Refinishing

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I’m looking at my holidays next week.

I’ve got a few refinishing projects that could be prime holiday time!  Our expected visitors won’t arrive until a week later, so I’ll have time to have fun refinishing the projects (OK, maybe only one will get done, but that’s  start).

One is an oak desk – homemade but with good possibility.  The other is a dining room table of undertermined wood content.  Both were obtained for rock bottom prices — one for nothing, the other for only slightly more!

Tune in again to see how things go!

24 hours

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Some 24 hour periods are packed.  With friends, fun and fellowhip!

Lois and Steve Gustafson are friends of over three decades.  Lois was a bridesmaid at our wedding.  We all went to undergraduate school together.

On their way back to Canby, Oregon, they stopped in Calgary.  We were invited to join them for an evening.  They provided accomodation (as it happened it was a suite at the Hilton by the airport), a great meal or two, and company that encourages and refreshes.

Well, as expected, Jill and Lois were a constant flow of information and updating (an nice way to say they didn’t stop talking all the time they were together).  Steve and I added our thoughts every once in a while.  The time was great — we ate, walked, talked — and then took a look at the construction site of Ambrose University College in Calgary (sponsored in part by our denomination – the Christian and Missionary Alliance).

Jill remarked that our summer has been inserted with surprises.  We have these short times packed with unexpected blessings.  In the past month we have seen our daughter and visited with friends from Canby — both trips that were not planned until a week or so before they happened.

Now, you have to understand that my life has been one of planning.  I have been employed as an administrator for almost half of my working career.  And now — I’m open to flying by the seat of my pants!  Years ago my boss, Dave Hartzfeld, impressed on me the need to be open to the unexpected.  I wasn’t quite ready to hear this advice at the time.  In fact, I’m not even sure the lesson has started to sink in until lately.

God is good!  Somehow in a year where our vacation was going to be minimal , we are benefitting from short insertions of holy days.  Periods of time God set aside for us without us even knowing!!

I was wrong!

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Jill and I have had a running discussion for the last few weeks!  Will we  have enough laminate flooring to complete the basement?

I’ve calculated as we went.  Jill has said, "Let’s see where we end up."

I was ready to buy more.  Jill figured we spend money only when we need to!

I say I’m analyzing.  Jill says I’m worrying.

We have three boxes left over.  I worry that I’m not a good analyzer!! 

Of course, I’m the one who originally decided how much to order — based on the area plus 10% for wastage.  We had less than 5% wastage.  

Rationalization, rationalization,rationalization!!

Jill’s right — a little less worrying wouldn’t hurt.  And yes, I was wrong!

Two Full Days!

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Our response at the end of Friday and Saturday?  Best summed up in our Saturday supper prayer — Jill asked that we have enthusiasm and excitement in the Sunday coming.  That is based on faith!  In reality we have both stretched ourselves physically.  Let’s see how God does (of course, I expect he expects us to get a good sleep!).

Friday we headed to our church sponsored children’s camp to help with cooking.  We returned over 12 hours later.  I am not a cook, although I am a Baker.  So, simple instructions about simple kitchen tasks!  I was asked to boil some eggs — and the head cook thought I would know exactly what to do.  Well, I made my way through that one.  I found life a little easier when I was asked to haul the garbage out to the garbage pit!  Meanwhile, the head cook is whipping up a recipe from her head.  I find that hard to fathom — but I know my wife does it all the time.  So, in faith I watched the food evolve to where I could gladly partake!

Camp fare?  Morning breakfast had home-made cinnamon buns, cereals, fruit, milk, and other goodies.  Lunch was lasagna with salad and dessert baked goods.  Supper we feasted on stew, mashed potatoes, salad , home-made biscuits and ice-cream sandwiches.  Now, I’m usually one who can’t remember what I’ve eaten.  And camp has often implied simple and non-nutritious.  Not here — try Luseland Bible Camp next time you’re looking for a camp for friends, your own kids or grandkids!

At home finally, we turned to a DVD that had been recommended to us — Shattered Glass.  A story of a reporter who "cooked" his stories.  What an eye opener about lying.  Based on a true story (which I remember hearing about in the late ’90s) I could not believe the portrayal of someone who was a pure "con" man.  Well done acting – scary story!  Great sermon illutrations!

Saturday morning I went to the church to work on my sermon.  Standing in front of the chairs, speaking out loud, always makes me evaluate what I say and how I say it.  For the rest of the day, and even into my sleep, I’m thinking about how to tweak the sermon — an illustration here, a change of phrase there — whatever might help.

Afternoon and evening we worked on putting in flooring in the basement.  It’s basically done (we have linoleum in one closet and some risers at doors to complete). This is where I have fun. I love wood, power machines and picturing how things look.  Over the years you learn a few tricks to make things easier.  In the end the floor looks good, the rooms take on a new shine and we will be glad to have relatives out in the next few weeks!

When I get into a task, I’m all there.  We quit around 9:30 or so — then we had supper! 

So endeth two full  days!!