Will We?

Will we look back on these days and remember them fondly? If you follow this blog you might remember that our small mission congregation purchased a church back in March, we moved in during Holy Week and celebrated triumphantly on Easter Sunday worshipping, at long last, in our own space! With property ownership, naturally, comes new and added responsibilities. Who will maintain the space? Over the last few months teams have been established consisting of dedicated and able-bodied volunteers for building maintenance; one to clean the inside of the church and another to mow, trim, and tidy up the church yard outdoors. By the grace of God our congregation has recently received gifts of a mower, a trimmer, and even a building in which to house the lawn keeping equipment! This past week it was the Goodneedles turn to clean and mow. We drove over there together; Mr. G got to work outside while I donned my rubber gloves and started scrubbing bathrooms (I like to get that out of the way first). Floors were mopped, the kitchen was cleaned until it sparkled, tables were wiped down, the vacuuming was done, windows were washed, the downstairs hallway was swept and, before I knew it, over three hours had passed!

I walked outside to find Mr. G. finishing up the trimming; it was a beautiful day, cooler and drier than it has been. I sat there in the sunshine while he used the leaf blower to do a final clean up and I wondered, as I relaxed from my efforts, will we look back on these days and remember them fondly? Will we recall, in the years to come, how we all pitched in as a community of faith and cared, together, for this physical space? I have never before been this invested in a church building; I suppose I had always just taken for granted that the bathrooms would be cleaned, the floors swept and the carpets vacuumed before I arrived for worship. Naturally, I knew that in former congregations we had sextons whose job it was to keep those church buildings clean, and landscapers who did the mowing; and yet, I can't recall ever thanking them or fully appreciating their diligence or the scope of their tasks. Mr. G and I were both tired when we drove back home last Friday. I asked him the question as we rode together: "will we look back on these days and remember them fondly"? He smiled. "I believe that we will" he responded, "I believe that we will"! 

I believe so too!

Thanks be to God!

Life is Good! 

Cleaning Up, Cleaning Out

So, the dust has stopped flying long enough on the home front for me to actually clean and mop before round number two begins. Ceiling work in our master bedroom resumes tomorrow. This is the state of our bedroom today, it is echo-ey in there! I took this picture so that I can remember what it looks like clean. The floor refinishing will be round number three. That won't happen for awhile, the moisture level of the wood needs to be dry enough. You can see in the right foreground of this photo how the boards are lifting up where they were flooded. Until that happens, all the furniture has been relocated and, albeit temporarily, peace reigns at home-- at least for today.

Meanwhile, we are in the process of cleaning up and cleaning out my in-law's home, this is a monumental undertaking; on many levels. Their home is large, it is filled with things: personal belongings, household items and a multitude of memories. Yesterday I spent the day in their bedroom, cleaning the cherry paneling with orange oil, it shines like it did 42+ years ago when my father-in-law lovingly cut each section and placed each board. I remember working on this house alongside my brand-new husband at that time, we would go out to "the house" whenever we had free time back then and help where we could. Yesterday I cleaned baseboards and bathrooms and windowsills, all the time thinking about how this home needs another family to fill it, it needs happy voices and love and laughter to echo within these walls once again. That time will come eventually. And so, the work continues for now; my husband's siblings are arriving to help. Cleaning up, cleaning out; my current "to do" list, one room at a time, both here and at home!

Life is Good!

Build A Bridge... And Get Over It!

Mason crossing Coral Rock Bridge; the dream project that he envisoned, coming to be.

Chapter Two

The boys were back in the woods bright and early this morning, bridge building takes time. They decided that wood "slabs", leftover from a major log milling following storm damage here a few years ago, would provide the perfect planking for the bridge floor. Knowing that, and actually hauling them back there were two entirely different matters, they are quite heavy. Step by step, one at a time, they were carefully placed and secured.

Mason was a big help, he handed Pawpaw the nails that he required, as he needed them.

Snack time... this team of builders is tired after their hard labor.

The official christening of Coral Rock Bridge, long may she stand!

Well done, boys; the hand rails and remaining flooring will wait for another day.

Life is Good!

Build A Bridge

Chapter One

Here's where it all started... where all good plans begin, with a drawing and a dream. Mason wanted to spend the weekend with Nana and PawPaw and build a foot bridge over the creek out in our back woods. The last one that he and PawPaw had begun together was swept away after a heavy rain. He had a grand plan for this one, with beefed up supports and even a hand rail. We picked up our grandson yesterday evening and bright and early this morning, after blueberry waffles, the boys set to work.

Trees were felled for the beam supports to span the creek banks.

Holes were dug for the posts.

A winch was used to move the trees out from among the other trees when they were hung up.

First beam support in place, spanning the creek bed!

Two beams in place; success! The planking will be attached to these beams for the bridge floor.

Logs were rolled over the supports and the weight load was tested.

Two happy bridge builders after a full day of work.

It's always a good thing when a plan begins to take shape;

the designer has named his masterpiece: "Coral Rock Bridge".

You might think that's pretty advanced for this little guy,

if so, you might be unaware that he just finished kindergarten; 

yes, it's true, he's a first grader now!

Stay tuned for chapter two...

Life is Good!

Where's My Help?

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
-Psalm 121: 1-2

Life is hectic lately, really busy to the point of being overwhelming. Too much to do, way too much! The demands come from every and all directions. It's not that I don't know how to say "no", I do. Right now the load is just heavier than normal. I have many responsibilities, I've asked for some relief and yet, none comes. I've been trying to step down as my church women's Circle Group leader for months now, no one volunteers to step forward. The congregational Personnel issues continue to simmer... a new hire is on the horizon and a vital committee member has decided to leave the fold! When I commit to something I want to give it all of my energy... and, naturally, everything can't get all of my energy simultaneously! Much of this burden is self-imposed. In a conversation with my Pastor he said: "You will continue to do the fine work in the kingdom God has chosen and empowered you to do. Remember when you were installed as a council member and officer your response to the question, "Are you ready to accept and faithfully carry out the duties of the offices to which you have been elected?" was "Yes, by the help of God." And God does help us all." It's true, He does; but He also expects that I come to Him when I need something! If I believed in tattoos I might have this one applied to my own forehead (in reverse, so that I could read it whenever I see myself in a mirror):
DON'T GET SO BUSY THAT YOU FORGET TO ASK FOR THE HELP YOU NEED!

~lesson learned~
Life is Good!