Why? Top FIVE Reasons

Since we started working on the Old, Old Porch Project at our friend's house #itusedtobeoursbutnowitstheirs , we have sort of been drawing a crowd ... a crowd of watchers from all over #toawatchingworld , other residents living in the same neighborhood, friends and relatives, co-workers, people we pretend to know on social media ... there is this question: Why?

I know it is an understandable question.  Someone asks: "Why in the world would they do it for free?"  "Why would they take all that time to do this themselves?"  "Why does this guy come nearly every day after a full day of work (at his real job) to work on the porch some more?"

So, here's out top five reasons why we took on the Old, Old Porch Project:

1) Because we're friends - and friends help one another - not just with things that are easy but even with things that are challenging, dirty, difficult, frustrating and just plain hard.

2) Because we're able.  Let's face it - in a few more years, we may not be able to do something like this.  The reality is that the older we get, the less we'll be able to do and we should help one another NOW, while we're able.

3) Because a couple of years ago, we were dealing with this .....

... and this ... 

... and people helped us like I've never experienced before.  So many people stepped out and stepped up and helped us in so many ways.  In some cases, we didn't even know how much we needed a certain help until someone came forward and did it for us.  People need to do that.  SEE the need ... and then FILL the need.  

4) Because late last year, Dawn reached out to me and simply extended an invitation and shared a message with me ... and it changed my outlook.  Sometimes when someone does something for you, it just makes you want to reciprocate, doesn't it?

5) Because we're called to Love our neighbors and that means this ...

[ When I was told that a friend of ours was looking to have their porch rebuilt, I did not immediately think, "Oh, I can do that!"  Even though I have built a lot of other things, I have never built a porch before.  So I knew that I would not be able to do this all on my own. And I I thought to myself that if I think that I can do everything on my own why would I ever need God/?  He has given me the skills and abilities but I know better than to think that just because I can build things that I will be able to do this on my own.  I just knew that this porch was going to be built by God and we were just going to be the tools that He would use. So I said, "Yes!  Let's step out of our comfort zone and see God's Hand work through us."  I have seen Him work like this in the past and I know that He is faithful. I don’t know if I ever feel more at peace then when I am being used by God.  During this project I have been a leader, a teacher and a student.  We have made mistakes but God has always shown us a way to overcome the obstacles. I thank him for this opportunity to show His love, which is one of my favorite things to do. - Brian ]

Love Your Neighbor - Part Six

My, My!  She makes it look roomy UNDER there, doesn't she?

It was suggested that some dirt be added to the areas under the porch near the foundation and around the posts so Dawn got busy and went and bought some dirt.  She started putting it under the porch and I arrived to find her ...

LIKE THIS...

Wow!! Trust me ... this is quite impressive!

Next on the "to-do's" for the porch was THE LAST PIECE of composite decking ... custom fitted, of course ... 

When working with materials and dimensions from A LONG TIME AGO as is the case with the Old, Old Porch Project, replacing and rebuilding (within the city's approved dimensions that had to remain EXACTLY the same as they were before), challenges are pretty non-stop because things just aren't what they used to be.

For example: did you know that a 2x4 ISN'T actually 2 inches by 4 inches??

A LONG time ago, it was true to size ... but NOT ANYMORE friends, due to modern technology and what is said to be greater efficiency.

So, in nearly everything that has had to do with this porch project has had to be "customized" to account for modern technology and greater efficiency.

Here, Brian manually cut out a notch the entire length of the composite decking after having to rip it to the actual size needed to complete the porch.  Had he not ripped it, the board would have stuck out way too far.  But because it had to be ripped, the notching had to be re-created.  

I think he's pretty slick!!

Oh, by the way, here's our portable/travelling tool box.  

Nice, huh?

It fit like a glove ...

Oh, such a proud moment!!  

The LAST piece of composite decking in place!

And then the customization continued.  

Just look!!

The railings are on their way up!!

 In order to get the lengths to fit accordingly, Brian had to drill and file and finagle the pieces to make them fit properly.  

Doesn't it look super??

But ... YAY!! ... one step closer to completion!!

Next up were the stair rails.

EEK!!

This was yet another challenge ... and I think we all got to see a side of my husband that doesn't come out very often.

It all started out okay ...

... but things ended up being tricky, confusing, and furstrating.

Of course, manual manipulation had to be employed.

Tension started to mount as things did not progress as quickly, easily, or cooperatively as we would want.

There were things we needed to do that the tools just weren't really capable of doing.

I will tell you ... that day didn't end well.

BUT God ...

... so the next day ...

I was a little nervous about how things would go ... okay, maybe we all were.  Brian had mentioned how he had been thinking about it, he was sorry for his frustration, and he thought he had an idea about how it should go.

Then I blurted out, "Did you pray about it?"

YIKES!!  Now I was really nervous.

Then he just stopped and said, "would you pray now?"

HUH?😮

Well, okay then ... 

... so I did pray for the project and for God's hands to take over the task that needed to be done.

And do you know what???

It worked!

No issues!

There were no struggles or awkward coercing.

Oh HAPPY Day!

Thank-You, LORD!!

Brian was so happy he thought maybe he should test out the durability and slide down the rail ... just kidding!!!

It was so great that the last of the railings was completed so quickly.  That allowed us to move on to the next step, which was trimming in the beams of the supporting structure.  

This part was going to be a piece of cake ... I mean, really, ... just cut the wood to length and then screw it in place, right??

Just look at that smile on my face!

However, I'm not smiling here, am I?

This was actually a lot harder than I thought it was going to be and I gave it my best shot what with straddling not one, but TWO ladders at the same time, while trying to put a screw into a little piece of wood. I'm fairly certain the angle had something to do with the difficulty ...  

... however, I decided that Andrew was more suited for that job and that I would be his assistant.

Andrew did a much better job than me ... 

And where things got a little tricky, old Stretch Armstrong moved in for the Assist!!

Yep, they got it!!

Doesn't that look so nice???

HOORAY for a SUCCESSFUL and Productive day!!!

We're winding down now but there's still a few things to do.  We hope you are getting as excited as we are to see it completely finished.