THE GOOD-THE BAD-THE SAD-THE UGLY

I am sitting in the upstairs sun room which has seen very very very little sun in the last month.  I am not complaining as the rain has lifted MN out of a very dry spell and for sure the sound and the smell of rain is calming and relaxing.  Looking out the window the rain is gently dripping off the roof with the sound that could rival the ocean waves.  I have a full pot of FP and life seems good on the outside.  Then I look inside and realize that life is short, life is fragile and one needs to hold on as if it were a million dollar vase.  I am reminded that a good friend Don is losing his energy and is looking at the end of his life unless God intervenes, Terry's sister-in-law died last Wednesday, a good friend Jerry has been battling health and accident injuries for the last 2+ years, sometimes relationships are way out of order, many people are battling health and finance issues and the list is actually much much longer.  I am at peace.  I happen to be 66 years old now.  Life has come and gone.  Brother Ronald died at a young age, sister Janet died at a young age, nephew Scotty died very young, Mom and Dad lived a long life but died some time ago, our childhood farm burned to ashes, Gail died too young and that list could go on too.  Now life seems good.  There are memories to hold on to, children and grand children to love, Terry, my wife, is wonderful and I feel good.  God is in the good, he is in the bad and he is in the ugly.  Sometimes a person has to live on faith to see God in things but looking long enough or deep enough always reveals God is there.  He is love, He is friend, He is protector--He is all.
Terry and I seem to be continuing our legecy.  Relax and play in FL and work and get things done in MN!!!  Travis and I have now put in about 250 total hours in the garage. We have also gotten help from John K and Joe C. We have

• taken down the insulation in the ceiling
• taken down the ceiling
• taken down the walls
• hauled out 3 pickup loads of junk
• replaced part of the floor with new cement
• put up 17 sheets of drywall/wood
• trimmed, primed and painted the walls
• gone through tools and sorted and weeded out unneeded ones
• are in the middle of painting the cabinets
• have purchased one new tool cabinet
• put up a memory wall in the shop
• have cleaned up the electrical things
• installed new lighting
• and there must be more!!!

I will soon put some pictures on to showcase the paint job and new things.  I will be having men's group next Wednesday here on Niles Ave and we will meet in the wood shop.  I am hoping to start on some wood projects sometime next week.  At that time Travis will start doing some work in the house. 
Life continues to move fast and we seem to not move fast enough sometimes!  We have done little yard work this spring/summer.  We need to do garden work and flowers before the snow flies again.  With all the rain we have had the lawn greens to the point that the front yard looks OK but as the dry months come it will again tell us and the entire neighborhood that Carmen and Terry need to redo the front yard.  You see now many people can not see as they drive by that the green is not much grass!
Terry has been battling a cold ever since we returned.  Finally we got her to the Dr. yesterday and are hoping the meds will solve the cough.  Prayers are always welcome.
I am enjoying a day rest from the week routine.  Travis and I are usually up by 6:15 and take the next 90 minutes to drink FP coffee, eat breakfast and talk.  It is then out to the shop to work.  A day off is welcome even though I do really enjoy our mornings.  It is a change of pace and of course we all know that when one retires there are no more days off, snow days or breaks!!  By the way next week will mark the 6th anniversary of my retirement. Much much has happened since the day I walked out of Highland Park.  For one thing I have not returned since.  Not that I did not like the school, I did, but I have this thing about turning the page when one must and then not going back to look at what was on that page.  In those last six years I certainly have seen the good, the bad, the sad and the ugly and I have to admit that at times it has been difficult to see God in all but for sure He has been there. 
No more FP and no more thoughts!