SWEATING TO THE OLDIES

Monday morning I poured the firepit cap and by that afternoon I was demolding it.  The concrete product we use is amazing, it is set up in four hours and ready to process in less than eight.

still too fresh to flip over

Tuesday morning we flipped the firepit cap for processing and then, more than a month after the forms were ready, we finally poured the counter tops for the client with the granite sink.

ambidextrous.. filming and pouring

Tuesday night I had to tend bar.  After last weeks solitary confinement I wasn't very excited about it.  However,  This week would prove to be one of the busiest in quite a while.  I don't know what was in the air but I had many new faces and they wanted to stay later than normal.  Most weeks I can close the doors at around 10:30.  I was there till past midnight.

Wednesday at work I was a little worn out.  My only real task was to get the shop bathroom ready for paint.  I had mudded the drywall more than a year ago and I finally had the oppertunity to finish the job.  Being so tired made the work a little more exhausting.  I had to plastic off the room and sand the drywall to make it smooth.

step one

I was able to get it all primed before I went home.

step two

Wednesday night we had small group.  In the midst of our discussion the question was asked why God chose David to be the king of Israel.  What did he have that no one else had?  The answer was nothing, just the will to follow his Lord.  The revelation was arrived at that we all are called by God for a greater purpose.  To do God's will, and we can all be as great as David if we chose to follow.  

Thursday morning we demolded and flipped the pieces for the granite sink project.  Afterwards, I was able to get a coat of paint on the bathroom walls.

step three

Then Chris and I were quickly sent to Gilbert Iowa for an install.  We had to put in the vanity with the sea shell edge.  The install wasn't that tough except for the heat in that bathroom.  The clients husband was there "helping" us.  It took a couple of hours to prepare the cabinets, set the sink and faucet, tape and caulk and then clean up.

During that time we were sweating so bad that we used nearly a half roll of paper towels to wipe the sweat off our faces and the vanity top.  I actually found excuses to go out side in the 86 degree heat and heavy humidity just to cool off.   I might be getting to old for this.

When the homeowner left the bathroom I thought maybe he was going to turn the air on.  He didn't.  But he did bring us each a glass of orange juice.    ?     I know, right?

Anyway, we now know that the sealer is impervious to sweat.

Here are a couple of pics of the finished product.

Cool faucet

unique bathroom 

Thursday evening Robyn and my niece Sarah spent hours getting ready for the garage sale.  I, on the other hand relaxed in my recliner.

miles of piles to price

Friday we got a coat of sealer on the fire pit cap and Chris worked on processing the granite sink job.

amber glass inlay is becoming quite popular

I left work early so I could go pick up my truck.  It was finally done.  It turned out to be a faulty fuel pump.  The repair shops I called all said it would be around $600 to $700.  Our shop mechanic got it done for $395.  I guess being a Griswold ain't all bad.

Robyn and I spent the next six or so hours getting everything out of our storage rooms and pricing them for the garage sale.  I actually went out a 1:00 in the morning to get the signs put up.

Saturday morning we were up with the sun getting the sale set up.  Cars started pulling up way before we were ready and Robyn told me nobody could come early.  I said we weren't turning down any sales and welcomed them in.

I had to leave at 7:00 to go pick Nick up from his overnight shift at work.  When I got back Sarah was there so I went in the house and tried to take a nap.

one mans trash...

At 10:30 I woke Nick up.  I know that sounds bad but let me explain.  Before we had the garage sale scheduled, Robyn and I had signed up as volunteers to pack meals for the hungry.  It's a program that started in 2008 called Meals from the Heartland.  Hundreds of people pack thousands of small meal packets that are shipped world wide to places in need.  The garage sale put a kink in our plans until Nick offered to go in Robyns place.

the A-team

Our group packed more meals than any other group that day, and we did it with fewer people.  I think the final tally was over 60,000 meals.  Nick was a little crabby, but what a trooper.

nodding off?

The girls had a great garage sale and we fed thousands.  What a great Saturday.

Sundays service was on the continuing story of King David.  He had a heart for God,  and his life was truely blessed by God.  He slayed a giant that all others feared.  He was made King.  He won every battle he rode into and he was very muched loved by his people.  

But he wasn't perfect.  

Just like you and me, he was a sinner.  

He commited adultery and got her pregnant.  He then tried to clean up his mess by having the womans husband killed and marring her.  But when he was confronted by God with his sins, he didn't try to make excuses or cover it up.  He immediatly confessed and asked for forgivness.  And he was forgiven.  

He still suffered consequences for his actions but he was forgiven.  And God continued to bless King David.

There's a lesson here. 

When we stand on the outside looking in we wonder what the heck David was thinking when he did the things he did.  But when you're in the middle of the mess your thinking may not be so clear. 

We all, ALL, make mistakes.  But if we realize that trying to hide them is the wrong way to go and just open our hearts to God, he will wipe the slate clean.

God is a loving God.  We may have to face the consequences of our sin but we can move forward and seek God's blesings knowing that we are forgiven.  No sweat.

Peace

Dan