Footer is done!

Well, we are on our way up. Kenny and company came by on Wednesday and did their usual fantastic job as they finished up the footer. It feels good to see the size the house will be. It is easier to picture what the final product will look like.
We hope to start the walls next week and also get the plumbing in the basement done soon.
You can also see in the top picture that we finished the stucco on the garage. It is great to have that done.

Crossing the desert

As a good friend and Christian Brother recently reminded me, there are many examples of God's chosen children going on journeys through the desert. Some made it all the way through and came out better for the experience. Others never seemed to learn from the experience as they wandered endlessly or bailed out early.
As we make our way through our personal desert I can only pray that we hold the course, learn from the adventure and make our way to the other side better for the experience.
We have already had some great experiences and some bad ones. We have had disappointments and we have had people step up to encourage us.
For all the world to know, I want to thank my dad for all he has done. The last year has been amazing, whether calling games or pounding nails, I have come to love and respect him more than I ever thought possible. I only pray I will learn from his example and be as good a father someday.
I am also thankful to my mom for always being ready to help and to listen. I have been blessed with the best parents in the world and even though I wasn’t always thankful I truly am now!
Speaking of family, I am also thankful for my uncle. He has helped us at every turn, but I am more thankful to have just gotten to know him and Aunt Jean better. They are all amazing people who give without any thought of being repaid and always do it cheerfully.
You are all a true example of what family is!!!
To all of our wonderful friends, to Scott, to Keri, to Brit, to Pastor Cook and our church family, to so many of you, way too many to mention all of you by name, I thank you also. Whether it is a word of encouragement, an offer to help or even an offer for a short escape from the chaos, I want you to know it is greatly appreciated.
We are very grateful to Melissa’s family for giving us a place to live while we are building. They have also been a great help with the girls when we are working.
Finally I want to thank my wife and daughters. The girls are still young but they light my heart with their smiles and their voices. I love being a dad. It is truly an amazing thing.
And Melissa, with everything you have been put though you are still a pillar. You stand strong despite having experienced some terrible things neither of us expected. Through it all you amaze me with your strength and conviction. You are an amazing example of a Christian, a mother and a wife. Stay strong kiddo and by the Grace and Strength of GOD we will get through this as a family.
Bitterness and defeat will not prevail! We will cross this desert! The plan is to smile and keep smiling we will!

Stucco almost complete

Well, Dad, Melissa and I finished the dark color coat of the stucco on Tuesday. The only things left to do to the garage are the light color coat around the doors and the front gutter. And of course electrical. That has been an learning experience and a life lesson all rolled into one. Maybe we will just stay in the dark.
Aunt Jean let us borrow her cart to move water and my cousin Tammy and her husband Tony helped us out with some rebar and a trailer so that is one more step done, again I say Thank God for Family!
Our Brother in Christ Kenny and his crew got the basement footer started yesterday so we are moving forward on the house also. Kenny is the best around so we should have an awesome footer by next week sometime.
God Bless!!!

Done with dirt

It should read "Done with dirt, for a little while" I am afraid the backhoe will return soon. I guess that is a good thing though. That means we are moving forward. For now we are done with the hole in the ground. Melissa and Uncle George (with Mara's help) finished the dirt work the day after memorial day. I was at work but from what I hear my dad moved as much dirt with a shovel and wheelbarrow as they did with the backhoe. At least that is what Melissa said.
As soon as we get the permit Kenny, our super concrete guy will pour the footers and we will be running again. The goal is to have the outside stuff done by the time the cold weather hits. We will see, we are already behind and are still having trouble in some areas.
The fact that I keep getting sick isn't helping. I was down again last weekend, on my birthday and anniversary no less.
The other thing slowing me down is my new job, more on that after it becomes official on July 1.
Sorry the pictures are so late, not much else to report. hopefully there will be tons of progress coming soon!!!