GRISWOLD STRIKES AGAIN

The Sunday service was notable for me because it was about the first king of Israel, Saul.  It was interesting to me because he was a man who wanted to follow God, but often took things into his own hands thinking he knew better.  (sounds alot like me).  It didn't end well for Saul.  You can check out the message at pointofgrace.com.   After service, Tom told me he was praying for us and asked me to fill him in on what was going on with us.  I told him I would do that later but to keep asking God what plans He had for Robyn and I.

Pastor Tom makes it relevant again

Sunday night was the beginning of a really tough series of work shifts for Nick, and me.  His hours for the next three days would be 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.   I took him to work and went home to get some sleep.  Here is what I look like at three in the morning..

joyful

Monday at work was tough.  Besides being very tired my knee was still in pain.  But we had a big install to do in Oskaloosa.  We loaded up the trailer and headed out on the high way.

Keep on Trucking

Once we arrived, each of the seven pieces had to be transfered to a small cart and rolled through the yard around to the back entry.  A distance equal to a football field up and down hills.  It was exhausting.

break time

When it was all said and done the pieces fit perfectly.  I don't know that it could have gone any smoother.

now that's cool

That evening I made the decision to let Nick drive himself to work even though he has no liscense.  I just knew that Tuesday was going to be a long day with my regular job and bartending, so I justified it.

Tuesday at work I got the Gilbert job preped for the client.  She was going to come in Wednesday morning and lay out some glass inlays.  We love to have people be involved in the process because it makes it more personal for them.  

Then I was asked to make another fire pit cap.  Another client saw the one we did last week and was going to have one put on their patio.

After work, Robyn and I made the decision to let Nick drive himself again.  In hind sight that was just asking for trouble.

I went in to tend bar and although I was not tired, I was bored.

Me and the Tuesday night crowd

I woke up at around 3a.m. Wednesday morning to use the bathroom.  I thought about looking out the window to see if my truck was back but changed my mind and went back to bed.  I knew it would be there, I mean what could possibly go wrong?

My phone rang at 3:45 in the morning.  In my sleepy stupor I accidently hit the cancel button, but not before I saw that it was Nick calling.  The thoughts that raced through my mind went from 'he's locked out' to 'he's in jail'.  I called him back and he was in panic mode.  Appearantly the truck just died at a stop light.  He was walking and pleaded with me to hurry and come get him because the police were driving by.

I found Nick, walking hurridly and very excited.  When we came around the corner I saw the truck sitting in the middle of the dark street and I asked why he hadn't turned on the emergency flashers.

His response?  

"I PANICKED, OK?" 

So with a little help from Nick I pushed the truck off the road and went to get more help.

I called my boss and told him I probably wouldn't make it in to work and explained the situation.  He offered to let me use the company mechanic.  Unfortunatly, he wouldn't be able to get to it for a week.  So my boss offered me a company truck to use in the mean time. 

The good news is, because of our Finacial Peace class, we have an emergency fund in place that will cover most of the costs.

what could possibly go wrong indeed

Wednesday afternoon at work I continued work on the new fire pit cap.  Later I met with the client from Gilbert and we laid out the glass where she wanted it.

The client's artistic interpretation

Wednesday night I asked my small group to pray along with us that God would reveal His plan for us.  I figure the more people praying, the better the chance that we will get a clear answer.

Thursday morning I poured the Gilbert job.  It was a small pour so I did it myself.

messy work

Then I was called up to help do an epoxy/ quartz floor.  In this pic you can see that we have already put a vapor barrier down and now we are pouring and rolling the epoxy coat.  The 5 gallon buckets in the foreground are filled with finely ground quartz that we will broadcast onto the wet epoxy.

just getting started

The picture dosen't do the job any justice.  The building is giant.  We hand broadcast over 1000 pounds of quartz and my back was killing me.

After we finished that I was sent to another commercial job where I was to install quartz covered base for another floor we are doing.  We were told the rooms were empty and ready for us.  Here is a photo of just one of the rooms, and they all looked like this..

empty and ready?

I spent several hours just moving everything and scraping drywall mud and mortor off the floor to prep them. 

But by days end the base was all in place.  Unfortunatly, being on my knees all afternoon was killing my legs.

done

To add insult to injury, I stopped at their vending machine to get a gatorade.  I put in my buck and a quarter, but this is all the further it vended...

I've been griswolded

I thought another buck and a quarter would give me two beverages but no, nothing happened.  I went to another machine.

On the plus side of all the pain I was in, my knee wasn't hurting me anymore.

Friday just getting out of bed was an adventure.  My whole body was throbbing.

At work I was asked to go take down the fire pit we had built for the new cap.  The client wasn't happy with the color block he had chosen.

a big load of wrong color

When I got back to the shop, I hobbled in to see Chris just finishing grinding on the Gilbert job.

It will look nice with the white porcelin sink and faucet

Friday night we stopped up at the hospital to visit with Dean (My nephew who's mentoring Canyon) and his wife Martha.  They were celebrating the birth of their son, Ezra.  We played some board games and then headed home because I was asked to come into work Saturday.

a new one to mentor

Saturday I went into work and helped rebuild the firepit in the right color.  It only took a couple of hours.

that is better than red

Then I went home to celebrate my birthday with my family.  Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you it's my birthday.  

Robyn stopped up to the HyVee to pick up a cake but she was told you had to pre-order them.  She begged the teen-ager behind the counter to just put something together real quick.  He said he wasn't very good at it and he couldn't do any writing on the top but he would do his best.

His best

It didn't look great, but it tasted just like birthday cake.

Our niece Sarah stopped by to drop off some of her stuff.  Waukee has a city wide garage sale next week-end and it turns out that we are having a sale in our garage.

the tip of the iceburg

Then Robyn and I went to Stormys.  They were having a big celebration for all the clients who had milestone birthdays this year, like 40, 50, 60 and even 70.  My own number is 51 but the party fell on the 28th and that was actually my birthday so I included myself.

it's never this busy on Tuesday night

It's hard to get a good picture at a birthday party

Sunday the sermon was very good.  Last week it was about a man who was disobedient.  This week it was about the second king of Israel, David.  He was very obedient.  As pastor Tom was preaching the story, I felt like he was going to call me down.  I felt like he was going to say that what ever God was saying, I should be obedient.  The feeling was strong enough that I looked down the row of seats to see which way would be easier to get out.  

He didn't call me down.

However the sermon was gripping.  It was so good for me to hear.

After church Tom called me over to say he had been praying for us and although no answers were coming to him he thought about calling us down to have the whole church pray for us.

That gave me chills.

I told him about Arizona and filled him in on what is happening with us and he said to just keep an open heart and God would reveal his desires for us.

It's hard to wait.  Maybe it's not Arizona.  Maybe it's not to move away at all.  Whatever it is, we will be obedient.

Peace

Dan

HUMAN YO-YO

It's puzzle time!  WooHoo!  See if you can guess what this is...

possibly my flexed bicep??

We arrived back home after Easter, and no real Griswald things happened to us.  

Monday morning I woke up to an aching knee.  I wasn't sure how I hurt it.  The bad news was that we had an install first thing.  I had the unfortunate luck to be the guy carting the end of the piece backwards, uphill.  It wasn't good on my knee.  But the countertop looks good with the copper sink.

looks modern and old at the same time

Tuesday we got the tops sealed for the out of town job my boss had brought back.  It turns out that going out of town was going to happen a lot in the near future.  

one more coat of sealer to go

I had to tend bar Tuesday night.  It wasn't real busy but being on my feet was bothering my sore knee.  I started remembering playing a new game up in Sioux City.  It's called hockey-football-basketball.  When I was trying to get a rebound Canyon came at me like a defensive tackle and checked me into the garage door.  I don't recall hurting my knee at the time but I think that may have sometihing to do with it.

Wednesday night small group was having a break from studies and just getting together for a game night.  Robyn was still exhausted from catering to over two dozen people at Easter and my knee was throbbing so we took the night off.

I miss my hot tub

Thursday we poured the big job from down south, in Oskaloosa.  It's such a big job we had to pour it in three batches.

like watching paint dry

Friday we flipped all the pieces onto carts for processing.  My knee was still bothering me.  I recall ramming my knee into a trailer hitch.  Amazingly it didn't even hurt at the time.  I'm wondering if that is the cause of my pain.

inlayed glass vein just below the cream

Saturday I decided to watch the Easter sermon that I missed the week before.  You may be surprised to know that I am such a geek, I have several different church web sites on my computer.  I watch video or listen to audio of sermons in my spare time.  

I ended up watching Point of Grace, Luthern Church of Hope (twice so Robyn could watch it, it's that good) and listening to a sermon from Lake Fork Baptist.  All were very good.

geek head quarters

Sunday was overcast.  All day seemed dreary.  After church the sky just got darker.  That was the day that several tornados hit Iowa.  Thank God we were not hit, but it did get very windy and it rained so hard I couldn't see the fence in my back yard.  I was a little concerned about the amount of rain.  I almost started building an ark.  Seriously.  So much rain came down so fast the sewers couldn't handle it.  Here is a pic I ran out and took of where my driveway meets the street.  Did I mention we have 8 inch curbs?

After only 40 minutes.  Imagine 40 days

 Monday we had another install, the one with the huge bar, firepit cap and bench.  My bad knee was still acting up but luckily we had 4 guys for this one.  It was a tough squeeze getting into the backyard, however the real challange was getting all the pieces set.  The home owner built all the bases himself and I don't mean to be critical but I've been in carnival funhouses with floors that were more level.

another awesome install

Monday after work Chris and I went over to my sister Debbie's.  She had sent me a text earlier in the day telling me she was struggling with her kitchen sink draining.   She was having a bad couple of weeks.

First, everytime she flushed her toilet it somehow sucked all the water out of her shower's p-trap.  We got that taken care of.  Next her car started making bad noises.  She had to take it in and get a rental.  Then her dehumidifier went on the fritz and with the heavy rains she is getting alot of moisture in her basement.  Now her sink wouldn't drain.  And I thought I was a Griswald.

We solved the problem of the sink not draining.  If you're squeemish skip this next pic..

never stuff a hamster down your drain

Tuesday Chris and I went south about an hour to Chariton Iowa for yet another install.  This was a two piece countertop, and the bigger of the pieces weighed an easy 300 pounds.  It was a tough install with my trick knee.  I didn't template this job and it was close to not fitting, but it is another job well done.

purtty

Wednesday we got the pieces for the Oskaloosa job sealed and we will install them Monday.   

now you can see the glass inlayed vein

Then we had to go to the country house because the client decided she wanted a glossy finish on her vanity instead of matte.  We had to plastic everything off and sand first, then apply the gloss.  While Chris was spraying the finish I snapped a couple more pics to show you the front staircase..

looking up...

..and looking down

Thursday I had to run out to Altoona to grab a piece of steel we need to install the Oskaloosa job.  On my way back I saw what I thought was the largest landscaping rock ever.  It turned out to be the answer to the puzzle at the beginning of this post.  It is a giant potato to comemerate 75 years in business for Idaho Potatoes.  I asked what is was made of.  Interestingly enough, it's a concrete spray on material.

you want fries with that?

I went in the shop to eat my lunch when up on the roof there arose such a clatter that I climbed through the hatch to see what was the matter.

Santa's geese, Honker and Waddle on the roof

After lunch I ran out to the country house to take down all the plastic and clean up.  The client's inital wish was for the countertop to not out shine the vessel bowl, but then she changed her mind.  Now I think they look perfect together..

A match made in heaven

When I got back to the shop, I was sent about 45 miles north to Gilbert Iowa to template a bathroom.  It is an incredibly odd shape but we know I love a challange

Friday I began the task of building the forms for the Gilbert job.  Being on my legs all day was killing my knee.  Along with the odd configuration the client is a collector of sea shells so she wants to incorperate that somehow.  We just so happen to have a rubber edge mold that looks like a coral reef.

getting 'er done

see shells?

Lately, Robyn and I have had the inkling to move to Arizona.  We would wait for Canyon to graduate but there is a desire growing in us to go there, however we haven't talked about it in more than a week.

  

While I was working on the Gilbert job I found myself thinking about Arizona. (working and thinking, I call that multi-tasking)  We have prayed about the idea but so far we aren't sure if it's us or God.  The move to Arizona is very strong in me, so I was asking God if he wanted just me to go.  Surely He wouldn't want me to leave my family.  Then I thought that if Robyn came to me and said she thought God was telling her to go to Arizona, I would drop everything and go.

Just then she sent me a text.  It said "I have been praying all morning about Arizona and I can't get it out of my mind.".  

Wow!

I told her that I was thinking of the same thing.  I have asked our pastor to pray to God what plans he may have for us.  I didn't mention Arizona.  I have asked that he let me know if God lays anything on his heart or mind.  We will see if it amounts to anything.  Who knows, maybe there is a good knee doctor down there.

You may have been wondering why I titled this post 'human yo-yo'.

First I went down to Oskaloosa then back up to the shop.  Then down to Chariton and back up to the shop.  Then up to Gilbert and back down to the shop.  Monday I go back down to Oskaloosa and back to the shop.

Getting the picture?

Going down to Arizona would be the ultimate yo.

Peace

Dan

MY DIFFICULT LESSON

This blog post is going to be slightly different than the norm.

Although I went to work all week and had some exciting things happen, and even more excitement happening at home, I want to take this time to share a story about my friend Nick (with his permission) but maybe more so about me.  I am not proud of this but if by sharing the story, if someone else can benifit it will be worth it.

my good friend Nick

Nick has been working the graveyard shift at his new job.  I know he isn't thrilled about the hours but he is proud to be among the working after over two years of unemployment.  Robyn and I are overjoyed for him having a job.  We were glad to be a part of helping him get back on his feet, he deserves nothing less.

Nick worked Thursday night at 11 and got off at 7 on Friday morning.  Usually, I take him to work and Robyn picks him up.  Nick decided to let Robyn sleep in and took a bus downtown instead.  He would stop in at the unemployment office and check up on his e-mail account, just in case a better job offer came in.  

It so happened that he got his paycheck that morning.  His first real paycheck in a long, long time.  He had made plans with me to stop off at my work when I got off and go with me and some work buddies down to a local watering hole.  He really wanted to buy me a drink, and I understood why.  He just wanted to show his appreciation for all Robyn and I were doing for him.  

I had suggested that he would be very tired from being up all night at work and being up all day waiting for me to get off work, but he said he would be ok.

At this point I am going to give a little back story.  Nick can at times over drink, and he has a bit of a reputation as a hard drinker.  I have confronted him (out of love and honesty) on this subject more than once.  With out a sorce of income for the last couple of years, he has slowed down considerably.  When Robyn and I offered him a place to live it was unconditional, except that he try to find work, put some money back when he gets paid, and no coming home drunk.

He has done everything as promised.  

Friday after going to the unemployment office he took care of a few other things and then stopped in to a couple of his old haunts.  It wasn't one of his best decisions, especially since he was running on no sleep.  Putting myself in his shoes, I suspect he wanted to prove, or brag in a way, about having a job.  I never asked him so I'm only guessing there.

When 5 o'clock rolled around, he was already a little tipsy.  We stopped into the bar we had planned on because they have a special called 'free beer friday' that I catch once every couple of months.  Afterwards we had planned on stopping up to see my sister Debbie who was working at Stormys.  We know a lot of the people there and have many friends that frequent the place.

Here is where the story takes a turn.  

Saddly, there are those at Stormys who look down on Nick.  Some told me to do him no favors because he wasn't worth it.  Some have spread ugly rumors about him.  Others just put him down with out regard for his feelings, but none to his face.  He does know about all this because in the bar scene there are a lot of back stabbers and snitches.  Don't get me wrong, there are way more good people than bad, but in this case I am focusing on those who belittle Nick.  Most people know by now that we have opened our doors to him and I'm sure they question my reasons.

By this time the alcohol that Nick had consumed was getting the better of him.  I decided that we shouldn't go to Stormys, but head home instead.  He argued with me that he really wanted to see Debbie.  

That's when I once again said something about his drinking.  Now, I don't want to sound like a hypocrite because I drink too.  I only told him I didn't think it was a good idea for him to go there in the state he was in.  I know he wanted to go and show everybody that he had a paycheck.  Sort of shove it in their faces, but in my mind all his naysayers would have only piled on with the negative comments because he was the same old Nick.  He's not.

Nick said something profound.  He said the haters would hate him no matter what.  Maybe so, but why give them fodder?  

I thought I was doing right by Nick.  I thought I was protecting him.  My words only brought tears.  I love my brother Nick and wouldn't do anything to hurt him.  I stood my ground and brought him home.

The next morning as I talked to Robyn about the night before, she asked why I even took him to the first bar.  I had no good answer other than the self serving answer of I wanted a beer.  I tried to sugar coat it and say he wasn't that bad when we first went, but in all honesty I should have just taken him home then.

When I further explained that I only wanted to save him any embarassement, Robyn said something that made me feel one inch tall.  That wasn't her intent.  She said "Yes, and save you any embarassement also."

I think under my thoughts to help my friend, I was only protecting my own ego.  I didn't want anyone who had told me to not help Nick to have the chance to say I told you so.

The truth is that even though Nick may have stumbled, he is doing great, and I couldn't be more proud of him.  I have expressed all this to Nick and apoligized, he says he has already forgotten about it and want's to just move forward.

On top of all this, the daily devotional on Saturday spoke hard into my heart.  Following is a pic of that day.  Pay close attention to number 2.  I should be holding Nick up on my shoulder not hiding him, he deserves nothing less.

I have been weighed, and been found wanting

Lord, I pray that you will grant me humbleness and wisdom so that I can make decisions that are not self centered but honor you.  In Jesus name, amen.

Peace

Dan

JUST REMEMBER

Thank you for your prayers.  My mom is on the mend and brother Steve is on the road to recovery.


Saturday Robyn and I went for a walk.  My battle with the weeds had been raging for three days now and she knew I needed a break.  As we walked along we wandered past a yard where all the other dandylions were.  I had to take a photo

the reinforcements

This actually makes my yard look good.   But I still have a bunch of weeds to pick.

We stopped for a photo op during our walk

Sunday morning it was off to church.  This was our first week in a month that we didn't have to get up early and serve the coffee.  It was nice to go to second service

another beautiful day at Point of Grace

The message is the continuing series of the whole story in the Bible.  Today we studied the beginning of the battles.  When the promised land was taken.  By faith they waged war the giants in the land and won miraculous battle after battle.  It helps me realize that with faith I can fight the giants in my own life.

After church I continued one of those battles...

a bag of dead giants

Then we decided to grill out.  BBQ chicken, yum.

grilling to perfection

We opened a bottle of wine and watched the world go by..

this is how I like to camp out

Monday I had an install to do.  I took the vanity to the country house.  Just so you can get a glimpse of the ornate wood work in this house, I took a picture of some benches they had built to go by their pool table..

no,..  seriously

I can tell you that the guy helping me do the install never wants to hear the phrase 'dry run' again.  We lifted the face piece into place maybe a dozen times.  But actually all the pieces fit perfectly.  I couldn't have been happier with the way the install went.  When the caulk dries (it will be clear) the vanity will be awesome.

I know kitchens that aren't this nice

Tuesday we processed the pieces for the job in Chariton Iowa that my boss had templated.

gonna be a fancy kitchen

And just so you know we aren't one trick ponies at our shop, I snapped this quick pic of one of the guys showing off another skill.

two trick pony?

Tuesday after work I came home to find that Robyn had fallen off the budget wagon and landed on a flower cart.  We didn't have the moohla set up for this but what ever mamma wants, she usually gets.

not creeping charlie,  just sneaking flowers

Speaking of flowers,  Wednesday I had to travel south about an hour to template a huge job.  On the way back I stopped for lunch in the dutch community of Pella, Iowa.  Famous for making Pella windows, but also the home of the Pella Tulip Festival.  Because of the unseasonable tempuratures, all the tulips are in bloom about a month before the fesival.  I brought home a dutch letter for Robyn. ( I know it wasn't in the budget but monkey see, monkey do)  Dutch letters are a delicious pastry.

tulip time comes early

Wednesday night we hosted our small group.  I keep learning more and more.  I'm sure you've heard about the parting of the Red Sea but did you know that water was parted four times in the bible?  The Jordan river became dry for God's people to enter the promised land.  And two other instances are documented in the old testament.  Wow, the things we learn.

Terry, our very wise small group leader, and very good friend.

Thursday morning I caught this beautiful sunrise on the way into work.

pretty

At work I began forming the giant job from down south.  They will have three large pieces for their bar, a couple of drink rails around their pool table area, and a hearth for the fireplace.  One piece is going to be over nine feet long.  It's gonna be another challange.  Here we go..

thats a lot of concrete tops

When I got home Robyn had something cooking on the stove, and it STUNK!  Here is what I found when I opened the pot...

WHAT!?

It turns out that she was boiling her cleaning rags.    I know.    Let me explain..  The rags are expensive micro-fiber cleaning tools.  They are supposed to be boiled once in a while.  

That's all I can tell you.  Not because it's a secret, but because that's all I know.  I don't think I was hungry that night.

Friday at work I continued forming the giant southerly job, and thought I would let you have a peek at a couple of jobs waiting for install...

once these are gone, we will have a lot of room for activities

Friday night we went to church for the Good Friday service.  We were treated to a special presentation of 'Christ in the Passover".  It was an explanation of how the Jewish people who believe in Jesus have celebrated Passover (which is the week of Easter) for 2000 years.  It was kind of slow but very informitive, and we know I like learning.  

In my own way, I may have figured out the answers to some current Easter questions.

Question 1 - Why do we have Easter eggs?

Possible answer - It so happens that one of the traditional symbolic foods used in the Passover feast is the Chagigah.  A roasted egg.  It represents the peace offerings to the Lord.

Question 2 - Why do we hide the eggs?

Possible answer - The Matzoh, or unleavened bread is broken.  One half is hidden during the ceremony.  It is called Afikomen, meaning "That which comes later".  After dinner the children have to find it before dessert is served.

Question 3 - Why an Easter bunny?

I got nothing on that one, but I think we are off to a good start.

Jews for Jesus

Saturday morning, we packed up the old griswold family truckster and headed out of town.  We were supposed to have all the family over to our house for Easter, but since my mom broke her hip it was obvious she could not make it to town. 

Ready for a road trip

 

So after a little organizing, my sister Debbie, brother Steve along with his son my nephew Deano and his two daughters, niece Sarah and her two children, niece Shonna and her husband Joe all decided we would trek up to Sioux City and surprise mom and dad.  We all arrived in small groups about a half hour apart from each other.  More family was already up there including my brother David with his daughter my niece Ashley and her daughter, my sister Diane with two of her sons my nephews Brandon and Kendall with their girlfriends and children.  You can imagine my parents excitement.

mom and dad excited

Debbie and I stopped by my brother David's house on our way to get some beer.  He is always called on to work on somebody's car when we come up.  He always obliges.

Niece Shonna's tie rod

David loves drag racing.  He has been building his Nova for years.  It's always in various stages when I come up.  In this picture Debbie is mesmerized by her reflection.

"I can see myself!"

As always happens at mom and dad's, a five dollar Texas hold 'em tournament broke out Saturday night.  That means that there was a bunch of beer drank and a little money changing hands.  These card games go on deep into the night.  What always happens next is best explained like this...  maybe you've seen the commercial for Hopper.  It is some kind of recording device for satelite TV.  One person says Hopper, then another and another until somebody yells SHUT-UP!  Well in our house the word isn't Hopper, it's boat.  Somebody suggests "boat?"  Then a couple more chime in with "boat. boat."  Then we all get excited and give each other fist bumps and chant "boat boat boat!"  We are talking about the river boat casino.  We like to gamble.  Sadly, it's never a good idea.  But after whetting our appetites with the card games, off we go.  Sometimes we are there till early in the morning.  A couple usually go overboard.  Not from the boat, from beer.

the aftermath

We did skip church (I've already asked for forgiveness, and I did go Friday) but several went to Easter service, then we all hung out, watched the Masters and played yard games.  Robyn and I brought a couple of hams up with us and a fabulous dinner was prepared.

the Easter Feasters work up an appetite

After dinner we relaxed a little..

who looks more comfy?

All fun and games aside, let's talk about the real reason for Easter.  

Because we are all sinners, because no one is blameless, God sent us His Son to be our deliverer.  There was a chasm between us and God.   The people before Christ made offerings of unblemished lamb to God to have their sins forgiven.  They made these sacrifices continuosly.  By Jesus suffering and being crucified, God placed the sins of the world on the lamb of God.  He was the final sacrifice.  Since that very moment we don't have to make sin offerings ever again.  We only need to accept what He did for us and ask Him into our lives.   It's pretty simple, I just realize that I'm not in control, I'm not God.  He is.  He loves me that much.  He paid the ultimate price for us.  I belong to Him.  Do you?

Peace

Dan