Wednesday after work I stopped up at church and helped assemble some old window sashes that somebody donated to the church.  They are going to use them for a set design.  The windows were old and the paint was chipped, but they are like Cinderella before the ball, I can't wait to see the set.  It only took about an hour but we made a pretty good mess.  I snapped a quick photo while everybody else did all the clean up.  (I'm sneaky that way)

I'm behind the camera, not cleaning

I told you a while ago about the concrete compass table we poured, well we finally found some time to stain it.  We used an acetone stain that dries in seconds so once it was done we sent it to the finish booth.

Shhh!  He's concentrating

We may mass produce these, the staining was the toughest part.

Wow!  That's cool

The client for the man cave job stopped in and decided that he didn't want any glass inlays so we were able to get that poured too.

After work we started the process of making cookies (again) because our friend who loaned us the cookie press we used didn't make it to the cookie walk and we promised her some cookies.  It would be a lonely job by yourself, but it was like the inside of the Keebler tree in the kitchen.  Lots of hands make for an easy job.  And a little rum and eggnog helps too.

A couple of elves hard at work

Monday morning we glued down the stainless steel inlay for Famous Daves.  It has to be glued down in reverse so it's a little difficult but I got it done.  It's glued then weighted down to dry for a day.

An intricate inlay

Tuesday we poured Famous Daves.  We had a problem that we have never come across before.  The glass fibers in the concrete mix decided to form themselves into little balls.  A couple of the guys got designated as ball pickers.  Their job was to locate and pick out as many balls as possible.

Where's the spagetti?

We were able to salvage enough to get the bar poured.

setting up

That night Canyon wanted to go put in an application (and get a present for himself) at the Nike store.  He would love it there because he could get a great discount on all his shoes.  He currently has enough shoes for a small army.  Man, he loves shoes.  One of his friends has a job at a big eletronics store and he says he can get us a discount on a dishwasher.  I think that may be a Christmas gift for Robyn because I don't like doing dishes... so really it may be a present for me.

The smell of new shoes makes Canyon smile

At work we got the man cave bar processed and sealed.  We will most likely install it next week.  Here is a pic of the fiber optic lights in the upper bar.

let there be light

Friday I took one of the trucks out to the main shop for an oil change.  We have a couple of full time mechanics to service all the company equipment.  Speck USA does a ton of work on roads, parking lots and driveways.  They have a fleet of sweepers, dumptrucks and everything else you can imagine.  The concrete countertops is only a very small part of the business.  

Anyway, while I was out there I went up to a garage on the edge of the property and checked out some wood working tools to see if there was anything I could use back at our shop. (I had permission)

I found an almost new band saw.  We were just going to buy a new one for form fabricating so this was a good one to get.  When the oil change was complete I had the mechanic help me load it up.  It was just like Christmas.

My new toy

Saturday we met over at our small group leaders house to...  you'll never guess..  give up?   We had a cookie making party.  Seriously.  It had been planned for a couple of months and I will say that I'm beginning to feel a little like Julia Childs.  I may know more about making cookies that Famous Amos.  As a matter of fact, if I can talk Robyn into helping me I might put out my own brand of cookies to compete with Oreo and Chips Ahoy.  I can call them Dan's Dunkers...  

OK, the name may need little tweeking but I think I might be onto something here.

Where are all the men?

Ah ha!  Holding down the chairs again.

Saturday night I was asked to bartend a private party.  It is someone I have done several side jobs for and   the only house that Robyn still cleans for.  I have tended their party for the last couple of years.  I took a quick pic of my bar set up before the guests arrived.

ready for action

Sunday at church the message struck home with me.  They talked about serving God with all we have.  Our hands, feet, eyes, ears and heart.  I like to think that I do, but many times I find myself serving me, because if what I'm doing isn't serving God it can only be serving me.  I think the hardest thing to do as a Christ follower is to get back on the horse when we fall off.  I fall way too often.  When I do it is very difficult to think that God would want to look at me, let alone help me up.  But that is His greatest desire.  As a man I can never be worthy of God, but when I accept Christ as my saviour, God dosen't see me when He looks my way.  He see's Jesus.  Because Jesus is living in me.  So when I stumble I only need to look back to God and he will gladly take Jesus' hand and lift me up again.

It's hard to imagine that God could want to use me for His purpose.  I look in the mirror and wonder what he see's in me.  I guess I am also like Cinderella before the ball.  To Him I am a beautiful masterpiece, and He says so in His word.  We all are.

The windows look beautiful

After church I ran over to my sister's house to put some transitions on her new floor.  It seems to take me a long time to finish a job over there.  This is the same floor I put in months ago.  God has really gifted her with patience.  I still need to fabricate a threshold for the entry door and I will try to get it done before next year is over.  I promise.

looks nice

I am going to draw this post to a close, but before I do I want to give you a challange.

Try to find someone in need this week and lend a helping hand.  It is the Christmas season after all.   God places people in your path, you just need to see them as an oppertunity to serve rather than as a speed bump in your road.  When you do help someone in need pay close attention to how it affects you.  If it feels good, and it will, imagine feeling that way all the time.  Now imagine helping others in order to please God.  Imagine how it makes Him feel.

Peace

Dan