Kitchen Project

OK, here are the pictures of my home project. Soon after Christmas I had to replace a flourescent light bulb in the kitchen. When I pushed back the light tile I saw that the framework "up there" was finished off. I started thinking about how I could make a tray ceiling out of it and hopefully make my galley kitchen seem a bit bigger if at least part of the ceiling was higher.

Here is what it looked like to begin with:

This is with most of the drop ceiling removed. I still had the framework around the base to take out. Because the drywall wasn't originally exposed, the builders didn't tape and mud very well. I spent several evenings spackling and sanding to make the middle seam appear smooth. It was also difficult to pop the covers off the lights.

In the middle of the project. I needed to put the plastic higher, but I did clean off all the cabinets with Murphy's oil soap afterwards. Area is sanded and primed here.

New lights. The ceiling appears blue but it's white.

And the finished product:

While I did a lot of the work myself, everyone knows not much gets done without Renae. She helped with the crown moulding and hanging the lights.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my father's birthday. Last year we all got together for a milestone birthday for him.

My dad loves God, loves his wife, and loves his family. He and my mother are generous. On their 50th anniversary my mom said that submitting to him wasn't difficult through the years because she knew he was always putting his family's best before himself.

Thanks Dad, and happy birthday!

Thankful Thursday 01/27/11

1. I have lights again in my kitchen which means I also have a microwave, and lights in my dining area, and a light in my living room, and lights in the sunroom!!!  (Pictures to follow when the project is complete, but I still have painting touchup and cleanup.)
2. I have a great friend who knows enough about a lot of stuff to be able to do almost anything. Without Renae I wouldn't have put up crown moulding and would have figured out the lighting, but it's easier with her.
3. My niece made the dean's list first semester freshman year despite a rigorous course load and several periods of illness including mono.
4. Every year I've written for the employee newspaper. It was really nice to get some positive feedback from the editor for two of the pieces I've written for this year.
5. Pandora Radio--one day I listened to several hours of Keith and Kristyn Gett Radio to hear a variety of praise and worship music. How about this for back to back to back to back songs to lift you up?
How Deep the Father Love for Us
Here With Us
It Is Well With My Soul
My Jesus I Love Thee.

The next day I listened to traditional country hymns to get a little twang and a touch of the old brown book. And only a few know what I mean by that!

Service Points

Tomorrow night is the regularly bi-monthly night for my church to hold the service at a rescue mission in GR. About half the time I go to play the piano and was scheduled to go; it's been on my calendar for awhile. I even made plans for tonight instead of tomorrow night because of going.

Today the minister called to say that the men who usually lead the singing cannot go and the guy who would be going to lead music would have his wife along and she could play the piano. I was being released from going.

I really won't mind a free evening, but somehow I feel cheated out of ministry points. I do get some for being willing to go, don't I?

Pithy Saying That's True

Most often falling into sin is not a blow out but a slow leak.

Thankful Thursday 01/20/11

1. I'm making a little progress every night on my home improvement project. Today I got crown moulding and paint.
2. Mary and Jaimie had "traveling mercies".
3. This week the Wii Fit has my age as 34-38!

Parenthood

Last night while finishing some work and getting ready for bed I had the tv show Parenthood on in the background. I don't watch this show but have found some of the previews funny.

I was surprised to see two parents showing some real backbone with their daughter. Apparently she is 16 dating a 19-year old recovering alcholic, food bank worker of a different race. The parents have forbidden her to see him because of his age and background. She of course doesn't let him know that so he shows up one day to go out. There is a an exchange and the father tells him to leave.

Give the guy a lot of credit: he gets mad at the girl for lying to him when he's trying to be honest to others and himself. He even visits the father at work to let the father know he didn't knowingly violate the parents wishes.

The father told the boy something like this:  Haddie is 16 and you are 19. She has the rest of her life to deal with adult issues, but right now we just want her to be a 16-year old as long as she can.

Wow, that showed a lot of love for the child and not hate for the boy.

I don't know how the show ended as I was asleep, but as a non-parent I found it refreshing to see parents set guidelines for their child and then follow through when those lines are crossed.

Heat Wave

This afternoon the temp was a balmy 27 degrees. It was warm enough to not wear a coat while shopping to avoid having to mess with it in the mall or a store.

Thankful Thursday 1/13/11

1. My family in the snow made it through the ice and snow storms.
2. Mary and Jaimie were stranded at home and not in an airport in an unknown city.
3. A friend has passed one part of a three part test.
4. Bing cherries in the grocery store at a really good price two weeks in a row.
5. Had a work bad dream (not quite a nightmare but close) last night. In the dream I kept thinking, "I wish I could wake up and this is just a dream." I'm thankful I woke up and it was just a dream!

At church today I was talking with a couple who are probably 10 years younger than my parents discussing their recent move. The lady asked if they bought a house. When I replied yes she was so excited. "I'm so glad to hear about people like that. People like that live to be 100!"

Thankful Thursday 1/6/11

1. 4-wheel drive when it's snowing!!!
2. Getting caught up at work from a week shutdown went surprisingly smoothly.
3. Looking back at Christmas pictures and reliving great memories.
4. No plans any evening this week!!! So this is what a life with margin is all about.
5. Got hiking boots for the trip in September. Keen's on clearance so a good price.

New Mittens

I can't say I'm a big Canadian fan, but I loved having the 2010 Olympic red mittens seen at the Vancouver Olympics last winter as a gift from our Vancouver dealer.

Yesterday morning I looked at them and wondered if I could wear them this year. Imagine my great surprise and happiness when at work later in the day a co-worker asked if I'd found my mittens. The Vancouver dealer had sent a pair of the new version! My hands will stay warm this winter.