I have something on my heart that I have been meaning to say for a long time. Thank you, partners! Thank you, friends!

I know what it’s like to support and partner with other ministries myself. I do so each month, and I have built a relationship with them for what they do, furthering the Gospel. I myself enjoy seeing their fruit and love for others.

I hope you see that in Tom’s and my ministry. Sharing Jesus with the world no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they live.

Tom and I enjoy praying for our partners every morning and sometimes through out the day. It doesn’t matter if they gave a long time ago or just recently. You helped us through trying times and good times. You have our backs, and we have yours. So, never think this isn’t personal to us, as you join us in furthering the Gospel. It’s personal, especially as I write those short notes on the thank you letters. You are a blessing you me. I just wanted to tell you that.

Our Latest Home Project: An Ugly Deck

Our project during the past month or so has been deck restoration, repair, and painting, which is also known as tortured labor-intensive work.

The deck was in disrepair when we moved in, but we have only now, after 2 1/2 years, we have been able to get to it.

Tom tells me it’s about 20 by 20 feet. To me, it seems like 100 by 100. The deck, which was painted dirty brown/tan, had chipping paint, holes, and rotting boards. The railing with 106 spindles, 16 posts, and 2 wide stairways was painted dark forest green. A lot of paint was missing and chipping with rotting boards on the railing also.

Yes, an ugly deck.

First, the rotting boards needed to be replaced, and we hired someone to do that. It’s always nice to have someone else do the work, right? Ha!

Well, we asked him, “Can you scrape the peeling paint too????”

“Sure.” He says.

Tom bought a power washer which he used first, then he gets on his hands and knees and start to scrape all day! Not much progress.

We tell the helper thanks for everything but we think this may take longer than our funds will allow.

The next day Tom power washes and more comes up, and I scrape. Next, I power wash and scrap, and we begin to make some progress.

For the next several days, Tom continues to power wash. I mean dirt and debris are flying all over the place.

I go out every morning in my PJs and scrape paint peeling up from being wet.

It takes forever, folks, to get down to mostly bare wood now.

I’m starting to hate the deck.

Next, I take my sander and sand whatever needs sanding. I can still hear the sander ringing in my ears.

I then go to the store and buy primer. I pay for it and ask if a brush or roller is best for putting this on a deck.

What? “You can’t put this on a deck. It’s not made for that,” they say.

I tell them the condition of my deck and they say, “Well, you will have to replace all the boards.”

Folks, if I’m going to replace all the boards, I might as well build a whole new deck!

They give me my money back, and Tom and I search the internet for the best primer for our deck and go to Menards to purchase it.

So, the next day, you guessed it, Susan is out there priming the railing—106 spindles and 16 posts, etc. My disdain for this deck is growing.

Finally, it’s Polar White porch paint time. Hooray!

I’m dying, painting spindles, spacers, and railing. So much green is showing through.

Just one more coat, meself says. Two coats!

Holy Jehoshaphat! It needs another COAT!

After the third coat on 106 spindles, spacers, and railing are completed, my thoughts: burn it to the ground! I hate the deck!

Now, I have to prime between the boards on the deck, That’s where I’m at.

So, my dear friends, I need prayer and repentance. Ha.

I know you have been there. Something that seems not too difficult but takes forever. “Press on” is my only advice. You can’t stop now! Might as well finish it!

Someday, in the sweet bye-and-bye,

Susan

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