My First Book...

...will be titled, "How To Build A House In Five Days And Still Stay Married."  When BJ and I moved to AZ we had planned to find an existing house to buy where he could have a workshop.  We looked extensively in the area and nothing met our list of requirements.  Then began the search for alternatives.  After having built a house on Orcas, neither one of us could even contemplate building again.  But we kept being drawn back to the idea when visiting an "adult" community near to where we are currently living.  It was not an easy decision, but we eventually bought a lot in this community and chose one of their models and here we are.  Where we have been this past week is in the design stage of our new house.  It means we have had 5 days to choose EVERYTHING!!  About mid week and after some nights of regurgitating already made decisions, we made additional changes which I see now as God directed.  I, frankly, had a hard time with criticism of things already chosen, but I have fortunately learned through 44 years of marriage that maybe, just maybe I don't have all the answers.  We eventually made choices that BOTH of us felt good about and wow, what a difference that made.  From door knobs to tile placement to window treatments, to paint color (truly marriage challenging!) well, our brains are mush tonight but I think we will have a very pretty house when it's all said and done.  We also realized that after 44 years together, we really NOW have similar tastes.  So it's been a stressful, and exhilarating week but one I hope not to have to repeat again. Any sequel might not have the same ending.

Whose bodies are those??

Yesterday we received a card from some old, dear friends, who sent us a few photos of BJ and I and Henni when she was about 6 months!!!  We were visiting these friends at the time and I have copies of most of the pictures except one.  BJ and I laughed as we looked at the 40 plus year old photos and wondered whose bodies are those?  I had to chuckle as I don't remember ever being that thin.  I think of all the years in my youth not being happy with some aspect of my body and then seeing those pictures and saying, "I'll trade!!  I'll trade"!!  What a fleeting thing youth is.