We take a vacation pretty much every year. Usually we stay close-by. The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee tend to be our favorite spots.
We hardly ever go to the same exact place twice. We like to discover new things.
Gregg and I have been married for 15 years, and it seems that every 5 years, we do something BIG.
During our 5th year of marriage, we moved our family of 4 to a new home, in a new town, where we knew NO ONE. It was a pretty big deal. I don't remember a vacation that year. We literally had no money for one.
For our 10th anniversary, we decided to plan a BIG trip. Gregg had always said he wanted to go to Montana. So...while waiting in traffic to attend a Clemson/USC game, I took out a folded map of the USA, and we pretty much planned the trip we'd take. We ended up taking a 17 day, 7000+ mile trip "out west" and back. 2 adults, 5 kids, and a minivan packed to the brim. We made some unbelievable memories. But that's a story for another day...
For our 15th anniversary, we decided to go NORTH. We spent several months planning a trip to tour the Northeast portion of our country - an area none of us had ever been.
It takes a little more planning, diligence in saving, and preparation in packing when you now have a family of 10.
Friends and coworkers gave us some really great tips and suggestions of places to visit, so we mapped out a plan that would be both fun and educational. The trip would take 13 days, and we would travel approx. 5000 miles in our 15 passenger van.
I took a spiral-bound notebook and tried to make notes along the way. I confess that riding made me really sleepy, so I was pretty lazy with some of my journaling. And there were some great photos that I missed taking, b/c...well, I'm a mom...and I was busy being one!
But, along with some snapshots from our trip, I hope I will be able to paint a pretty good picture of each day.
The overview is this...
We left on Saturday morning, September 22nd...
We spent 4 days in Lancaster County, PA...
We then traveled to New York where we visited Niagra Falls, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes region, and the Adirondack Mts...
From there we traveled to the coast of Maine near Portland, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and Washington, DC.
(We had planned to visit Boston, but the weather was so rainy that it was not conducive to walking the city with 8 children in tow. We were disappointed, but getting to the hotel early that night was probably good for us all.)
We arrived home on Friday morning, October 4th, at approximately 1:00am.
If you'd like, follow along as I journal about our trip day by day...
A few of our suitcases, training pants, diapers, child seat,
and coats and jackets ready to go into the van.
Our kitchen counter full of boxes of food, pots, pans,
dishtowels/dishcloths/potholders, etc. waiting to be placed in the van.
(Sorry for the lame pictures of before the trip...things were a little crazy trying to get things ready!! I was busy going through everyone's winter clothes for ones that fit, b/c we were still wearing shorts, but knew it would be colder where we were going. I had literally mounds of clothes in my den. Little piles for each of the kids stacked around. I did think of taking a photo of those, but I was too busy and didn't think about it again until they were already in the suitcases! Such is life...)
Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway - One of our family's favorite places to hike
Caleb sporting his rockclimbing skills at the Lower Falls
"Look at my stick, Mommy! Take a picture!"
uncrowded walking trails with peaceful, mottled sunshine
just hanging around with whoever wants to hold her next
"Scaring all the bears out of the tunnels" (A Miller Tradition) followed by a discussion of real bears...
Attempting camera and tripod family photos...(Gregg and I had a blast trying to pose everybody, click the timer, and run over rocks and water to get into place! It really was a lot of fun! I think I only lost my cool once...well, maybe twice...)
Eating lunch at a little Mexican restaurant in Hendersonville, NC where the waitress informed us that "Kids Eat Free on Saturdays"...ummm, YAY!
Getting Krispy Kreme Donuts to celebrate our blessings at the restaurant :)
Stopping at Sam's to buy groceries...
Treating the kids to small DQ blizzards - which cost as much as lunch! Yikes!
And worshiping with our church this morning where we sang this song to our God and King. I can't get it out of my mind. Powerful words that filled my heart and mind with the truth of God's unfailing love...
And, then, Samuel and I had a "big discussion" on how BIG God really is. "God is bigger than ANYTHING! He is!" My little Sam-I-Am has some pretty profound thoughts for a 4 year old. Something tells me that God ordained my conversation with him today to remind me just how big He really is.
And, even when there is pain in the night, joy comes in the morning...
Even when it doesn't feel like it, He makes all things work together for my good...
Thank you, Lord, for this weekend...and thank you that YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS.
But, He has also chosen to only allow us to meet him/her on the other side of this life.
Thinking I was approaching my 12th week of pregnancy this week without complications, we began to tell some of our family and friends the exciting news this past weekend.
We told the kids several weeks ago, and they did well keeping our secret!
They have been so excited!
Especially Eva...who has rubbed my tummy and asked me numerous times if I have felt the baby move yet. She even looked up how big the baby should be in our "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book.
We talked about baby names several times throughout our Northeast Family Trip the past couple of weeks, and we were pretty sure we had found a few we really liked.
Then, yesterday, I started bleeding. And this morning it was worse. I knew something was terribly wrong.
And I knew in my heart that this baby had a special purpose that I would not immediately understand.
Susan, my midwife, visited at 11:45 today, talked with me, and listened for a baby heartbeat with the doppler. I laid on my bed hoping upon hope that I would hear the swish-swish of a tiny beating heart.
Nothing.
Susan said, "That's your heartbeat..."
And, I thought, "Who cares about my heartbeat? My heart is breaking!"
An ultrasound was scheduled for 3:45 this afternoon with Kelly Ultrasound Imaging in Greenville - a private and independent ultrasound company.
The office and rooms were decorated in modern decor with deep reds and black. I thought, "How appropriate. Blood and death. What a perfect place for someone to tell me that my baby is dead."
....(the above was written Wednesday evening, October 10th. I was unable to continue until the evening of Friday, October 12th)...So, here's the rest...
The ultrasound technician was a young, pleasant woman who obviously had no idea what to say to me. She didn't offer to turn on the large overhead monitor for me to see the ultrasound. "Not a good sign, " I thought.
I twisted my head over my right shoulder, determined to see what she saw on that tiny computer monitor she was hoarding. I've seen healthy baby ultrasounds 8 times, and I knew what a tiny baby with a beating heart should look like.
And that wasn't it.
The rest of the procedure seemed to take an eternity. The technician was quiet. The only thing she said at the beginning was, "I'm sorry you're having to go through this." Then click of keys, more clicking, more clicking...and I felt and heard my tears dripping down across my ears and onto that pitiful sheet of paper on that cold table. I was so mad that she wouldn't say anything.
"Say SOMETHING!!" I wanted to scream at her!
I remember looking at the clock above the door and the second hand was stuck on the big hand. The clock was wrong. I thought, "How appropriate. Time has stood still."
After the abdominal ultrasound, the techncian said we would need to do a vaginal ultrasound also. Feeling numb, I obeyed her directions. As the vaginal ultrasound took place, I literally fought the urge to jump off the table and scream at her to stop. What was she looking for anyway?!? Why couldn't she let me go? She already knew the news wasn't good. I thought I was going to suffocate if I stayed in that room another second. I needed air!
Instead, I gritted my teeth, and held Gregg's hand, and watched his face as he watched the tiny hoarded computer monitor. Would there be a glimmer of hope in his eyes?
No.
So, the technician left, called my midwife, then reentered and told us we could leave. Our midwife would call us with the results soon.
"How lame, " I thought. "I'm not an idiot."
The technician said, "I'll show you out." She proceeded to walk us to the exit door and to fresh air. Then she said the stupidest thing ever (poor fool) - "Have a good afternoon...Uhhh...under the circumstances, I mean." (proceeded with a nervous giggle)
I don't think I even looked at her. I don't think I was very nice to her at all, actually. I'm sorry now.
I actually felt sorry for her then. And for myself. And for my baby. And for my poor children at home awaiting the news. For Gregg, who was at a loss for what to say, how to feel, how to care for his family.
So we drove home, and Eva met me before I could even get out of the van. She was jumping up and down so glad to see me, so excited for the news of the ultrasound.
"Is the baby alive?!?" she squealed, fully expecting me to say "Yes!"
I thought my heart was going to split into a million pieces at that moment. I just looked at her, and I felt the lump in my throat and felt the tears threatening to flood my cheeks.
And then she knew. Eva stopped and looked at me, and then she did the sweetest thing...
She crawled up into the van onto my lap and cried with me. Oh, how I loved stroking her golden hair and hugging her. I loved how this precious daughter of mine was weeping with me. For our baby. Although only 9 years old, she was created by God to be a nurturer (is that a word?). She understood enough to hurt with me. She was feeling the hurt of expectations and longings for a new little one that would not come to be.
Eva took it upon herself to slide off my lap, and to run tell her brothers the news. A few minutes later, I heard her in her room weeping. When I went to check on her, she was on her floor with Kedesh, age 14 months. She had taken her baby sister from her crib and sat on the floor with her. She had told Kedesh about the baby and was crying while Kedesh just looked at her. How precious a moment - I will never forget it.
I sat with her and held her again. Gregg joined us, and we just sat on the floor and whispered comforting words to each other.
Samuel joined us, too. He's only 4 and too young to really understand. But, he did provide us some serious comic relief!
Susan called. She confirmed what we already knew. According to the ultrasound, the baby had stopped developing just over 6 weeks gestation. There was no heartbeat. No viability. But, my body did not recognize this until now. She had told me what to expect with a proceeding miscarriage. She prayed with me and said she would check on me later. She gave me instructions to call if I needed her.
Gregg and I decided to take everyone outside. The fresh air felt good.
Several of the kids had places to be that night, but we decided to keep them home. Something about a tragedy makes you want to keep your entire family close.
It was a beautiful fall afternoon. We watched the kids ride bikes and scooters and play football.
Eva mixed hot chocolate in "fancy" cups and saucers and asked me to sit on the porch swing and drink hot chocolate with her. How could I resist? Gregg decided to take a few pictures. I was glad God gave me Eva. I thought, "One day we will look at these pictures and remember a very special time we bonded." I thanked God for hot chocolate with my 9 yr. old daughter.
I kept wondering what to expect. I was still bleeding, but only a little. I was told my body would continue to miscarry over the next few days or so.
It just didn't seem quite real.
...
Around midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I woke to a pool of blood about the size of a basketball in my bed. I was slightly frantic, and so was poor Gregg.
I jumped up, and screamed as I cut the lamp on. Then I stumbled to the bathroom. I remember thinking, "Gregg needs his sleep. He has to work tomorrow. I shouldn't have screamed! I'm so selfish!"
But, the truth is I really needed him, and he was there immediately. I could tell he was a little scared along with me. I tried to be calm - for Gregg and for me. Susan had warned me that there would be heavy bleeding.
I showered while Gregg cleaned the mattress and replaced the sheets with clean ones. My dear husband. What would I do without him? I felt so weak. So hopeless.
It was a restless night as I woke several times. Each time I woke, Gregg was awake and would talk with me. I'm sure he must have no idea how much that meant to me - to hear his voice...to feel his hand in mine.
...
By morning on Thursday, I felt like the worst was over. The bleeding was much less severe. Before leaving for work, Gregg gave the kids instructions to do as much of their schoolwork independently as possible. He also gave them instructions to take care of each other and let Momma rest. He also forced me to drink juice. I couldn't bear the thought of food, so I was too stubborn for him to win on that one.
Have I mentioned how amazing my children are? They literally took care of each other - quietly. They washed breakfast dishes, fed baby Kedesh, changed diapers, the older ones helped the younger ones with school work, and Caleb checked on me several times in order to "boss" me into drinking plenty of fluids. I'm pretty sure he enjoyed that!
Samuel was playing with his doctor kit and asked me if he could listen to the baby's heartbeat. Isaiah promptly told him, "The baby is dead, Samuel." (Isaiah is my very blunt, very literal, matter-of-fact, no fluff child.) I said, "Let's don't say that. Let's say that the baby is with Jesus." Samuel said, "No, the baby is with God." (Samuel has been fascinated with God for months now.) ...Okay...anything besides saying, "The baby is dead." I can't bear it.
Later they helped me prepare lunch, and cleaned things up while I rested.
...
Then, around 1:00, I began to bleed severely again. I began to ache. Around 2:15, I felt a large mass of tissue pass. It was the placenta that was supposed to be nourishing a healthy baby. My body no longer needed it.
I thought I might pass out from the ache in my heart. From being alone in my bathroom at this moment.
And what happened to the tiny sac with my baby in it? If this was the placenta, how did I miss the baby?? I felt my heart panic! The tiny sac, which should have been about the size of a small chicken egg, must have fallen into the toilet without me realizing it. I hated myself for missing it!
The only thing I can think is that the scare at midnight was the severe bleeding preceding the passing of Baby. And then, it took much longer for my body to pass the placenta. Susan had warned me that heavy bleeding would precede both events. In my fear at midnight, I must have allowed the sac with Baby to pass into the toilet.
Is it possible that both of these events could happen as much as 12-14 hours apart? I don't know. I don't know WHAT to think. But, I know I missed the baby somehow. And my heart aches more than ever at the thought of it.
After passing the placenta, I felt very weak, and numb - both physically and emotionally. I didn't want to see or talk with anyone.
Gregg called and decided to leave work early. He took Eva to dance and the boys to football practice. I just couldn't bring myself to get out of the house - even though the bleeding was getting better.
My sweet Nathan finished his schoolwork for the day, cleaned the house, and cut the grass. I've decided he deals with his emotions by staying busy. Ummm... just a little like his parents, I think.
By Thursday night, when the kids all arrived back home from practices, I was feeling stronger. We ate supper together, showered, read, and went to bed.
Sleep is a beautiful drug - it allows the mind and body to sense pain no more. And, God gave me sweet sleep last night. I rested late into the morning, and then forced myself out of bed to start a "normal" day.
School to teach, clothes to wash, meals to cook, orders to fill, etc, etc, etc.
The kids were back to their normal rambunctious selves. Grumbling about schoolwork, pulling each other through the hallway on blankets, bumping heads, throwing cars, wrestling, begging for juice and snacks...
And it was all okay. This afternoon, I sat on the front porch swing with my sweet baby Kedesh, and watched the kids ride bikes and scooters again. The dryer buzzed to tell me another load was done...and I left it there. Eva brought piggy tail holders for Kedesh, and we had the best time playing with her tiny bit of hair.
Gregg finished the laundry and cooked supper, and I let him.
In a way, I know life must get "back to normal." But, by doing so, I feel like I'm letting my baby go for good. Like I don't care.
Everyone else around me is going through the motions of life - work, school, church, football games - and I feel like it just needs to stop for a while. I need time to miss my baby.
I hope God is letting our little one know how much they were longed for and how much we are going to miss him/her.
I have the hope and assurance that one day I will meet our baby in heaven. I KNOW this. It just sounds like such a cliche right now.
But, it IS true, and until that day, Sweet Baby, please know that you are dearly loved.
...
(October 23, 2012)...It has taken me some time to decide to publish this post. I wrote it for me, and for my husband and children, so that Baby would not be forgotten. I'm not sure I ever intended to post it for others to see, but I feel that there is someone - somewhere - that is supposed to read it. So, I'm sharing.
One week after we knew we would never see our baby face to face here on Earth, I was riding in my van and heard the following song on the radio. It's been one of my favorites by Chris Tomlin for quite a while. It was balm for my soul that day, so I wanted to share it also...
After a crazy, busy weekend, and 14 things running through my mind that NEED to be finished this week, I've come to the realization that I NEED AT LEAST FOUR OF ME!
I'm having a little trouble balancing things. I have:
1. A husband that needs a wife to love and cherish him...
2. Eight children that all need something constantly... (5 of whom I am currently the primary person responsible for their formal education)
3. A family member that doesn't understand NOT to call at 10:15 on a Monday morning b/c I AM TRYING TO HOMESCHOOL...(and, when I don't answer my cell phone (there's a reason), that doesn't mean you call the house phone to disrupt the kids, too!)
4. Friends I am burdened to pray for and who need to know that I really do care...
5. Church ministries that need attending to...
6. A small home-based business to maintain...
7. Laundry, laundry, laundry...an endless mound of laundry...
8. 3 meals/day to plan, prepare, and cook - for a family of 10...(Actually my hubby gets breakfast, so I can't take credit for that one. Have I mentioned I love my man?)
9. Children's clothes to sort for the upcoming season...
The list feels overwhelming today. Like I have a jar of marbles spinning randomly in my head and I just need to get them spinning in sync so I can start knocking them out one by one.
Some days aren't like this...but many days are. I literally never stop. Even when I try, my mind is going over all the things I should be doing! I wonder why God has entrusted me with this life.
Doesn't He know that I'm not as calm as I want to be?
Doesn't He see how disorganized I'm becoming? (When I was younger, I didn't misplace things...now it happens all the time!)
Doesn't He know how much I want to sit and just snuggle with my little ones before they are grown?
I know, I know...
I CHOSE this life. I CHOSE to have a "whole baseball team of children". I CHOSE to be obedient to God's calling on my life.
If a woman with 2 children complains about how hectic life "with 2" is, society considers it acceptable. If a woman with 8 children complains about how hectic life "with 8" is, society considers it a result of a "lack of responsible use of birth control."
So, I often feel like I'm supposed to smile and talk about how wonderful everything is.
How the kids never argue and always help, how my newest made-up casserole recipe isn't a disgusting flop, how my closets and drawers always stay neat and tidy....how I never lose my temper and always talk in quiet tones (b/c children really do listen better when we whisper), how our latest homeschool project is encouraging my children to pursue a successful career in astrophysics...
You get the picture.
The truth is, I don't mind working hard. I love being a wife. I love being a mother to many. I love homeschooling. I don't really mind laundry so much, either. I like to organize. I love my friends and ministering to others. Cooking is okay, too. (Except I get tired of my own cooking, and Gregg cooks better than me. He always disagrees, but I know better :) )
So, I guess today is just one of those days...and I wanted to share it. Because I read a few blogs and they sometimes depress me. They have beautiful profile pictures, perfect children, handmade curtains in every room, the latest homeschool project/trip to share, Godly wisdom, perfect photography - life is so good there.
Life isn't always good here. I get frustrated. I doubt my decisions. I wonder "What in the world was I thinking??" I think, "I want to get in the van and ride away for a day or two - BY MYSELF."
I don't have it all together...and it frustrates me! I lose my temper when my very strong-willed 6 year old has pushed every one of my buttons - at least 3 times - by 9am! I hide in the bathroom and cry. I ask God "why?"
And, then He reminds me that I don't really need four of me after all. I only need one of me...and one of Him.
Now, if I would just remember that...listen...and trust Him.
Easier said than done.
In the meantime...anybody know a lonely widow who is looking for a crazy woman with 8 kids to visit on occasion? A lady who would genuinely love to sit down and read books to my kids. A lady who might actually LIKE being a regular part of my insane life? Who would instinctively look around and know exactly what I need her to do?
I'm taking resumes...for an older, and much wiser, version of me...
Someone who will work for 2 yr. old hugs, and 1 yr. old wiggles and giggles, and sharing dreams with a 14 year old.
We were able to buy a "new" table for our kitchen!
Our current one was over 35 years old, rickety, and we refer to the 4 remaining chairs as "the chairs of faith", b/c you aren't really sure how much longer they might hold you up!! They've been glued, nailed, and repaired in unsightly ways over the past few years.
The other 2 original chairs had been deemed "unrepairable" which, if you know our family personally, is a pretty big statement!
We use it mostly for schoolwork or snack times, but as our family has expanded, and we have friends over, we were needing something a little better.
I mean, who wants your guests collapsing on the floor onto a pile of chair parts??
Not me.
So, I found this great table on Craigslist for just $75. Good condition, sturdy, 6 chairs. Needed a little paint here and there, but I love it!
Finishing up painting all the "white parts"
The new table set up in our kitchen
But, you know the neatest thing about purchasing the table??
When I showed up to get it, this husband and wife were relocating to another state. They had most of their things packed already, except a handmade, wooden cross that hung on the wall. When I commented on it, the man told me that he had made it himself and insisted that I take it with me.
Tommy is a believer, and it's always amazing to me how a person you've never met can connect with you instantly b/c you share the same belief in Jesus Christ.
The cross is rustic - just a couple of beat up 1 x 4 boards stained and glued together. But, I couldn't get over this overwhelming feeling that God was trying to remind me just how much He loves me.
And I needed that.
Cross hung on the wall in the den
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so..." AND because He keeps sending me these little reminders along life's journey
I'm working on writing some shorter posts...for several reasons:
A. I don't have much time to write, but writing a little might be better than nothing at all.
B. I don't want anyone to stop reading at the start of the 2nd paragraph.
C. I think sometimes, saying things briefly can have a bigger impact.
But...this is hard for me. I have this terrible habit - the NEED to explain myself!
Trying to get over that. We'll see how it goes - hahaha!
So, here's just a few things that God has hit me with this week. Things He has laid on my heart and mind...
1. God loves me more than I can ever imagine, and, BECAUSE He loves me, He will discipline me. It will hurt. It's supposed to hurt. Otherwise, I might not change my course in life. For this, He is to be loved, adored, and feared (as in a form of awe).
2. There are a million and one opportunities to minister and meet the needs of those around me. It's impossible to meet them all! Sometimes I feel guilty for this. So, I must seek God's wisdom and let Him guide me to the opportunities where He wants to use me. And, I need to be content meeting those specific needs. Otherwise, it's just me on my own, seeking my own glory, instead of His. And I don't want that.
3. Deep down, I am a selfish woman. God has been trying to refine me of my selfishness for years. He has been heating me up, exposing me to extremes, and removing the dross...only to see still more impurities there to purge. Selfishness keeps floating to the top - over and over - and He continues to refine me - over and over. Too often, it's all about ME, when it really should be all about HIM. I'm hoping, one day, He'll scrape the last bit of selfishness off as dross.
What has He laid on YOUR heart this week? I'd love to hear what He's been up to where you are!
We took a little homeschool field trip in the yard this morning. We were outside by 7:15am (I tried really hard not to be grumpy - yay me!)
We took a half school day learning some serious life skills, along with some math, chemistry, and physical science.
You see, this past Spring, we decided that the area just outside our garage, that I not-so-affectionately call a MUDPIT, was due a little facelift.
We've been wanting a concrete pad outside of our garage. (Actually, we'd love to pave the whole driveway, but we can settle for the pad for now!)
We've been wanting to do this project for 10 years now...so we've all been pretty excited!
So, after months of contacting people and doing research (and continuing to save $), we came to the following conclusions:
1. Getting concrete poured and finished is EXPENSIVE.
2. Not every business owner that says he will do the job, actually shows up to do it.
3. When someone doesn't show up, it gives you the opportunity to find someone else much better in which to do business.
4. It generally costs as much money to have the concrete leveled and finished as it does for the actual concrete (in some cases, it costs much more).
5. With the help of a few basic tools we already have, a few tools that we could purchase, and advice from a few youtube videos (yeah, you really can find just about ANYTHING there, can't you?), we came to the conclusion that we could DO THIS OURSELVES.
So, after some serious dirt-moving from a friend with a bobcat business (Thanks, Ben! It was worth every penny, b/c Gregg would've taken WEEKS hauling all that stuff by hand!), Gregg and the boys set to work with framing the area to pour concrete.
Calculations, calculations, calculations...Can you say homeschooling at its finest?
Today, we had the first truck of concrete delivered...
And, we worked non-stop for 3 hours!
The good news...we did a fairly decent job with the 2 sections we finished today!
The bad news...we made some mistakes.
We learned from them.
We are confident that the next 2 sections will go quicker and more smoothly. We hope to have the concrete delivered for those sections in a few days.
We're going to change some job assignments for us and the kids, and we will definitely get the the trimming and cutting done earlier.
We let it get a little too dry this time (we needed to work FASTER!)...it was almost REALLY BAD...definitely not good for my perfectionist mentality. But, sometimes, I just gotta let it go, you know?
Yes...I'm still trying to convince myself!
Besides, my dear husband (who is also a perfectionist) is trying to make us both feel better by saying it will look better when it dries - less likely to see all the imperfections. :)
And, well, we knew we weren't professionals!
Considering we saved ourselves around $700 this morning (based on the LOWEST bid we got), I should be able to get over a few little quirks in the concrete, right? :)
So, here's some pics of our biggest family project yet...
The kids (except baby Kedesh) all dressed and ready for instructions and fun work time!
Gregg going over the general "game plan" and final instructions.
Eva, dressed and ready with her brother's shoes and her skirt (couldn't convince her she needed long pants), and her gloves.
Silas wasn't so sure about the holes in his gloves - or exactly which hand it was supposed to go on :)
The truck is here!
Everybody is getting pretty excited!
We had the best "concrete man." He was a wonderful guy who thought we were the Duggar family - hahaha! (ummm...sir, we only have 8 :) ) When we told him we had never done concrete work before, he quoted Phillippians 4:13 for us., and encouraged us greatly as he poured the concrete for us. He even gave us a few tips along the way that helped so much! Thank you, Lord, for your working in EVERY SINGLE DETAIL OF OUR LIVES!
Everybody was watching intently...
I didn't know it would have so many "rocks" in it!
Gregg said, "You didn't? Really?"
"Yes, Honey, REALLY."
Screeding the first section...everybody had a job to do...
First section ready for cutting and rounding the edges
2nd section ready for final touches...
We realized some of our mistakes...it was too dry to cut and trim properly. We learned. Next time, we will work the details on the first section before moving to the 2nd one.
The little ones taking a break and watching the "cement man" clean his truck.
Clean up time!!
2 Sections done and 2 sections to go...
Nathan said, "Momma, it might not be perfect, but at least we worked hard to do it. And we can be proud of that!"
It was an amazing learning experience for all of us. The kids can't wait until the next truck of cement comes...
And, me...well, I can't wait until we can mark this project off our "to do" list!
