Renovation Progress!
The completion of the “physical” building of the Retreat for Lost Creek Bluebird is now within sight. What a journey it has been! We began January 2 of 2020. Just that fact raises eyebrows as to what was in store. The contractor, Dennis Vaughn of Vaughn Remodeling, Inc., had worked with us several times on our personal residence. We found his work to be exceptional. Besides, he and his family were great people to know. When it came to looking at this project, there was no doubt his business was the only choice. Now I tell him no one else would take it (he also tells me this) and no one else could have done the amazing task of re-construction this building needed.
This house was where I grew up from the age of 2 years old. My parents bought this farm and 3 room house (1 bedroom/no bath) in 1951 when they moved from Michigan. It looked vastly different then than the first picture you see. My intention was to remodel and update and possibly add on for my perceived business idea. When Dennis began, he quietly had concerns. As he moved forward his concerns deepened. There was water damage in a house addition. The rest of the house had been decimated by termites! The damage was under the surface. It went all the way up the two-story rafters. Every construction save was tried with each new issue, but the old house was not going to make it. The old concrete fireplace and chimney and the back-porch concrete were the only elements of the past that are still standing.
Dennis and I have chewed over the fact more than once how much easier a clean slate would have been. No one can appreciate it either. You would have to have seen the intense work to reconstruct each room while holding it together with braces. The crawl spaces were even dug deeper, and new floor joists added.
WOW! In the deep freeze of winter!
My nephew, Thomas (who is managing the day to day) and I work on rationalizing the decision to remodel than rebuild by saying we learned so much of the house’s history by taking it down layer by layer. We still have the footprint of the old house under our feet. We also learned we possibly have underground streams. That to be determined as we move forward.
Hope you enjoy the picture show. I start from the beginning and move forward.
Renovation Update #2 February 2020
The second edition of the renovation of the “ole” farmhouse is from February 2020. Who knew what was to come!!!??? It was a cold start to an exciting project. Vaughn Remodeling pursued my dream with its construction expertise. Everyday clarified it would have been more efficient and economical to have torn the old lady (farmhouse) down. However, we kept telling ourselves it was to late to lament! (Really did not keep me from lamenting).
Seeing new construction grown from the old frame helped to grasp something new was coming out of the old ruins. Tumultuous pictures of memories assailed me at each visit. A mix of good and not so good whisked through my thoughts. Generally, my memories of the land and nature are the positive ones. My faith grew in my contact with nature. Such beauty encouraged me to grow and to learn. At each layer splayed by the hammer and pry bar, I could identify the different years of my childhood. Granted it wall happening on a construction site. The experience of seeing the layers of life peeled away from the ole lady is now indelible on my mind. They are there for me to re-visit and associate my experiences—-at another time and venue.
The poor old fireplace thought it would be one of the saved artifacts. We did too until a “gentle” bump of the fragile wall. It tumbled in one connected thump! The outside chimney remains, and we will attempt to closely replicate the stone front of my Dad’s handiwork. Hey, the results might even be an improvement!
February was wet and cold. The single wall of the living room with the fireplace was symbolic of the skill it took to build a new wall inside the termite damage riddled walls. Vaughn Remodeling built the new framework within the old before demolishing. Quite amazing to watch. Very hard, demanding work requiring a patience level beyond me.
Renovation Update #3 March 2020
The extreme cold, wet weather in March of 2020 matched the weather misery of February. The early tasks of a reconstruction happen on the ground—–digging out deeper crawl space! Sets a real “dirty” picture of the cold, the mud, and the wind. BRRRR! It definitely was. I only had to be on location one day per week. And it usually was a quick visit during March. The pictures almost reflect that chill.
I must share the tumult of watching the change of the “ole” place. Granted, it was sad to see the house going to ruin as it sat vacant. Memories of nearly 70 years constantly flooded my heart. Unfortunately, for those around me, they were regaled with the history of all things. No one let on I was boring them. Maybe I would not have heard them anyway. I think they were being kind. During March, the kitchen was dismantled along with the original living room and bedroom. My nephew, Thomas, and I were able to retroject (examine the past) through the layers of paint and wallpaper on bare walls. They were much older than 70 years. The structure appeared to have been thrown up quickly. The wall studs were different spaces apart. There was little uniformity in the building of the house. The word-of-mouth history is that it was the second house built. The first house was destroyed by a tornado. It is highly possible the neighbors came together to get a home up in a hurry.
Originally, no electric nor plumbing had to be included. The walls were tongue and groove wood. The faded colors were of brown, tan, gold, turquoise, and white. The living room had layers and layers of wallpaper. I finally found the layer of red flocked paper I remembered as a tiny girl! I knew it existed!
I am including a picture of me at about 5 years of age in the old living room. The picture includes my Uncle Walt, on a visit from Michigan, with my brother and me. The location is to the right of the current fireplace. What I notice is the wallpaper—not the red flocked—one of the other layers!
Renovation Update #4 April 2020
2020 kept moving forward. By April we were in full lockdown due to the pandemic. One advantage of a rural setting was more safety for all of us involved. It took commitment from construction staff to site staff, and me to maintain safety. All agreed, as much as possible, to limit contact with people in our communities. Everyone wore masks and kept their distance when out and about. All agreed not to travel far distances on weekends. Construction moved on.
The weather maintained its consistency. It rained and rained and rained some more! The construction site was very muddy. Different routes had to be used to get to the site when water was over the low water bridges. Vaughn Remodeling progressed from one major task to another. It was amazing what they accomplished. In the pictures you notice the stairway was removed and a temporary stairway was put in place to move from 1st to 2nd floor. Note the difference in the roof gable and the location of the second floor.
25 bluebird houses were placed around the facility. Five wren houses were added. The first house was a wren house. No sooner had Thomas placed the house and a bluebird tried to enter. Such a cute spectacle! The bluebird, three times the size of the entry, tried to squeeze himself into the house. He soon had a home that fit and raised two families. Bluebirds do not migrate. We can enjoy them year-round. I am so grateful to have so many on-site. The sight of a bluebird gives me joy!
Renovation Update #5 May & June 2020
The building and tearing down continued. The weather was definitely lovely and such a change from the intense cold and wet of the winter and early Spring! We had just begun to appreciate our location. It allowed us to continue, with precautions when away from location, to work through the pandemic. Vaughn Remodeling had only 3 persons working the construction. Everyone wore masks on off work time. Everyone agreed it was not a good idea to travel to other locations. So-o-o, the amazing craft of construction continued. I usually traveled to the site once a week. The project was planned to be much smaller. I still truly do not know how it got off track from my original plans. I am excited about the transformation.
Every month the progress can be seen. Using a creative mind to imagine it filled with people having fun, relaxing, lounging, and refreshing gives me great joy! I continued to work on my nutrition courses. Been so long since I had done anything other than courses for Continuing Education for my counseling license, I had to work to wake up that part of my brain. It is amazing to see the transformation of the season in a rural area. Each season is pronounced. As the construction continues, I am trying to picture the different activities to take place in each of those seasons and what the added decorations might be.
Every season has something to bring joy! Every month, week, and day have their purpose for each and every one of us. Especially the big and small moments of joy!
Renovation Update #7 September & October 2020
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
“Though the road’s been rocky it sure feels good to me.” -Bob Marley
“It’s not so much the journey that’s important; as is the way that we treat those we encounter and those around us, along the way.” – Jeremy Aldana
“If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas.”
September and October were big months. The roof started going on and with it a little recognition of the look of the Retreat/Spa. The Sky lift continued to pay for itself. Vaugh Remodeling manages materials much easier. It saved time and muscle! Not as much comment this entry. I included the solar panel pictures. Straight-Up Solar provided the grid for the buried wires to the panel and Black River Electric Cooperative (BREC) was there to check their needs. The picture shows where we buried the electric to the facility. BREC put in a new utility pole. The 2 old poles were installed in the late 50’s or early 60’s. Wish I held up that well!
Couldn’t resist including a couple of views of the beautiful fall flowers. Stunning! And, the picture of the peacock is one from my neighbor’s yard. They are amazing. Something that might be seen on a trip to Lost Creek Bluebird Retreat! Not hard to find joy in those pictures!
Renovation Update #8 November & December 2020
November and December were genuinely nice weather months for late fall and early winter. That always helps a construction project. These were exciting months! The windows arrived and were installed. Talk about getting a better view (pun intended) of your project! Now that was joy in a visual sense. With every project undertaken, that skylift was paying for itself ten times over. Those windows were heavy! Then add the height! Wow! We decided they were just what the site needed. It also helped Vaughn Remodeling to have a little warmer place to be when needed.
The only “sad” note for me was having my last Christmas in my home of over 35 years. I decided I did not need the challenge of upkeep of two locations when they are 30 miles apart. My cats, my daughter, her fiancé, and my grandson enjoyed the holiday quietly. My daughter was in 5th grade when we move there, and my grandson has known no other home for grandma and his late grandpa. The positive note is the exciting new adventures all of us are anticipating! Joy!
Renovation Update #9 January & February 2021
Update #10 March & April 2021
Surprise!!!! The daffodils planted in the wooded area near the entrance popped up with so much joy in their ability to show me Spring indeed was going to make a stand after 28°,& 29° temperatures. I can see the future daffodils will keep spreading and bringing sunshine. Can’t believe I never thought of this before. There is another picture of the daffodils on the other side along a relieve Creek run off branch. These daffodils survived under layers of moss in the shade! God’s world continues to surprise and amaze me with the never ending bushels of joy dumped out on us!
Renovation Update #11 May 19, 2021
The journey continues! Here we are in the middle of May 2021. Actually getting this huge septic tank in the ground. Did make a five minute video of the process. Really much easier than it looked. The truck that delivered had all the right tools. What we didn’t expect when digging the hole was to run into an underground stream. Or a spring. No matter, the hole kept filling up with water. We bought a hose and borrowed a water pump to keep the water out long enough to pad the bottom of the hole with gravel. Vaughn Remodeling, Inc., through Dennis Vaughn, the owner, tamped the gravel and when it was lowered into the hole, it was level.
The other happenings this month were additions to my flower patch, for later landscaping, and now have a few hundred specimens of water hardy and freeze hardy plants. Cleaned up the flower bed I developed in 2020 by removing the five rosebushes, weeded, and supported the wildflowers that had returned. It was fun to put two yoga figures in the bed.
Renovation Update #12 June 17, 2021
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” – Hanh
“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” – Chardin
“Let us dance in the sun with wildflowers in our hair.” – Shutz
The journey continues with the participants echoing, “Are we there yet?” A year and a half. The completion is in sight! Can hardly believe my eyes when I now see the drywall going up in the Retreat. Beginning to look as if it could happily house people looking to enjoy themselves. My thoughts now pivot to all the wonderful contents collected throughout this 1 ½ years and some from my personal collection of 45 years. What a fun time is coming to coordinate all these treasures for so many to enjoy and appreciate. I have searched Marketplace during the pandemic, looking for special, loved and unique items. I have met so many wonderful, big hearted people, online of course, with their personal treasures or relative’s treasures. As they are placed in the Retreat, each person will receive pictures as to their place of use and honor.
Other exciting news is the funding of my Natural Resource Services contracts! These contracts will help develop and support grasses and shrubs for preserving wildlife habitat, i.e., Quail (or Bobwhite if you have heard them in the evenings). The other contract is one for the development and support of Monarch habitats. I have a wildflower front yard at my residential home. It is amazing to see the butterflies and varieties of bees that visit. Having a habitat to invite them will be enriching for all of us. Sometime, I hope to have a local bee keeper set up hives near the habitats.
I plan to begin introducing foods to be served. For the last month I have been living without an oven. Taking a month to get a computer board. Doesn’t keep me from exploring the different tastes I am looking to serve in a buffet style. What joy for me! Cooking, nature, caring for folks! All my favorite things.
Renovation Update #13 June 2021
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” – Christopher McCandless
“Before the reward there must be labor. You plant before you harvest. You sow in tears before you reap joy.” – Ralph Ransom
There is no coincidence in my chosen “Joy” quotes for this blog section. This reconstruction journey has indeed been a long, winding journey. The first quote is for me. Impatience is one of my unhappy characteristics. There have been some wonderful moments of joy on this journey. Plenty of sad, fearful and “O my, what am I doing!” moments. I do believe there will be plenty of Joy when the construction, landscaping, etc. is finished. God does promise us some Joy.
There have been so many terrific personalities connected to the Retreat. Meeting and talking or chatting online has been a highlight. I hope it continues.
The drywall should be hung this week. The plumbing, gas lines, HVAC are all wrapping up the finishing touches. The fixtures are being set. The mid-century pieces have been sanded and painted. Shortly the countertop folks will come for final measurements. The soffits are going on and as soon as the siding arrives, that process will begin. Painting begins in another week. Indeed, a new experience and a new sun every day!
The last quote is for Dennis V. of Vaughn Remodeling. Has he labored! I know he is more than ready to begin other projects of shorter duration, but he is too kind to share those “ready to be done” thoughts with me! Hoping in the future he will be able to reap much Joy!
Renovation Update #14 July 26, 2021
“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home . . .It’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” – Chuck Palahniuk
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” – C.S. Lewis
“If you’re not having a good time, find something else that gives you some joy in life.” – Penny Marshall
The road is getting shorter and smoother (not literally, it is on a dirt road) and exciting. All the incredible efforts of putting together this facility is like looking at an equation of 2+2(a)=? It now has a light bulb in place of the “?”. Unknown equations were not a strength of mine, remember I am a Counselor, I like people more than numbers! Okay, offtrack!
In this article I am including pictures of the completed hanging of the drywall, especially the skylights in the 25 foot cathedral ceiling of the living room. Chris Van Pelt is amazing at his specialty of hanging drywall and taping. The taping is in process. Chris also does the painting!
Vaughn Remodeling will now install the amazing 50’s metal cabinest that an amazing woman in St. Louis donated. We took them to Jaco’s Body Shop for sand blasting and painting a brilliant white. The silver handles stand out wonderfully!! I am so excited to see them installed in the kitchen and pantry. Dennis V. will also be working on floors, stairway, stair rails, lights, bathroom fixtures. So many of the items have stories from around the country! Gives me Joy to know these stories and be able to someday share with so many others.
There are 2 other pictures I am sharing. For a 4th of July parade, my nephew polished up the little ole’ Ford tractor I bought to help with the driveway and the grounds. He rode it in the parade with all it’s history, some we know and some we don’t—it’s old!!! Enjoy!
Renovation Update #15 September 2021
Here we are at the beginning of September. I never would have believed on January 2, 2020, that I would still be in the process of constructing the Retreat. It definitely has been a journey of challenges. The same journey of challenges that everyone has had and has felt for these two years of 2020 and 2021. It is amazing that everyone is doing as well as they are. I am including in this section some photos taken early one morning on my way to the Retreat. They took my breath away. On the tops of the hills, and especially the large Ridge hill on the way down to the retreat, the clouds were so low that I was able to drive through them. That wonderful feeling of joy left to my heart. Such beauty!
The drywall is done and the painting is complete except for the living room. The siding is complete except for the stone. The plumbing is complete except for the hot water heaters. We’re almost there.
Renovation Update #16 September 11, 2021
“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow id you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” —– Brian Tracy
“One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight, for a very long time, of the shore.” —- Andre Gide
“Here’s to new beginnings, new adventures, and moving to new places!” —– Me
Every completion of a specific task on the Retreat brings a sigh of relief and a feeling of awe! Today I am sharing the completion of the drywall, mudding, and the completion of the painting inside. I made it easy on color for Chris Van Pelt. One color for everything except the living room with the huge, vaulted ceiling. Chris calls my skylights the “best and worst thing” of the Retreat building. You will see the amazing scaffolding. To have watched him maneuver was like watching a trapeze act! He did it effortlessly.
I love the all-white, the “tinge” of peach of the living room and the subtle gray of ceilings in the kitchen and pantry. It is like my thoughts are coming alive. I am so grateful for these skilled men and women who have given of their skills. How amazing! Looking at the inside color awakens my joy!
Renovation Update #17 September 24, 2021
Fall on the Farm
This location has been in my life for 70 years. I absolutely love to be here in the Fall! Early Fall doesn’t have the color that will come later but there are beautiful and simple reminders that it is on its way. The outside pictures I am sharing this week have the lovely, prickly thistle lavender coupled with the tenacious Goldenrod! Tenacious because I know from experience when you plant a wild goldenrod in your yard, your next summer will be spent pulling up unwanted goldenrod plants. They have an underground running root that will make them a survivor!!!
The grazing fields are so mellow. Wanted to show a view from the road on the north side. That serious blue sky and the morning sunshine adds to my joy!
Finally, checking out all the work upstairs, I couldn’t help but notice how the morning sun cascaded into the skylights! Wow! I knew they would be nice, but how special they are. I chose the one room skylight where a tall treetop can be seen. Such fun!
September-October-November 2021
“As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas, and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.” – Vincent van Gogh
“Autumn leaves don’t fall. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” – Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” – Winnie the Pooh
We had to stop construction for a short period but are now back at work. It seems there is so little to be completed (in the scheme of 24 months) but, there are numerous finishing jobs to be completed. Dennis has been so faithful, he had to finish some tasks for other loyal customers who have waited patiently. There are now folks that are working with the electric, lights, floors, rock front, fireplace, plumbing, gas, etc. It is rather exciting to see the variety of folks.
Now we are approaching deer season, the disabled veterans and their children can take advantage of this opportunity. The fall colors seemed slow in coming this year. Maybe I was impatient. I, like many, enjoy this season. Folks have their travel trailers outfitted for weekends and for a week at a time. Deer season has always seemed like a holiday in this part of the country!
Another notable event is the return of the family player piano to its original location in Missouri. I had the piano mover pick it up and transport it on October 18. I was fortunate to get a video of its return. In 1951, my parents bought this farm. They brought the piano from Michigan to this very location. Seventy years later it comes home! The piano was bought for my mother in 1940 and was 50 years old. I have her 1940s piano rolls. Anyone wanting exercise will be able to utilize the player pedals!
Please enJOY the photos!
January 6, 2022
“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” Charles Dickens
“We are not trapped or locked up in these bones. No, no. We are free to change. And love changes us. And if we love one another, we can break open the sky.” Walter Mosley
“My turn shall also come: I sense the spreading of a wing.” Osip Mandelstam
I am so excited! January 2, 2022, marked 2 years of construction of the homestead to the Retreat. Never in my wildest dreams & hopes for this project did I think it would be in work mode this long. And even bigger, did I believe the cost would be what it was. Talk about a learning curve! Definitely lets you know you can learn at any age.
My enthusiasm grows daily the closer I get to working on the décor. It will involve “letting go; letting be”. Nearly all my possessions are in storage. Tackling the sorting and making decisions of what to keep, what to give away, what to throw away, and what to sell will test my mantra!
Considering the sweat and tears involved to this point, I am expecting more of the same, but so much joy in recognizing my own personal growth!
January/February 2022
“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Men die of boredom, psychological conflict and disease. They do not die of hard work.” – David Ogilvy
I can hardly believe it!! 26 months and counting! The Lodge at Lost Creek Bluebird is in its final finishing touches. Every time I look at it, I remember when Dennis Vaughn, Thomas, and I looked at the old place and were making plans. This was January 2, 2020. I had only been incorporated since April of 2019. Except for the newer addition, we thought we were looking at a remodel. Not quite. Last week the remaining storage bins at Wappapello Storage were cleared. But of course, I picked one of the toughest storm weeks to do this task. I took numerous loads in the Expedition which we have dubbed “the bus” on my own. The guys at the job site took pity on me and unloaded several loads. I then rented a 15-foot U-Haul and with one helper, got two loads along with removing several items from the 40-foot High Cube container on the property. Then the 6-inch rain!!! The roads were gone, creeks up and soft ground that would not hold a loaded truck.
I switched out the 15-foot for a 26-foot and with the help of my nephew, he recruited 2 more people one day and 4 more the second day. I have to say, I had a fantastic 2 days with these young people around. The “full of life” attitude was refreshing. The laughter and pranks added a couple of years to my life, which is a good thing! They worked so hard, lifted and tugged and pulled, furniture, boxes, mattresses, and whatever without a whine amongst them.
I may be limping and a little bit worse for wear over the last week but got rejuvenated at the end. Now the sorting into trash, Lodge furnishing, and Living Estate sale items begins. Mind you, I still, have some work on my part of the construction finishing. However, having my “stuff” in one location is such a good feeling —- you might say I have experienced a few moments of Joy amongst the weather and hurting muscles!
April 16 2022
THE TIME HAS COME!
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new beginning.” – Maria Robinson
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.” – Bern Williams
It has been more than a month since I have updated the reconstruction journey. It is hard for me to believe that the actual construction is basically completed. I have a couple of things outside that have to be worked out but they rely on weather conditions. Looking to do some trenching this week.
I am planning to have Lost Creek Bluebird open to take reservations by May 15! Two years and four and a half months since I began! I cannot imagine any more interesting 2 ½ years. Vaughn Construction did miracles in getting the old house down and putting together this facility with footprints of the old place. Traveling around 120 miles round trip daily through all kinds of weather. Vaughn Construction began to take care of their many customers toward the end of last year and then moved on at the beginning of this year. They have my undying admiration and gratefulness!
I still have much to do. All my 400-500 plants I transplanted when leaving my old home must be planted. Giving them a permanent home is fun for me. The landscaping is a huge project, especially with my nephew now working an out-of-town job. And he is newly married! Contacting the veteran organization with brochures of the benefits of Lost Creek Bluebird for veterans is high on the list.
The major work is loading, unloading and placing furniture throughout the building. Putting the kitchen & pantry together is something I look forward to doing. Window covering, shower curtains, cleaning, etc. are part of the process.
What better time to launch this new “lifestyle” than the Spring? I have left so many things behind. My family has had such major changes over the past 5 years. It is time for us to embrace this new world God has opened to us with “Gusto” (as my late husband always said).
I am taking a deep breath, sending up prayers, and smiling. What joy God has given me by staying close to me and mine throughout this change of “let go; let be.” I am ready, filled with joy and anticipation of new challenges and new beginnings!
Today is the Day . . . and so is Tomorrow
5.14.22
“Happiness comes in waves. It’ll find you again.” – Unknown
“When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.” – Psalm 94:19
“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” – Joseph Campbell
My time is gulped up by the massive task of filtering through my life’s accumulation of “stuff”! How did I manage to clutter my life with so many tangible things? I wonder as I am going through box after box if I have accumulated as much in intangibles. I ask myself what was the purpose of this stuff. When I am standing here with the daunting task of separating what is to be kept for the Retreat and what is going in the Living Estate Sale, I am thinking I might better have been a philosopher!!!! Thinking/pondering instead of accumulating. No going back!
The thought of opening the Retreat for others to enjoy does fill my soul with joy. Two years and six months. Never believed it would be such a long journey in time. God has used this journey to teach and train as He always has. Patience, faith, leaning into and alternative pathways. Again, realizing I don’t have all my own answers. I am at the Retreat site daily now. I have the landscaping outside and interior landscaping. I am relearning why I love being here. The multitude of birds keeping me company is delightful. A pileated woodpecker came to work on the 3 dying trimmed back sycamore trees. He let out this raucous call which brought me up short! I do hope he takes up residence. A pair of swallows were flirting on the front porch. The bluebirds were enjoying lunch from the results of my yard work. Talk about Joy! Completely outside myself. Joy comes from outside. We must recognize, capture and internalize that moment! The build up of joy moments has a powerful effect on the soul
Christmas 2022 “RECONSTRUCTION JOURNEY END!”
“The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” – W. C. Jones
“A joy that is shared is a joy made double.” – John Roy
“Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin—–inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.” – John J. Geddes
“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.” – Eric Severeid
On January 2, 2020 beginning the reconstruction of the family farmhouse to shelter me, the Lost Creek Bluebird, and other souls seeking tranquility, deep breaths of sparkling air, sweet sounds of birds and all the other wonders of God’s beautiful creations, would take 3 (!) years.
The Grand Opening over Veteran’s Day and now putting up the Christmas tree in 2022. What an experience! My hopes and prayers are that all the intensity and perseverance of this project will enhance my faithfulness to God’s leading in sharing His joy for others. This joy is the only gift worth the effort of these three years.
Moving on —- My grandson, Joe, and I went to the field to find the “old fashioned” Christmas pine tree. He had never experienced this trip! I was grateful to have him with me since he is 20 and strong. He even keeps a collapsible saw in his gear. It took a bit, as it usually does, to decide. We knew whatever tree we found would have to be embellished. Shook, Missouri pine trees do not grow flush with branches.
We stuffed it in the vehicle and brought it to the Retreat. Joe is more thoughtful about tasks at hand than I. He sensibly measured the spot I wanted to be placed before cutting. Seems my eyes were bigger than my space—-we cut about 8 feet off and then brought it in and set it up.
The next day, I commenced drilling holes and putting the extra branches for fill in.
My Dad, another Joe, did this for us as children every year. We were always excited when he brought it in. I can tell you my respect and love has grown since I completed this task! What a challenge, and I had an electric drill! I even used super glue! By the time I had put the lights, garland and several ornaments on the tree, I was 3 steps up on the step ladder and the tree began to tilt, O my! I walked down holding onto the tree. Try as I might, I couldn’t tighten the stand enough to hold it. Did get it stabilized, ran and got the drill and a hook and twine; found a stud in the wall, drilled and tied it to the wall. The problem was my inexperience with the task. The branches I attached on the front made it unbalanced!
The tree is now secure. It is fully decorated. Used tinsel for the first time since I was a kid! The “Joseph” tree complete!
Time to realize the joy of completion of a project of a lifetime!
