Is that the light?

Hello again to everyone.  Let me take a moment to take a breath here.  It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks.  So much has happened and we are so excited about it all (we can't not be excited because it is just plain old exciting.) 

Taking in the view

We have had so many visitors, it has been so great.  It has been nice to have distractions.  We have been hard at work that it is really great to have people come and hang out.  The first to arrive were our friends Lisa, Scott, Cocoa and Bella.   

Cocoa

They brought their camper, which was great because they were able to stay for a while.   Of course, as many of you will attest, we will conscribe you into slave labor while you are here.  Scott helped Tom pour the pillars for our porch and he helped him to make sure that the posts were level.  We are very grateful for that!  We could have had a very sloping porch, which would have caused us problems since the bathroom is going out there.   Unimaginable!!!!  While they were here my friend Sharon and her family came up for the day.  The kids loved it because they were able to hang out with their friends for a while.  Tasha felt a little homesick after Lauren left.  But nevertheless, it was a wonderful time.  Nadine and Logan played in the car, something they have done for always (it is quite cute) and walked along the ROW.  The older "kids" (can't call them that anymore really) hung out and explored the property a bit.

Next came my in-laws who had just returned from a trip out west.  Finally my friend Sue and her husband came for a visit when they returned from a relaxing weekend at a VT B&B.  It was a real blessing to have them come too, because Jim was not afraid to help Tom get some pretty difficult work done.  The windows on the main floor.  They are large and the floor is high up.  Tom was wondering how he was going to get that done without Sean.  But Jim slung a hammer while Sue and I clung to the window on the inside and prayed that neither would fall down 15 feet.  Everything went as well as it was supposed to.

Now to backtrack:  Ahemmmmm, (this is me taking a breath).  The house (I say house because it sure looks and feels like one) is coming along really great.  It is amazing how things come together.  Tom and I can just look at each other and smile.  It started with the septic system.  Thank you for praying!!  We are drawing up new set of plans, cheaper to install and easier to maintain.  Praise God.  The plans will be submitted and we will get them back in November.  A little close to winter and really cold weather, but God will provide.  Next the doors, which we needed to install to make the house warmer and to close it up for winter. 

Very rustic

Tom built a very nice and rustic door (now the jury is divided on their impression of the door, Sean does not like it.  I love it, Tasha loves it too and so everyone is overruled :)))  It keeps the cold out nicely and the window is wonderful because it lets in some light which we need on the north side of the house.  It is rather rustic and the door knob is a little bit of a problem, but the house is going to be rustic!!  So it will fit.  So, we were praying for God to provide for the septic, well  and windows.  We forgot the little things, which is understandable.  He didn't.  He knew we needed other doors.  So, He once again provided through our friends through the youth gathering.  Not only did they have some doors which fit our opening, they also had won at a raffle a coupon for mound sand and gravel.  They have no need for that, but we sure do.  So we now have doors ready to install.  Then the problem of the windows.  We just didn't like the price (too much) for the windows.  But after long deliberation and prayer, Tom ordered them and the shop gave us a great discount.  It was great.

Good old car

The same weekend we were in Keene to check it out and of course to go to Home Depot.  While there Tom found out that they were having a huge sale on insulation, I mean great prices, and so we loaded up the poor Subaru (I think it was getting a little bored for just being used as a means of transport and wanted to do some real work).  It brought the bundles of insulation safely to the property and then the truck (Sean's little baby) was used to get some more.  While waiting for the windows we started put up the insulation and it has made a huge difference.  We first felt it when we started doing the roof.  Almost immediately we felt the warmth stay in the house a little longer.  We actually sat on the second floor and watched a movie even though we had decided not to do that anymore because we were all getting too cold.  The warmth stayed in the house much longer.  So while Lisa and Scott were here I was at my best slave driving.  Natasha finished the insulation while I talked with my friends.  She did a really good job and stayed at it.  Her job was just to cut the pieces and Tom stapled them in.

living room windows

  Once all the insulation was in place the house was pretty warm.  Now that the windows are in we are nice and snug. As you can see, there is a ton of light coming in.  I is great.  In the morning we can see the sun rise just above the trees and that is just great. 

 

Because we had Tyvek paper and plastic up on the windows before hand, the light really didn't have a chance to come through.  But now, amazing.  It reminds me of our spiritual life.  Before we get rid of the self in our heart we know that there is something beyond our view.  We can feel some of the light and heat.  We can smell the things on the other side, and we are aware that there is another "world" out there.  We just can't see it.  We know there are trees, birds and leaves etc.  Once we got those windows, I was amazed and just couldn't get over the similarities.  The picture of all of us was taken with the Tyvek and plastic.  The difference is just astounding.  I love that Christ will give us that beauty once we are ready for it.  Amazing, but it is only once we are willing to get rid of that old self.  The self righteousness, the self pity and all the selfs we cling on to.  And it will hurt to get rid of them, but then again, Christ bled for us too.  It only hurts for a little bit, but then, sunrise and fall foliage!

Enjoy these pictures Tasha took.