Our wonderful California vacation

We had a thoroughly enjoyable 12 days visiting with family in Sacramento, Fresno, Visalia, and up at Kings Canyon National Park.  Here are a few of the 70 photos I took.  I will figure out how to make all of them available online.

 

We enjoyed two relaxing days with Melba's brother, David, and his wife, Nancey who live in Sacramento and are a fun couple!

 Melba relaxing in the lobby of the John Muir Lodge.

 Dave and Sylvia, my niece and her husband.

 A cute couple!

 Ernie and Rebecca--another niece and husband.

 Doreen--the matriarch of the Williams clan--and my sister.

 Beautiful part of God's green earth.

 Doreen's husband, John--very humorous fellow.

 Ernie, Rebecca and their son, Max with Sylvia

 John and Doreen--we really enjoyed spending time with them.

 John Muir Lodge--note the snow--they had 340" this year, more than double the annual average!

 Lovely vista.

 Fun to gather round the fire, make smores, and tell stories.

 Mom really enjoyed the photo tribute album we put together for her--in fact, it brought her to tears.

 Rebecca, Trent, and Sylvia

 Diane and Martin

 Mom, John, Dave, William, and Sean

 Doreen, John Steele, Trent, and Sylvia

Finally finished!

When we began our kitchen remodel three months ago we had no idea it would take so long; however, friends have told us that 3-5 months is not unusual so I guess we did pretty good.  Here are some photos of the finished product.  We're very pleased with the end result and will enjoy our "new" kitchen for years to come.

 We opted for mission style and refacing/resurfacing rather than completely new cabinets--a big money saver! We also went with porcelain tiles for the new counter-top and back splash--more rustic look that was cheaper than granite and went well with mission style.

Once it's time to replace the dishwasher and stove we'll replace them with stainless steel appliances.

Our contractor custom made this pantry and all the new cabinet doors and drawer fronts.  We love the freezer/refrigerator side by side.  They are separate units but look good together.

A year and a half ago we retiled our entry way floor and were lucky enough to find enough additional tile of this discontinued line to do the floors in the kitchen and the laundry room so it's one continual flow of tile.

Tile leading into the laundry room.

Palm Sunday

Throughout much of Christendom this Sunday is celebrated as Palm Sunday, a day to remember Christ's entrance into Jerusalem.  Years ago I penned this poem in the hope of creating a spiritual link between that day so long ago and our own lives.  I hope you enjoy it.

CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

By

Lawrence M. Barry

That ancient day, so long ago

Our Lord rode mounted, grand and slow,

Into the town Jerusalem,

Into the throngs of waiting men.

The crowd rejoiced and gave Him alms

Of fresh cut leaves from desert palms,

Placed worshipfully along His way;

Their love reached out to Him that day.

“Hosanna to the Lord” they cried;

“Bless each of you” the Lord replied.

With one accord they welcomed Him

Into the town Jerusalem.

Centuries past, our day is here,

But still He lives to bring us cheer.

He stands prepared to do His part—

Triumphal entry into our heart.

Loving us with love supreme

He offers a celestial dream

Of peace and love within our home

And joy with Him when life is done.

He waits outside each person’s door

No matter if we’re rich or poor.

He knocks and calls as a gentle dove:

“Is there room in your home for the Master’s love?”

He wants to bless, His love He offers;

We need His help, His hand He proffers.

He knows us well and what we need;

He’s come to serve, to love, to feed.

While Christians wait for His return,

Christ waits for us to learn

That in a home that welcomes Him,

He will gladly enter in.

Let each of us, right here and now,

Within our hearts renew our vow

To love the Lord and serve Him well

That in our homes He’ll come to dwell.

Remodeling update

Our kitchen remodeling is coming along.  Here are some photo updates.

 The old linoleum floor.

 Tearing up the old floor.

 

Chris and Kelli Maloney, our husband and wife contractors, installing the new tile floor. Very nice couple, very skilled and extremely customer friendly! 

 

New floor almost completed.

 

The old refrigerator and pantry cupboards.

 Removing the cupboards.

 

Our new stainless steel full-size refrigerator and full-size freezer, side by side, looking like one unit.  Enclosed with oak paneling which will match the new cupboard refacing and the new pantry which comes Monday.  Stay tuned...

The Year of the Remodeling

Yesterday we made a big decision: we're going to remodel our kitchen.  To be more specific we've hired someone to remodel it for us.  I can hardly hammer a nail let alone transform a room.  We signed a contract with a gentleman with considerable experience and solid references.  His bid was reasonable so we decided not to get a second or third estimate.  We wrote a check for 50% of the cost and we're on our way.  Here's the plan:

• Refacing all cabinets--new doors and fixtures, resurfacing the rest. We're going with mission style--our kitchen table is mission as are our bedroom dressers--and mission holds up aesthetically and we like it.
• All new counter top.  We opted for porcelain tiles rather than granite, Corian, or quartz.  There is some really attractive porcelain available and it is $5,000 cheaper, very durable, and if you crack something all you have to replace is a tile or two, not the whole slab.
• Creating an enclave for a stainless steel "all freezer/all refrigerator" side by side with a total of 38 Cu. Ft, 19 in each.
• Custom build a pantry 24"Dx78"Wx84"H; this will more than make up for the small pantry and cupboard space we'll lose because of the new refrigerator/freezer.
• New kitchen floor, most likely tile.

We've debated for a year or two over when and how to do the remodel.  Our primary reasoning was that within the next 15 - 20 years we will most likely have to sell our home if not sooner.  Investing in a kitchen redo pays back more than any other remodeling upon resale.  And finally, we wanted to enjoy the new kitchen upgrades now, not later or never.  Next year we'll probably do the bathrooms since they also give a good return.

Hope to post photos as we move ahead with this project.

Out of the best books

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."  ~Charles W. Eliot

Books are my addiction of choice.  Entering a book store or a library instantly gives me a natural high.  When visiting friends my eye naturally gravitates to their bookshelves where I learn what interests or motivates them.  Nestled deep in my easy chair, shoes off, opening the book at the bookmark (never dog earing the pages!), I settle in to be whisked off to a far adventure, have my intellect stretched, or be inspired to be a better Christian husband/father/son/brother/friend.


Here are the books I am currently--and in the case of some--constantly reading.

• The New Testament
• The Book of Mormon (with Melba)
• Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy, Stephen L. Carter
• The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ: Volume I, Richard Holzapfel & Thomas Wayment
• Broke, Glenn Beck
• Rejoice In Christ: Daily Insight from the Book of Mormon, Ed Pinegar & Richard Allen
• Rebekah, Orson Scott Card
• To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson 

Books--like true friends--are there when you need them, asking nothing in return.

Lots to do so let's get with it!

Been a month since I last blogged--need to get back into the habit--if only to post today's "to do" list (in order):
1.  Devotional time
2.  Exercise (free weights, walk if not raining)
3.  Clean my desk (once a month activity)
4.  Work high priest group contribution to ward mission plan
5.  Birthday call to Megan (she likes to sleep in; otherwise this would be #1)
6.  Move trash to blue bins for pick-up next Monday
7.  Call Shawn the Gardener to come this week to take advantage of the good weather that is forecast,
8,  Gas up Melba's car
9.  Mail birthday cards
10. Visit Bro/Sis Houston--they are coping with decision to put husband in a full-time care facility--need our support
11. Work on family history (1 hour)
12.  Practice the banjo (1/2 hour)