WWJD

Let me start by answering my sister's request that I post the daily devotional from Jan. 16th. (her birthday)  It's a good one..

Re-read it until it speaks to you

To love Him is to serve Him, and serve our fellow man.

Sunday was the big game, and I had a front row seat.  Saddly, Robyn wasn't feeling up to making the SuperBowl feast so we ordered pizza.  But we did have a fire in the fireplace, cold beer and a comfortable chair.  On top of that it was a pretty good game  What else could a guy ask for.

perfect

Monday we started putting together the booth for the Home and Garden show.  We bought two booths so we would have more space, and we designed the lay out of the booth to fit that area.  When we got to the Iowa Event Center and located our space, we were surprised to find that the two spaces were seperated by a giant pillar.  (It didn't show that on the blue print)  After some tense moments they allowed us to relocate to a better area.  We were next to the big landscape companies so we wanted them to see our pond cap.

they laughed at our pond...

...but not the cap

Tuesday I built a sweet coat rack to match the cabinets in the office.  I had an idea for a topper for the rack that I would work on later.

made with scraps

We also finalized the aggregate lay out for one of our clients.  This piece is over 9 feet long.

sheets of river rock

Tuesday night my sister stopped up to the bar to visit.

Lite beer makes her tense

Wednesday I was told that the guys at the main office needed a cabinet for their printer.  Yippy!  I get to make another cabinet!  I had just enough leftover maple to fabricate a nice cabinet.

coming together

I also used a little time after work to make a candle holder for Robyn.  She has some square, glass, tea light holders and asked if I would make a holder for the mantle.

a glass mix concrete

And I started my coat rack topper

difficult to cut with a jig-saw

Thursday we polished and stained some of the concrete floor at the shop as a sample for prospective clients

makes even the roughest floor look cool

We also threw together some stainless steel inlay samples for a client.  They are thinking of doing some long countertops.

all those pieces are in the concrete

Friday I finished the printer cabinet, now we need to make a top.

The grain is stunning

I also painted my rack topper... I think it is a real work of art.  

They laughed at Picasso too.

After work I presented Robyn with an early Valentines present.

C'mon baby, light my fire

We were supposed to attend an event for married couples with our small group but it was postponed.  The group decided to go out to dinner.  Robyn and I volunteered to go early and get in line for a table. (they don't take reservations)  We put in our name and waited at the bar.  The place was jumping.

they may need a bigger bar

Soon everyone showed up and we were seated.  Some of the girls ordered fancy drinks with names like 'Flying Tropical Turtle' and 'Gorilla Sweat' or something like that, near as I can remember.  I pestered the waitress until she took our picture.

all smiles

I kept my attempted diet in the back of my mind and ordered grilled salmon on a bed of wild rice with a side of broccoli.

tasty and good for you

Robyn ordered onion rings on a bed of meatloaf and texas toast.  I think she was teasing me.

Tasty, but probably not so good for you

While we were eating, my sister Debbie sent me a text.  She said my parents were in town, and so was my sister Sherry from Virgina.  After dinner I ran out to my nieces to visit everyone.  

Debbie, Sherry and Mom

Saturday morning it was my shift to work the Home and Garden show.  The booth looked great.

Getting ready for the show to start

It was a really good show.  I actually made some sales and got several leads.  People are awe struck by some of the things we can make.  I love it.

After the show I got a call from a friend, Nick.  I've known Nick for more than 25 years.  We worked together at one time and his life has had many ups and downs.  For the past 2 years Nick hasn't been able to get any work.  He is in a real bad place.  He asked if we could hang out for a while.  

I knew that the temperature was going to be near zero and he said he wasn't sure where he was going to go.  He was being asked to leave the house he had been living at and had no where to stay.  I called Robyn and she thought we should let him spend the night with us.

My very good friend

On the way home he told me a story that I want to share with you.

Nick is pennyless so he walks down to the employment office every day looking for a job, no matter the weather.  He also finds a way across town to my sisters everytime it snows to shovel her driveway.  (she dosen't ask him to)  On this day he gathered up some pop cans to redeem for bus fare so he could get to Debbie's house, because it was snowing.

At the redemption center someone left a cart with some cans.  Nick waited and asked several people if the cans belonged to them.  All said no.  After 15 minutes someone said it was Nick's lucky day and told him to take the cans.  They totaled a little more than 6 bucks.  A jackpot to Nick.

He walked to the bus stop but on the way decided to take another route.  He grabbed a different bus and at the very next stop a young man got on.  He asked to be taken to his destination and the driver said it would cost $1.75.  

The young man said he didn't have it and the driver told him he had to exit the bus.  

Nick stopped the guy and asked how short he was.  He said he didn't have any money.  Nick payed his fare.  Nick told me he thought he was supposed to be on that bus at that time.  I love his heart.

A buck and 75 cents.  Nothing to you and me.  But for Nick it was almost a third of everything he had.  Would you give a third of all your savings to a stranger who you would never see again?

...serve our fellow man.

That night my family came over to our house to play some cards.  

I just had a bad beat by the one counting his chips

Sunday we had to serve at church so we got up early and Nick came to help us out.  After church we dropped Nick off by the bus stop.  I told him to call me and we left.  Robyn asked if we going to pick him up later.  I said I hadn't planned on it.  She was worried about him.  Me too.

We went and met my family for lunch and then said our good byes.

That night I had to go help tear down the booth, it was a late night.

Monday at work we assembled the pond at work and got the showroom all put back together.

not room for much more in there

It was snowing again and we were short on guys, so I was asked to go run a shovel.  I mean an actual shovel.  With out exaggeration, I'm pretty sure I shoveled over a mile of sidewalks.  I felt like I had Popeye arms.  When I got home I wasn't excited about doing my own driveway.  

Debbie called and said she couldn't get ahold of Nick.

Tuesday he called me from JobService.  I asked where he was staying.  He said at a meth house.  He was staying in the basement keeping away from the drugs.  He wanted to know if he could stop by the bar and maybe play some cribbage with me.  (I could tell he just didn't want to go back to that house)

I called Robyn and told her Nick was coming to see me.  She asked if I was ok with him staying with us for a while.  I love her heart.  Nick is going to stay in our basement until he can get back on his feet.

He moves in Thursday.  We could all use your prayers.

...serve your fellow man.

Peace

Dan