In April of 1984 we lived in  a nice older home in North Minneapolis.  With our three children and nothing much else to do with our mundane lives, we decided to become a foster family.  A friend of ours had special needs foster children and we designed our Cub Scout Pack with a Den, designed to accommodate their special needs.   So we were in the frame of thought to take care of special needs foster children.  For nine years we had quite an interesting journey into some pretty scary territory.  We started out with the special needs children and things were going along fairly well.  Pat was the main person in this event as I did what I could but had to do it around my varying work schedule with the bus company.  She took the training and the children’s needs besides our own three.  Usually we had two foster children in the house at a time.  At one time later on, Pat had three 3 year olds (ours-Todd, and two foster brothers) in the house at one time.   The fact that Pat survived was something to marvel at!  To make our lives fuller, and without a doubt it did, we ended up working in the Child Protection part of the Hennepin County Foster Care Division. That is where the  ugliness of real life entered in.  We can perhaps delve into that area at a later time.

With all those kids (I say that with tongue in cheek as a good friend of ours has 10 of their own special needs kids) in the house at the same time, our eating arrangements and prep area needed an overhaul.  So the industrious person I am, decided to remodel our kitchen.  To tell the truth, ROTO-RUTER actually decided that. The sink plumbing had stopped up that required me to call THEM.  They came out to clear the drain from the kitchen sink which was under a window overlooking our neighbors dinning room window, and the sewer drain was on the side wall 90 degrees and back half a wall length for the sink drain.  The Roto guys came in and promptly punched a hole through the elbow pipe as it turned to go the 90 degree part to the sewer drain.  So I did what was necessary and repositioned the sink to the main sewer drain where it should have been to start with!  We (my friend Ted and I) ripped out the cabinets, flooring, sub-flooring, some of the wallboard and the kitchen nook and re-structured that as well. Then painted a fresh color on the walls.  It turned out pretty good I think.  The kids had a nicer place to eat.  I had a lesson in kitchen remodeling, and Pat got some nicer appliances.  The following are a few pictures of the event.

Got to clear out the old

I love wallboard patching

Cabinets to be replaced

Ted and the "younger" and black haired Gary
discussing something important I'm sure.

Making a mess is necessary

More clutter

New Stove

Just a coat of paint and ready to roll

Hang up the stuff, fill up the counter

I got to thinking about how our lives are sometimes in need a "remodel".  Have you ever thought of that?  Sometimes it may cost a bit, but the end result is more in line with were you feel you need to be. When we needed to redo the kitchen, we did some measurements, looked at the samples, figured out where we needed outlets (to get our power from), what we had to remove, and how we were going to finish the project.  Our personal "remodel" is the same thing.  The cost may be a behavioral modification that will take a LOT of work to redo...but you will reap the rewards when you have made the switch.  To do that, you need to be realistic and figure out where your weaknesses are. What is going to be needed to strengthen those puppies up!  What you need to get rid of..out of sight...out of your life....gone.  Then to put the finishing touches on your Personal Remodel Project, what results are you looking for and how are you going to maintain the "NEW and IMPROVED You".  

What we do in our day to day living, reflects a lot on how were are constructed.  

1. Make sure you have a solid foundation to build on.  

2. Use quality products from a reputable dealer.  

3. Get guidance from someone who knows their trade.  

Can you apply this information to your spiritual life?  I say you can.  Now the choice is up to you.  There is plenty of help out there, just for the asking.  If you don't have a church family right now, check out your neighborhood, there is most likely several close by to chose from. Talk to the Pastor, he will answer your questions, and guide you to where you want to be.

Til next time....keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling

Blessings,

Gary