LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

We are enjoying spending time with our family in Phenix City. Elizabeth and I enjoyed going to the movies with my sisters, Julie and Cathy, and my Mom to see the latest chick flick "Mama Mia". We laughed and laughed!!!! and we topped it off with Bruster's Ice Cream!! My brother-in-law Mark cooked out steaks for Barron, Dad, Mother and I last night! Julie provided all the side dishes -- and delicious chocolate cake.

Today we got to see the changes to the sanctuary at Lakewood and hear their new pastor.

Spending the afternoon with grandkids -- and possibly driving home tonight!! or tomorrow ...

Tile going in ...

First picture is the guest bathroom tile floor -- it might look familiar because we brought leftover tile from our Texas house!! The second picture is the laundry room floor going in. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since we have been having rain (courtesy of Fay), it will be a few days before the hardwood floors can go in. The flooring has to be acclimated to the house temp and humidity in the slab!

Great Sunday!

Poured rain here from 4:00 am - 8:00 am but none since. We need more but thank God for the 3 inches that some got. Went to church -- SS classes prayerwalked around the church and in various parts of church -- fantastic! Thanks, Lance, for this wonderful idea and your sensitive heart!

Had Melvyn and Vonda Hunter over for lunch in our humble abode Barron fried some fresh okra, added sliced tomatoes, roast beef with rice - yummy!! and they took home some pears. Took them over to see latest developments at the new house. Visited with Barron's former girlfriend (named "Jan") and her mother. Jan and Larry were kind enough to keep the grandkids during Barron's Mom funeral when the kids were so little. Then we stopped by another local Baptist church - Faith Baptist - and joined them for worship!! (Their pastor is Jeff Steele, former southern gospel music performer and songwriter) He and wife and daughter sang great song - We are Redeemed! Then by Arby's for quick supper and home in time to catch the end of the Closing Olympic ceremonies! Must admit the Chinese can put on an AMAZING show!! What a wonderful day ... and did I mention that I received an email that I was one of the applicants chosen for an interview for a job at Redstone Arsenal! THANK YOU LORD!

Confusion reigns!

A little clarification might be needed for some pictures I posted earlier. Julia (one of our grandkids) had asked Grandma (me!) to post a picture of HER new room (one of the guest rooms!), so that is the room with the ladder in the picture! That is removed now and the room is pretty. Will get a hardwood floor this week!

The writing on the wall was the layout of the tile border for the tub backsplash! Shane wanted to show me that what we had chosen would fit perfectly!!!

We now have KEYS to our house!! Locks are on and Barron and I took a walk-thru to discuss placement of furniture -- looks like we will be having a yard sale for all those items we brought from Texas that won't fit in this house!!

New Pictures to Share

Above: A/C guys arrived this morning! Below: shower walls go in -- see cubbies for soaps/shampoos!Back patio - my new patio table and chairs and his new grill and fire pit will look so nice!
Looking down on all that new concrete!!! We watched the guys work for over an hour.

Julia's Room and others

Julia, see, here is a picture of your room (and Grandma Esther's) - that is the side window. Closet doors go on after flooring in. I love how the painters are able to free-hand the trey (that's in the master bedroom). Then is a picture of the office. Elizabeth, Look above for the drawing Shane (the tile man) did where the tub backsplash will be -- exact space for the border we (mostly you and Joyce) designed! Last picture was made yesterday - prepping for driveway and porch to be poured - and patio!!!!

And more color - and garage doors

New gravel for driveway, guest bedrooms and office are now painted and garage doors are on -- excitement building !!!!!!!!!

COLOR COLOR EVERYWHERE!

Painters have been hard at work. Love the colors -- see the pics!! You may remember in an earlier post that I mentioned Elizabeth had been a big help with choosing tile for our master bath. Well, that sure came in handy today when we met with the tile/floor man. Her drawings helped us to show him what we had decided - and the names of the tiles too! Shane knows his stuff and will put in container areas in shower wall (for hair products, soaps) and a stool/ledge in one corner (you know, for when I need to shave my legs!). The garage doors are in and the attic stairs. Front porch is ready for concrete! Septic system being put in too! So much going on .... plan to be in no later than the end of September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time Away with Parents

We have been spending several days in the north Georgia mountains with my folks here in Sky Valley. It is beautiful. Drove over to Highlands, NC yesterday. We plan to visit friends in Marietta/Woodstock/Acworth area on our way home tomorrow. Please pray for Jan as she has a job interview on Thursday with local loan company in Cullman.

Barron finally gets to do some landscaping!

We caught up with Rex as he was coming to bushhog ... doesn't that back yard look lush! We are thankful for the rain we have had this year. Barron was antsy to clean up the yard so he got busy with his weedeater! Now he'll probably want a new tractor!

Excitement builds as work continues

Work outside and inside -- the porch footings have been poured and now we have brickwork. Cement to come ... And the trim guys have started the task of framing out all the windows, doors and walls -- and putting doors in! House is definitely taking shape!!

Think painters come in next week to do walls!

Front Porch

We were so surprised. We didn't go check on the house yesterday as it was Saturday - and when we went by today -- the front porch had been bricked and is ready for concrete to be poured!! Way to go!!! We watched "Facing the Giants" at church tonight and I/we recommend it to everyone! If you haven't seen it yet, but might, don't read past here ... When Coach Taylor was surprised by a new truck, all I could think of was how blessed we were when our friends/family showed up in June to build our house! We are looking at being in our completed home in mid/late September! Amen!!! Have a great week!