Writing on backsides & bottoms . . . and 2x4s & concrete

Do you love moving? Does anyone love moving?? I certainly don’t. And yet that joy is looming in our very near future.

On one hand, this move is exciting and is a huge blessing! New house, new beginnings, unpacking all the stuff that’s been in boxes for the past year. It’s like Christmas, remembering all the stuff you forgot you had—and perhaps realizing you should have tossed before you packed it, LOL.

On the other hand, moving up-heaves your life and is such a pain, and majorly messes with my writing routine and schedule. But one thing I’ve already L-O-V-E-D about this move…

This past Saturday following a family lunch celebrating our daughter-in-law’s birthday (HBD again, Kellie!), we gathered at the house that’s still in frame stage and wrote all over the 2x4s and concrete. I’ve shared this before but my sweet mom used to write on the backsides and bottoms of gifts she gave. I still treasure this little statue she and Dad signed…

[image error][image error]

So walking through the house this past weekend with family and friends writing Scriptures, blessings, and even snarky little sayings on the walls and concrete was especially meaningful. Mom would have been right there in the thick of things!

This is one of my favorite pics from the day…

It’s of our son Kurt outlining Kellie’s very pregnant belly so that we could include Ari (our soon-to-be-here granddaughter) in the grandchildren’s room. LOL Can you see the outline below?

Doing this was Joe’s idea, but Kellie, ever ready for a challenge, was all in!

The reason the word “Flex” is written in orange is because that’s the builder’s term for that specific room in the house. Its use is “flexible.” We’ve designated it as the grandchildren’s room, and traced Leo’s handprint on the framing leading into the room…

Our daughter Kelsey followed suit, commenting that her hand print looked more like an oven mitt. It was C-O-L-D that day so gloves were in order.

Here are a few more…

“May the Lord establish your steps.”

“Shalom”

“Finish the book”
Rather self explanatory. LOL Kellie wrote this in the doorway of my office.

“Werk. Werk. Werk.”
Kellie struck again! She wrote this right under where my desk will be.

This next one is harder to see (I took a panorama of it) but I love it. Kelsey’s boyfriend wrote Peace, Joy, Love, Restoration with crosses interspersed in the center of the family room. Perfect.

“Peace, Joy, Love, Restoration”

There were tons more but I loved being out there with family and friends, walking through the framed house, dedicating it and dreaming—and trying not to think of all the work that’s yet to come. And with a book that needs finishing before all that begins.

Lord willing, we’ll be in this house for many years to come. And it’s still in the Nashville area so we’re not moving far.

Have you ever written something in a house you’ve built or lived in? Perhaps you stenciled something on a finished wall? Or put your mark in freshly poured concrete?

One more thing…

I recently visited with a really fun book club (more on that next time), but as we started the meeting that night, we played a game they had seen us play on this blog. It’s where we share the last three pictures on our phones—no matter what they are. It was pretty funny. For one of the gals, it was hemorrhoid cream. She laughed and said, “Hey, I’m just keepin’ it real.”

So, wanna play?

Here are my last three pics on my phone along with a brief explanation…

This was actually the first image in a quick video I made for our kids last night telling them I was making them fried apple pies. Lovely, I know, but the finished product was pretty yummy!

Fried apple pies are such a pleasure to make. I enjoy making them about as much as eating them. Working with the dough, cooking the apples until they’re almost caramelized… And really, I counted this as research for the current book I’m writing. Because someone in the book is making them and I’m currently writing that scene. Research is hard work. : )

And of course, the last pic is of LEO! He’s sporting some new jammies, and filling them out quite well as you can see. GramTam may need to size up next time!

So, you game to play? If yes, please describe the last three pics on YOUR phone!

Much love, friends, from a very cold and snowy Nashville. I’d so appreciate your prayers for Kurt and Kellie as they’re expecting Ari’s arrival (our first granddaughter) any time now. Kellie is scheduled to be induced on Friday—if she doesn’t go into labor before then, and we’re all sitting on ready. I hope Leo’s ready for a baby sister because he’s about to have one!

Tammy

A BONUS PIC for all you dog lovers…