While conversing about our true purpose...

Just after a conversation about...

While visiting with friends in the mountains, an afternoon squall came up and drove everybody indoors for a siesta, while we waited for the storm to pass.  Conversations deepened. Discussions about life purpose, true callings, gifts, burdens and responsibilities filled the kitchen.  Big picture conversations about getting the most out of life, living life to the fullest and doing our personal very best!

We pondered options and variables and asked the questions, "What if?" "How can anyone know?" "What does it take?" "Do we sacrifice the great and only do the good?" "What if we are supposed to be doing something else?" 

We were stuck on the concrete, even though we live in the abstract.

Then we turned around and saw this rainbow, literally right at the close of that conversation.

This rainbow reminded us of God's presence.  His guidance and provision support us and sustaining.

The rainbow wasn't the answer.  The rainbow wasn't the direction or even a clue to the answer but a reminder of Him.  The answer we were looking for was in response to career questions.  It seemed like our answer wasn't the answer but He was the answer.  He is the answer to our questions.  He will provide.

We often fret and worry about details when He repeatedly reminds us not to worry. 

Maybe the answer is in the process of asking the question, articulating our perceived issues, then trusting him for the answer, in his time.

Not every opportunity is one of simple yes or no.  Frost reminds us to consider the path less traveled. The Word discusses a narrow road and a wide road.  Interstates and jeep trails and forks in every path clarify our focus and priority!

Genesis has a story (Chapter 22) where Abraham is willing to sacrifice his good for something even greater.  This happened when Abraham held onto his son with an open hand, willing to allow God to provide!  How tight do we hold on?  ...  

This different view of the same valley shows a new perspective. We did get to see the big picture!  From the neighboring mountains this desert valley is still gorgeous!

How tight do we hold on to what we have? Who we are? What we think? Believe? or Know?

Just after a conversation about...

Fixer upper? or Vision

Fixer Uppers?

 This pile of bleacher boards could be???

Definitions:
What does it mean to be a fixer upper?  A handy-man special?  Needing lip-stick and rouge? Looking for attention? Ready for a face-lift? Past it's prime? Ready for re-hab? Rescue? or As-Is?
Potential in...
All these terms speak to a glorious past, an item beyond its useful life span and not quite as good as it was at one time!  Latent in these phrases is a tone or theme of potential, growth, hidden growth or improvements.  We even refer to animals in this light; rescue dog, rescue pet, waiting for a forever home, orphaned or even abandon.
As a couple or team:
Together, Jayne and I often see the projects as wonderful opportunities to renew or recycle something, maybe even making it better than before. We see a finished product that was never there before.  We see shelves when we find a ladder.  Cobwebs look like latent cuteness. We see attractive as we observe the messy.  We see potential when others look at the problems.  Some see work.  We see equity. This is Vision
Vision is...
In the big picture, vision is a form of creation, or re-creations.  By adding energy, time and attention to an older or obsolete object, we build hope!  We inspire potential and drive encouraging commitment and persistence.  It inspires hope that our efforts are not in vain.  It encourages us to look in places that others would ignore, often contrary to traditional wisdom or understanding.
Trends:
The current trend to retro, upcycle and redo demonstrates this hidden urge we all posses as we look through a thrift store, seeking to find that hidden treasure or gem.  Like gambling, there is a thrill to the hunt or the quest.  Like fishing, we don't know what is at the end of our line till we pull it out of the water.   Like painting a room, we aren't sure of the final product till the drop cloths are folded back up and the furniture brought back.  Then, after all the effort, we see clearly the finished masterpiece.

 This finished product came from the boards above!

 Before, and After:
So far, we have been addressing things, items, houses and furniture, even pets and animals.  What other applications are there?  Can we apply these concepts of growth and progress to people, relationships, others or even internally?  Re-purposing or reusing discarded resources also demonstrates our stewardship, and resourcefulness wen it comes to our stuff.  Finding new life and new uses for stale products by investing back into an item inspires us for another application.  Let's shift our focus from the exterior and our surroundings inward.  What areas of my life need attention?  What areas of my life could improve?  Get better? Where could i smooth rough edges?  How could I be a better servant, leader, worker, husband, father, friend or ???

Are there people in our path that need extra attention, effort, energy or love and care to reach their next level?  We might be able to fix things but can we help polish the people in our path?  Do our friends need some attention to keep or sustain the relationship status?  Does the term deferred maintenance apply to just houses or can it apply to humans as well?  We apply a coat of paint on the outside to clean things up but what does it take to really connect and influence those around us?  Are we willing to invest in that potential?  Do we want that potential realized?

Or is that just too expensive, risky or dangerous?

Janyes Sisters Seven

"Sisters Seven"

Some of the Sisters here gathering in the usual meeting spot:  the kitchen!

SISTERS: 
A group of family and close friends blending their talents and experiences together to create authentic, functional and attractive pieces for their homes, gardens and practical daily use. Their background began in the old country with their parents sewing, crafting and creating since the era of horse and buggy, stretching and forming leather into buggy covers and later, automobile tops.
The girl's gleaned individual styles, tastes and skills that guide their passion and work ethic yet today. From residential real estate to commercial artists to weekend crafters, each offer something unique. They are connected by a common thread.
 

During a cooking competition, this sister, Mary, prepares samples for the crowd after serving the judges her best pork dish!

JAYNE'S:
Their matriarch possessed a drive seldom seen today.  From the perfect St Louis South-Side zoysia grass to the late nights sewing the sisters' Easter Dresses, these girls learned the value of quality and the appeal of style combined to form the best combination.  Few other artists fit into this generational experience and background.  Their collective production creates unique treasures as well as timeless classics, re-purposed with today's style and needs in mind.  

SEVEN:
However, there are opportunities for other talented individuals to contribute to the synergy and offer even greater diversity in both medium and presentation.  Common to all remains the adherence to a strict code of craftsmanship, authenticity in deign and service to the final customer!  Hence the addition or adoption of a few other sisters with the necessary passion, drive and talent.

Joyce, another sister shows off a well presented entry in a competition calling for creativity and presentation as part of the scoring.  

Looks delish!

JAYNE'S SISTERS SEVEN:
When she quit her steady job to start creating, feelings of relief, assurance of success and the excitement of playing without a net welcomed Jayne into her new season of life.  Throughout the fb page, there are many expressions of care, thought and love gone into each piece.

These expressions are from the heart!  

Are there obvious favorites?

 

An artist is... An artist does...

Fulfilling.  Inspiring. With vision. Motivated. Driven. Ambitious. Aspirations.

 This hand painted "birdhouse" took a few treatments of color, distressing and attention to detail before it was ready to sit outside in the elements. When is an item actually completed?

How does one know it is ready?

These terms all seem to describe or identify characteristics of an artist.  The desires of one that knows what they are looking for in the finished product.  When is a project done, completed or finally meeting the standard?  In many situations, there is a definition for perfection.  Rules apply. Laws govern. Manners dictate.
On the other hand, an artist is often times ahead of the curve.  Separate from the pack.  Different from the crowd.  Unique.  For instance, consider Michelangelo up painting The Chapel ceiling.  Maybe laying there on  a scaffold system, bringing all his supplies up and working from 8-5, coming down and washing up for dinner.  It might not have happened like that.  Consider this as a possibility:  He heads up the ladders and paints till he his exhausted.  Takes few breaks.  Reduces his food and water intake to minimize bodily interruptions.  His co-workers probably couldn't get his attention by any means, even promising a good meal.  He was driven to complete the task till it matched the vision in his head.  He was an artist!
What drives you?

Encore to Sisters Seven

Encore to Jayne's Sisters, Seven.

An sunrise picture of the Lincoln County Courthouse after a January snow, 2014.

Why Sisters Seven?

After repurposing many feet of bleacher wood and barnwood, reconstructing frames from old building trim and various items, such as boxes, shelves, displays and gifts of all sorts, we decided it was time. Time to take the passion of design and blend solid traditional proportions and strength with color, shade and hue  to create functional yet attractive pieces for use and decoration throughout the home.

Raw material in various stages of preparation.



Our Experiences:

This gift, eye or sensitivity to decorating influences both the structure and the finish to build useful art.  We like making things together.  We design together, Tom builds, Jayne completes through finishes and presentation!  It is truly a team effort.

 

Titled: Grey Day. 

This northwesterly view looking over Table Rock Lake in the fall is all Jayne.

She painted it while gazing out the back window.

Barnwood from that same property finishes the frame!



Our Passions:

Fast forward, skipping over many dives into many dumpsters returning chairs, lamps, cabinets and other items into their original and often improved condition and purpose, we wanted to combine talents and abilities with passions.  Repurposing, recycling and upcycling has always been our hobby.  We have even done complete houses, seeing a vision for a better future for a "handyman special" or "tlc required."  Yet all this experience with "fixer up"  things leaves us both missing a connection. We enjoy the creativity and finished product but missed the social connection in the cycle.  



Our Intent:

Hence, with a name like Jaynes' Sisters Seven, we embrace the family support necessary to create an atmosphere that produces these types of pieces.  Each piece has a heart of its own.  Each piece gets a finish technique and color and message that blends the natural bent of the piece with the heart of the artist.  Of the artists, there are the family members, often times lending ideas, remembrances about the past and contributions concerning style, taste and markets.  A very close first cousin, raised like a sister fills the number six slot and the 7th slot could be filled by ???  The passion is set up a system for anyone to find success through expression in various mediums! 

Thanks

Janyes' Sisters, Seven

Jayne & Tom

God Bless You

 

Repurposed?!

Repupose, restore, renewal & recycle; These terms all speak to a similar characteristic of second chances.  This video is a short clip that shows how reclaimed wood benches from a school gym were saved from the trash heap and given a second chance! There are pics tracking the progression of events from a stack of lumber to a trailer load to floor boards to the installation process followed by the tung oil application.
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUt6v5yfqc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Interestingly enough, this reminds me of our lives after a change occurs and we turn over a new leaf!  So many times we, or others around us, want to make a change but then, we return to our old way of doing things as soon as we run into the slightest distraction.  Similarly, installing the wood floor literally took a couple of months to get measured, cut to fit, securely anchored and then protected with a natural finish.  Our lives also take time to change.  It will not happen easily or overnight! Often we must act, even if it doesn't feel right or easy.  This is when our actions determine our attitudes!  We choose to act a certain way, even if it is not natural.
   Take a quick look at the video.  Then consider and examine familiar relationships needing a boost.  What connections could use encouragement?  What tender growth could use fertilizer, or maybe just some water and sunlight? 
Where can good discipline not diminish hope?

Why write?

Here we are in Branson enjoying the beginning of a summer break. In the middle of snowmagedden, it helps to remember. The view from this lookout over Tablerock Lake inspired many deep conversations.

When I sit down to write, there are times when I am not sure where I am going with the topic.  My thoughts wander from idea to idea.  This randomness might not be a bad thing when jotting notes or blogs, but it might not be the best way to write a letter to a friend.  Using written words to effectively communicate with others may take some planning or forethought.  For instance, if I have a blog idea and start writing about good teaching but it flows into a discussion about classroom management, it appears random.  If however, I was writing an email to teachers, I might try and be more concise, organized and deliberate.  Every sentence is not really a record of my thought process but a conveyance of a single idea, topic or point.
As we look at Ephesians, Paul begins by sharing about how the message that was for just one group of people now includes all peoples.  The haves and have nots are now the same group. He shares some spiritual implications, then gets right to the action.  (It seems like he addresses the beliefs, then the behaviors of those claiming that belief.). There are behaviors among this new group of people that he serves to address in the letter.  Living alongside each other is that theme and he expands on a few points.  Behaviors and how each should act towards the other, such as being nice and polite seem simple but must have been necessary for his intended audience to hear.  Of course he also addresses indulgences in interpersonal relationships and gluttony.  Regarding the relationships, he touches on both the public and private relationships, outside and inside the family.
Finally, Paul gets to the last ten percent.  The real reason for the letter.  The Armor of God, famous in its own right, yet today, the question is how does it and why is in connected to these other topics?  The prior paragraph may supply a hint.  It seems the people were looking to blame each other, bicker and squabble and direct energy against one another and not to the actual enemy.  The battle is a spiritual battle and not against each other.  These people were getting distracted by other peoples behaviors, actions and maybe even beliefs but this letter intended to neutralize that natural bent.  He just wanted them to get along, yet that is always the hardest thing to accomplish.  They were distracted by behaviors and couldn't love one another.
Looking at the armor of god with that in mind and we see a new perspective.  The belt of truth is exactly how we are to dialogue with others.  Talk in truth.  Doing the right thing is more then just a cute slogan but a command.  He says to put on the breastplate of righteousness and means just that.  Keep things formal.  Keep things proper.  Keep things from dissolving into four set talk or joking but do the right thing!  Having our feet in the boots of the Gospel of peace speaks to the way we act, knowing we are doing what we are supposed to be doing while actually just living our day to day lives.  The shield of faith vitally protects us from the discouraging words from others as well as the tough words we speak to ourselves.  It seems we know best how to bring up all and any negative thoughts, especially when it comes to the ones that gave the greatest impact.  We know what hurts the worst and are not afraid to go there.  Our faith puts those flaming darts out.  The remembering of our faith eliminates those arrows that would otherwise discourage to the point of failure.  The helmet of salvation and the knowledge or understanding doctrinal issues actually serve to protect us.  We become confident that we know what we know but bring a helmet, we don't bludgeon other people with what we know.  In fact our only offensive weapon is the sword of the spirit or the word of god.  The name of Jesus is our weapon.  If we are called into a hostile situation, our device of choice is his name.  For us to attack, we would only use one implement.  Especially against others.  Jesus.
Paul wrote for them to play fair, use kindness and treat each other with respect.  It seems like he was all over the board but in fact, he was focused and driven, trying to get them to be nice. 
I write to gather, orgainze and think through hard thoughts.  Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't?

 

Stay or Go?

"Stay or go?"

 Sitting on top of Frenchman's Bluff in Cuiver River State Park.  (What a great smile!  Hers, not mine!)
 

Consider Hedges:
Last week, our our pastor mentioned hedges and their purpose, characteristics and make-up.  Protection is their purpose.  Time is necessary to get them established and people are needed to create and assemble the hedge.  The metaphor here is both the physical assembly of a border of plants, taking time to grow and develop into a worthy boundary, as well as investing in relationships of sufficient quality. 

The people are the real keys.  We need other people in our lives to form that hedge.  We are to groom them, nourish them and weed them, supplying the attention and cultivation necessary for any successful growing project.

Now think about planting gardens:
Jump ahead a week, while the hedge metaphor is still developing all the various life applications, and consider thoughts from this reading in Jeremiah.   The People have been moved hundreds of miles from their former homelands.  The teacher has written them a letter.  In it he suggests they settle down, plant gardens, have children marry and make grandchildren.  He mentions supporting and building infrastructure and securing an environment for the growth and prosperity of everyone.  He tells them prosperity is at hand and there are blessing in store!

The author wants to encourage these transients to stay, plant gardens, invest in the local community and flourish, without second guessing or wishing about being anywhere else, even if it was called the "promised land."

Necessary to their success?  Time!
Blend both these lessons together, one of a hedge built of people and another of settling down, planting roots and growing a future and it sounds like the message we should hear.  Stay here in Troy.     Know God wants to bless us.  Develop gardens of people, nourishing relationships and connections, as well as fruit trees and vegetables.

We need to be in community.  Relationships are where others can hold us accountable.  Planning a hedge demonstrates the investment and intention to stay.  A willingness to invest, wait for the return and then reinvest again shows trust, vulnerability and speaks to a better future.

Maybe that is the reason we are in Troy?!  Maybe we are not really in exile at all but right where we need to be!

Jeremiah 29:5-7 Build homes, and plan to stay.  Plant gardens and eat the food they produce... Work for peace...  It's welfare will determine your welfare.

 

Should we stay or should we go?  These thoughts point to the direction of staying!

Bleachers to floor

Repurposed Bleachers to Floors

After arguing,and loosing,with my sweet wife about our need for an additional 240 pieces of 16 foot long lumber laying in our garage, an interesting thing happened.  But first, the background.  A local school had pulled down the bleachers in their gymnasium and replaced all the old bleachers with newer, lightweight plastic seats for the audience.  The south side was demolished one year and another party submitted a bid and won the sealed bid process.  The second year, the north side of the cavernous gymnasium was getting a stage installed and the bleachers were again coming out.
The crew pulled it all apart, taking the steel to the local scrap yard but no bids were submitted!  This meant the material was scrap and if we could get it off the premises by "tomorrow night," we could have it.  Well, we scrambled to find a heavy duty tandem axel car trailer 18 feet long and made the 15 mile pickup trips in two loads. Some estimates put the weight of all that lumber upwards of 6000 pounds.
We found a local lumber company that would mill a tongue and groove into every board, sand them smooth and finish to 3/4 inch to turn them into floor boards.  We estimated their moisture to be under 5%. The yellow pine was gorgeous to begin but when processed it exaggerated the natural patina so each board shows detailed grain and highlights.  Again, we borrowed the trailer to deliver the wood then to pick it up after a few weeks of processing time.
A former student, now professional flooring installer, loaned us a pneumatic nailer or two and we cut nearly a hundred 16 foot long boards, often trimming both ends with a mitre or coping to match existing profiles.  Each piece took multiple trips from the house, where we stored it to maintain the moisture content, outside to the garage/shop and back inside before near perfection was obtained on every piece.  A few experienced professionals recommend we use glue and we followed that advice consistently.  The subfloor was secured wherever voids formed areas for potential movement.  We wanted it to "walk" quietly everywhere.
When the wood was finally ready for the install, furniture was relocated, carpets,pad and tack strips pulled and the first of many sweepings administered.  We laid out the floor looking to minimize the long narrow strips along walls, ripped the first piece and began! For the next six weeks, we spent evenings and weekends, installing a single board at a time.  Seems were intentionally aligned to allow the spacing for the pre-existing installation holes to appear randomly and athletically pleasing.  Butt joints were inversely mitered and every piece painstakingly installed.  Halls, thresholds and door jambs were all prepared.  Oak and poplar dowel rods were cut to plug the holes in contracting colors lending a nod to a peg and plank installation.  An orbital sander was rented and increasingly smooth paper was applied to prepare for the tung oil.
Tung oil comes from a seed of the tung tree, pressed and extracted and shipped in gallon containers to the house.  Initially, equal amounts of thinner cut the oil.  Subsequent coats of saw a reduction of the tung oil proportion and increase of the thinner.  This allowed maximum penetration for the oil.  After up to nine coatings, the curing process began taking months and not the alleged weeks as others have experienced.  We feel with the original moisture content so low, it allowed a substantially greater penetration of oil which required additional drying time.
We walked on in with inside shoes only for at least one month.  Gradually, we began to bring furniture in for placement.  It was mandatory every leg or contacting point with the floor be protected with a felt buffer pad securely attached. 
Pictures were taken along the way for documentation and historical recollections. A multimedia presentation was also created and posted on a private YouTube site using some photos to log the progress.
This complete transformation of the house, wood and floors also demonstrated the persistence and deliberate attributes necessary to visualize a difference or change, execute according to the necessary quality and workmanship, and complete the process without being distracted along the way!
Who won the argument? I know we got a gorgeous new floor, now that the process is over.
Thanks Jayne, for winning, everything.

Personal or Professional?

When personal life and professional life merge closer together, when behavior and belief are blended together and when what we do and what we say are united, we become more at peace.  Things seem less stressful.

That is what this blog is for.  It will attempt to overlay various areas of my life.  New for 2014, it may even become a reflection page. It may be random thoughts from home, business ventures or even church.

We'll see.

 

From Times Square in NYC, we had a great time working with students, hanging out with each other and getting to tour the city.  We never made it to the Harley shop but had it within our sights!  Maybe next time.