Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
This particular blog has been on my mind for almost a month now. As we sit 4 weeks in to the most frustrating amazing home remodel I can imagine; it is long overdue.
Tonight, after a not-so-good day, I took a shower before 8 p.m. and listened to Jude read and Lucy chatter for over an hour, while 7 people who had worked harder than I for the previous 8 hours, sanded our floors, vacuumed our walls, and patched our ceilings.
And if you want my advice on how to have a secure and blessed life - here it is: never underestimate the value of friends and family and make a few handicapped friends along life’s way (they are never too busy and always happy to help).
As I watch our savings account dwindle, I am comforted to know that our relationship account is full. And if I have to owe a debt, I’d rather owe a debt of love to those who loved us first. One way to look at it is this: that this house has given more than 30 people ample opportunity to make an investment into their relationship bank (i.e. If they need a favor, they know well what door to come knocking at!!).
We know we will never be able repay the love that has been poured out on us, nor can it be tallied in numbers, but we do want to acknowledge it (and beg that you keep it coming):
Childcare 80 hrs x 4 x 2 x $2 = $1280
Manual labor 80 hrs x 4 x $10 = $3,200
Skilled labor 40 hrs x 4 x $20 = $3,200
Borrowed tools, donated supplies = $2,000
Rent, meals, ice cream, hand-me-downs, = $800
Advice, “I’ve got this friend who....”, and long distance 24 emergency therapy calls = $200
Conservatively - you all have saved us $10,680 this month - so - over a lifetime we could say, a good group of friends and family is practically (not to mention their priceless emotional and spiritual value) worth more than 10 million dollars.
You would be financially ahead to make time to hang out with some handicapped people in your community and really get to know and love the people at your church rather than work overtime. Just a thought...
This, does not mean, however, that I will quit avoiding our pile of receipts that has accumulated this week, which is only rivaled in size by our pile of used sandpaper.
P.S. If you haven’t been able to help on this particular project and would like to... never fear, I am sure we have many more needs in our future. And for those who don’t want to help - this is all still good news for you, because we hope to “pay it forward” - grace just works like that.
Please don't call child labor... it wouldn't make for a good week... besides, maybe this way he will take care of the floors (here's hopin')
One good ice cream break!
Ok. He really did work... some... he mowed the jungle lawn that we have neglected, and he was there to remind me of our wreck for the 5 hours thereafter. Always a cheerful one.
random fact of the week - it takes me the same amount of time to prime 630 sq. ft as it does to listen to the book of Ezekiel (7 hrs.)
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