If you thought that last week's blog was cool - miracle colors and all, wait ‘til you hear this one!
When I got to the condo, I discovered a major problem in the master bathroom. There was a hairline crack in the toilet's tank. The water had seeped out and down the back of the tank and onto the wall and floor. The wall surrounding the toilet was mold and mildew. I was horrified, to say the least!
Now here's the corker! The toilet is a rare wall-hung model. They are common in Sun City homes. This was a big complication to the mess!
We have a special insurance on the condo called Service One. They sent a plumber to have a look. He informed me that a new toilet would cost $1000.00! and the insurance would NOT cover it. Something about we needed an up-graded premium plan. "WHAT?" I almost had a heart attack there on the spot! And no Ron to pick up the pieces!. He had to supervise construction at our NM home.
Anyway, then the plumber informed me that if I went to Habitat for Humanity store, I MIGHT be able to find the toilet that would fit, but no guarantee that the toilet I would find - even a wall-hung - would fit where the old one was. And then, what to do about the surrounding wall??
Off to Habitat for Humanity. They had two toilets. "Lord, will you guide me to choose the one that'll fit?" They were $150.00 each - certainly better than $1000.00! I sat there waiting for Ron to answer either his cell phone or the house phone. I waited three hours! Finally an answer. "Get the toilet, and if it fits, it fits!" he said.
Meanwhile Ron was negotiating with Service One and the Plumber over finances. The next day, the plumber returned. When he informed me that he was there to replace the toilet with the one I had bought, I said, "I just may hug you!" But of course, I did not. However, was I thrilled? Beyond words!
Then there was the question of the mildew behind the toilet. I called a handyman, no one I knew, but turned out to be an honest, good guy. He told me how to get rid of the mildew and how to repair the problem myself. No outlay of money for that. YEA!
AND . . . there was the front door knob that needed replacement. I bought a lovely one and proceeded to remove the old and replace, but . . . alas, the Sun City doors require a "special lock" and a wood rasp to make the hole bigger. YUP! I bought a rasp, played carpenter, returned the lock to Lowe's, and went to the only store that carried a lock that would fit the condo's door. They had ONE left, and the locksmith informed me that the company was no longer going to make the kind that would fit. WOW! Was I blessed or what? I would have had to replace the whole door without that last lock!
Floors scrubbed with an electric scrubber, walls, bathroom cabinets and trim painted, new toilet and wall repair, a wall of wallpaper in the Master Bedroom, a new ceiling fan, vertical blinds and door knob and lock later, the condo is transformed, clean and ready for my roommate and her husband. And every step of the way, the good Lord walked beside me!
It's the same thing when we begin the transformation process within ourselves. We meet hurdle after hurdle, and the good Lord smashes through some for us, gives a boost to climb over others, and carries us over the insurmountable ones, all to make us return to the image of Himself within us. What a miracle-working God!
Back to Home Page
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Miracle Paint
Last week I had an interesting task; I was to paint our condo in Arizona in preparation for renters coming in October 1st. The renters are my roommate from Nurses Training and her husband.
We had discussed color. I wanted to make the three-bedroom condo "interesting" with doing a bit of color. She said that she preferred white or cream in every room - no additional color. "Oh well," I thought, "she's gonna live there so I guess I will acquiesce and paint an off-white or cream color."
A friend there in Arizona had two five gallon buckets of paint that he was not going to use, and offered them to me. The paint was white, he said. So I went to Home Depot to ask how to make the paint a cream color, and was instructed just how to do so. My adopted son, Robbie and I opened a five gallon bucket and added the right color to make cream - at least it looked cream to us.
As we put it on the wall in the guest room, we were shocked that the color was a soft beige/taupe/creamy color - actually very beautiful! We painted the guest room, the master bedroom and the family room that color. By then, we were nearly out of that color. So on to bucket number two.
Robbie had gone home for the night, so I decided I would begin painting the kitchen ceiling with the white of the second bucket, but alas, the paint looked pink! I tried some in the living room - still pink! So I decided to give up until morning, and went to bed early.
In the morning, the painted patch on the kitchen ceiling and in the living room was still pink - but it was a very soft dusty mauve-pink and very pretty. Now the interesting thing is that the kitchen counter is that color and the Kohler sink is too! The living room carpet is dusty rose. So when Robbie arrived and was shocked as I was, we decided to start painting the living room, and I called my roommate to come and look at the color. When she did, she fell in love with it! So.o.o the living room and kitchen are that wonderful "mauvey" color, the master bedroom, guest room and family room are taupey-cream, and the study is "pistachio - the previous tenants had started painting it green.
I'm happy that the condo is not all white, my roommate and her hubby are ecstatic with how it all looks and God gets the credit for painting white and transforming (as He always does with people who are drab and need light) into harmony and beauty! When we allow God to interject His color into our lives, we can become His color, transforming those around us, by the affect that our changes create.
Back to Home Page
We had discussed color. I wanted to make the three-bedroom condo "interesting" with doing a bit of color. She said that she preferred white or cream in every room - no additional color. "Oh well," I thought, "she's gonna live there so I guess I will acquiesce and paint an off-white or cream color."
A friend there in Arizona had two five gallon buckets of paint that he was not going to use, and offered them to me. The paint was white, he said. So I went to Home Depot to ask how to make the paint a cream color, and was instructed just how to do so. My adopted son, Robbie and I opened a five gallon bucket and added the right color to make cream - at least it looked cream to us.
As we put it on the wall in the guest room, we were shocked that the color was a soft beige/taupe/creamy color - actually very beautiful! We painted the guest room, the master bedroom and the family room that color. By then, we were nearly out of that color. So on to bucket number two.
Robbie had gone home for the night, so I decided I would begin painting the kitchen ceiling with the white of the second bucket, but alas, the paint looked pink! I tried some in the living room - still pink! So I decided to give up until morning, and went to bed early.
In the morning, the painted patch on the kitchen ceiling and in the living room was still pink - but it was a very soft dusty mauve-pink and very pretty. Now the interesting thing is that the kitchen counter is that color and the Kohler sink is too! The living room carpet is dusty rose. So when Robbie arrived and was shocked as I was, we decided to start painting the living room, and I called my roommate to come and look at the color. When she did, she fell in love with it! So.o.o the living room and kitchen are that wonderful "mauvey" color, the master bedroom, guest room and family room are taupey-cream, and the study is "pistachio - the previous tenants had started painting it green.
I'm happy that the condo is not all white, my roommate and her hubby are ecstatic with how it all looks and God gets the credit for painting white and transforming (as He always does with people who are drab and need light) into harmony and beauty! When we allow God to interject His color into our lives, we can become His color, transforming those around us, by the affect that our changes create.
Back to Home Page
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Laugh As Much As You Breathe
"Laugh as much as you breathe, Love as long as you live"
These are the words inscribed on the beautiful frame that was given to us by our daughters and their families for our anniversary.
The evening of the 15th came along with much excitement this year. On other anniversaries, we have worked or been traveling to a speaking appointment. This year, we had the privilege of being home for the big day. Church was exciting, as our new pastor preached and the service was followed by a luncheon and a special honoring of our 44 years by the "saints." We came home for a short rest, and then got ready for a long awaited evening "out" at a very special place in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Mountain Annie's is a place that offers special dinners and accompanying theaters performances by well-known musicians. We had heard that the trio of musicians, performing on the 15th were extra special, and we were excited to experience a "dress-up" night out.
When we arrived we spent about half an hour listening to other musicians on the patio, and then time for dinner was announced. We headed into the theater and found our assigned table - table ten. There we were greeted by others at the table who said excitedly, "You two must be the anniversary couple! Look at these things that were brought to the table for you!"
There on the table sat a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a picture frame inscribed with the above words. Propped against the vase of flowers was a tiny envelope labeled, "Mom and Dad." We opened the envelope to read:
"Happy 44th!!! We love and are proud of you and your years together"
Your Girls, Sara & ‘Omi, along with the sons & grandchildren!
XO XO
WOW!!! Our evening began with tears, not laughter, but they were tears of joy - joy and gratitude for the gift that God gave us 41 and 40 years ago - our beautiful girls, and for the gifts of our "sons" and grandchildren along the way.
There has not always been laughter, certainly not continuously, but even in our deepest pain we did find a few things to laugh about, now and then. The older we get, the more we realize that as Art Linkletter often said, "People are funny!" Our responses to the circumstances of life are often comical when we look back on them. How foolish we have been trying to get our needs met; how selfish and me-centered we have behaved. What a waste. Too soon old and too late smart, but better late than never.
So girls and family, you are so right.
"Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live"- do that which is in the best interest of another, regardless of your feelings. And thank you so much for the gift of your love, so beautifully displayed on our 44th!
Back to Home Page
These are the words inscribed on the beautiful frame that was given to us by our daughters and their families for our anniversary.
The evening of the 15th came along with much excitement this year. On other anniversaries, we have worked or been traveling to a speaking appointment. This year, we had the privilege of being home for the big day. Church was exciting, as our new pastor preached and the service was followed by a luncheon and a special honoring of our 44 years by the "saints." We came home for a short rest, and then got ready for a long awaited evening "out" at a very special place in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Mountain Annie's is a place that offers special dinners and accompanying theaters performances by well-known musicians. We had heard that the trio of musicians, performing on the 15th were extra special, and we were excited to experience a "dress-up" night out.
When we arrived we spent about half an hour listening to other musicians on the patio, and then time for dinner was announced. We headed into the theater and found our assigned table - table ten. There we were greeted by others at the table who said excitedly, "You two must be the anniversary couple! Look at these things that were brought to the table for you!"
There on the table sat a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a picture frame inscribed with the above words. Propped against the vase of flowers was a tiny envelope labeled, "Mom and Dad." We opened the envelope to read:
Your Girls, Sara & ‘Omi, along with the sons & grandchildren!
XO XO
WOW!!! Our evening began with tears, not laughter, but they were tears of joy - joy and gratitude for the gift that God gave us 41 and 40 years ago - our beautiful girls, and for the gifts of our "sons" and grandchildren along the way.
There has not always been laughter, certainly not continuously, but even in our deepest pain we did find a few things to laugh about, now and then. The older we get, the more we realize that as Art Linkletter often said, "People are funny!" Our responses to the circumstances of life are often comical when we look back on them. How foolish we have been trying to get our needs met; how selfish and me-centered we have behaved. What a waste. Too soon old and too late smart, but better late than never.
So girls and family, you are so right.
"Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live"- do that which is in the best interest of another, regardless of your feelings. And thank you so much for the gift of your love, so beautifully displayed on our 44th!
Back to Home Page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
