March 2, 2017

Greetings My Friend Waiting for God's timing can be a long wait and you wonder if you have heard Him correctly. In August of 2010 we bought the home we now are living in. We were in love with it before we were ever let inside to see it and when we walked through we knew this was our home. The house was built in the 1920's, had not had anyone living in it for several years, had no heat source and the house had not changed much since it was built even so we knew it was exactly what we wanted. We thought we would be able to find a contractor to come in and get the house up to snuff but never did. Junior undertook teaching himself how to renovate and has done a great job. He is slow due to his back problems and he does not mind redoing something 4 or 5 times until he gets it just the way he wants it to be. Right now he is starting the master bedroom and bathroom and he has made progress in regards to some insulating, putting up a wall and such. Our friend Debbie suggested we try her contractor and then he got tied up with several projects so we were discouraged. Recently I heard that Henry was looking for some work and I asked if he did plumbing. Junior hates plumbing jobs and he will put them off until I can no longer turn the faucet on. So Henry came by to help with a plumbing job or 2 and in the course of conversations we asked if he would be willing to help Junior with the bedroom and bathroom. Henry said he is interested and he will begin working on this project. Along the way we would make calls, look on the internet some more and people would not even come out to give us a hand. I realized that Junior would do well until it came to the plumbing piece and so I have started trying to figure out how to get him some help knowing that it is rare out here. Henry made it over and I now have a laundry room sink and a tankless water heater for the washing machine which means hot water. Since we moved into this house we have not had hot water for the washing machine. Somewhere in my heart I knew God would bring us what we needed when we needed it the most and today is the day that we have the help we need the most. I sense that Junior would not mind slowing down with renovating and would not mind getting involved in a slower pace. He had wanted to work as long as he could at his job in a paint chemical factory. He was not able to due to his back problems caused by his amputation when he was in the war. Renovating to him was his job and he has loved it for the most part. It was his "job". Along the way we found ourselves grateful that we did not have the contractors right off, the more we have lived in the house we have found that what we first wanted would not have worked for our needs. Junior and I have been able to sit in a room or use a room and now know those little patterns that will be of most use to us. Our relationship has grown stronger as we have learned to understand each others work style. I was able to come back to an energy level where I am able to keep the house up, prepare meals and make Junior comfortable. With my diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease Junior has been learning to give me a wide path to move around in allowing for my tendency to wobble back and forth. I have learned how hard it is to work being disabled, when I was more able bodied I felt if I gave an extra hour or 2 to Junior's project I was being generous only to learn in my disability that it is not so easy to project. I am grateful for the long time before we found a contractor to work with us because it has given Junior and I time to grow in our retirement. God does know best. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet