BASEMENT IS DONE!

TO RECAP…

It was three years ago that we started the basement project.
In the end of 2008 John sealed the walls and framed the basement.

In January 2009 he painted the floor.

We didn’t take photos for a while. In 2009 and into 2010 John did the behind the scenes stuff. Lots of electric. Boxed in windows. Put in doors.

In October 2010 we hired someone to hang the dry wall

and in December I primed it.

In 2011 John did more electric partly for the basement and partly for the pool outside… but basically we didn’t do much. We did vacations and a ton of gardening and yard work.

John finished what he needed to do in December by boxing in the supports and wiring the ceiling.
I painted the basement. Nigel painted the stair trim. We hired someone to hang the ceiling.
John did more electric. [We changed our minds on some things along the way.]

AND NOW – THE FINISHED PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Front porch artisans

We frequently take our creating out-of-doors and our favorite space is the front porch.  Normally this doesn’t happen on March 22nd, but we aren’t complaining.  Johanna got to make necklaces with her sisters.  Sort of.

Rewarded after swim lessons

The kids completed their swim lessons this last weekend.  None of them moved to the next higher level, but each of them advanced within the Red Cross level.

The last day includes some fun activities.  I’m glad I could be there to watch.

Afterward we took them to McDonald’s for some Shamrock Shakes.  They were so surprised and delighted.
Made my broken heart glad to see them smile.

Today

Earlier this afternoon as I paused in the pantry door I was suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that people must be praying for me today.  Plain and simple.  Earlier this morning I was poised to fall apart.  All the signs were there.  Then next thing I know it is hours and hours later and I am thinking of others’ prayers. 

Then, around 7 P.M., a friend from church called.  She said she just meant to be brief, but she wanted me to know that she had been praying for me all day. 

As much as I love it when I am right, I am even more delighted to have my name lifted to our Good God and for Him to hear their prayers.   I don’t for a minute think she was alone. For as despondent I was this morning it was a lot of prayers that held me up. That’s how devoted God’s children are.  [Although God would have heard the prayers of just one, I am certain.]

Tomorrow is another day.  And the physical parts of the miscarriage, and the remaining grief are far from over.  But I trust the Holy Spirit will lead others to pray for me in those moments when I just can not pray for myself.

The flowers?  Gifts from a friend of 20 years.  Dropped off, way out of her way, Friday afternoon.  The card said they were to be planted in memory of our babies.  Guess why she’s been a friend for 20 years.  ♥

Ballet Magnificat

In January we ordered tickets for a performance of Ballet Magnificat’s “Deliver Us,” being performed in Bath, NY.  Despite the overwhelming grief in our hearts we made the 60 mile trek south to the show.  Wow. 
It was beautiful. 
I won’t pretend it wasn’t painfully hard to be there for something indulgent while my heart was breaking.  There were moments of anguish.  But juxtaposed against the beauty of the ballet and the joy in my kids’ eyes it at least allowed me to feel a full range of emotions in one evening.

I wish I could share all the photos.

It started with dinner.

And DESSERT.

The whole meal was Stewart-safe which is a tremendous blessing in and of itself.

The performance started with five praise and worship songs.  The tears streamed freely down my face throughout this portion.  It was so beautiful.

We spent intermission outside in the 70-plus weather.  We tried for a lousy picture [Hanny wasn’t there anyway – she slept over with Nanny.]  And watched the kids try a few ballet moves of their own.

Then the Deliver Us/Moses story.  The soundtrack from The Prince of Egypt, one of our favorite family movies, provided the storyline and music.  It was OUTSTANDING.  I do admit knowledge of the Dreamworks movie would help with following the story some.  But it was clearly the story of Moses from the book of Exodus.  The interpretations were fascinating.  The burning bush was depicted by a woman dancing.  The way they showed the plagues and back-and-forth of Pharaoh and Moses was remarkable.  It was just awesome, really.

Then it morphed into THE Deliverer and depicted the sacrifice of Christ in much the same way our Passion Play will be. 

We got to meet a few dancers and the headed home for a just-before-midnight-bedtime.

I wish I could have taken everyone I know.  It was just that good.
This is from You-Tube.  Not as good a video as I would like to see… but it gives an idea.