Birthday Weekend

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend this year!  My amazing and wonderful husband brought a chocolate cake into my homeroom on Friday.  My kids went nuts.  Chocolate frosting literally flew across the room (landing on the wall).  If you want to make 6th graders go crazy, just show up to class with a large chocolate cake in hand.

Although it was crazy, it was such a nice surprise!

On Saturday, we had the ND game watch at the Chupp's condo in town.  It was fun!  Kim also brought a lovely cake to that event as well, and yep.... you guessed it... I was able to celebrate my birthday all three days of the weekend!

On Sunday, I had a soccer game at 11:00am.  Forty minute halves are killer, but I'm getting in better shape every week!  After soccer, we invited everyone to iTrampoline in Kapolei.  We jumped for an hour and a half, and it was absolutely AWESOME!  Nothing is better than being with a bunch of adults, jumping off the walls (literally), toppling children, participating in slam dunk contests, dodgeball battles, and doing tricks into a foam pits.  Most amazing birthday in a while!

Kitchen Update

Well, the kitchen is finally taking shape.  It's wonderful to see everything come together.  Uncle Frank has been coming and working late nights on the tile.  The tile isn't completely finished in the kitchen, but it was done enough to install the cabinets.

Mike and Ben picked up the cabinets last Wednesday, and then Mike and I installed the wall cabinets on Friday evening.  Jordan and Ben helped Mike install the ground cabinets on Saturday morning.

The hardest part is making sure everything's level.  Mike bought a DeWalt self-leveler (of course) to do the job.  I'm so proud of him!

Unfortunately, the countertop estimate didn't go so well.  The guy couldn't measure because the tops of the cabinets can't be more than an eighth of an inch off in a space less than ten feet.  We spent hours leveling and shimming it again Monday night, so he's coming back tomorrow.  I'm hoping we can move forward!

Mike's family of drills:  the pre-drill, the counter sink, and the main event.

Uncle Frank's handiwork, partially grouted.

We started with the corner wall box, clamped and drilled.  This is a craft of precision.

The first boxes up on the wall.

Laser level with tripod for accuracy.

Mike in deep thought :)

This whole wall is installed!

Installing the final cabinets.

Everything but the island.

Everything is in.  Now we need the counter tops!

Starting Strong

Jesus, be my strength today.  I pray for patience in the classroom, and joy in my spirit. Help me accomplish what I must before our trip, and not be so one track-minded that I miss opportunities to love others.

Caught up in the Busyness

Like most people I know, I've felt very overwhelmed lately.  There are things pressing upon me from every angle, and even more things that I feel I should be doing.  The pang of guilt is something that I experience every time I'm not able to help with something or commit to help with something.

I honestly don't know how people with children keep their lives composed at all.  I don't have kids yet, and I feel so overwhelmed.  I must lean on Jesus.

There's a saying I remember my youth pastor, Todd Shaw, often say back when I was in high school.  He would remind us that if we were too busy to spend time with God in prayer or reading his word, then we were too busy in general.  The phrase goes like this:  "If you're too busy for God, you're too busy."

To this day, I can relate.  Even sitting down at the computer and trying to compose a post is hard to do these days.  My mind wanders and begins thinking of all the things I "should be doing" and I get side- tracked from what I'm actually doing.  I think they call that A.D.D.

Anyway, this post isn't supposed to be about me rattling off all the things I'm doing or involved with or committed to.  This is a reminder to myself that I need to fix my eyes on Jesus--the author and finisher of my faith.  The author of Hebrews says it best in Ch. 12:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[c] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."

Jesus, I thank you for not giving up on me or on the sinful world we live in.  I pray that I would honor you with my lips and with my life.  Take away desires that aren't from you.  Give me a spirit of compassion.  Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

The Kitchen is Coming Along!

We spent a lot of time on the house this weekend.  We had to turn down numerous exciting activities with friends, but the house MUST get finished.  The only way that's going to happen is if we push it into high gear.  I have to say that it has come a very long way though.  I'm really excited to see the finished project and look forward to cooking some amazing meals in my brand new kitchen.

I am so thankful for the people that have come to help us work these last few weeks:  Kim, Jordan, Henry (although it was a stealthy job), Ben, Sabine, Luke, Brooke, and Bain.  It's coming along!  From the time we did the first coat of primer, it has taken us about a week to paint the entire inside of the house--that includes every room and ALL the trim upstairs.  I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

Here are some pictures of the down stairs, kitchen mostly.  I'll save the upstairs for another post.

Stripped down to the bones; you can sort of see the pantry on the left side.

Here it is with the drywall up.  Not taped yet.

Drywall and tape.

Drywall, tape and texture.

Drywall, tape, texture, and paint.

Hopefully soon I'll have a picture of the cabinets installed.  The sad part is that I think we'll have to wait on new appliances for now.  We're running out of money...  

In the next post, I'll try to capture the essence of the upstairs and the colors I chose.

Our tangerines are ready to eat!