Garage Project

Duff and I finished this garage project this week.

For years, I have been frustrated and annoyed with all the summer pool and beach towels left on the garage or laundry room floor. Wet, sandy, stinky. I had an idea to put hooks on a small wall in the garage leading into the house. The materials have been sitting in a workbench drawer for a couple of years now. In my effort to complete all of my unfinished projects, it was time to get this done!

Duff went to Lowes to get some garage paint. Just good old white in a semi-gloss. He painted the wall to give it a fresh face and he hates to paint, so I was really appreciative.

Then I sanded and painted the wood bars. We measured, leveled, and nailed them into the studs, and added the double hooks alternating the spacing.

What a difference. We cleaned out all the shoes on the shelves.

Now the space at the garage entry is clean, tidy, and no more errant towels!

(I've been working on visiting teaching most of the day. There are many changes and many to contact. I learn so much from these conversations or email replies. We have good women who do good things. Duff took the grocery list to the store so I could get the laundry caught up and work on the vt.
I made a new recipe for dinner--Green Chile Pork for burritos. It was awesome. I'll include the recipe in another post.
Natalie called early this morning. She needed to talk. I think the reality of having this baby and all the first time unknowns are hitting her. I clearly remember the day that happened to me. I was walking down the basement stairs at Walker Bank in Provo where I was the head teller. The anxiety I felt at truly raising a child hit me like a ton of bricks. I stopped and caught my breath and pushed back the tears. At this point in a pregnancy there is no turning back. Not that I would have anyway, but I was feeling painfully aware of the parenting responsibility that I had no first hand knowledge or experience with yet, and wondering if and hoping that I/we could really do it. It is SO much more than having a cute baby, playing dress-up/house with them. There are grand eternal perspectives and covenants which carry with them great stewardships. I don't know if I helped her feel any better, but she seemed much more calm and ready for the future. They have a difficult one ahead of them this next year: new move, baby, and last 2 semesters for both of law school. They have a good school schedule worked out so they can take care of the baby after he comes and still finish. They will do it--they are both strong that way. It will test them, and they will pass the test. A couple of weeks ago at the cabin, I was getting dinner ready for the next wave of guests. I needed help. I looked over at her on the couch, watching a movie with her cross-stitch project spread out all over enjoying her simple little life with this tiny life moving inside of her. I opened my mouth to ask for some help, and then stood there and closed it. These moments will be few and far between in the future. I just let her have it. It will change all too soon.
And before we realize it, it will pass on to another generation.)