Starting in the Middle

We are up with the Jones in Texas because we finally have the internet, so no excuses for not blogging.  I hope to go back to the first of our mission and blog, but won’t at this time.  Here are details about the last week or so. 
The weather-We had a great week of sunshine and warm days and nights.  The goal was to get the new metal roof on the house that we are working on, which is called the Guest House, not because it is for guests but because the Guest family lived there previously.  Saturday, about noon, Keith climbed off the roof, feeling like it was secure and would protect the inside.  The sprinkles started then and by Monday we have two inches of rain.  Closer to Mexia, which is where the church is, there was four inches.  Our roof did it’s job. 
The House-We are working back inside now.  Most of the painting is done, just touchup and the bathroom walls.  I would have painted them, but was waiting for plumbing.  We need to install the new windows, which are here, the floor covering, and then the new doors.  We were able to save the ceiling fans, happy day.  There are tons of crickets and cockroaches.  An exterminator sprayed last week and there are less bugs, but until the house is occupied, the bugs take up residency. No cabinets yet, and the last thing will probably be the siding. The appliances were purchased during a Black Friday sale and are to be delivered Dec 26th.  Hope we are ready. 

After and before pictures of the roof. 

Before and after pictures of the kitchen.

Yesterday-It was an interesting day for me.  I ventured off to town (Waco) by myself to FedEx checks for the ranch to Oklahoma and to ship our kid’s families their Christmas packages.  I also needed to take a sizable ranch check to Home Depot to pay for new floorcovering for a different ranch house.  We still have the Christmas packages because the cost to ship was double the cost of the contents.  Why didn’t I use Amazon and free shipping?  Looks like there will be Christmas in February when we go home.  At Home Depot, the service desk person inserted the check into her machine and it ate it along the edge that has the routing number.  What a mess.  Took forever for them to work it out and accept the check they damaged. 

Sunday-Keith spoke in Sacrament meeting.  He told lots of cool stories illustrating examples of following the scriptures.  He is a good storyteller.  Not many folks in attendance, about 35.  Sometimes there are close to 70. No Christmas party or other Christmas activities planned, except once a month there a potluck dinner after the block of meetings.  This month there will be a Christmas message given.  It is so different.  The missionaries come to dinner about once a week.  Kiley feels like they are starving.  One looks like a young Joseph Smith.  I call him Elder Joseph.  They did have a baptism last Saturday.