Thicker Than Water

Every Memorial Day for the past.....I don't know how many years, we take the boys to the cemeteries where my grandparents are buried to place flowers at their headstones.  It is a family tradition that they look forward to every year.  We have two cemeteries we go to and then we go out to breakfast.  They have loved running through the flags at Sunset Memorial Gardens since they started walking.  

This holiday always reminds me of my grandparents and the relationship I had with them.  I never knew my maternal grandmother because she passed away long before my parents had children.  Both of my grandfathers died in 1984 and my paternal grandmother passed away a few years later.  By the time I was 14 years old I had no living grandparents.  I have always been envious of people who were able to have a relationship with their grandparents in their adult years.  I am thankful for good relationships with my aunts and uncles that have filled in the gap that I had from losing my grandparents.  

 
 
 I watch my sons with their grandparents (both sets), aunts, uncles, and cousins and I am so appreciative that our family is close. It takes time, effort, energy and sometimes even forgiveness to stay connected with family, but the payoff is more than worth it!

Walter and Mable Lattin (my paternal grandparents)

My Dad's Uncle Oscar served in World War II.

Earl and Mary Lou Kirkwood (my maternal grandparents)
Grandpa Kirkwood  wanted to serve in WWII but was denied due to having 4 daughters.

......7 Weeks Later

Day 1

Day 5

Just when we started to feel like things were moving along a little too slowly, we looked back at the project start pictures and realize the house has taken shape:

Week 7

In 7 weeks time we have come a long way!  Add in a few other life events like:  a trip to Texas, an 11 year old having tonsils, adenoids removed and ear tubes put it, homeschooling, lawns to mow, cows to pasture, mouths to feed, laundry, laundry and more laundry.....among many other things.  

Our framer would like to be done by the first of next week.  Time for more decisions about the details which is exciting and mind-boggling to me at the same time!

Doors, Windows, Walls, Stairs and Hallways

While I was in Texas with some friends, my dad sent me a text of the first wall that went up in our new home.  It was our entry way wall....."how fitting" he said in his text. I was so excited to know I was going to come home to some real progress and be able to walk through our home, imagining where furniture will go, where to hang the family portraits, and all the future memories that will take place in this house the Lord is providing for us.

First Wall, Friday, May 2nd

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I tend to "wait" for the next thing in order to serve the Lord fully or even imagine that I will be a better mother and wife in this new home.  As if homeschooling will be smoother, dishes will be easier to do, I will be singing as I do the laundry, my boys will suddenly stop competing about EVERYTHING, and I will never burn food again.  Isn't that ridiculous?  I have spent a good portion of my life in anticipation for a place of true "arrival".  Well, guess what?  I am still waiting!  Although, I am extremely excited about this home and what it means for our entire family, I have been learning quite a few valuable lessons in the process:

•  To be faithful in the little things.  Luke 16:10 says "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."  I have been guilty of saying "when the house is done, I will have more people over" or "when this project is over, I will have more time to be helpful".  It is true, we are in a season that is very hectic and crazy, but God can still use me in the process and I need to have the right heart, right here in the present.
• I have to resign to being flexible with my schedule.  Sometimes I have had to literally drop everything to run an errand, pay for lumber (that won't be delivered until I run that check), and a number of other things.  I have had to remember that my boys are being a little yanked around at times and they have been absolute troopers.  I am blessed with a rowdy bunch, but they are good boys and have been incredible help during this project.  It has truly been a "family affair".

My Boys Washing my Van for a road trip to Portland Airport

• This is a precious time being roommates with my folks.  In the new house, they will have their own space and we won't have to share a kitchen, dining room, laundry room and living room.  We will have more room to spread out which sounds good sometimes, but these will be cherished memories.  Living quarters are tight, but I am enjoying the togetherness (of course I can't speak for everyone else)!

How Firm Our Foundation

During the construction phase of our project, few people asked about the foundation but many have asked about when we were going to see the exciting part of the construction, the part above ground.  Although we all know how important a solid foundation is, it seems to get little respect or generate much interest.

I would like to share a few thoughts about the foundation construction as I was impressed by the spiritual commonality with our Lord, our SOLID ROCK.

First, the foundation design comes about as the result of conceptual thoughts formulated into a floor plan (blueprint) and architectural design conceived by the originator.  From there, the architect or designer adds the required details so that the builder can transform the information on paper into a material structure that meets the homeowner’s needs and desires, as well as city, state and federal requirements. 

• Solid Footing -Codes require that the footing be set below the frost line (24’ in our area) so that it will not freeze or crack from winter freezing and thawing.  This footing must also be “set” on solid or virgin soil.
• Plumb -The foundation for each level of the home must be the same level  through out the structure.  In other words, the structure should be plumb with the earth.
• Square -Beginning with the “cornerstone”, the foundation must be square from front to back and from side to side.
• Stable -The foundation must be capable of handling not only the weight of the structure, but also the forces of nature including roof and shear loads posed by wind, snow and seismic activity.    

In the “old days”, homes were essentially a box or rectangular in shape and although requiring a solid foundation, were reasonably simple compared to modern homes and technology.  Homes today reflect complicated “open” architectural designs such as high vaulted ceilings, free span trusses which require additional calculations and engineering.  In addition, empirical data resulting from inspections regarding damages from tornadoes, hurricanes and unstable hillsides have resulted in stricter building codes.  All this being said, our new home is of a rather modest design compared to many of the homes being built today.

I am confident that after precise laser controlled excavation, tons of concrete, many feet of rebar and careful inspection, that our foundation is as good as man can do.  I am even more confident in the Lord’s  foundation which has stood the test of time throughout all eternity.