Hey Look!

Look! I have a roof!

But I still have a tree in the yard

But I have a ceiling now!

New House - Update for 4/26

WEll, we would have started tiling the shower sooner, but we had to fix the cement board on one of the walls because it wasnt meeting up with the tub. I have a new found appreciation for the art of tile work - and we didnt even do much!

The First Mow

It has really been bothering me that the yard at my new house has been over grown. Yes, I had other priorities with the tree in my house from the storm, but I still don't want to be the dumpy yard on the block. I don't know how many times I talked to my dad on the phone about mowers and I almost bought one this weekend, but I didn't. So, I went back to Lowes today and bought my first mower (again, with more calls to dad). I love it! I bought a Troy-Bilt 6.75 Torque 21" Cut Self-Propelled Mower. Just so you know, I need a bigger car to load a mower. We had to take it out of the box and still, it didn't fit and I had to tie my trunk down.

On my way home, I stopped at the gas station to fill up my new mini gas tank for the mower. The salesman had shown me about this tank - it has a spigot that doesn't pour unless you push down on the spigot. When I filled up the tank with gas, I put the spigot back inside the tank because that's what we had done when I was little. I didn't really think about it.

When I got to the house, I took the mower out of the trunk (and it's heavy!). I extended the handlebar and tightened all the nuts and bolts. After browsing through the instructions (yes, I actually looked at them), I poured the oil in the oil tank. I then opened the mini gas tank and took out the spigot - which had filled with gas and poured all over my hands. After I screwed the spigot on correctly, I went inside and washed my hands. Now they smelled lemony-gasoline-ish fresh - better than the alternative I suppose. I was ready! Let's mow!

At Lowes, the salesman had assured me the pullcord to start the mower was easy to do (which is a necessity since I could never start Dad's mower by myself). With the model I purchased, there is no priming and no choke, so that makes it easier too. Well, I started to pull the pull cord and it came to a halt after about a 3 inch pull. Hmm. Pull again. 3 inch - Stop. I didn't think about holding down any of the handles because on my dad's old mower that I used to use, I thought it had something to do with the choke - and remember, I don't have a choke. So, frustrated, I reverted to the manual. No prime, I don't have to do that. Safety stop switch, don't have that. Hold the red bar down, I'll try that. Holding down the red bar that controls the blade, I pulled the cord and "Rum-sputter-sputter". "Ugh, this is supposed to be easy", I thought. Pull, Rum-sputter-sputter. Pull, Rum-sputter-sputter. UGH! Well, maybe if I pull the cord 3 times real fast. Pull, Rum-sputter-sputter. Pull, Rum-sputter-sputter. Pull, Rum-sputter-sputter. "AHHHHH! I am so mad. This is not easy!" Back to the manual. I cant figure it out - WAIT! - I never poured the gas in! I was distracted by washing my hands and was so ready to mow, I skipped that very important step. I am glad to say that after pouring gas in the tank (duh!), my mower started right up and I successfully mowed my first yard. Well, not the first time to mow, but the first time to mow that I probably didn't get paid for it and I actually owned the yard. I have to say, even though I wasn't getting paid to mow the yard as I did when I was younger, it was probably more fulfilling to know I was mowing MY YARD. I feel so grown up.

Weekend Updates

I didn't post anything this weekend, but stuff happened, so I thought I would update my readers. First of all, this weekend was Melanie's Birthday weekend. We were going to ride the TRE from end to end and eat in the West End, but I ran in the Ft Worth Zoo Run Run 5K Saturday morning and didnt get to the train in time. As far as the run, I think Rachael and I both decided it it had too many people, especially kids, who would weave in and out of people and then stop right in front of you. I think if we had run the 10K it would have been better. Maybe next year.

But, back to Melanie's birthday - since we didnt make it to the train, we tried to think of something else to do. Mel hadn't ever been to Sam Moon, so we went there both got purses and wallets. I know they may be cheap and knockoffs, but hey - they're cute - and cheap! Then we drove around Irving taking pictures of Melanie to spell out "Melanie is 29". That was fun.

Melanie is 29!

Another great thing about this weekend was that Mel and I had been shopping for a fridge for my new house. We went almost everywhere on Friday night looking - Sears, Conns, Best Buy. the Expo, and the Great Indoors. All that was left was Lowes and HomeDepot. We went to Lowes Saturday after our picture taking adventure and I had asked the appliance salesman to look up a price for me. He had said "for the one on the 50% off aisle?" HELLO! Where is that aisle?! And there it was (Not black, but stainless which will go with my black applicances). I wont type much about it except it was a STEAL - see my video below! (and don't laugh too hard at me - I was excited!)

Hooray!

Lately, I have been very frustrated with my company because I had asked for the raise about 2+ months ago and was told I was going to get it - but it was never put into effect. I have kept thinking to myself "just be patient in the Lord" but of course it is hard.

At BSF Monday night, something that Lynne said struck my ear. She was talking about the parable of the talents and that the man who received one talent could very well have been upset because he didn't get as much as the other two men. Lynne asked the application question "Are you complaining about what you don't have?" and mentioned that it was disobeying God. I immediately thought about my attitude toward my raise. So this week, I have really been in constant prayer that my heart would be changed in this area - because I was complaining that I hadn't yet received the pay increase.

Previously I had thought of reasons why God had not given it to me yet, but when those "deadlines" passed, I couldn't understand why I hadn't received it except that my company would be so slow (and sometimes they are slow). This week, I have been praying to trust God in this area - that even though I don't understand it, I know there is a reason that it hasn't happened. But, I am happy to report that I did receive my pay - and I am not sure, but perhaps it was withheld this long just so that I would learn with application that I shouldn't complain about what I don't have.

minor setback on the house

House - minor setback

Big D Half Marathon

An Intentional Half Marathon

I DID IT! I completed the Big D Half Marathon (13.1 miles!!) Sunday!! It took me 2 hours and 52 minutes, which is about a 13 min/mile pace. You may have read in one of my update emails that I have suffered from severe tendonitis over much of my training and had to cut back from running to walking, but I was able to jog in the event with little pain (though, I am stiff today!)

I would also like to update you about our team's fund-raising. Together, the Brink's Trailblazers raised over $22,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society!! That's more than last year and will be able to support many families and help fund research for cures and treatments. The fund-raising sites will stay open for 30 days if you had planned on donating but never got around to it. Or feel free to mail me a check.

For Last minute on-line donations: http://www.active.com/donate/tntntx/emilyward
To mail donations: email me for an address

Thanks to everyone for supporting me financially, with encouragement, and with prayer. All of you were helpful in my training and fund-raising and I can't thank you enough!

Thanks again for helping Save Lives One Mile at a Time!

House Update #2

House Updates 4/6

My New House - Update 1

Click on the pictures below and

you will be (slowly) redirected to the albums with more pictures!

House - Original state

House - update 1