Focus, Woman, Focus!

It seems that I have so many beginnings for different posts, but never have enough time or focus to sit down and write them.

Then....poof, they are gone.

I have a bunch of pix that I need to upload of the roof and building projects around here, so I will start to post those today if I get the chance to have some time that is not focused elsewhere.

The garage is coming along. Riky is so excited! We all are :) But Riky most of all! It is wonderful to watch his hard work start to really look like it is coming together. He is such a hard worker that there are times that I dread him starting a project. This garage has had moments like that, but it seems that things are falling into place now and he is able to understand that the boys and I barely (if at all) equal one grown, qualified, experienced carpenters' apprentice. We fall short of what he needs done, sometimes, but since he has come to recognise this, things are running smoothly. Yesterday I was trying to stand a 17 foot sheet of steel upright and thought that I was going to fall over with the sheet on top of me. I was begging God to either have a man drive by that wanted to help, or someone call that wanted to help, or give me the strength to do this. Something had to give at that point. Riky and I did one side of the roof on Monday and I had the strength to pack all of the sheets, but by Tuesday I was only able to pack them, not stand them up, for the other side. I just didn't have the strength or the experience to know how to work around the shed that is 4-5 feet from that side of the garage.

All of the sudden, Riky said-"change of plans" and climbed down off of the roof to help me. I have no idea if he heard me struggling or if he was just tired of waiting for the next sheet, or what,

~~but it was a definite answer to prayer. ~~~For sure.

As I have said in previous posts, Riky and I work well together, but there are times that I wish that I was a petite little woman with very few muscles so that he would have to ask someone else to come help him. Then reality sets in and I remember that there is virtually no one who would come help us, and pretty much no one that we would even ask. (Riky's brother, Jack, has been wonderful to help at the things that I couldn't-like trusses~~ I am eternally grateful for his help~~, he is also totally able to answer tons of questions over the phone and has swung by frequently to direct the next step and troubleshoot.~~ Again Eternally. grateful.~~ we also had some help standing the walls and don't get me wrong-I am thankful for that-I am not trying to sound ungrateful for the help that we have had, not one bit. I appreciate all of it. Every last bit) But... things have changed alot in the last little bit, and all around us it seems to be every man for himself...

So...

God has made me strong enough to do a man's work when I need to, but feminine enough to be comfortable being a woman and not wanting to do a man's work just to prove that I am equal or some such silliness.

I am exactly what Riky needs, and I have to remember that! ~~ when he needs help, he doesn't have to ask anyone, most of the time (there are a few things that he has had to "hire out" for, but I am studying up in those few areas so that he won't have to anymore). I am thankful that God gave me a man who is willing to tackle a huge task (like an 18 foot tall 40x30 garage) with no hesitation. He has saved us thousands of dollars by doing this project himself. He is teaching the boys a marketable skill in the process. He is also teaching them perseverance and determination. The lessons that the boys have learned through this project from their dad is priceless. Diligence and energy are somethings that Riky has in abundance and his excitement is contagious. (He has been putting in full time hours at work, some overtime, AND we have worked on the garage 1o hours or more just this week. And it's only Wednesday!) He is awesome! I can't wait for it to be done, but I have to say that I really have enjoyed these last few months of working on this.

Kinda :) Right now muscles that I didn't even know that I had hurt!