CLEAN AND CLEAR

OK.  The Monday night football game didn't go so well.  I went to my sister's house to watch the second half and you can tell by her expression that there wasn't a lot of celebrating going on...

This football face has been common this year

But we are training a rookie QB and maybe in a year or two we will have a contender.

Tuesday at work I began running fiber optics for the large outdoor bar in Paton, Iowa.  The two lower bar pieces didn't call for a lot of fibers so that went rather quickly.  We then placed some red glass on the fibers for inlays.  When it is done the glass will be lit up at night.  It should look awesome.  After getting that started we got ready for a different install.

This piece is extremely large..over 9' long

On Wednesday we installed the powder room and master bath for the client we had installed the kitchen and fireplace the week before.

Top looks stunning with the black cabinet

She will have matching tile backsplash

After the install we went back to the shop and poured the lower bar pieces for Paton.  We have to pour the concrete carefully around the glass inlays to try to prevent it from moving.  Wednesday was also Robyn's birthday.  She asked if we could stay home from small group, rent a movie, put a fire in the fireplace and spend a quiet evening at home.  That is a birthday present I was happy to give.

Thursday I built and installed a door.  I have been meaning to do this since we opened our shop.  It was a door for the stall in the shop restroom.

Finally,  some privacy

We also flipped the bar pieces for processing.  I told you earlier that the one piece was big, as a matter of fact it would be impossible to flip.  But we are prepared for that, with our hoist.

Russ advises keeping your fingers out of the way

After a successful flip they had to go help pour a floor while I prepared for a template job.  While everyone was away we had a power outage.  I was in the back of the shop when the lights went out and let me tell you, although your cell phone helps when you are in the dark at home, it was no help in the shop.  I stumbled toward where I had last seen the flashlight and finally found my way to the front of the building.  I saw that the car dealership across the street had no power nor did the fitness center at the end of the block.

even with the overhead door open it is still dark in there

After about a half hour the lights came back on and I loaded up to go do my template job.  When I got there I was a little confused.  You can see in this photo that I had little to go on...

can you picture the bar?  Me neither.

I took some measurements but told the home owner I would have to come back later to template.   

Friday we processed the bar pieces.  Here are a couple pics.

a small row of pea gravel adds detail

it has a rock face edge also

This will be a sharp looking bar when complete.

Friday was also Canyon's birthday.  He turned 17.  He wanted to go see the Harold and Kumar movie with out adult supervision. (it's rated R)  That was a birthday wish that although I was not thrilled about, at least it was affordable.  Robyn and Canyon shared a birthday cake.

a lot of hot air

It so happens that Robyn's boss has the same birthday as Canyon and he and his wife asked us to go see a movie with them.  They wanted to see Couragious.  That is a movie I wanted to see too so we were excited to go.

Robyn's boss Rick with daughter Anna

The movie is Christ based and calls for all men to stand up and be dads of courage and valor.  I suggest that all see this movie.  They don't make them like this very often.  The message is clear.  I loved it.

Afterwards Rick suprised us and took us to a place called Orange Leaf.  I had never heard of it but it is a yogurt buffet.  You go in, grab a bowl and fill it with any number of soft serve, flavored yogurts.  Then continue thru the line to the topping area.  When you are ready you place your bowl on a scale and pay by the pound.  Check this out..

Mine is on the far left,  I may have went overboard

Saturday we felt like staying home and watching a movie.  We stopped at Walgreens for snacks.

Robyn does not like to be seen in the snack isle

Then we ran across the street to the red box to get a movie.  It is an outdoor kiosk and the weather had taken a turn for the worse.  It was freezing and windy.  Robyn gave up and ran back to the car for warmth.  I continued looking for a good movie.  I was having trouble getting the machine to accept my touch on the touch screen.  I was actually getting aggitated because it was not going to the right screen and it kept prompting me to add a game for 50 cents.  I started saying no when I touched the no button.  But it kept sending me to the wrong screen and asking if I wanted blu-ray instead.  "NO!", I shouted as I jabbed at the no button.  Would you like another movie before you check out?  No! No! No!  Finally I just said the heck with it.  I was getting frost bite by this time anyway.  I turned around and there were three families sitting in their cars behind me.  They were all very wide eyed.  I jumped in my car and took off.  I told Robyn I knew where there was an indoor red box.   I dropped her off at home so she could order a pizza and I ran to the convience store.  I noticed my index finger was feeling numb but it was dark so I didn't look at it.  When I got to the store and went in I Checked out my finger...

my "NO!" finger

Isn't it ironic that there is a "red box" at my finger tip in that photo?  Eventually the color and feeling returned.

Sunday's service was a new series called Clean and Clear.  It's about what bitterness and envy can do to our lives and souls.

the church program

We talked about how we loose sight of the blessings in our own lives when we start comparing ourselves to others and wanting what they have.  I find myself sometimes looking at things others have and desiring them, I mean who wouldn't want an Escalade or a vacation home on a lake.  But I don't feel envious to the point of forgetting how very much God has blessed me.  I have a home, two cars, a flat screen TV and all the other trappings of a comfortable living space.  I also have a job I love, where I can be creative and use the skills I was gifted with.  And most importantly, I have a family where love is overflowing.  My mom and dad, my siblings but especially my wife and son.  And that is the secret to dealing with envy, keeping the focus on our own blessings.  You may say that you don't have those blessings.  Well, if you are saying that then you are blessed to be alive and breathing, and you can obviously read which is another blessing, and the greatest blessing of all is yours for the taking.  Accepting the offer of Jesus Christ as your savior.  If you never have done that but want to, all you need to do is say yes.  It's that simple.  If in your heart you know that He is there for you then just ask him in.  At that moment you become a child of God and your eyes will be opened to so many more blessings you will not be able to contain it all.

After church we went to a couple places to find a yard decoration for Christmas.  We checked out a couple hats that we may go back and get.  We think they would be fun to wear caroling

Elfs rule

While we were checking out all the decorations I came across this ornament...

Seriously?

An Egyptian false god as a Christmas tree ornament?  Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking.  Anyway, the snowmen we looked at were a little pricey, between $90 and $120.  We changed our ideas to accomadate our wallet and picked up a less expensive yard decoration.  

So here is a before picture of the front of our house.  I began putting up lights and what not around 4 in the afternoon.

not much to work with

My finger started getting numb so I took a break and ran Canyon and Hai to church for the student services.  After I dropped them off I went back to the car and saw this beautiful sunset (another blessing from God)

breath taking

Then I went home to finish putting up lights.  The Christmas tree will be in the window without lights.

it looks better in person

I put the new lawn decoration under the window where the tree will be because thats where presents go.

new decoration,.. much more affordable

By the way, as I was putting up the lights, the Vikings lost again.  There's always next year.

Vikings fans should get used to this picture

Peace

Dan