HOME FOR RENEWAL

As the sun sets I think back to the Sabbath School lesson from Genesis 34-35. Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Ye have troubled me to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land...they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; I and my house. " The sons of Jacob had treacherously slain the inhabitants of Shechem to avenge the defilement of their sister Dinah. They had spoiled their homes, stolen their goods, and taken their wives and children captive. They had returned evil with double evil. They had caused the name of their father and their father's God to stink.
And God said unto Jacob, "Arise go up to Bethel." Bethel, house of God, named such by Jacob in his flight from his brother Esau. God was saying to Jacob, "Come home, come home to Bethel. Come home, when there is no other place where you can go. In the words of Frost, Home is the place where when you have to go there they have to take you in; It's something you somehow haven't to deserve. Only God can provide that kind of a home to us, a home that gives cleansing and renewal , a home that we will never deserve, but always need.
"Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments. And let us arise and go to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God." Where else could he go for safety, where else could he go to rid himself of the stink? Where else can we go? There is of course no other place.
Go home then, home to God for renewal, go home every day.

New roof is almost done thanks to Greg Penner, Kregg&Sandra Boisvert, Ken Lombard, Alissa, Robin', Papa, Mom, and Dad. All in one day.

Old roof is off

Old roof is coming off

Cabin in progress

These are the 20X1 foot wall extensions for the cabin which I made today.

These are the gable ends for the new roof for the cabin which I made today.

Papa working hard the easy way

Papa at work as usual of course. Here he is helping to rehab an old cabin for Paul and Petra to stay in this Summer. I have had the privilege of working with Papa for the last 28 years. He is always thinking ahead looking for ways to make the job easier. Often I turn around to look for a specific tool to continue the job only to find that Papa anticipating my need, has it in his outstretched hand. He has given me two of the best gifts of my life first his daughter and second himself. I hope to be as good a father-in-law as he has been to me. Tim

Spring in Maine

It was looking like time to plow up the garden but one nights work by Mother Nature put us back into January. so no grass to mow or seedlings to plant for a while. The snow was beautiful though and although it took our power out for 3 days we did fine cooking our food on the cookstove and warming ourselves on the heated soapstone bench. Too bad there were no little boys at home to go sledding with Dad.