First, about the family project: We have a large project going on in the basement, for which I can't take any credit other than initiating the idea. But it is part of a larger scene that does involve my participation.
It all began with the plan for this year of having Sabrina and Steve move in with us, learn everything about our home and business, and take over those responsibilities during the course of the year. This is to be a way for them to get ahead financially and for us to prepare to leave on a mission, which we want to do when Jonathan goes. The projected departure for our missions would be in December 2009.
The project downstairs is the creation of a large storage room to accommodate the Winders' stuff. Their original idea was to rent a storage garage for the things that they wanted to keep but could box up for the duration. We decided that we could find space here at home, as a better alternative than the expenditure of over $5,000 in rent for space for three years (until we get back from a mission). So now, our crawl space is in the process of becoming a super nice storage room, about 10' x 13' with lots of shelves.
The process has involved removal by hand of a small mountain of dirt. This has taken place over the past 2 1/2 weeks by way of shovels and buckets and the pickup truck taking loads of it to the lower part of our yard. (Fate of the pile of dirt is as yet undetermined.) This has been done mostly by Ian and his friend Collin Jones, with help from Jonathan while he was here. The last bit of excess dirt will be on the pile this afternoon. Along the way Richard has been working with the boys to form concrete walls, a section at a time, where necessary to make up for the bottom part of the walls below the original foundation. They happen to be doing this as I write. I find it all amazing and wonderful, and am looking forward to a speedy completion of the project, especially this very messy portion of it. They will probably pour the new concrete floor tomorrow or the next day.
Back to my plans for the new year:
1. Clean the house! The new layer of dirt is very compelling on this one!
2. Get things well organized to leave. This will surely involve throwing away a lot of junk (already done in the crawl space) as well as organizing storage, computer files, etc.
3. Continue to memorize a scripture each day. I have been doing this since September and love it.
4. Read the Book of Mormon every single day, no matter what.
5. Keep working on piano and organ.
6. Start working on family history. I spent an hour this week at the stake family history center, as a start. I plan to spend at least some time each week on it.
7. Join the Colorado Mormon Chorale! Done! First rehearsal was last night!
8. Finish typing Mary Lou's personal history.
9. Visit my parents as much as possible.
This is going to be the year I really get it all done. :) I am excited!
