Nothing new

Been over a week and there has been nothing done at the house. I disappointed. I am upset. I am suppose to be preparing for the first holiday meal in the new house. Right now I am not even sure if we will be in by Christmas. I have cried more than I care to admit.

It seems that the sewer is the major hold up. Once the sewer is connected, then the furnace, water, cabinets, floorings, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, and electricity can all be finished. 

We are still in the rental with an increased rent by $50 a month, and 90% of our stuff is packed. The storage unit has increased the fees, we started storing items in there a year a go. Our decorations for the holidays are all in the middle of that storage unit, not that there is room for them in the rental anyways. Even my sewing machine is in the storage unit, I am not sure if my kids will be getting their annual pillows from me, but I am going to try to start a new tradition with Jesse this year, called the "Jesse Tree". 

As I just read over this, I can only see it is getting more and more complaining, and that isn't what I want for this blog, but I couldn't not update all my friends who read this. I have been told that there "maybe" work on Saturday, and for that I need someone willing to bring lunch. I also need some volunteers to be on stand by if I get the word that there will be work. Please continue to pray for the house, the workers, their families, & for all the details to be worked out.

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

Mid November- No sewer connection still

So many months ago, the sewer line was supposed to be connected, but it didn't happen. Now we are are still waiting, the latest reason for delay was there was a water main break somewhere in NT. I just want it done, yesterday. I know here I go again, putting a time line on this house, but I am just not enjoying the fact that I would be spending another winter in this rental. As Jesse reminds me, it is a roof over our heads, and yes God has provided for us, I want so badly to say BUT...... but that's not part of the plan. This house has not every been like any other plan, like any other Habitat for Humanity house, or even anything I would think possible. There is work being done on the inside, but there is also delays for work to continue because the sewer isn't connected. The jobs inside that have been done are all the interior doors are hung, all the trim     (except a few small areas) are done around the doors and windows, the backer board is laid in the kitchen, both bathrooms, and both entryways, the nail holes in the trim is all filled in, and there is clean up done on the house many times over. The fans/ light fixtures at the house have been tagged for the rooms they belong in- waiting for me to go clean them up. On the outside of the house, the curb for the driveway has been cut! 

Cut Curb

Trimmed closet doors 

So what is left to do... so much more that I can imagine. When does it look like we will be in the house ? No one knows. I will TRY to take it one day at a time, taking the good with the bad. Trying to be thankful in the moment, a year ago this house had not been even started. Will there be work this 
weekend? YES!! Do we need help? YES !! What will we be doing ? Painting trim, doors, touch up, and lots of other stuff. Will we need lunch? YES, who can I count on to bring lunch for us ? Will it be warmer ? According to the weather reports, MUCH WARMER!! While many of you are from WNY, I know that some who read this are from other states, I am living very close to the Canadian boarder, in Niagara Falls, NY. Buffalo is about 20 minutes from me, and they got many FEET of snow, we on the other hand got many FLURRIES of snow. 

At Rental 

At new house

 We are living in a small bubble, tonight I am thankful that I am not in the area that has much snow and no power. I am thankful that I have no family that is stuck on the interstate or in an airport, or out in this weather. I am praying for those who are. So for tonight, I will stop complaining about no sewer, take humor in the new "washer" that I was given tonight, and pray for those who need so much. 

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

A little bit of encouragement

Just a few pictures to share.......thankful for the little things 

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

Another weekend......

Another weekend has passed, this is the 60th post to this blog and over 5000 views, in about 7 months, the timetable isn't mine. I have said that before. This is God's project not mine. By this time I am sure many of you are sick of hearing that, but there is no other explanation. Yes, many earthly reason for the delays, the city of NT, the workers, the volunteers, the weather, the vacations of others, and the list can continue, but as Jesse said so well," we are covered! " We truly believe that God has provided the roof over our heads, and so until the timing is right, we will stay in the rental, the hovel, the protection from the storms. 

Yesterday, there was quite the crew at the house 7-8 from St Vincent, 4-5 from Centerpoint, a few from NU (& NW), and Jeremy, plus the Habitat folks. I had planned not to stay, Jesse needed the time with me, and the work at at house can happen without me.  I know that the doors were moved from the living room to the rooms where they will be hung, and the trim was moved so it wasn't blocking the hallway. The painting was completed, all the edging in, the ceilings, the walls, with the exception of the back hallway.  The one area is a tough spot.  The entire house was swept and shop vacced & all the windows cleaned yet again. 

Doors

Trim

The tile that was ordered on Wednesday was paid for and picked up on Thursday, that is a story that won't get published, I just have to add that to the crazy files. The tile guy did deliver it to the house on Thursday night, only for him to remind us all that he needed the area cleared for him to do his work. 

Hardibacker

Tiles

So many people continue to ask me what the plan is and what still needs to be done. Well, I can only share what I know. I have been told that the doors will be hung Tuesday morning, & the hardibacker will be placed on Tuesday sometime late morning, early afternoon. I have been told for the last several weeks that the sewer was going to be connected, which it hasn't, but I am being assured that it will be done soon. The tile, cannot be laid until the furnace comes in. The furnace doesn't come in until the sewer is connected. The toilets, sinks, and appliances can't come in until the water is on, and that can't happen until the sewer is connected. The rug and cabinets will be one of the last things. Oh and the electric, well, when the workers come back by to do the rest of the work, we will have a little better lighting. 

I will take it like the rest of my life, I have little control over it, one thing at a time. I will be thankful that this much has been done and pray we are in sometime soon. I would be very excited if it was before the end of the month, but we all know what happens when I make the timelines.  

It is not late on Sunday night but I know that our 3 day weekend( since Jesse was home on Friday), just turned into a 5 day weekend. 

PSA: If your child is sick, keep them home. A simple virus or cold isn't so simple to many. 

Praying we have a dryer, and calmer night tonight. Tomorrow he will be home since he had a fever this morning, and no school on Tuesday for Veterans Day. 

3am 

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

Flooring shopping.... take two !

Earlier in the week, I was told to meet the tile guy at the local home depot. ( we had done this already once alone and once with him) . But this is only the 2nd time that we have loaded up the carts with the goods. Jesse would much rather run the store, of course it is quite an interesting store, but I have to be able to concentrate a little. 

Being bored

Subfloor

Finished carts


Just over an hour later, it was much quicker this time since we had already picked out the tile colors and sizes, we have a new quote, just about $300 more than the original one( this one have the hardibacker board). So we need to modify this prayer to include that this time it is paid for and this project can begin.

On the side note tonight, please pray for my adult children's family, God knows all the details. Also that the cost of the laundromat can be worked into our budget since the belt on the washer burnt out last night. God knows the struggles that we are facing, and I am continues to be blessed daily. Tomorrow- Thursday November 6th, I am planning to try to do some painting around the house,930am-12pm if anyone would like to help, please text or call me. 716-939-0837

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

  

Prayers please

For many of you know that I have been on this house journey for longer than I had thought. This is God's house, not mine, so I will wait. Today, I am asking for prayers. Prayers for the sewer, for the equipment, for the workers, for the job, for the neighbors who will be inconvenienced during the process, and for the cost. Prayers for the painting, for the paint colors that were mixed on Saturday, for the painters, for the poles & brushes, for the ladders, and weather- that it doesn't get too cold to paint. Prayers for the doors and trim works, for the spaces to be all correctly measured, for the crew that is bringing the doors & trim. Prayers for the electric, for the workers, for the proper equipment, for no issues when the connections are made, for the ceiling fans, and fixtures. Prayers for the furnace, for the workers, for the equipment, for the rough duct work that is already in, for the vents and air returns. Prayers for the plumbing, for the plumbers, for the rough plumbing to have been all measured correctly, for the toilets, for the sinks, for the dishwasher drain, for the showers & drains. for clear water to run. Prayers for the cabinets, for the proper measurements that have been taken, that everything fits, that the openings for the sink & dishwasher are in the correct areas, for all the pulls in the right areas, for the guy that is bringing them to have good health and energy for the job. Prayers for the carpeted area, for the correct measurements, for the correct cuts & colors, for the clear weather so the carpet doesn't get wet. Prayers for the tile floor for the tiled area, for the correct colors to be available, for the underlayment to be available, for the tools and screws, for the putty and spacers to be ready, for the health and energy for the tile guy, and for help to be available if/when he needs it. Prayers for Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, for the board members and for all of the volunteers, also for all the homeowners who have come before me. Prayers for the volunteers who offer lunches for the workers, for the food to nourish the bodies, and to fill each person. Prayers for the volunteers who will be working on the house over the next several weeks, for their children & families,for the weather that we are facing, and that all this happens in the perfect timing that God knew it would happen. Prayers for my family, for the house that we are living in, for the weather- in the colder weather we are having to be in layers and set the thermostat at 75 just to take the chill off, for the packing, for the prepping,for the van that helps us daily to get us from point A- B, and for each of my children & granddaughter- God knows each details. 


On a side note.... prayers for the stranger that helped me today, his name is Daniel, his son is in Jesse's class, he helped me today when my battery died on my van. He was much faster than AAA. Also for Cheryl for helping with her truck. God knows what Daniel and his son have been through, it just touched me so much that this man, would help me, not knowing who I was. 

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org 

Paint party. Sucess!!

Another work day has come to an end. Special thanks to all the crew that came out today; the Fesmire family, Jesse, Jeremy, Andrea, Domonia, Ken, Scott, Tammy, Donna, Alissa, John, Chris, Dave, Claudia, Dan, Milo & the girls, Richard, Bud, Regis, and George. ( oh i hope i didn't miss anyone) Thanks to Lumber City Pizza for the wonderful lunch too!  

Ken & George

Jeremy, Andrea, & Domonia

Dan

The plan as of yesterday was to get the back all primed the rest of the way, & to paint ALL the ceilings. Well, that was almost done before 10 am. It was then that the decision was made to take a ride to Valu, in North Tonawanda, to pick up the paint. When I had first picked a paint color it was with the help of Amy, & Ace Hardware, the color was "swiss coffee", that color is just like I like my coffee, really light. Well, at Valu they were not able to look it up on the computer, so we grabbed the color chart off the wall, and started putting dots of the "swiss coffee" sample on the chart in several areas, the one that matched perfectly is called "lambswool white", for me that was a little reminder that this is God's house, and that I will keep following him. (I called myself a dumb sheep being reminding to follow his shepherd!) 

Main Bathroom

Master bathroom 

Teachable moments

So many blessings today. The moments of chatting, the shared snacks & lunch, the information exchange, the reassurance that things are on track now, the hugs, and the great friends support.  

UPDATE !!! Just recieved a text... first coat of the paint is completely done in all areas of the house!!!!!!! Yeah! So exciting!!

~~~If you have any questions or would like my information on volunteering for this house, you can contact me directly and I will pass your name on to the main office. I can be reached jmlisanby@gmail.com or 716-939-0837 ( call or text) ~~~

Please remember this is written by me, as our families personal journey. This is not an official Habitat for Humanity blog. Any questions of volunteering for the North Tonawanda or Niagara Falls job sites, please call the office at 716-285-2877. You can also follow the facebook page at Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity, or www.niagarahabitat.org