Finishing the Guesthouse remodel

Finishing the guest house took SO much work!  Knowing we had a deadline, like a firm we-have-people-moving-into-this-space-in-a-few-weeks deadline, helped us get it done fast. Chris was still supposed to be working, so he'd work in the morning while I did house work and meals etc for the kids but once Chris was finished in the early afternoon, we'd assign one of the kids to be on 'Max Duty' and we'd both be out there working until we come in for a quick dinner, one of us put the kids to bed and then we'd both be out there again working until close to midnight, sometimes after midnight. 

We tiled the shower walls and in the process of installing it we wondered if the mounting bracket for the roughed-in shower handle was going to be too shallow and not stick out far enough past the tile to get the actual handle screwed on, so while the tile was setting, we got out the trusty sawsall to disconnect the wood upon which the bracket was mounted to adjust it..... but all of a sudden we had water gushing out everywhere. We had cut through the pipe bringing the water to the said bracket. Eek! I quickly ran to the back of the otherside of the wall (in the closet/water heater area and used my hands and a 5 gallon bucket to try and collect most of the water spraying out while Chris ran off to find the water shut off.  Feeling quite silly and frustrated at this setback amidst a time crunch we had to call the plumber to come back and fix our mess.  After a day we got it all cleaned up and the plumber was quick and kind and we saved MOST of the boxes of wood flooring waiting to be installed from getting water damaged. 

Next came the kitchen counters. We spent lots of time cutting out and sanding the hole for the undermount sink. Then we waxed them with food grade beeswax. I wasn't thrilled with the yellow/orange-ish color the wax turned the butcher block, but it does bead up water pretty good...which you want with kitchen counters. 

Then it was time for installing the plumbing fixtures, shower doors, floors and blinds. The floors were a little tricky.  (Mainly because it was our first time doing this) We had almost half of the floor down when we realized a trick that got the planks to snap even better together.  Chris thought we should tear everything back up and redo it with the tighter fit everywhere but I voted to just finish the job regardless of how it looked so far... but Chris was right. We want to do things RIGHT so we tore up the floor but it wasn't so bad to put back down since the edges were already cut. Looking at the finished product, knowing we got looking good and fit together snug, it was definitely the right call and worth the extra hours. 

We were so proud of all that we learned on this project. We gained so many useful skills, and bought some cool tools and feel pretty good with how it all turned out. Just in time for Trevor and Rebecca to move in a few days. Rebecca and her mom came out early to bring some stuff before they got married, but it wasn't ready yet (I think we still needed to put down the floors and the counters), so we had them stay in our house with us (we cleared out Gwen's room for them). A friend once commented to me after the fact, how scary and strange that must have been to let complete strangers stay in your house, but I never felt weird or bad about it.  Yes, it could've been awkward if the people weren't so great, but Rebecca and her mom were so kind, they felt like family from the very start.  We feel like God was directing everything so we could meet their needs and yet help us offset the cost of this experience and gain dear friends to boot.  

July 2018

July 1st found us en route to Utah for our first official Betteridge Reunion at the Ridge.  Driving 31 hours one way with all our things for 2 weeks plus a camping trip sure makes for a squashed car.  We mainly drive straight through, stopping only for gas and potty breaks. We stretch our legs whenever we stop but we eat meals in the car and drive through the night. Otherwise, it takes FOREVER. 

Dad had a bunch of trees cut into wood chips so we spent the first day getting campsites leveled and woodchips spread out. We also blazed trails between sites and common areas and spread bark over those places as well. Our first day we set up our tent in the middle, near the game tent, but it got so much sun during the day and was super hot for napping Max that Chris and I decided to clear and level out another tent spot near the RV pad. It was fun to see Chris on the tractor. Besides setting up camp, Our reunion included games in game tent, swinging on the rope swings and on the zip line, a trip to Jordanelle Reservoir, TONS of tournament games: 2 versions of washer toss, Kubb, and tetherball, picking wildflowers, singing around the campfire, s'mores, visiting nearby Camas grave sites of our ancestors, (John Pack and Ruth), admiring moose close to camp, swam in Camas' Rec Center pool, and took family pictures.  Another favorite memory was Chris and I teaching everyone a square dance (heel toe polka) and dancing around the firepit together. 

While we were going to be in Utah surrounded by family we decided to have Gwen baptized here. In MS there are no Stake Baptisms or anything so that is one fun thing about living in a small branch. My mom tracked down the dress she made for my sisters and I to get baptized in and Gwen wore it too. We were going to have Todd (currently a bishop) organize for the ordinance to be done at their building but with baptisms here being so carefully scheduled, we found ourselves last minute trying to find a ward/font who was able to host. Turns out, Chris' parents ward could make it work.  We all really appreciated the sacrifice of  the local authority to take some time out of a Tuesday morning to fill the font and preside at our little service and when we realized it would be in the same font and building that Chris was baptized in. The presiding priesthood holder (Brother Gardener, maybe?) surprised Chris and I by inviting us to share our testimonies at one point. Chris bore a sweet testimony about being grateful to have his life spared a few years ago battling cancer so he could be around for special moments like these. It was a very touching and wonderful baptism service. Gwen said she loved how warm the water felt and wished she could do it again.  

We also celebrated her birthday with breakfast in bed and a family lunch after the baptism.  When we got back to MS we invited a friend to go to the movies with her to celebrate in another way.  Can't believe our Gwendolyn is 8!

The weekend after we got home we had a primary activity in the gym to celebrate pioneer day. Everyone dressed as pioneers and we shared stories about our ancestors and played games and ate food. 

The rest of July was pretty much working on our Guesthouse remodel. My birthday was on the day that Rebecca and her mom came to stay.