Weekly Update: 12.21.24
The closer we get to Christmas, the busier life seems to be. The chaos this week was compounded by sickness. My niece came down with a fever on Wednesday, two more were sick the next day, and by the end of the week, almost no one felt totally healthy. We perservered, however, and even had some fun along the way.
Our biggest project in the bunkhouse was the hearth. We had read several online articles on how to make your own brick pad. It all seemed really straight forward. And it was -- but the technical application of the concepts proved very time consuming. It was a slow process of placing each brick and making sure it was where it belonged in all three dimensions. Our laser level was invaluable, but we made good use of more old-fashioned tools as well. I worked on it Monday, and then Grace joined me on Tuesday. Our Dad helped us wrap it up Tuesday night, and we all felt like having a party. We let the hearth dry for a couple days, and then Levi and Dad installed the heat shield on Friday.
Aside from the hearth, Grace did some white washing. Levi and Dad were off this week, so they were busy working on various projects in the bunkhouse. They started siding one of the bathrooms, and Dad installed our bathroom fan. Levi milled more siding. The guys worked together on the living room window trim. Jeremiah has been spending his evening working on his space. He finished installing the siding this week and starting applying a gray wash.
For us sisters, the rest of the week was full of Christmas activity. We made candy one day, and we wrapped gifts another. We finally admitted to ourselves that we weren't finishing some of our handmade gifts in time, and we made new plans. My folks had their anniversary, and we made them a nice dinner. The kids had a Christmas program. I even got to get off the homestead and attend a couple Christmas parties.
Yesterday, I celebrated my 40th birthday. It was a cultural milestone, and I found myself reflecting on my life so far. Like doubltess many people feel, my life hasn't turned out the way I expected it would. I have yet to get married or have children -- things I once thought would arrive as surely as the changing of seasons. I have never written that novel, despite the fits of false starts over the years. But I spent my birthday on our homestead, listening to the wind play with our tent fly. I've said it before, but it felt especially true this week -- building this homestead feels like one of the most real things I have ever done. My life at 40 isn't what I ever planned, but it is certainly blessed.
So in the coming days, as we wade through the last of the Christmas chaos, I'm especially thankful to be where we are at. When the candy is rushed and the cookies imperfect, I am glad they were made in a kitchen I'm building. As family members find themselves sick, I'm thankful we are convelesing in our cozy little tent. When presents are unfished and wrapping hurried, it doesn't really matter. We have so much to be thankful for, in all these gifts God gives all around us. And as Christmas itself arrives this week, I'm thankful for the reminder to give thanks for the greatest gift of all -- God's gift of himself, on Christmas and on every day throughout the year.
