Here are some pictures of Christian workbench project. I have to be completely honest (not that I was lying or anything). The table saw made the tenons much easier to make.
We're about half way done with the tenon-and-mortise joints. Then, we just have to gluing it all together and attach the top. Not bad for his first.
In an effort to teach our children how to handle money, about a year ago we started paying them for their "jobs." They each do a chore pack every morning and we pay them for their performance during school, which includes their "grade" for each class and their behavior(attitude, willingness to learn, etc.).
Nori and Christian get paid when we get paid and so they know paydays very well. God recently used that fact to encourage me. As I said, both of the kids are aware of when payday is. They know not to ask to be paid until the 1st or 15th. However, they've also seen that those days are very busy because of the things that have to be done as a result of us getting paid (groceries, bills, errands) so occasionally they remind me on the 16th that they haven't been paid yet. I let them know that I haven't forgotten about it.
They always take that answer and wait patiently for it. They know that I've promised them something and that I have to do somethings before they can be paid. They don't know the exact moment dollars will be in their hands, but they trust that I'll deliver as promised. They live with a sure expectancy.
We should do the same with God. He has clearly told us that we are not citizens of this world, that we are His children and heirs with Jesus, and that He is coming back for us (or taking us home at death). We have to maintain our faith and trust that God will deliver! He's able to come through on His promise! How should that effect our daily lives? I'm sure it should effect us in several ways - all of which are good. I pray that we will all remember that truth and remember what our identity is.
"And even we Christian, although we have the Holy Spirit w/in us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be release from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently." (Romans 8:23-25)
I've recently been posting different small business websites up because I believe in capitalism and the American dream (you can see here for what I believe that is). Consequently, I'm putting up another website for anyone that might want or need Tim Becker's fine wood crafting services.
I'm also adding the website for other small businesses owned by friends and acquaintances that's we've used and that we can attest to their great quality.
Tim Becker
Yestertime Wood Works - might not be up yet.
Don Ross
Designs in Steel
The 5 Jalapenos - of course!
We also have used Amenity Construction, who do an awesome job, but do not have a website. Jason, the owner, put the wall up in our (now) bedroom and did a fantastic job. Here's his contact info:
Amenity Construction, LLC
(520) 631-2615
PO Box 16182
Tucson, AZ 85732
Anasi Tile and Flooring
No website either (that I could find) but they can be reached at:
1011 N Pantano Rd
Tucson, AZ 85710
520-750-8021
The company my dad has co-founded is moving forward. The 5 Jalapenos has widened it's clothing line, sponsored a race car, and opened their first retail location. Pretty exciting stuff. Check it out here.
So I haven't put any pictures up of the camping trip because I didn't take any. In fact, any pictures we would have taken probably would have had some scowls in them anyway.
I went through most of the July health care bill. The most interesting thing to me was how our government intends to irresponsibly pay for the new health care system.
In all, the bill will set up at least 8 trust funds to pay for the program totaling $2,352,000,000. However, I don't think that amount is the irresponsible part. There are successful companies in the world that have outgoing numbers in that range (of course, they have more than that coming in, too). The thing that says, "What kind of 9 year old mentality is spending our tax dollars?!!!" is this phrase which follows the establishment of each trust fund: "There are hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated..."
What?!
Anyone try that with your budget?
"Honey, want to buy a new car?" "Oh, yeah! Will it fit into our budget?" "Oh, I'll bet so. We'll just take whatever we have left over at the end of the payday and put that toward the car payment."
I think wisdom here says that if we have to do unwise things to accomplish something, it's probably not a wise goal to reach for. Basically, these are the things debt is made of - I've already given my thoughts on that here.
Last year I put this post up about some work I was doing on our bathroom. My wife knows me very well - we have been married for over 10 years now. She told me she didn't want it to take too long, she didn't want me to go too overboard, and she didn't want to be stuck with one bathroom for a long time. Well, honestly, we only went with one bathroom for a short week or so.
However, November 19th will be one year and I'm trying hard to beat that date! I'm really close now thanks to the help of a plethora of friends. Standby for pictures...
Hold on. The suspense is killing me, too!
