The Bench

This video covers the mostly finished workbench that my father and I built a few weekends ago. It's indescribably nice to have something like that to work on/with in the basement!

Sorry for the poor quality; I'm going back to the larger video size on future videos to fix that.

Bathroom Update 2

This video covers the next round of work on the bathroom window and cabinet.

Bathroom Update

I decided to go forward with videos, but reduce the size of the image for faster uploading and viewing--let me know which size works better for you all. This video covers some of the latest happenings in the bathroom, to be continued in later videos.

Latest Goings-on at the House

While Cheryl is counting her blessings, I'm counting projects. I need to get some pictures up, so look on Picasa soon for those. The 4'x8' workbench is complete: framed with 2x6s and topped with 2 sheets of 3/4" MDF (yes, a 1.5" thick top) that are drilled, countersunk and screwed to the frame with 3" deckmates--this table is SOLID. It has been a huge blessing (hey, there's one, I'll count that!) on the projects I've been undertaking. To have a large, flat, solid work surface is impossible to overstate.

I am well into building the built-in cabinet in the bathroom. Right now, the face frame is about complete and ready for shelves, two doors and two drawers. To go any further I "need" a router table, so I've begun installing that into the workbench. Tonight I'll install electric onto the perimeter of the bench (no more unplugging and replugging every tool, every tool change!). Then I'll rout the recess for the router plate, make a fence and install the t-tracks and miter-track.

I won't be able to finish the cabinet before we install the tile and heating mats since the tile will run under the footprint of the cabinet, so for now I am leaving the bottom 18" or so open. I can still do the rest, and just build and install the two bottom drawers after the floor.

Sobering

The other therapist that I work with is being let go this Friday. Our facility is really low on kids and can't afford to keep two therapists. She was hired a month or so before I was.
I am humbled.
There are no guarantees.
Life can change in an instant.
My security must be placed in Christ alone.

I have a much greater appreciation now for my job.

Counting my blessings

I've been a little whiny with God lately and have begun to realize how ungrateful I am of all of the ways that He blesses me. I truly want to have a grateful heart and am hoping that He will help me with that.

So, for this regular Wednesday, here are some things that I am very thankful for:

• A loving, faithful, just and patient God
  
• Will... quite possibly the world's most perfect husband!


• Heat... somehow ours got turned off at the thermostat over the weekend and it was 43 degrees INSIDE!!! when we woke up Sunday morning... it was so nice to feel that warm air flowing through the vents when we turned it back on!


• Employment... I know I complain about my job A LOT... and it is very hard... I am still very thankful for it... and more than it just paying the bills... At times, I get to be a part of some really sacred and holy moments when the boys let down their walls and allow me to sit with them in their pain and disappointment... Those are the times when I feel like I am right where I need to be


• Family... I have a great family! I wish I could live closer to my family and see them more often.


• More family... Will's family is such a blessing to me and to us. I am really glad that we live close to them. I love my in-laws! (And I'm not just saying that because they may read this.)


• Friends... I have very dear friends here in St. Louis and from college.


• 3 very silly and loving pets


• Sunshine... Oh, how I've missed the sun lately! It's shining in my window right now and it feels glorious!


• A house... It does need a lot of work, but it's ours! It is especially cute at night with the lights on inside. I love coming home!


• Will... did I mention that I have a great husband?! He is so handsome, smart, strong, handy, capable, sweet and silly.

I am truly blessed!

A girl's gotta eat!

Gidget, our 2nd cat, has been putting on the lbs lately. I have never seen anything eat like she does. So far the only thing that I have found that she won't eat is an onion (that I accidentally dropped on the floor.)

She eats her food, then Rory's and then even Maddie's. And anytime that Will or I eat, she is right there tugging on our plate or bowl with her paw trying to get a bite.

This morning I found her chewing on a nail. A real nail.

When we feed Maddie, Gidget rushes up and starts eating from the bowl before Maddie even gets a chance at it. Maddie usually waits a little bit before she eats and so Gidget takes full advantage of it. Maddie lays there and watches her and is very upset but doesn't quite know what to do. She tried barking at her and that worked once. She tried standing over her (to intimidate?) but Gidget ate all she wanted and then brushed up against Maddie's legs as she walked underneath her as to say, "Thanks!"

Maddie is almost 20 times Gidget's weight but Gidget doesn't seem to be bothered by that. (I don't know if Gidget is really brave or just dumb.)

Poor Maddie.