When Saying Thank You, Doesn’t Seem Like Enough

How do I begin to share this? Will I be able to find the words adequate to express the amazing blessing I was given? I doubt it, but I’m going to try.

Several months ago I discovered that there were large sections of flooring in my house that was bad. Not just bad, but dangerously fragile to the point we did our best to avoid the areas the best we could. I was given several names of contractors to look at the floor but the men’s neighborhood mission group from the church I am a member of, came to my aid.

The first thing that had to be done, I had to get all the furniture and everything else, out of those rooms. Between me, my son and nephew we got everything out and staged it anywhere we could find a place. I had not realized until then, just how much stuff I own. I didn’t try to go through most of it, even though some things were instantly trashed. I’ll do the inventory and toss or keep thing as I begin to move things back into the house.

Once everything was out, a date was set for them to come and begin. The first day they did a walk through to get an idea of what would be needed. The first day they came to work, they came to work. The bad flooring was ripped out and the replacement flooring was put it expertly. Watching them, several things were obvious, in no particular order. They knew what they were doing. They trusted each other completely. They are deeply Godly men. They are the best of friends.

When all the repair work was done, it was explained to me that it would be a month before they could return to lay the new flooring in place. I knew he had more mission work planned and that work was more vital. My house was safe, warm, just needing pretty much cosmetic work while others needed so much more. I bought a twin size air mattress and constructed a pallet not far from the wood stove. I was going to be fine. And I was.

A couple days ago they brought the linoleum for the bedroom. The hardest part, was getting it around the corner and into the room. By the end of the day, they had the floor down and even the floor to the closet was done. Standing in the doorway and looking into the room was so nice. It took a couple of days but two of my son’s coworkers followed him home and we got the bedroom furniture back into the room. I was back sleeping in my own bed, not an air mattress inches off the floor. I’m adjusting to the return, but also hanging onto the lessons learned.

On March 14th, they brought the flooring for the rest of the house. It needed to be room temperature to be easier to work with. After it was in the house, they told me they would be here the next day around nine in the morning, which meant eight. Which meant I better be up by seven so I could be ready, the dogs would have time outside and I could move my Jeep.

When they came to work, they discovered that a floor joist had slipped and that needed to be repaired. A large corner was cut out and they set to work. That took the better part of the day but it was accomplished. They also had to use some material to even up the high and low spots in the floor before they put in the new. We had discovered that the mat under my wood stove was worn completely out. We found that out when they used the old time way of moving something heavy, they used small logs to move it out of the way temporarily. After they had left, I went on a quest to find a replacement. Everywhere I went, I got some interesting looks, but no mat. I called the man in charge and was given a few options to call. I did find some finally but it was too late to go for them as the store was closing right that moment.

The next morning when the crew arrived, the man in charge told me he had found some mats. I told him I had also. Upon his instructions I called the place he had found them and got a price. It was cheaper than what I had found by twenty dollars. You can bet we went with the less expensive.

They got the entire back part of the living room completed, before they moved into the front of the room, two of the men left to go for the pad. I moved into the kitchen and prepared lunch for them. After the two had returned and they had eaten, they moved the wood stove back into place. It was amazing watching them work. They were very in step with each other and managed to have the floor in around two in the afternoon. Once the floor was in, they worked together to move my piano back into the house and into place. They picked up all the tools and materials they were finished with and took the to the truck. One by one they left leaving two men to install the baseboards. The only thing left is installing several door thresh holds and he will be out some time next week to take care of that.

After my son came in from work he helped move the couch back into the house. After being out in the carport it definitely needs cleaning as does the piano. I have time. I hope to get the bookshelf moved back into the house and placed behind the piano. I want to turn that area into a reading area, away from distractions. I’ll move the lamp that is in here to that area and the lamp that was stuffed out of the way in here. Mainly because I think that one will work better in here for helping me see to get my contacts in and out.

So now, sitting here tired but happy, all I can think is that these men were an answer to a prayer. It wasn’t always the same men. Some hold jobs that prevented their helping and of course there are always reasons in life that prevent us from doing what we would wish. Still, those who came and helped, those who made it possible, who helped with the floor covering, who provided the floor covering, you are that answer. You are a blessing. You are following God’s instructions and leading. You have blessed me greatly. I am so very thankful.

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