There is such satisfaction in hard work.
Such accomplishment in saying that you did something yourself.
That you created something from nothing.
Such a priceless lesson to pass on to our children.
I love to be able to say that my husband built our deck. My husband laid our hardwood floors. My husband built the planter boxes for our garden. My husband built the desk . He put in the molding. He put in the storm door. He installed this. He took out that.I love to say these things not to brag but to illustrate a love for work. A love for doing. A love for creating. A love for the feeling that comes with a job well done.
We both share the philosophy that a home should be created. A home isn't four walls and a roof. It is an expression of an outlook on life. We learn to do new things. And sometimes we make mistakes and it's okay because we learn from them. And our home becomes a classroom. And we earn our muscles laying hardwood and hauling wood and digging and planting and painting and hanging.
We take ownership. We put in a part of ourselves. We sweat. We go to Home Depot 50 times. We paint a whole room and then paint it over again. We dream. We plan. We sit back and look. We are scared. We are brave and we jump.
We look back and wonder why we were scared because we did it. Yes, it was hard, yes it was frustrating, yes it took longer than we thought but we did it.
And that is just what it boils down to.... we did it.
15 comments:
oh my--now are husbands are going to be best friends, too. There's nothing mine likes better than a day of good work. Maybe they can chop logs and split firewood together on the farm this fall....
This is a great post. I know exactly what you mean. You need to read the Wendell Berry book I just finished....
You do Good work Dave, I wish Steve had time to do things like that around our house.
Molly - the boys will chop wood while we sip cider and watch the kiddos jump in the piles of leaves they rake.
Annalee- You know that Dave is Steve's number one fan right? Steve is Dave's inspiration for all things handy. He is the one who taught Dave how to lay hardwood and gave him the confidence in himself that he has.
That, and a big shout out to his big brother Chris and Dewalt tools.
I love a man who works hard. And your house sounds like mine - the h.w. floors, the molding, the deck, the planter beds - and the list goes on and on... And as I type, the shelves in the laundry room. I love it!
Love that he's using DeWalt! Doug has that same drive and motivation. He put in our entire backyard and built a deck as well. We picked them right! Now I just need to get your drive!
I am so glad that I'm not the only one who repaints a freshly painted room!
I also agree that a home should be created. People always wonder why we don't have much furniture in our house, it's because I haven't found just the right piece! It takes time to make a house a home. Great blog! I ran across this from Molly at mommycoddle.
Beautifully said. And I completely agree. I am so glad my husband knows how to do things and make things. Unfortunately, I can do better in that department, but he has made so much of our house and furnishings that it makes me so proud.
Hey Tiff-
Tell Dave that Steve's B-day book will not be complete without an addition from Dave. Thanks.
Annalee
and this is one of the reasons i love you guys!!
The deck looks great, I wish we could have stopped by to see it in person when we were there. You are so good at creating... a real talent!
I love the purple & black middle fingernail in the top photo...what did Dave exclaim when *that* happened ?
WOW- That is awesome that Dave made the deck- sweet. Way to go! Very inspiring entry. :)
I love this entry Tiff! I think a big thanks goes to Dean and Inger for raising boys that know how to dig in and get to work with their own two hands!
wow - impressive!
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