we can do it!!

It's 3 am, do you know where you kids are? Sue's husband called around 4 am to ask where she was, and was waiting at the door for her as soon as she arrived. "I was only just finishing the wallpaper" - a good reply, and a true one.

Yes, faithful readers, Brian is coming home on Friday, though you wouldn't think it was possible this week to have the house ready. Something akin to "home improvement" is happening at a rapid pace in the Miller/Keddy residence that includes many of the characters and kin of the Northcountry. The workers work during the day, restructuring the 1st floor, moving stuff to the attick which will be Noreen and Bill's apartment sometime in the near future, and sanding. They've painted and sanded (did I mention that they sanded?) the remodeled section of the first floor, and the cleaning crew (ie Bill and Noreen) is working overtime. Tomorrow the floors are finished and Friday is homecoming!!


It's been a long haul for all involved. Bill mentioned last night he felt like his house was picked up and shaken a bit, tipped upside down and gutted. Certainly puts into perspective what's important in the house, what is worth keeping, what is worth getting rid of, and what is worth making better.

Sue and I spent a good few hours steaming off wallpaper last night, the stubborn paper remnants clinging to the walls, unmovable. It took time, but the finished product of new paper and clean kitchen corners a whole lot more appreciated. We found signs of life in unexpected places- a nice store of dog food in the back of the stove- Chloe! I didn't know you liked tosted treats! I also found out from experience that a lot of life can come shooting out of an electrical socket when unnamed sharp metal objects are inserted into the source. Who knew that cutting wallpaper around a socket could trip the fusebox...hmmm. Things that you learn at 3 am! Like laughing. Laughter is necessary.

Karissa also had her first bath in a new tub yesterday which she delightedly voiced her opinion about. I think she prefers dry warmth to cold wet, but there too is a definite sign of life.
Thursday is push day for the house, and Friday homecoming. Keep all in your prayers please, it's quite a time now, five months of absence and now returning to a different way of life. There will be a continual "shaking out the old" and settling into the new. So many new things though, and so many signs of life around every corner. I just hope that Karissa doesn't like to store her food in the back cranies of the oven:>

Good work Bill, Noreen, Sue, Mike, Walt, Ian, Eric, Nancy, Barb and so many countless others who have loved and supported this family. This is going to be quite the homecoming for all!