Pre-Sheet Rock To Do List - DONE

When Pop learned he had to have surgery he created a "Pre-Surgery To Do List" and nailed it (yes, nailed it with a big dog nail) to the wall.  I had him remove it now that the list has been completed and dry wall is imminent.  You can't really see it in the picture, but he has a sling on his arm since he is post-surgery.  Hooray for moving on down the road and for checking things off the list!!  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Vows

I caught a glimpse of light reflecting off my wedding ring in the wee hours of the night.

I had been up giving Pop some medication following his recent shoulder surgery.  He has been a great "patient" but the pain associated with this type of surgery is notoriously excruciating and we had been diligent to stay on top of the pain which means round the clock medications and the patient sleeping in a recliner.

I was settling back into my blankets on the sofa beside the recliner and a small ray of light from the night light found a way into the diamond in my ring, refracting a brief but brilliant light.  As I snuggled in, I pondered the day Pop and I were married more than thirty-five years ago and about the vows we took that day.  When I spoke the vows to Pop I did so unreservedly..."for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, so long as we both shall live"...of course at a tender young age at the beginning of marriage, the understanding of what those vows truly mean is severely limited...I just knew that I meant what I said with all my heart, all my mind, and all my being.

Pop and I have been tested so much less than many couples and while we have no idea what the future will bring; the vows still stand.  They are unconditional. Whatever comes, with God's grace and the help that only He can provide, we will figure it out.  We don't have to do it alone and for that I am eternally grateful.

Pre-Surgery To Do List

As you know, Pop is facing shoulder surgery.  He is one tough guy.  I am convinced that a lesser man would have already undergone the procedure but Pop (with his surgeon's permission) is doggedly completing the tasks on his "Pre-Surgery To Do List".  He is nearly there.  We have been blessed with family and friends who have chipped in to help.

When we began the main floor renovation, we could not have dreamed that the pace we were planning would have to be accelerated due to injury.  We were thinking that we would just chip away at it.  We planned to still "have a life" while we were rebuilding...after all, we have our living space in the basement that is comfortable and don't have to live in the sawdust.  When Pop learned he was facing surgery we knew we had to at least put things together enough that we wouldn't be heating all our acreage this winter with propane.  Because of the progress we had already made in tearing things down, we really had no wise choice but to "button things" up with insulation and sheetrock...so that is the goal.  If we had had it our way, we would have taken our time and done most of the work on our own.  Instead, God chose another way to rebuild our house and with His grace we are almost to get it done with the help of our precious family and friends.  We are blessed and we are grateful!  The Lord is indeed building the house and we give Him the glory.  Our prayer is that it will be used to honor God and be a blessing to all who come here.

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.