Early this morning Ed and I were awaken by the sound of rain drops on the tent. A sound of pleasure and relief after the heat of the past few days. Also a sound without angst as it came with no need to run cover all the tools -- the roof is on! Well almost all on with a few pieces waiting for a few more details.
This day of Brad's birth is a good time to stop and reflect on our lives, our relationships, our family, our new home, our community. Does anything change one's life more than the birth of a child? Tiger Woods, a recent father, said it so well when he said he didn't know it was possible to love something so much that wasn't here yesterday. Since July 13, 1968 I have not passed a single day without thinking of Brad. Today I think of him kayaking with Erin: playing on a Vancouver Island beach; enjoying the hot springs; sailing; swimming; resting...
Our lives change form and shape and direction depending somewhat on the roads our children follow. Would we be building this house if Brad wasn't schooled in architecture, for example? Who knows, but probably not. Are we grateful we're building this house? You bet! Are we delighted we're physically and emotionally involved in this building project together, as a family? Indeed, we are!
As tired as we've been the past few days, it is with satisfaction and a huge feeling of accomplishment that we shower and fall into bed each night, exhausted and sore. Just yesterday Ed and I speculated on the level of our daily pleasure as we move through this building process. We decided the reward is as great as a trip to a foreign land or a many-week camping adventure. Somehow, working side-by-side as a family is more than we'd hoped for when we stated we'd all work on this house together.
We have set no date for completion because that would add a burden to the process. We're all working hard to see a finished product but, at the same time, we stay focused on the daily process. Yes, absolutely, deadlines nip at our heels and make us crazy on occasion. But, we're not saying, "Thanksgiving dinner in our new home." Nope! We want to avoid that expectation trap. A dear friend of mine has often reminded me, no expectations; no disappointments.
We do have goals, like my goal yesterday to finish staining the siding and complete the first coat of waterproofing on the foundations. Like Ed's goal of finishing the wiring in the shop. So, we stay focused on the end product by having little celebrations along the way: concrete pour day; roof day; electrical inspection day; window day. I think I mentioned in an earlier blog post that each day on a construction site is a little celebration. That continues to be true.
We, of course, have meltdowns on occasion. What family, what project doesn't? But, the key is that they are resolved and pass quickly. We're all still excited to be working together on a project that inspires us more each day. It's also fun to fantasize on living in our new home. It will be like no other. Our habits and styles will need to adjust and change to meet the challenges of this innovative design. And, as we've been doing for all the years of our living small commitment, we'll need to continue to simplify our lives and reduce our possessions. One of the biggest challenges is to keep the books from overflowing off the shelves and onto the table tops, the floor and into a closet. This house will require keeping an eye on the open road to the thrift store.
So Happy Birthday Brad, and thanks for the trip!
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