Porch painting

Before we can have our Minnesota company in October we would like to finish up the projects.  We bought our house in 1998, just after Kayla turned two.  It was a house that needed a lot of attention on the inside, but we were determined to fix it up beautiful.

We bought it full of ideas and determination.

We wanted to paint the outside, but started with the porch.  I wanted a red house, but was a bit afraid to do the whole thing.  So we started with the porch, if I liked it a year later we would paint the rest.  In that year we both lost our jobs and just about lost the house.

It took us years to dig out of that financial mess.  But, now we finally are able to tackle the outside.

 

So this morning, I started the big job.  I got out the paint and tarp and started the big job.  My two supervisors kept me company as I started.

I got the first coat on, up to the door before lunch.  Kyle, is a perfect painter.  He has a steady hand and does an expert job.  So, I'm always a bit nervous when I paint because he notices all my imperfections.  I decided to use the paint pad.  Things started off a bit rocky as too much paint dripped down the wall and splattered my tarp.  Phew! So glad I put down the tarp.  Once I got the painted pad figured out, things went well for a while.  Then I got to the corner.  I was working at the top of the ladder and I hit the release button some how and the paint pad plummeted off the handle and landed with a splat on the tarp.  Ugh!

Then I couldn't figure out how to put the pad back on.  So feeling pretty stupid, I switched over to the roller, which doesn't work as well, I finished the corner.  I decided I'd take a break for a bit and look up how to put a paint pad on the handle.  So much for being a carpenter's granddaughter!

Projects

Chaos is something that I am weak at.  I don't like it, it bothers me down to the core.  It makes me want to scream.  Chaos is always what it looks like when you are in the middle of projects.  Home, work, personal...doesn't matter.  We are starting to pull out of the darkest before the dawn hour...but still a little bit of chaos.

Here is before on the porch...

...and the almost, but not quite finished...

The patio before....

....and the almost not quite finished...

The roof before....

...and almost finished...

With everything we do there are gospel lessons to be learned.  I notice that just before we finish one project, right when it is at it messiest, we snap.  We start to break down and maybe even get a little cranky.  We are tempted to give up, quit.  Then we reach down into the deepest hidden reserve and we press forward with faith that we can get it done.  We endure the bone weary tiredness and continue.  Then we get to finish that part.
 Done.
Accomplished.
Beautiful.
We get to rest from our labors, not because we are perfectly finished, but because we are done with that project.  Not the whole project.

We need to look at our gospel journey in the same sense.  We can complete a trial and be happy with our progress.  We can enjoy the new line of understanding for a season.  We can be happy.  Having faith, pressing forward, mustering up courage, and enduring takes time.  Results are worth the efforts.  Prayers, fasting, taking the sacrament, serving, scripture study  and believing are our keys to being able to reach down in the midst of the temptation to quit and press forward because the end result is awesome!

Kick back and enjoy the view because this life is awesome.

A Wild Nineteen Years

 

This young lady turned 19 on Sunday.  Last year of the teens at the Crawford Clan.  She is going to start dog training school in one month and then is ready to fly the coop.  She is not quite sure where she is headed, but she wants to get an apartment with a couple of friends.  (sigh)  I know it is time, but she's the last one. (sigh)

True to Kayla's nature she wanted to visit the zoo on her birthday.  So we picked Monday, so it wouldn't be too busy.  We were right, it was a beautiful day.

 I couldn't resist the tortoise and the hare picture.  I think the hare is in the lead right now.

 Our favorite exhibit was the gorillas.  This guy was swinging around the enclosure and strutted his stuff right in front of us.

It was hard to get a picture of his face because he kept looking away from us, but he was impressive.  Kyle still thinks he could beat him in an arm wrestling competition.  Ha!

 

The koalas seemed extra cuddly to me.

 The kangaroos were in this enclosure that you could go into and walk around with them.  There were at least a dozen if not two hopping around.  And some cute little Joeys too.

 I was extra excited to see the polar bears, but they were not anywhere near the pool where I was hoping to get an underwater shot.  They were really hiding from the public.

But, the big brown bears were out playing in full force.  They are quite massive.  It would be very scary running across one of these in the wild.

 

 The lion and lionesses were very lazy, lounging around on this old plane in there exhibit.

 The big guy was too surrounded to get a shot, but I did get a pic of his paw.  Massive.

 It was around noon when were in the Asia area of the zoo, and the heat made it feel like we were on the Serengeti with them.

We got to watch a Cheetah show while there.  They brought out this fluffy ball on a string around the watering hole.  It was attached to a machine pulley.  They had the cheetah chase the ball around the watering hole to demonstrate how fast they are.  She was amazing to watch.

I still want to see a moose in the wild, but it was fun getting to look at her at the zoo.

They also just got a baby bull moose who was orphaned in Minnesota.  I want to come back and see him in a couple of years when his big antlers are on.

 

It was a fun day with the Fidgit.  I can't believe she is so grown up.  She has been a joy to raise.  She has been so sweet and loving since she was little.  She doesn't like to make her dad angry so has always tried really hard to be good.  She seldom got into trouble.  I hope she has a lot more in store for her.  She is looking for Mr. Right, I hope he is a great one.

Happy Birthday, little one.  You're only little in stature now.  (sigh)