JESUS, OTHERS, YOURSELF

Sunday's sermon was the first in a series on relationships.  Specificly marriage.  How to help a broken marriage or make a good marriage better.  Jesus said "Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, love each other."  That kind of love is unconditional.  If you love your spouse like that your marriage can only grow better.  But you can also apply that action to relationships outside of marriage, like family or friends.  It will help any relationship become better.

After church I had to fulfill a promise I made the Friday before.  While Robyn and I were at dinner with Wayne he asked if I would put a coat of sealer on the mini freedom rocks in front of the church.  That would seem to be an easy task...

sealing with snot

The sealer was as thick as glue and hard to apply but with the wind whipping at 30-35 mph it was hard to get it from the pan to the rock.  I think there may be a patch of ground that is sealed better than the rocks.  And speaking of the rocks, they are way taller up close.  I could hardly reach the top.  But the job is done and those rocks will never get stained.

Afterwards, Robyn and I went out to see Canyon and Hai play their second to last soccer game for the season.  Their team is undefeated with one game to go.  It's kind of exciting watching them play.  (keep in mind that I am a Cubs fan and a Viking fan so having a winning team is unusual for me)

Some players wear pink just like the NFL

First thing Monday morning I took Robyn's car to the bodyshop.  It is right across the street from my shop.  They said it would be done Friday.

It's still dark when I go to work

After I took the picture of her car I turned to see this spectacular sunrise..

cool colors

Then I ran over to the rental place to pick up our temporary car

our roller skate,.. I mean rental car

Canyon's head hit the ceiling, even in the front seat.  I think we could get four of these in our garage.  And of course being a Griswald a light came on, on the dashboard in the shape of a wrench and another in the shape of an oil can as soon as we got it home.  After a couple of phone calls we were told to bring it in and get another car, but they were closed for the night so Robyn would have to do that later.

Tuesday at work we got this table ready to pour along with an entire kitchen to go with it.  The tile will match the client's backsplash and the pea gravel adds an artistic touch.

before...

...after

I think it turned out pretty neat.  The home owners are out of town so it wont be installed until next week.

Wednesday I picked up my buddy Nick and took him on a road trip to Panora to help us with an install.  He is currently unemployeed and looking for work.  We needed one more guy to help guide the bundles of fiberoptic cables into their holes.  He was happy to help and I was happy to give him some much needed cash.

the dynamic duo

Thursday after work I stopped by my sister's to put some shoe down on her new floors.  She is being very patient with me as it takes me a while to complete a job.  I still need to get her thresholds made and installed.

the only shoe allowed on the new floor

Friday at work we installed two beautiful fireplaces at a house in Norwalk.  The client came to our shop with two pictures of what she wanted.  Once they were installed she was delighted.  She told me she had picked out the fire places and then designed her new house around them.  The first one went downstairs where they also have a bar, pool table room and poker alcove.  It is a carbon copy of the picture she brought in.

down in the man cave

The second one went in the living room.  It can be seen from the foyer, the kitchen, and dinning room also.  The hearth is 8 feet long, two feet wide and over a foot tall.  Although it dosen't look it, it is the largest piece and weighs over 700 pounds.

another one of a kind master piece

On the way home I stopped to take this picture.  It made me think of the way winter is rolling in, like a tidal wave.

seasons change

The body shop called to tell me they needed to keep my car hostage, I mean keep it until Monday to finish it, so Robyn got to keep her rental over the week end also.

better than a roller skate

Friday night I went to finish the cabinets that I had installed.  I needed to put the drawer faces and doors on.  Once they stain the doors it will be an awesome bathroom.  Here's a picture of the finished bath.

looks pretty

Saturday night we went to a surprise birthday party for Chris, my co-worker.  We met at Saints where we have several of our tables.  Here's a photo of the gang seated at one.

PARTY!!  Woot woot!

The bar has two glass garage doors that can be opened to make a large covered patio.  It's pretty slick.

We had a couple beers and then I took this picture of the birthday boy.  The lens didn't open all the way but we all agreed this is probably what it looked liked the day Chris entered this world...

I see the head..

Sunday we were met at church by one of my friends.  He is really making large strides in his search for something better.  he struggles with fear and anxiety.  Sometimes he's not sure about the people around him so the service was good for him.  And me.  It is the continuing series on relationships.  This time they were sharing what Jesus says about treating your spouse (or family and friends).  If we look at others as better than ourselves than we will never look down our noses at them.  That is called being humble.  If we, like Jesus, take the position of servant we will see others as God sees them, valuable and worthy.  Here is a picture of my friend, Danny.

sleepy hitch hiker?

After the service Robyn, Canyon and I went over to our small group leader's house for a cook out.  Canyon only went because I told him they have a Wii.  We all sat around and talked while Tim cooked the chicken on the grill.

a snackin and a chattin

After lunch Tim brought out the bucket of yard games.  I eyeballed a game I hadn't seen before.  Ogosport.  It looks like a pool game but since I can't swim Canyon and I tried it out on dry land.  We currently hold the land record of 51 volleys.  I think Canyon enjoyed the day even without the Wii.

you can tell Im quite the athlete

Monday it was back to work.  I am building forms for a large kitchen, fireplace, master bath and powder room for one client.  I worked on those forms for most of the week.

The fireplace and part of the kitchen 

The product arrived for the fiber optic wall caps so on Thursday we poured them in the morning and by afternoon we demolded them and flipped them on to carts for processing.  Here is Thursday in photographs...

Cleaned and ready for concrete

freshly poured

demolded and cleaned up

ready for the grinder

Well it's getting late, again, and I have to work in the morning but here is something that Pastor Tom taught me and I think it is a good illustration.  Make fists with both hands.  Clench tighter.  Tighter.

When you think you have made your fists as tight as you can, clench them even tighter yet.  Can you feel your fingernails digging into your palms?  Are your arms sore?  Can you feel tension in your sholders?...  Now slowly, very slowly begin to open your fists.  Let your fingers slowly uncurl.  Can you feel the tension decrease?  Slowly open your hands all the way.  It feels good, dosen't it?  The example here is that when we try to do everything our own way, alone, it causes discomfort and pain, but when we open our hands to God and surrender ourselves to him we find peace and comfort and joy.

Here is the way to true joy..

Jesus

Others

Yourself

If you put things in that order you will find joy.  That is what I am trying to do everyday.  Look at the joy in my face.  Some may say I look mentally challanged but I assure you it's joy.

Joy

Peace

Dan

LIGHT THE NIGHT

I will begin with an apoligy.  My blogger went a little haywire and didn't let me post a couple pics last time.  On pic was of some forms I am building and it wasn't a big deal.  The other pic was of some fall colors.  It was a work of God's own beauty and I want everyone to know that if He cares enough to put that much love into plants, I know His love for us is unmeasureable.

Awesome

And as if that wasn't convincing enough, my brother is in Colorado and posted this pic of the aspens in the mountains.

B.. E.. A.. utiful

Well, last week my mom and dad came in town to help my sister, Debbie, with her garage sale.  I knew my week-end was full so my only chance to see them was Thursday night after work for a couple of hours.  They were preparing things for the sale when I arrived.  I tried to help by telling them to price everything at a quarter to guarentee it would sell.  I was quickly escorted into the house.

"how much for the coffee cup with the broken off handle?"

Once inside I checked out Debbie's new furniture.  It looks really nice with the new floor.  It is quite comfy too except Debbie picked out a chair that fits her and it is a little awkward for someone bigger.

Here's a before pic of the floor..

the old floor don't look that bad

And here is the after pic..

 

Where's the recliner?

My dad needed a place to sit and didn't care for the chair.  I went back out to the garage to find him.  He found a place to sit that he liked.

He begged all weekend to bring this chair back inside

Saturday Robyn and I Participated in the walk for the Lukemia and Lymphona Society.  It's called Light the Night.  My boss, Matt is very involved with the LLS.  He has been raising money for several years.  His father died from cancer before he met any of Matt's children and it is a way of helping other people not have to be burdened by this kind of tragedy.  This year Matt ran for Man of the Year for the LLS by having a six month campaign to raise donations.  He won, raising over 100,000 dollars and setting a new record in the process.  Just one month ago Matt's wife was in the hospital delivering their new baby, and on the very next day their oldest son, 4 year old Joe, was diagnosed with bone cancer.  His count was 97% cancerous cells.  We sent out prayer requests and so did his family and friends.  Miracously, one week later (after several rounds of chemo) his count was 0.0%.  The doctors are dumbfounded.  They have never seen anything like this but warn that there may be rouge cells so the chemo will continue.  We walked in honor of Joe.  Team Joe Mausser.

sporting our team colors

The walk was held at the West Glen Town Center.  There were several thousand people, all wearing colors to support someone they knew.  Red is the color for the LLS.  Someone dyed the water in the fountain red.  Heres a pic...

see all the red ballons in the back ground

Red for supporters, white for survivors and gold in memory of

Team Joe mausser had an incredible number of people.  It helps Joe as he goes through treatment to know how many people are behind him.  As we walked our group got seperated into several smaller bands.  Here is a video of me trying to locate Joe.  We didn't find him until the end of the walk.

Here is the only photo I got of Joe.  I wish I would have had my camera with me but I think Joe's smile still shines through.

It's a good night

Matt gave a speech, as Man of the Year.  He never expected to be walking for his own son and his speech was very heavy hearted.  It almost made me tear up.  Keep them in your prayers

Game face

After the walk they had a baloon release.  It was beautiful.  Some of the kids were reluctant to let their balloons go but that was alright, there were plenty.  Then as a finally the shot of some fireworks.

waiting for the fireworks

Afterwards, Robyn and I headed home, we had to work at church in the morning.  We were met there by my friend that comes into the bar when I work, asking if I will pray for him.  The service was perfect for him and me.  It was all about an attitude of gratitude.  They talked about being happy with what we have, where we find ourselves and who we are.  They played a video of a boy born two months premature.  he wasn't supposed to live but did.  As he got older complications caused the loss of both his legs, but he overcame.  He struggles daily but smiles all the way.  His attitude is of gratitude, thankful to be alive.  It makes me ashamed that I complain when my fries aren't hot enough.  His name is Cody and I will try to think of him when ever I think life isn't fair.  I strongly suggest that you go to pointofgrace.com and check out the service.  I think my friend gained some insight into his own troubles, but only time will tell.  He is coming back to church this week.  As my pastor says, "God'll getcha".  He pursues us all, we just need to stop running away.

Monday at work we installed the sink I accidentally damaged last week.  It looks fantastic.  It's called a ramp sink, I think it's self explanatary.

a perfect fit

Tuesday we put a couple coats of sealer on the reverse ramp sink I designed.  I can't wait to onstall this one.

one of a kind

Wednesday night we had our small group meeting.  On the way there I spotted this rainbow.  It was as if on cue because our study was about covenants from God.  The rainbow was God's promise to Noah that he would not destroy all mankind again.  So far he's sticking to his end of the deal.

After some MUCH needed rain

I told you about the fiber optic wall caps we are making for the mansion in Paton Iowa.  But I negelcted to tell you that the lights will be in the formation of constellations.  !6 in all and they should be in the southeastern sky through-out the year, just in the direction the owners will be facing when they are looking at the wall caps.

alot like needle point

Friday I tried to rescue the plants I put together this spring for the showroom.  We aren't gardeners at the shop but so far i haven't been able to kill this one.  This picture actually makes it look way better than it really is.

survivor

Friday night was date night.  But Robyn and I took along a chaperone.  Pastor Wayne from church joined us for dinner.  Good food plus good company equals a good time.  Here's a not so good photo of Wayne.

striking a pose

Wayne volunteered to be our designated driver so Robyn and I took the opertunity to enjoy some libations.

cheers!

Saturday we took out love seat back to the furniture store.  We have had it for half a dozen years but it is a flexsteel and they have a lifetime warantee.  You can see in this pic that the left side is listing slightly.

this may be the cause of my back problems

It started doing that several years ago so we took it in and had it fixed, now it's doing it again and it is even startin on the right side.  I know it is an old couch but it is cheaper to have it fixed than buy a new one (and I'm a well known tightwad).

Canyon and I watched a little football and then I went up to start the remodel of the masterbath.

I whistle while I work

This part of the job is fun because I get to wreck things.  I pulled down the mirror, took all the anchors off the wall, and cut a hole for a medicine cabinet.  Thats enough for one day.

out with the old (not me though)

It's getting late on a Saturday night and I got church in the morning, so I'm gonna sign off.  I want to leave you with this,..

Jesus said we will have troubles in this world, but we will never have to deal with more than we can handle.  We just need to know that when it seems overwhelming, there is nothing bigger than God.

Cold french fries aren't the end of the world, they aren't good for us anyway.  Cody wouldn't cry about cold fries.

Peace

Dan

NOT ME, HIM

  So I got a new Aussie Event grill a couple weeks ago and assembled it but it has been in the garage.  I was saving it to use this week-end when Robyn's dad and step mom came in town.  We were also joined by Robyn's brother and his family and this new grill has a lot of burner space which we were gonna need.
  Well Friday after work I pulled the new grill out to the patio and took the old one to the garage.  (Anyone need a rusty, broken down, half working, old grill?)  I took the propane tank off and noticed it was feeling near empty so I ran up to the gas station to do an exchange.  I got home with the new tank and hooked it up but when I turned on the gas it hissed out loudly.  I disconnected and reconnected the grill several times with the same results.  I compared the connection to my old grill and noticed they were very different.  I thought maybe it was missing a piece.
  I know that a law was passed in the United States several years ago requiring all grill connections to be universal, but this grill is an Aussie.  So here it was, Friday night and I had alot of company coming the next day.  I started to panic.  I called the 800 number on the owners manual but it was a recording telling me the hours that they would be open.  I called Menards, where I got the grill on clearance, and they told me to bring in the connector and they would see what they could do.
  I got to Menards and they couldn't find anymore of the Aussie grills.  It could only happen to a Griswald I told myself.  Then an employee spotted a box way up on a rack so they climbed up and ripped open the box.  It was a real struggle but after a while they pulled out the gas connector and...  it was exactly like the one I had.  Then a thought occured to me.  Maybe it wasn't a problem with the grill, maybe it was the new propane tank.  I exchanged tanks and of course it worked perfectly, but now I had no time to do the rest of the chores Robyn had lined up for me.  (Maybe I faked the whole episode to get out of work)

Saturday morning our guests arrived.  And this crowd is why I needed a new grill.

Suzy and John waiting for the fun to happen

Robyn's brother Mike and me chillaxin

Robyn wants to show Stacie how to juggle

Our niece Mercedes

Our niece Morgan (she's a bit of a ham)

Canyon and Hai wondering about lunch

As I look back on these pictures I imagine a cast for a new sitcom.   We could call it Week-end at Griswalds.

John and Mike made fun of my new grill because it dosen't have a lid, but that's the way they do it down under, put another steak on the barbi mate.  We played some yard games and had some fun.  The neighbor's dogs crawled under the fence and joined in on the party.  I think I heard Bosely and Bullit make fun of my grill too.

Bosely and Bullit cause a rucus

But all in all it was a pretty fun and relaxing week end.

Monday rolled around and it was back to work.  We installed the Pumpkin colored kitchen countertops, and they matched the copper range hood really well.

stunning

Unfortunately, I made one piece of backsplash an inch too long so we had to take that piece back to the shop for repairs.  The next day we went to install the bathroom sink we made to fit on the cabinets that I had fabricated.  Saddly, I slid the piece across a rock in the truck causing an unsightly blemish, so we had to take it back to the shop for repairs also.  My Griswald like week was beginning to get me down.

I found myself in a funk and was having trouble getting over it.

The following day we demolded another intregal sink I designed for a client.  Chris worked his magic on it and it is ready to be sealed.  It is a shallow bowl that drains to the front.  The faucet will come out of the wall.  It's very unusual.  We used a black concrete with mirror aggregate.  Here is a pic so far..

it has a 9" apron on the front and side

I needed something to go well.

Thursday I took a road trip.  We drove to Paton (pronounced Pay-ton) to template a job.  If you don't know where Paton is, you just go to the middle of nowhere and look to your left and there it is.  I was suprised to see this magnificant house in the middle of a farm field.  Check it out...

A couple million, at least?

It is still under construction so I went in to check it out.  All the trimwork is being done in imported Austrailian wormy chestnut.  It is beautiful wood.  They are milling all the trim on site.  Being a trim carpenter myself I was truely amazed.  Here are a couple pics of some of the woodwork being done.

part of the wine cellar... incredible

And of course being a bartender also I had to have a pic of the hand crafted bar..

I think it needs a concrete top

But the job I was there to template was outside, by the pond.

the little patio out back

We are putting a fiber optic lighted cap on the wall next to the pond.  It's about 40' long.  I laid out clear plexi glass on top of the brick wall and traced it.  Sounds simple enough but the wind was blowing about 35 to 40 miles per hour and it was difficult to keep the plexi from going air borne.  Once back to the shop I began forming the caps.  It is a little complicated but it's going to be very cool when done.

not as easy as it looks

  You know, struggling with my grill frustrated me.  I was asking, why me?  Why now?   Then making mistakes on a couple of installs had me feeling like a failure.  And seeing that awesome house, where they are importing all that expensive wood made me wish I had that kind of money and ask why not me?
  It's ironic that my friend came into the bar last Tuesday night (the one who had thoughts of suicide) and was looking for prayers.  He was having trouble dealing with fears.  It just so happened that the study our small group is doing, the last few days of my daily devotional and the the past two services at church are all dealing with these issues.  They are issues that we all fight with on a daily basis.
  I prayed for my friend to realize that all his fears are the devil's handiwork.  I asked that he would see Jesus' love for him and know the confidence that the Lord puts in him. Then I told him that all the worries, anxieties and fears he was feeling are only being manifested because he chooses to do so.  At that point I realized that I was dragging myself down that same path.
  I was frustrated because my grill was causing me problems when I should be thankful that I can afford to buy a fancy new grill.  And because I made a couple mistakes on installs certainly dosen't make me a failure.  As a matter of fact I am involved in work that is one of the primier concrete countertop manufacturers in Iowa, and maybe nationally.  I am good at what I do.  Thank you God.  And as for wishing for the money that others have?  Just because someone has truck loads of money dosen't make them happy.  God has provided me with all that I need.  That dosen't mean I can't have nice things, it only means that happiness isn't in what I own, it is in who God made me.  I am His masterpiece, and so are you.  He made us the way we are and he has a purpose for who he made.  When we realize that God loves us as we are, it dosen't matter what others think.  I wouldn't trade my wonderful life for all the millions that home owner has.

God does provide for those who love him.

If God makes this so beautiful, why wouldn't he make us more so?

Peace

Dan