Anticipation Is Often Thought Better Than Fact...

......But...not in the case of our beautiful new laminated wood floors.

This is truly a desire of my heart fulfilled

and I could not be more thrilled.  

UNEXPECTED MISHAPS & FAILURES

I don't know about you - but I am very glad that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God has, does, and always will provide according to His riches in glory, and not according to my ability. 

Let's be honest, there is NEVER a good time for some unforeseen, and unexpected, event to happen that we didn't have in the budget and were not expecting.  

Such was our experience last Thursday.  I walked out to the garage to get my ironing board to discover water running out of "somewhere" on the floor.  Because of the placement I came in and told Mickey, "Either the radiator on the car or the hot water heater is broken because water is coming from somewhere."  Issue #1 - Turns out it was the hot water heater.

My detailed, always on top of everything, husband checked to be sure what the size was, 40 gallons, before we headed to Low**e's to purchase a new one.  

We get our new 40 gallon hot water heater and head home.  We did have help putting it into the truck bed there but Mickey had to get it out by himself, with the littlest of help from me, when we got home.

He removes the old 40 gallon heater from it's spot and get's the new 40 gallon heater from the box.  Issue #2 - they may both be 40 gallon tanks, but the new one is shorter and wider, consequently none of the fittings, tubes, etc. are going to reach. Fortunately, we had some concrete blocks and a flat, square piece of lumber, and Mickey was able to raise the new tank to the correct height.  Yes, our God did supply.

Mickey got everything in place and ready to hook-up.  A friend of ours from church had called with the name of a young man who does side jobs, including plumbing, so Mickey gave him a call to come help us.  He was occupied on a job but said he'd be by after he finished.  Yes, our God supplied again because we had no idea who to call and Low***e's had wanted an extra $259 for installation. 

By 8 p.m. the new hot water tank is in place and ready to go and the final step of installation only cost us $65, a $194 savings since Mickey could and did do the bulk of all the work before calling for help.  

We had been saving for 4 new tires which are needed on our HHR so we had the $432 this little unexpected mishap ended up costing. I know somehow our God will provide the funds for those tires before we start having any flats or a blow-out. Yes, 

HE is our provider.  

The Saga of the Carpet

This Saga began quite a few months ago when Mickey & I decided that our living room carpet needed to be replaced due to foot traffic areas.  We were in a dilemma as to whether 1) re-carpet - 2) hardwood - 3) finish the concrete floors.  I asked everyone I saw & talked to their opinion of what they had and what they liked or disliked about it.  I asked my fb friends the same thing in a post.  I got a LOT of feed-back, and as you might expect a variety of suggestions.  We had first thought we wanted hardwood but then due to the cost, decided that was not a good option for us.  We immediately ruled out the concrete floor refinishing.  So that left us with carpet.  Then it was a discussion between Berber or a commercial style carpet..  We decided to look at commercial samples and brought home probably 12-15 samples.  After several days we narrow it down to 1.  We called the carpet people back with our selection and they came out to measure.  The man walked into our home, knelt down at the end of the couch and said, "Why in the world do you want to re-carpet?  There is nothing wrong with this carpet."  We explained, "Because of the foot path across the LR & down the hallway.  He felt we could get it out with cleaning it.  A couple of years ago we had it professionally cleaned and were not happy with it.  About a year ago I borrow a friends shampooer and we cleaned it ourselves.  Still not happy with the track area.  At the family Easter dinner we discussed all this with the kids and they agreed it might be best to try shampooing again. 

After MUCH discussion, thought and prayer we decided to buy a Bissel carpet shampooer.  Marc went in 1/2 with us on the purchase.  We purchased this on April 8.  We have been so very busy that we did not even find a free day to do the job until last Wednesday, May 9th.  The carpets over all turned out really well, BUT we still had a slight foot traffic path.    On Friday I said, "We were going to put down an area run, if we had done the hardwood floors so what about getting an area rug??!!!"  So off we go to look at area rug.

 Here is the 8 x 10 we selected.  The photo shows more color variation from the top to the bottom than is actual.  We both REALLY like the rug.

We saved so much money with not re-carpeting we decided to buy ourselves a new couch, which was sorely needed at the one we had was 14 years old and getting very worn.

 Our new vynal  couch.  It looks almost black in this picture, but it is a dark brown mahogany. 

 The new rug, and couch with the coffee table in place.

This is Mickey & my Mother & Father Days present to each other and we are so very please & happy.

The 14 year old plaid couch that you have seen as a backdrop in so many of my pictures.. We gave it to a wonderful lady from our church who had told me some time ago that if I got a new sofa would I give her first option of purchasing it.  I told her, "NO!  If we buy a new one I'll give it to you."  So God has blessed us both.

IT'S DONE

Thank goodness the 1/2 bath paint job is complete.

Note:  I even painted the little bird picture frame edges to match in the drark blue.

 Our before picture

 The wonderful finished results!

The new curtain with the dark blue

 Another view

My wonderful Mickey who finished up the job for me!!

I worked on painting Wednesday & Thursday.  I hate to admit it, but all the time on my knees almost did me in.  One coat did not cover it well.  So, as so often happens, on Friday Mickey said, "I'll give the bathroom the second coat.  I don't want you down on your hands and knees anymore."  I am so blessed by my husband.  He quite often has to step in and finish up some project that I so enthusiastically "start".

We are both delighted with the results!!!

The Hardest Part of Getting Older

Yes, one of the hardest parts of getting older is finding it harder to do things that require a lot of physical dexterity.  The last major updates we did to our house were in April, 2008 when we changed the wallpaper in our kitchen, and changed the paint color on one wall in the living room and dining area when we had French Doors installed.  Mickey had also repainted the exterior trim in the spring of 2007.

When we purchase our little home in Coweta in March of 1998 I just loved the little master bath with it's free standing sink, the flowery wall paper on the lower walls with white trim and walls above. 

Fourteen years later we were absolutely SICK of the wall paper and decided to paint over the wall paper with a dark blue which would tie into a dark blue wall we have in the adjoining master bedroom.

Here I've gotten it all taped off to start the painting.  I have a feeling we are getting into a huge job.  Just being on my hands and knees doing the taping was a major chore and my body is letting me know IT did not like that bending and being on my knees at all.

If the finished product doesn't  look too bad, I'll post a picture when we are done.

Wow!!!  How I long for the days when we would tear into any project both inside or outside without even giving it a thought.  I even painted my young girls bedroom with a 3" brush back when I was 27 and about 6 months pregnant with our first son.  A 3" brush ---- and didn't think anything of it!!!   Yes, the hardest part of getting older is not being able to do all those things you were so use to doing and could do so easily.

MOVING DAY - The Work Begins

The long awaited day has finally arrived.  At 9 a.m. on Friday, November 25th the movers arrive at the storage building where many of Marc's items have been living for the past 14 months.  Marc & I run errands picking up shelf paper, etc. and return to the apartment, where Aric has been waiting, just in time to receive the call that the storage is now packed and the movers are heading for the new house.  Marc & Aric and the dog leave for the new house.  The cat & I remain at the apartment & I pack up the last boxes of kitchen items. 

After unloading all the items from the storage to the house, which included the refrigerator, and washer & dryer the movers took a lunch break.  Marc & Mickey return to the apartment but leave Aric & the dog at the house, so the dog can become familiar with her new surroundings.

The movers return, after their lunch, and load up all the apartment items and all of us, except the cat who we leave at the apartment, head for the new house.  The cat ran away once since they've been at the apartment and Marc was so worried about that not happening during this move.

 Backing up the moving truck into the drive way for unloading of the apartment items.

The moving crew.  Why are moving guys always skinny?!!  But they got the job done in 4 and 1/4 hour and did a good job.

 Marc has kept very few items and is going to be buying new furniture.  Two side chairs, the antique chair he just bought at the auction last week, a flower vase and an old antique check printer sitting on the mantle.  Can't remember what Aric was plugging in.  Probably checking out some connection for one of his games.

 This is my fathers old antique solid oak desk and chair that I had given Marc when we sold our big home in 1997 when Mickey retired and we went on the road in our RV. 

 The desk alcove that I did not have a picture of in yesterday's post.

 An old Antique chest that had belonged to Aric other grandmother and Marc has been keeping for her. 

 The tiny little breakfast set that they had in the other house looks so small in this huge dining room but will do until he gets large new dining furniture. The chair in the corner, which you can hardly see, is the other antique chair Marc bought at the auction.

 Three concrete acorns and bench that will be placed in the yard somewhere.

My job was lining all the kitchen cabinets and shelves, all the pantry shelves, and try to get a few dish items in place so they can manage until all the boxes get unpacked and everything fnds a home. 

We worked 12 hours on Friday and we were all bushed.  We did take time out and had a lovely meal mid-afternoon at Olive Garden. 

Saturday we worked from 10 to 2 but had to leave because we had tickets to go to Dry Gulch and ride the Christmas Parade and have dinner with our small group.  We left the church at 4 and didn't get home until 10:30.  We were 2 tired puppies.

We'll go back some time next week and get the laundry (which has cabinets on both side), linen closet, and both bathrooms cabinets lined and done, 

Sunday the whole family came out in the afternoon:  Jacque, Benny, Dave, Mickey & I. 

What a wonderful time of rejoicing over this blessing for Marc & Aric.  I love my family and I am so thankful we get to share in so much together - the happy & the sad.  God is so good to us.

 

NOVEMBER 23, 2011 - Closing Day of Marc's New Home

Marc's New Home

Front Room looking into the Dining Room with the bar area of the kitchen cabinets.

Dining Room with door opening onto patio.

Kitchen view from Dining Room looking toward Pantry (with etched glass door) and Laundry (with door open).  The laundry opens onto the 3 car garage.  Stainless steel sicks and dishwasher, granite counter tops, ceramic tile backspashes and open above sink into the Living Room and Dining Room.

Kitchen view from pantry door looking to Dining Room with stainless steal & black gas range with microwave above.

The house is 4 bedroom with 2 bedrooms and master bath on the East -  Master Bedroom

Master Bath - the large tub is across from the lower sink.  Large walk-in closets.

The 2nd large East Bedroom which Marc is going to use as his office/game room.

Another view of the Living Room looking toward the large entry (there is another window right of the door that I did not get into the picture)  The small alcove to the right contains a small built-in desk with cabinet above.

The other 2 bedrooms are on the west side of the house and are identical in size.  This wing of the house will be Aric's.  The one toward the back of the house will be his bedroom and the one to the front will be his game room.

The main bath which will be Aric's.

Back view - To the left of the patio with the 2 separate windows is Marc's Master Bedroom.

Covered patio area opening off the dining room and backing up to the living room.  Double windows to the right is Aric's Bedroom.

Since these pictures were taken the contract called for installation of a wooden privacy fence on the right side and back, connecting to the post and wire fence to the left.

Yes, the closing of this lovely home was something very special for all of us to celebrate on Thanksgiving the following day!

A BLESSING & MORE EXCITEMENT - during my friends visit

Not only did our friends, Joan and Jim, get whisked off to Oolagah the day after they arrived but they were awakened at the bright and early hour of 7:30 a.m. with 6 workers on top of our roof, banging,  scraping and making all sort of loud noise.  Of course, we had warned them of this happening the night before when we all went to bed!!!!

Men at work at day break

Lots of noise and activity early on this October 20th morning.

The joy of all this is that they were completely finished by 4:30 that afternoon.  They had removed the 2 previous old roofs and replaced them with a brand new one.  The shingles are actually a rust color, to blend in with our reddish trim and the brown stone, but the sun was shining too brightly in this picture and it looks grey.

A better picture, from the back, showing the true roof color.

Now for the BLESSING part of our roof story.  MUCH to our surprise this brand new roof was covered 100% by our insurance coverage rebate!!!!  All we paid was $40 to have 2 extra vents put in over the garage.

Our God DOES meet all our needs and blesses us above and beyond just as The Word proclaims.