December 2012

Looks like I'll be updating by month for the most part... It's amazing how fast this year is flying by!

“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.

It was decided that Marscel and I would go help the boys for a few weeks. The Sunday they came to get us we stopped for dinner at this neat place called Hu Hot

They have containers of raw meats, vegetables, pastas, and you put together whatever you want, top it off with their large variety of sauces and they cook it in front of you.

Looks like Jordan just wanted salt for dinner.

Before the weeks work commenced, we were given tickets to go see a Cardinals game!

Since Micaiah wasn't able to go with us because he had plumbing class Kate was able to come with us.

The most color coordinated stadium I've ever seen

Can it be???

Home Run!!!

This reminds me of the game the boy plays at the beginning of Princess Bride

This guy kept turning around and giving us all a high five when ever they made a home run and... when they WON!

The crowds emerge

It was a great game! I'm so glad you could join us, Kate!

The boys lay out the work to be done... this is B's unit.

The line of white you can see where the wall and ceiling meet is the natural color of the wall. It was stained yellow from the person smoking so much inside

We had to spray every square inch down with this nasty clorox stuff... at least it worked and made the walls white again.

Caught... hard at work with the papers

Marscel had to dig a hole over 4 feet deep following a crack where water was leaking into one of the lower units and patched it with this tar like stuff. Problem solved.

And the resident plumber arrives

While Micaiah worked his magic in one room...

I painted the next room as we listened to messages and talked the night away.

Underneath most of the units old carpets were beautiful wood floors... well beautiful once the carpet, tack strips and such were removed, and it was refinished

Matthew turning a concrete wall into one that can be sheet rocked in unit #9. These boys sure have learned a lot!

Clearing #9... Sometimes things look worse before they get better

Finishing the last of the cleaning in B's unit.

Once they had the sheet rock put in the mudding and taping began... one step closer to a normal wall...

...and kitchen. Since this unit was so bad the whole thing was being replaced.

They say, "Necessity is the mother of invention" and it proved true when Sunday morning came and the three boys all had to get ready at the same time in a very small bathroom.

Back to work Monday trying to finish the last two apartments.

I got a reverse farmers tan from all the sanding I did.

The Cabinets have arrived!

Mr Z came to help show the boys how to install them

We found out we saved a lot of time making sandwiches twice a week for three days at a time. It was like a puzzle finding room to make it in their little kitchen.

Mission accomplished... 21 sandwiches every Monday and Thursday.

Well we didn't quite make the deadline and get both of the units done, but the deadline met us and off we headed to attend the White Unto Harvest Conference

The road lies before in all it's fall splendor

We planned to go a day early to enjoy a wooded walk.

Matthew crossed something off his bucket list... learning to whistle through an acorn top

art

Papa and Mama Z

After two and a half weeks working inside it was so refreshing enjoying the great outdoors!

It turned out most of the "hike" was walking up and down stairs.... over two thousand.

Approaching destination #1...

The falls.

Apparently this is where a scene from The Last of the Mohicans was filmed.

Apparently I found something more interesting then the falls

Yup... couldn't pick my favorite so you get to see the ones I narrowed it down to

Ok, the falls were beautiful too

We were really looking forward to wading near the falls, but it was a different location then we thought and it wasn't very wade-able. I had to at least touch the falls though.

Lunch time

"It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.

I'm thinking there is more then meets the eye here.

Chimney Rock is in sight...Onward and upward we go

Those that made it to the top first became cheerleaders for the rest of us.

We made it... and it was so worth it!

Mountain top views just aren't the same in pictures as being there

Thing 1 and Thing 2 have been cooped up for too long...

The amazing historian and his lovely wife

Ben being epic

Further up was another view more secluded, perfect for resting and talking.

The descent begins

I like this picture... I like Micaiah

We stopped back at Chimney Rock for a group picture

Sometimes people say you're out on a limb... and sometimes you are.

I love hanging out with these guys... best times.

Here we have a super hero.

On the way out we stopped to wade in the stream and explore the rocks a bit.

We checked in for the conference and saw so many of our friends including the amazing Connie Mello!

It's like going to a big family reunion seeing our friends from across the country.

As always the messages were outstanding! You can get a set here

The network spreads as we meet new friends.

There were lots of new speakers that shared messages that were both challenging and encouraging.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen."

It was a blessing seeing how my parents have charted this course in our lives and seeing it in the lives of our friends too.

While you can buy and hear the sets at home it just isn't the same as going in person. You won't want to miss next years conference on the Worship of God

After the conference we went back to the Z's cabin for more feasting and fellowship...

And a rousing game of running pictionary to end the evening.

New England!!

I drove back to Massachusetts with the Eckersons to help Michael and Rebekah prepare for their move west. The great thing about driving are all the wonderful conversations to be had.