I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Proverbs 18:1-3
Several months ago there was a serious wind storm that knocked down large pieces of our backyard fence. Tim and the boys managed to fix the portions facing our right hand neighbor. We won’t go into great detail on the quality of their work except to say, it’s a good thing the neighbor’s dog weighs about 20 pounds and doesn’t actively want to come into our yard. Hopefully no one will sneeze too close to those fence sections and they will stay in place.
Unfortunately the far back fence piece wasn’t going to come together that easily. The post was broken and the entire concrete block needed replacing. Have I ever mentioned that we are more the indoor, computer type people than the get outside and work with your hands folk?? I’m not excusing it, just stating a fact.
This week Tim decided it was time to start working outside. He’s so grateful not to be on the property digging up Oregon Grape, that anything else looks easy by comparison. He went outside on Tuesday to start digging up that pesky concrete block. David and Daniel helped him for a little bit. Tim’s allergies (nasty this time of year) drove him inside just as Joshua was coming out to join the work team. He and Daniel continued to dig away at that cement block while the rest of played inside. Okay, I was making dinner, hardly lazing around, but I can’t speak for the rest of the group. 
After a little bit (far longer, frankly, than I thought they would last), the boys rushed in saying they had gotten the block out!! We were all stunned. Tim hurried out (camera in hand) to check on their handiwork. Yes, indeed, it was true. They had completed the job and removed the concrete slab.
Awesome job, boys! You are two hard workers! Since we continue to study Proverbs in school devotional time, I couldn’t help but think of several verses in Proverbs 10 (notice the many references to sons and fathers).
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (v1)
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. (v4-5)
The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted but the wicked will not remain in the land. (v29-30)
These two sons brought joy to their father. They were diligent (and were likewise rewarded). Unlike the cement block that they uprooted, their righteousness will remain blessed in the land. How grateful we are that our strength and foundation is in the Lord, a rock that cannot be moved.
Now to go on and finish the fence…but that’s for another day.
Kathy
Frankly, I was amazed that they dug it up as quickly as they did. My half-hearted attempt to move it failed miserably, and I figured we would be at it (in 15-minute stints) for a couple of days. How nice it is to have strong boys around the house, especially during allergy season. Joy to their father, indeed!
The only bad part of it is that I offered a reward, and generously allowed them to choose from my hoard of 75%-reduced Easter Candy. Craftily, they selected my Cadbury Royal Dark Mini Eggs, which turned out to be (by far) the best Easter candy I’ve tasted in a long while. I rushed back to the store, but there were no more Royal Dark Eggs, mini or otherwise. Live and learn, I guess.
I Just LOVE your posts, Kathy! Humor and heart touching at the same time!
Thanks, Cindy! Have you decided what you are going to do with your blog after you finish the latest round of pictures? I love seeing all of your pictures and the family’s adventure. I hope you will continue blogging!
Great job boys! That rock looks huge.
Oh my goodness! You are a hard working family all the way around. No lazies in your house.
Good work boys!
“Have I ever mentioned that we are more the indoor, computer type people than the get outside and work with your hands folk??”
Well, I guess SOME of you are BOTH, LOL!