From China with Love

It's all about that base, 'bout that base(ment)-                 No Trouble

Well things are getting real, ya'll. I thought the adoption process was tedious, but good grief! Who knew changing a playroom into a bedroom was going to take so much work! Just now I was so excited that we were about to put in a new pocket door at the base of our stairs. Granted, that took some prep work, which was done weeks ago. It involved taking off an existing door jam and trim and installing a pocket door frame. This is a big deal involving both demolition and re-framing. But I had no idea the work it was going to take to finish the project. 

Waiting for the door to go in.

Here is the prep that I have been working on the last two days to get this door done:

1. First, I painted one side of the door...3 times. 

2. Second, I painted the other side of the door...3 times.

3. This door happens to have a bajillion windows in it. Fortunately it came with awesome plastic protection over the glass so you can make a big mess and then just peel it off when you are done! AWESOME! But it wasn't that easy, because we had to use a razor blade on all 4 sides... of every window...on BOTH sides of the door...to tediously pull off said plastic covering. Larry helped with this part. He totally showed me up, by the way, peeling off like 3 plastic covers to my every one. Everything's a competition with him. Show off.;)

Here's what Larry did:

1. The door is too tall for the pocket door frame, so it had to be cut off at the bottom. 

2. Then he had to drill a hole for the handle, but the door was too thick. so he had to flip it and drill on the other side too. 

3. Then he had to install the locking mechanism...whoops, cracked it...

The "unfinished" door

"Shew! I am so glad that is over!! But the frame around the door looks very unfinished? Are we just putting some trim up on that?" I asked.

"Yes, but first we have to MOVE THIS OUTLET and DRY WALL this place here, and then boom, boom, boom, and we're done," says Larry.

There is a lot of "boom, boom, boom" in this construction zone, but nothing is ever as easy as it sounds. 

Houston, We are Sealed for Containment!

So one of the main reasons this room project is such a big project is because two of the walls are outside walls and they are super-cold cinder block. Being on the lower level, the room was cold already, but I did not want to have to wear a hat and gloves to bed in the winter, so we needed to drywall over these cinder block walls. 

Bye Bye Pooh Bear.

HOLY MOLY! Do you know what goes into drywalling!!! 

Love the "space" look

1. First they had to rip out framing around windows, floor and ceiling. 

2. Then they had to put up 2x2 boards, space perfected for sheets of drywall to be nailed to. 3. Then they had to staple on insulation and tape.

4. Then Larry cut drywall to fit over NEW electric outlets and windows

5. Finally there is taping and mudding and flanges and sanding, then...

6. REPEAT!!!

Dry wall is up and mudded

So overall it has been a very productive week and weekend and we are exhausted. Can't wait to see what we get done next week. 

The good part of all this construction is that it serves as a great distraction while we wait. Here's a little update on our adoption process:

1. This week China celebrated the Chinese New Year- Year of the Monkey! The government was closed down for the whole week. Hopefully we will hear something from China in the upcoming week!

2. We heard back from one of the grant organizations we applied to that we did NOT receive a grant from them. This organization was the one I least expected to get a grant from, so there you go.:)

3. We also heard from another organization with whom our file is currently in review. They emailed us with a few additional questions. This is one of two grant organizations about whom I was most hopeful. PLEASE PRAY we find favor with these grant organizations!!! We will hear back at the end of March.

4. The second weekend in March Larry and I will attended a mandatory parent training called Crossings. We are fortunate that this conference is taking place at a local church just one mile from our house!!

5. As Spring approaches, we must think about more fundraising opportunities! Be listening for another round of t-shirt sales, a huge yard sale and another "Adoption-ade Stand!"

We are so thankful for your continued prayers and how you continue to check in on our progress!!!

Happy Love Day to your house from ours!