Sunday 11-7-10

This past Friday 11/5, three soldiers met me at dad's again. I restocked the groceries and went to Mansfield Building Supply to purchase a few more supplies and to discuss carpeting. The owner, Mike, has some left over carpet from a job he did in another town and that's what we're going to use. I had to leave Mansfield by 4:00 pm to make it to Springfield in time for Malerie's basketball game. She is 10 and just started playing this year, and she loves it.

We spend the night at my in-laws in Springfield to reduce travel time, because Saturday morning before 7:00 am, Alan and I both had to be on the road again. I headed toward Windermere. I am involved in our women's ministries at church, and I teach during our women's retreat. It was a good time, and I was able to take time to prepare for the teaching. Our entire retreat was about how we waste so much mental energy thinking about the "what if's" in life -- that usually NEVER take place. "What if" this and what if that.... We cannot live life in the What ifs. We also waste time with the "if only's" about the past. If only I had done this or that.... It is futile. God is in control. He is Sovereign, and He is still on His throne. He will do or allow into our lives whatever He wants, and nothing surprises Him... Nothing.

The soldiers finished the retaining wall at dad’s house on Saturday evening. They also “planted” a pier (a 5x5 treated post) 3 feet into the ground with cement under the deck. They will be there tomorrow to pull the deck back up to the house. These two things are repairs that really needed to happen.

The bathroom is still down to the studs and going more slowly than I had hoped. They have the plans in place and the supplies to finish that, but the soldier who is driving that project hasn’t been there the past 2 weekends. He spent 11 years in construction before enlisting, so he knows what he’s doing, which gives me a wonderful peace of mind.

They will take off next weekend because a couple of them are going on a hunting trip. They are a wonderful blessing to me, and they are donating their time, energy, and expertise on their days off. I do not know how I will ever be able to thank them enough.