Stepping Heavenward

No, this isn't a post about building our new staircase... That will come in about 6 months (fingers crossed!).  It's a post about a book I just finished: Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. Originally published in 1869, this book is a favorite of my best friend, Kirsten. I flew through it, thoroughly enjoying the young woman's journey to godliness, as seen through her journals.  I just need to copy a couple of quotes for my own personal reference and thought this is as good a place as any. 
You may or may not have noticed my book lists on the right hand side of my blog.  I determined early in the year to READ!  I have always loved to read, yet I have not been very diligent about doing it over the last few years. I wonder why...  But, I'm excited to look at the list of books completed!  It has been a worthwhile undertaking!

On marriage...
"The coming of each new child strengthens and deepens my desire to be what I would have (my marriage) become, makes my fault more odious in my eyes, and elevates my whole character.  What a blessed discipline of joy and of pain my married life has been; how thankful I am to reap its fruits even while pricked by its thorns."  p. 230

On children...
"Martha says I shall now have one mouth the more to fill and two feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading, music and drawing. Well! This is one side of the story, to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother's heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!"  p. 229

Sag no more.

Okay, have you ever tried to capture ceiling sag via camera? Next to impossible. The only way to explain it -- this beam in the picture below?  It is sitting on the top of the cabinets -- pinched between the sagging ceiling and the cabinet. 

Okay, now check this out -- after James nailed up the ceiling to the new joists -- a HUGE difference!

Below: The pretty ceiling (well, the pretty needs-to-be-patched, textured, painted ceiling)

Did I say see you "tomorrow?" :-)

Another day, another hole in the ceiling...  James made yet another cut to continue the kitchen joisting. (is that a word?) 

here he is doing some more measuring

Charis decided to get a shot of me "helping."

watching the action

SEVENTEEN JOISTS IN PLACE!! Ain't they purty?!?!?!

the clean-up -- putting the light fixture back up

On to electrical work we go...

A first...

I'm actually blogging as the work is being done. Impressed?  :-)

The first (and second) hole in my kitchen ceiling appeared this morning.  Along with a couple of braces and drapes and quite a mess.  Fortunately, we had easy leftovers for lunch and are going to a family gig for dinner, so today's food issues are covered.  Tomorrow?  I'll be working under the drapes...

The view from upstairs...

And the first kitchen joist is IN!

Stay tuned for more updates...
(ha.  probably tomorrow) :-)
And did I mention my children can sleep through anything?!

UPDATE:

Yes, this is the same kitchen. Two joists are in, it's been cleaned up and we're headed to bed for the night.  More tomorrow...

The next phase begins...

Well, we're home from vacation, and that means back to work.  James started removing the floor over the kitchen in preparation for replacing the kitchen joists.  That means a little more HVAC work and some ever-exciting electrical work.  Here we go...

the current state of the upstairs

Hangin' Sheet Rock

I have gained a greater appreciation for sheet-rockers. That stuff is heavy!  And unfortunately, there are no pictures of me holding up a sheet of sheet rock, because Charis refused to take them.  BUT, my aching triceps were evidence enough...

The joists are in place, the return-air box has been built and placed, ready for sheet rock!



trimming the sheet rock

  

this is AFTER I held up the sheet rock while James started screwing it in place.  Can you imagine that part of it? 

the ceiling is back in place -- just in time for vacation!



a nice clean room!  Let's get out of here!



Thankful Thursday

I've got plenty to blog about the house, but I thought I'd jump on this Thankful Thursday bandwagon.  I am constantly amazed by how much I have to be thankful for! 

This week I'm thankful that...

...Gwyn's run-in with the hot coffee resulted in minimal burns and hopefully no scarring.

...my babies' mullets are now gone.

...it's only 15 days until our first payday!

...James has a JOB (a job that also allowed him to take our previously-scheduled vacation despite only working for 2 days!)

...my girls have new wardrobes for the fall thanks to hand-me-downs that don't look like hand-me-downs!

...we have family close-by who LOVE to be with us and our girls -- and we love to be with them!

...my husband has declared my chocolate chip cookies the BEST. 

...Dave Ramsey is on the radio during naptime.