in it(that is just South Dakota courtesy when things are not good)and there wasn't anyone around so I headed home. How often do we see folks in trouble somewhere in our lives and never bother to give them a second thought? I can't say as I blame the ladies for not stopping to help someone, but when it comes to us guys making the difference between someone's well being and not so well being we need to make the effort. Maybe because we are a sparsely populated state(less than 3\4 of a million souls out here)that we tend to be a bit more likely to help even the stranger. Times have changed in America. We live in populated areas with more fear than I can imagine. Cheryl worries about locked doors and staying safe. I don't blame her for that, women are targets everywhere it seems. There is a part of me that truly feels sorry for those who must live in fear. And, if we think it isn't good here, we can always look to a country where just going to the market in the morning can get you killed by one of those fanatics without reason. Our world has changed so much in the past few thousand years, and yet one thing remains constant. God is with us today. He was with us yesterday. He will be with us tomorrow, also, if we are willing to open the door of our heart and invite Him in. Then we won't have to worry so much about the weekend winds, snow, sleet, and freezing rain because God will be there to answer our every prayer in accordance with His will. I love that part, His will, because no matter how much I would like things to be my way the only path that can bring me to my goal is through the One who created all of us. I pray you are staying out of the wind and that the snow is not too deep. Here we are watching the weekend's weather melt away rapidly. That's a good thing. Now if we can just get past the mud that accompanies spring(the mini van is covered in speckles from me almost getting stuck on site today)and the hurdle of monsoon season on the plains, life will improve. God bless, Preacher.

Steps In Life This Week

Several of my AA friends talk about their "steps." Since my last blog I've been very busy building steps for the project. First there was a need for a landing and one step from the stairs that go up to my new studio\office. My new space is enormous and it's right over the top of my new cave. Problem was that the garage as it sits on the new foundation is well over a foot higher than where it was on the slab upon which it was constructed. I now have the landing with storage space beneath for a host of jacks and tools. This is good! Then there was the old side door(the guys that bolted this end on the foundation must have been drinking, the whole side is off by several inches. One day I will have to reframe the door to make it fit properly, but for now it will have to do. Here again I ran into the height problem. Easy solution, another step! That's two of the step projects. The third was the steps down from what will become our formal dining room into the new kitchen. These were really fun to build! Did I mention they had to be built sturdy enough to support the weight of my grand piano, and the four fellows who will simultaneously pass through the arch carrying her into her new home in the parlor\sitting room\music room. We are ready for that phase of the move as of today.
Next I will be putting all of the original woodwork back in place. All the bits, parts and pieces of window and door moldings, mopboards, and various other woodwork was removed to facilitate the painting and refurb work. New windows all over the house. I had no idea how many there were until I opened them all up on a warm day two weeks ago. By the time I was knocking off for the day I realized there are a lot more than I suspected. It shouldn't have surprised me since I assisted in picking them out. Maybe it was just all the steps and stairs that seem to lead everywhere. One day I shall count them just to see how many there really are. It seems that no matter where I am headed in the house I am encountering stairs. That's good! I've never really had both feet on the ground except at stoplights and even then it is quite often only one. Today was a restful Sunday. I cleaned the site to prepare for the next set of transitions. Junk was hauled into proper piles and the sawdust, mud, dust and bits and pieces of construction were swept into piles awaiting the return of a garbage can. Cheryl got me a new broom and dust pan for the house. I know, life must be fairly boring when one gets excited about a broom and a dustpan. Quite the contrary, however, I believe we are entering into the most exciting adventure of our lives. God has truly blessed us with an opportunity to build and create. He has given us a vision and a way to work it. Now all I need is a lot more energy, but that will come in time. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

A Work In Progress

Snow began falling gently on the Great American Desert about noon today. That is when I began the process of converting the old dining room window that originally faced south into an entrance that will one day take a few steps down into our new kitchen. Time passed rather swiftly as I employed several saws, a variety of hammers and a cornucopia of chisels, pry bars, wrecking bars and assorted tools to demolish the area(with great care, of course)while preserving the integrity of the ancient(100 years)oak flooring and support timbers. Only one of the original studs had to be cut off, all of the rest that went was window framing. Time slipped by and by 5 pm I was seated in a chair almost to the front window that now faces the rising sun, taking a break and looking at the change. I suppose I have pictures of that window before it was removed from that same angle(I must have at least a thousand pics of this project so far)before the arch was cut in place. The thought was originally to match up the arch between the living room and dining room with the opening to the addition. I was absolutely amazed at the accuracy of the measurements I made for the cuts weeks ago, and the manner in which the lines came together on both sides to complete the opening. Just for your information, I'm not that great at this stuff, but my boss is. He has been giving carpenters directions on how to build stuff for thousands of years. Sometimes a bit of my faith perspective may come off as sounding "trite" but believe me it comes from a combination of heart and mind that believe and trust completely that what I am doing is according to God's plans and if I am ever uncertain He will tell me for sure that is not the way it works. Noah had many doubts, but no uncertainties that what he was doing had to be done. God's only Son was raised by a carpenter and then at the age of thirty went into ministry. His only lasted three years but it accomplished more than we can ever thank Him for, or His Father in heaven.
As the light began to fade I headed for home through what had now become a full blown blizzard. Visibility was down to about the length of a football field. I won't go on any further tonight. We are "under the gun" with storms coming through. Power is out at my daughter's house about 6 miles east, and eldest grandson is going to stay in town tonight with "grandpa & grandma." I'm sure he's excited about being here. For me it is a grin, we know for certain that he is safe and sound, well fed, and entertained(Cheryl just mentioned using the remote to order one of those pay for view movies. I wonder if she knows just what is available on this satellite thing?)for the evening. I'm also thankful for the progress of the work and the energy that I have been granted for doing it. Some of this stuff was way easier 20 years ago. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Our Project Today

This is where we are today on our project. Tonight we expect snow, again, so I did all(with Cal's huge assist) the immediately necessary dirt work between the house and garage. While he worked on that I began the carpentry needs on the inside of the garage. It has been awhile since I've been involved in physical labor. This being my second day on the job I gave me a break and only put in 6 hours. Even at that I am bone weary tonight! I praise God for this wonderful machine He has given me in the form of a body. It not only has the power to move large pieces of lumber, but also the intellect to compute how to use the power tools to mold and shape the pieces to a purpose. That is so cool! I've done a lot of this type of labor through the years, but it still amazes me to have the thought, a plan if you will, and then stand back 6 hours later and see in reality what was only a vision. Cheryl and I shared our first repast on site today. It was pizza from George's(her favorite)and I must admit it was great. I shared with her that having an English muffin and coffee for brunch before heading off to the site is not going to do it from now on. by the time 3 pm rolled around(brunch was at 11:30 am)I was ravenous. Thank God for pizza, too! If the snow comes we are ready, and if it means I can't get on site to work tomorrow I shall give thanks for that, as well. Tonight I shall rest with a smile on my face. The best part of work is that I know within a few weeks I shall have begun shedding my winter fat. I can stand to lose about 25 pounds of that! I'll be getting back in shape and perhaps have the energy to go at it 12 hours a day as I did this past summer. Thank you Lord for tasks and the energy to complete them. I've got a sign on the wall behind me that says, "Drink Coffee, Do Stupid Things Faster!" Now there is a thought for one to live by. Just when we get old enough to begin thinking we've made all of the mistakes we're going to make another one comes along to bite us on the behind. Thank God we're forgiven! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Oliphants & Donkeys

What a strange mix of politics we are watching unfold. I know, this is an election year and we can expect some very strange things to happen, but has anyone noticed that things are getting more and more weird? Maybe I'm just old enough to have seen enough years(presidential election)and presidents to take note. I'm not saying anyone is right or anyone is wrong, but I do believe there is only one man in that boat hoping to escape the sharks. We can expect this to escalate into an old fashioned donnybrook before it is all said and done! (Does anyone use that term anymore?)
Riding the crest of the waves would be a good place for our boatsman to be. Right about now it would be wonderful to walk on water! I suppose, to be perfectly honest, I have experienced times in my own life when I felt as though I were being stalked by sharks. Every time, though, I have learned from the experience that faith is the factor that the sharks never understand. Even in pursuit of us they become lost in their own haste. Maybe that's why it is so difficult for some of our folks to distinguish truth from fantasy when running for office. They see the sharks, too, and they don't have the strength of character to close their eyes and simply pray the shark away.
The parting thought on these circumstances is.....There are times when the sharks need to be reminded that God is in charge and that their role is to be the entree, NOT the diner. Just a thought, but I pray you and I have the courage to really understand the issues at risk for our country this year. God is in control, and the sharks may easily wind up dining on one another. God bless, Preacher.

Soaring With Eagles

Today I am listening to sounds of motorcycles roaring down 6th Street while feeling like I've been run over by one. Illness is not becoming for anyone even if they usually look great(which I seldom do)our there on two wheels. Today I couldn't take the chill of the air even though it would feel wonderful to have the health to do it and I would. Fever and chills, bad coughs and aches have accompanied these past few days and nights(nights are the worst). Whine, whine, whine.....I have an appointment with the doctor today at my wife's insistence. She wants me out getting something done on the project. There is much to be done, but I have been blessed with enough wet and mud that it appears as though it will take the better part of a week without rain just to get on site. God is good! I would feel really horrible if conditions were perfect for work and I could not!
We were just out there looking at the future home. It will be great! On the other hand I think it will take me 'til I'm 60 to get even close to finished. That's why I need the doctor and his expertise. Actually I probably only need antibiotics and rest, but he will have to write the prescription and I will have to pay for visiting him in his office. Ya know, when I consult with guys at the lumber yard concerning materials and building codes they don't charge a penny for their time in helping me to sort out solutions. Why is it that if you have a doctor's degree(license to practice)you charge outrageous fees? Maybe it's all of those support team members they have working in the clinic. I don't know. I'm just thankful this day that we have really good insurance and that I may see a glimmer of improvement this weekend in my physical health.
Yes the snow out here on the Great American Desert is about gone. The sun is warming things nicely and the prospects for life are wonderful if there is no rain for a few weeks. All I ask is enough time to get two truckloads of construction stuff on site ready for work and maybe finish up the driveway. Life could be worse, but it can be better as well. God teaches us so many things through His provision for our lives. As always, today the big lesson is patience. That plus giving thanks for what I have not what I have not. I pray that travels are going well for our folks in America. Some things we cannot change, but they can improve(at least our attitude towards them)through prayer. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Backgrounds & Borders, Bathrooms & Biffys

When we unite in the bonds of Holy Matrimony we also commit ourselves to a life of sharing space. Oftimes in our modern day world we have been "sharing space" for a long time before the ceremony & vows. I'm a bit old school. LOL....I'm probably as old school as you can run across these days. As we continue the process of creating in actuality our vision for a haven we come across the meaning of tonight's title. All of the elements that comprise a home(the home is actually Cheryls and I have a cave and office attached to it)are those which we must wrestle for another few months. After that they will be forever(at least for our lifetimes)set in cement.
I ere quite often on the side of practicality and usability. This will not become entirely apparent until I set the interior walls of our project and proceed to make it habitable for humans. My wife, Cheryl, does not care to have a lot of doors in her home. Where we are now one can enter a small(very)hall and encounter doors on three sides. I like that! Doors offer opportunities. One never knows what might be on the other side of a door. We recently had an accountant friend attempt to exit our home via a walk-in closet in our foyer. That is still providing many chuckles for those who were present.
There are many doors present in our life experience. Some we fling wide open and rush through only to find ourselves disappointed, dejected, depressed, and sometimes behind bars. That has to do with our personal choices. No person can make them for us and we all must face the decisions concerning our lives alone, unless we have received an initiation into the hall of a greater power. Others may have suggested this course of action. Friends and family may have tried to help us find it. But, the truth is, we can only make this big decision for ourselves. There is not a single person who can change us other than ourselves! What color we would like our walls to be, what type of floor covering we would choose to live with for a few months or the rest of our lives. I can say this from a personal background of prison ministry that if we do not choose the state will, and we will not appreciate the interior decorator! Gray is not a favorite color of mine, although I worked in that environment for eight years. I may have always known that I would be there, what I did not know was that they were going to let me in and check me out every day while I preached repentance! Those were wonderful times! Now I look forward to creating a haven for those who serve the Lord and need a place to be for awhile. Maybe even perhaps a bit of a retreat from the pressures of our world. That is why we are in the midst of choosing backgrounds, borders, bathrooms(there will be four)and biffys for all the Lord brings to us. In Christ's Love, Preacher.