{ Summer Days }

Our summer days, here on High Street, have been such a busy time.  

There are so many projects underway, things that desperately need to be taken care of that haven't been done in many, many years, but that will last for many, many years or our lifetime once they're finished.  I am posting this mostly for me to remember.  I never want to forget how hard my husband is working to take care of his family.  He has chosen, mostly out of necessity, to do most of the repairs himself.  

Let me just list the projects:

Replace the furnace that quit in May

Repair the chimney

Insert a chimney liner

Replace all of the duct work in the basement

Replace the main water line to our house

Put in attic vents on the roof

Remove and kill the moss on our roof

Clean out the gutters

Collect firewood in his "spare" time

Act as mechanic to replace several parts on our vehicle

All this on top of working his normal job and coming home and helping me with the kids, keeping up with our substantial lawns, and helping with dishes, diapers and laundry.

In case I have or ever will doubt that I am married to an amazing man,

he is living proof.

 

Some of these projects are completed.  Most of them are still in progress. 

{ The chimney repair:  We hired a mason who allowed Tim to assist him.  We were able to save a substantial amount of money this way.  Tim carried all of the brick and mortar up the ladder. }

{ Here is the inside of the chimney and what it looked like before it was rebuilt.  When they went to tear it down, they literally picked up the brick by hand, no demolition needed.  Yeah, it was time to replace it! }

{ After the chimney was finished, a chimney liner had to be added.  Here are a couple guys from church helping Tim carry it up. }

{ Here is Tim cutting holes in the roof to put in attic vents.  He is amazing!  It was over 90 degrees that day and that is smoke as well as dust you see.  He had burns on his arms from the asphalt shingles. }

I think we would love to experience the lazy days of summer,

but then again, neither of us likes to sit still, so we can see that this life if probably best for us.

The timing has been perfect on these projects and God is clearly, unmistakable leading each

step of the way.  We have saved literally thousands of dollars and thus far remained debt 

free, which is nothing but the loving provision of God.

All of this has also brought us closer together.  We've actually spent more time as a family.

Don't get me wrong.  All of this has been a challenge, too.

It has pushed us to... and often past our limit, but I'm so thankful 

for the opportunity to get some of the ugliness out of my heart and and an adjustment for 

my attitude.  We're learning to work together as a team and juggle marriage, and kids, and home.

 Aside from projects, we've been having plenty of summery fun.

We've spent evenings at parks,

watched sunsets,

tried new wines,

played in the kids' little pool,

had a family backyard water fight,

played frisbee,

and planned our vacation.

We are picking raspberries,

enjoying our flower gardens,

going out for ice cream,

spending time with friends and the kids' grandparents,

and enjoying shorter work hours for Tim.

I am also enjoying more energy this summer.

This is the first summer since we got married that I am not pregnant!

We've still been living with less sleep.  What am I saying? With kids, less sleep is pretty much normal!

This week that sleep has gone to comforting while teeth come in:

Katy's first two teeth

and Oliver's molars

We are also putting both kids to bed in the same room.

This is to prepare for our first family vacation, 

which we leave for on Monday.

There have been several very long evenings

and plenty of tears while they adjusted,

but they are doing great now, and I am

actually hopeful that all of us in one room,

in a different place every night for a week 

is going to be possible!

To say we are excited to take a vacation would be an understatement!

To say we are still a little nervous about traveling with two little kids is also true,

but I am sure it will be so worth it!

 It has been a wonderful summer and I'm so looking forward to the rest of it!