tiling and carpets and other things!

I have had to make a few decisions that to me, are BIG decisions.  For instance - the color of the siding for the barn (RED) and the color of the siding for the house (NAVY BLUE).  The color and style of the cabinets.  The color of the paint for the rooms.  The kind of appliances (Josh picked some of them).  I have also had to decide on tile for the front foyer (with Alvin's help) and also the carpet for the steps/halls and bedrooms (with the help of Alvin and the kids).

The house is coming along.  The upstairs is all "trimmed" with the baseboards all made and painted.  Even I was able to help with some of the painting of the door trim, and the filling of the holes, and the sanding.  There is not much I can do, but I could do that!

The trim is coming along on the main level.  The downstairs suite is painted (thank you Michael).  The bathrooms are coming together (thank you Josh).  The last few doors are ordered from Menards (thank you for the BIG sale on solid wood doors Menard's!) We will have to take another trip to the states!
Two guys that Alvin works with (firefighters) came and did the tiling of the slate at the front door.  We selected tile with more color to it, and personally, I think it looks wonderful!

I started to look for carpet a couple weeks ago.  Didn't realize what a challenge that would be.  Shag or Berber?  Long pile/short pile.  Dark or light?  Nylon or polyester?  Who knew how much carpet would be per square yard!  I brought home small samples.  We felt them.  We put our feet on them.  Our friends checked them out and made selections.  Then Alvin and I went last week on our way home from welcoming our newest little grandson Roger into the world, and we were shown another sample (much like the ones we had, but more in our price range).  Is it REALLY TRUE that "you get what you pay for?"

On Saturday, I went and picked up the big sample cards (much bigger than the little squares that we could only fit one toe on) and when we went to celebrate Joshua's birthday, after dinner I pulled out the samples.  And one by one we did a "blindfold test feel" of the carpets, one foot on the left, on foot on the right sample.  Even our little Roger got into it at the end.  Everett was in bed already!

the BLIND feel test - without a blindfold

Michael's turn!  NO PEEKING!

Even Roger gets in on the action!

And, the drum roll please ..... because we narrowed it right down to COOKIE CRISP (color).  Now I have to head back to the carpet place tomorrow to see what they can do for us or the "bottom line" should I say.  I know there will be at least a $2 reduction ... and a little more.  We had talked with one of the owners on Tuesday.  It was really funny actually because I started to talk and ask him something and he stopped me, apologized for doing that, but said, "What are you wearing? I really want to know."  He meant my fragrance, which I told him was "KARMA by LUSH" .  He wrote it down, thanked me, told me how nice it was, and then carried on with business at hand!

So tomorrow I will go back and return samples, and ask about the bottom line and then order the carpet.  It will take 2-3 weeks to get here, and then it can be installed by another firefighter that does the work on the side.  Always someone to do a job or two!

Josh is working on the bathrooms, doing the tiling etc.  They are coming along, and I have a feeling that I will get to babysit Everett for a few hours when Josh comes to work.  Looking forward to that.

Josh's tiling of the bathroom in between the WINTER and AUTUMN rooms

tile goes down in the ensuite of RESTORE

AND in the lower level, Michael has been at work painting.  Alvin picked the color and we liked it - so  Michael painted.  Things are coming together.

I bought our dishwasher.  AND I finally bought the washer/dryer. Some lights have been put up! So many decisions!  I am thankful that we are moving ahead little by little.  It is exciting to see it coming together and looking more and more finished all the time!

We have also been blessed by a few more cheques in the mail!  

Thank you ~ Thank you ~ Thank You

Canada Post continues to deliver

We have been blessed over and over and over through the generous giving of friends!  What can I say!  Thank-You somehow seems so inadequate!  Since our open house we have put a few thousand dollars into the ministry account, and many people will be getting receipts for Income Tax from Women refreshed at the well.  It is quite something to get the mail out of our mailbox and find cheques - cheques ranging from a hundred, to a few hundred to a thousand and more.   I have been surprised over and over again.  It is one thing for Alvin and I, with the support of our family and our board of directors, to dream and to build but I am telling you, when we see that others believe that God has called us to this, and choose to support the ministry financially, it just blesses the socks off us!

So thank you.  You know who you are.  Thank You So Much!

If any one else is interested in supporting the ministry financially, we do want you to know that we are a non-profit charitable ministry with a tax number.  We will gladly receipt any and all donations!  Thank you in advance for your help in this work!  As well, we value the prayers of all who support us in prayer!
Please know that we could not do this ministry without your prayer support.  Unless God builds the house, the laborer labors in vain!  To God be the Glory!!

Weeping over the Mail

It has been a couple weeks since we were overwhelmed with support of people who love us and pray for us.  Sometimes being overwhelmed is a good thing!

Today however, I was again overwhelmed to tears!  I went to the mailbox to get the mail and when I arrived home, I went through it and pulled out two letters that were self-addressed to Women Refreshed at the Well.  (we had done this for the open house).

I opened one of them first, and was sweetly blessed by the written note along with a substantial donation to the ministry.  The words blessed us!  They were an encouragement and affirmation of our call to this ministry.

The writer penned "Our Prayer for you is that the promise of John 7: 37-39 will be fulfilled in a wonderful, abundant and continuous blessing to many."

John 7:37-39

The Message (MSG)

 ^37-39On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)

Then I opened the next envelope and once again I was overwhelmed to see another very substantial donation.

So overwhelmed by the two - that I wept.  Sometimes I will admit, I ask God if He is really sure that we are up to this! Sometimes I still have moments where I am overwhelmed by feeling inadequate.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed at the enormity of what He has called us to do, or at the uncertainty of it all.  Me ... the one who is a combination of "flying by the seat of my pants but wants my ducks in a row" type of woman.  Me - the one who so often feels so unqualified for such a mission as what He has called us to do!

We have been blessed again and again.  Alvin came upstairs for coffee and I read him the note and showed him the cheques.  He said, "just when we wonder where money will come from, we get a cheque in the mail."

We (Alvin, my sweet husband and builder) are overwhelmed with thankfulness!  Words are inadequate.  But our hearts overflow!

Open House reflections!

We had the open house and Alvin and I were completely overwhelmed by the support of family and friends.  Being that I was in my "boot" still (due to my fall down a couple steps) I was basically dependent on everyone.  I really do have to say that I could not done most of "my" stuff without my daughter Ashley, who is so efficient at multi-tasking and also administrative stuff.

AND to add more - she baked about 150 cupcakes for the event! Audrey (our friend who lives around the corner from us, graciously baked a few too)

The week of the open house, things were a flurry of activity at the house.  The floor in the sanctuary and then the pine flooring of the house was being laid.  Lights were being put up (at least some of the one that the girls and I had purchased).  The gas line was being inspected so that we could run the gas fireplace.  While it doesn't have the much-loved smell of burning wood, I am going to LOVE the convenience of just turning it on with a switch.

During the week some of our friends also helped out, taking over on things after the boys finished for the day.  Willy and Elmer joined in some of that work.  Jeannette and Phoebe helped clean to get ready for the event.  Jeannette - your organization skills came in very handy in the lower level!  Betty was so willing to take on the food part (with great easy and accuracy!)  Jeannette picked up the stuff for the hot apple cider!  I just could not have done any of it without you all.

And then the morning of the event, Kim came and helped make icing and decorate the cupcakes with us in the morning.  (another flurry of activity believe me!)

And then our board, who graciously came, and mingled and did some "tours" with people and answered questions and just were there to greet!  Thank you all of you!!  We also could not do this without you all.

It was quite the event.  We are so blessed.

Here are some pics from the event!

cupcakes galore

Preparing the day before the open house

Betty was in charge of the other goodies!

Many good conversations happened around apple cider and coffee!

family and friends!

Betty and Phoebe sharing a moment!

a giant cupcake on top with the logo!
(logo created by Lorie Mayer!)

my brother Tim and sister-in-law Jody, hand out
our newsletters and talk with people about donation opportunities

some favuorite women in my life!
I have been prayed for a lot by these two!!

my office - with my art that I purchased from Faye Hall!

we hung pictures around the place - that show the journey 

looking down from the second floor

not finished yet, but this is the "Sanctuary"

looking out the window of "SPRING"

we will gladly take Canadian Tire money!

We want to thank you ALL for coming!  We are able to send out the newsletter via email (current one as well as future newsletters).

We thank each one that gave a donation toward the ministry.  We ARE a recognized charitable organization and can give TAX RECEIPTS.

If you would like to be on our mailing list either via email, or snail mail.  Or are considering a donation for the 2011 tax year - we would love to hear from you.

Email us at:  womenrefreshed@gmail.com

And our mailing address is:    Box 38116
                                                      East St. Paul, MB
                                                      R2E1H3


Thanks so much!! We covet  your prayers as we continue along this journey, and we WILL keep you informed when it is time for our ribbon-cutting grand opening.  The Open House was just a way to show you where we were at this time!

You're invited to our Open House!

Click on the invitation to enlarge it

We are having an open house so people can come and see how things are progressing. It is a come & go, and we will have some refreshments for you to enjoy.

Sunday, November 20th

2:00-5:00pm

5839 Henderson Highway

Come and see us, and bring all your friends! 

snow settles over the land

Today is Monday, November 7th.  Oh where does time go?  It snowed last night so this is the sight of the house from the barn.  There is a thin covering of the white stuff over all.  SNOW.  How the seasons are transitioning before our eyes.  Alvin is very glad that he got the siding down above the garage on Saturday afternoon.  He and our friend Mike F came and gave him a hand, and when they were done, Alvin was breathing much easier.  Now winter could come.  I guess technically winter is not here officially until December, but somehow the snow just seems to BE winter to us!

So the boys are at work inside the house.  It is nice to be in there where it is warm and dry and with lights.  We are very thankful for these things.  It is a much different story than this time last year.  Our boys worked through some very cold cold winter days!

Where are things at?  Well - the first and second floor are nicely painted!  With color names such as HUMBLE, LATTE, ARCTIC WHITE, HYACINTHE, DEJA VU and SIZZLE ... you have to know that this house has taken on a new character of its own!  You will be greeted with warm and inviting colors!  We love the look so far!

Alvin and I, and then Alvin and Willy, worked at assembling the cabinets for the kitchen.  That will be the next big project - getting the kitchen ready!  I can hardly wait.

The pine for the flooring, was ordered and picked up last week!  Another thing that will make the place warm and inviting!

We are still needing work to be done in the lower level, which will house our private suite, but well - it will be done when it's done!  I am not about to put any pressure on my sweet husband to do this ... he puts enough pressure on himself.  God continues to bless the work of their hands, and I am so thankful that thus far, the build has been without incident or accident.  Thank you Lord for your provision and protection thus far!

There is still a lot to be done, but we are so thankful.  The color I chose for the siding takes on a different hue depending on how sunny it is.  It is a navy blue, but often looks more steel blue.  I love it and we have had many compliments.  It will eventually be complete with a nice star by the RED door.  Right now we still have an old temporary door on.

What else can I say?  We are moving along.  We are grateful.  So, as the blanket of snow covers the ground, if you opened the door you would likely hear the music playing, and the sound of three men working!  Day by day, one bit at a time.  Thank you Lord!

Season's Song? What does this have to do with Women refreshed at the well?

Season's Song.  What in the world is Season's Song and WHAT does this have to do with Women refreshed at the well.  ???

Well, here is the story.  When Alvin and I were applying for our building permit, one of the conditions was that we also apply FIRST for a business licence since we had applied for being able to run a bed and breakfast/retreat place.  It was rather frustrating to be totally honest.  Even thought the application fee is not that much - $50 per year for a business permit from the municipality - the biggest issue was that we could not have our building plans approved with the permit to start UNTIL this was done.

As we looked over the information to apply we realized that it was much more complicated than just applying for a permit.  The complicated part is that we (Alvin and I) are putting all of our personal money into building the house.  The way the house is built - the second floor will be totally used for women's bed/breakfast/retreat) as well as the main floor.  Our "private" space is in the lower level (aka the basement) but we will also have a massage therapy room down there, and an exercise room.
SO all of our money is paying for the house to be built, as well as the barn.  WE ARE NOT USING MINISTRY MONEY FOR THIS.

So when we started to investigate and ask people who have the knowledge in this area, we were encouraged to form a business for ourselves and then to "rent space" to the non-profit ministry to operate out of.  (have I lost anyone yet?)  This way also, since it is our home, we can claim some of the expenses of operation.  Yes, it gets murky.  But anyone who rents space for anything would operate in like manner since not every organization or business has the money to build their space for themselves.

As a family, we did things the same way we usually make decisions.  We talked about what to call our business.  I have sat often on the front deck and just listened to creation around me.  That really speaks to me!  God is so good to us - in that He has created such beauty in nature!  The birds that fly overhead. The Blue jays that flit from tree to tree with their loud raucous cawing.  The chickadees that surround the bird feeders and don't rush away when we come close.  I love the whispering of the leaves when the wind blows through them.  This has already been such a wonderful place of retreat for me!

We began to talk about names - names that would capture the essence of nature and the sounds that we hear.  And we decided on Season's Song.  It captures the ideas of Seasons (in our lives as well as in creation) and Song - well that just doesn't need to be explained.  It implies a sound that is beautiful.

I went to the Companies Office and did a name search.  Season's Song was granted to us.  Then I registered it.  YES!

Next step was to go to the RM and ask for a permit - which I did.  I filled it out as best as I could (considering that we were not operating yet and didn't know all the answers to the questions yet) and then I paid some more money.  Within two weeks I got the permit approved and stamped and in the mail.

So, to make a long story short.  Our business is Season's Song, and the non-profit ministry Women refreshed at the well will operate out of Season's Song building!  Is this as clear as mud?

If you need more explanation or info - 

please feel free to email me at womenrefreshed@gmail.com