June 20 2015

June 20 2015 Greetings My Friend Junior is putting a roof over the section of the porch he has extended. I see the vision finally and I am in awe. There will be one more extension to do and the front porch will be finished. He wants to build a 2nd car port for his truck when all this is done. Then both vehicles will be covered year round. At age 65 Junior took on the challenge to renovate our home. At first we looked for contractors to help with this and could not get any to come out and work on our home so he decided to do it himself. Out here there is a huge shortage of work and the few that do work are overloaded. I have learned from Junior how to handle declining abilities and still accomplish goals. I have also learned that there are things I should not attempt, a fall off the ladder taught me I should not even attempt them. We continue to make plans, to dream and then do what we can the best we can. Junior has found using a platform to lift him up so he isn’t stressing his back out on over his head projects keeps him moving longer and better. He no longer uses his muscles to lift up beams but has instituted a pulley system again so as to not stress his back. His weekly Chiropractic visits also help keep his back pliable. Our trip to Marilyn’s timeshare gave Junior a week off. He slowed down, slept a lot and he has come back to the renovating with more stamina. I learn it is good to work and give it what I can and I also learn timeouts are necessary as well. I learn to not stay comfortable in the timeouts or soon nothing will be accomplished. Sometimes I catch Junior having a conversation with himself and I realize that it isn’t just himself he is talking with but God. He is asking God how to do something and as he hears God’s direction Junior will do what He is being taught. We both are asking God for the extra help in finishing up the last of this renovating. Homeadvisor.com has given Junior some numbers to call and one person is possibly going to come out and give us an estimate…..he may or may not but at present I am in prayerful hope. I also believe that God has allowed Junior to take on this task because Junior needed it. He retired before he wanted to due to his back and he felt lost not having a job to go to. The renovating is that job. I also see as the end is in sight that Junior is ready to slow down and change his pace. We both like the idea of refinishing old furniture and building things from old things. I see this as the next phase in our retirement years. I also see that the “work” of getting back to a measure of health has been attempting to keep house again. Today I will run to the grocery store while Junior goes to his Chiropractic appointment thus freeing his time away so he can get back to work sooner. Now that I am back to a measure of my old self we can enter this next phase of our retirement more in sync with each other. I see God’s marvelous hand in making this phase take shape. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet