Hey Grandpa...What's for Supper?

Growing up as I did on the finer things of country living, I couldn't help but think of Hee Haw the other day. Yes, that Saturday night staple in the Wilson homplace would be so totally politically incorrect nowadays. But then? Ah, well, Saturday night at 7:00 was the time for pickin' and grinnin', the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet, and Grandpa Jones washing his non-existent window while being asked, "Hey Grandpa! What's for supper?"

So, as Clayton was talking through one of our door windows the other day, I got to thinking about Grandpa Jones and Hee Haw. What do you know? Youtube, the veritable clearing house of most things cultured, had clips of Grandpa cleaning his glass-less window and telling the crowd just what's for supper. Listen in...

Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Clayton wasn't exactly reeling off a mouthwatering menu while he was standing at the window, but he sure brought back a buffet of great Saturday night memories for me.

One of the many blessings of this building project has been hearing the congregation retell stories of their own building experiences. From barn raisings to putting up sheds, houses, and chicken coops, it's been great to recall the joys (and frustrations) of our own building projects.

Last week, a couple came through from Pennsylvania on their way to the Floriday Keys. They drove through Bank of America and couldn't help but notice the construction at the church. Stopping by on a whim, they got a grand tour! The gentleman had been in construction for many years and had overseen the construction of several high-end hotels in the Pittsburg area. He was genuinely pleased, telling me, "This is exquisite carftsmanship, the kind you don't see in too many projects anymore." Then he went on for the next little while telling me about some of his work projects.

Our building project brings out the story-tellers in us. It's been said that Christians really are story-tellers after all. That's some of what we do best, retelling the great stories of the faith. I like that. One of my favorite hymns is "I Love to Tell the Story" - a hymn that a young Christian English woman, Katherine Hankey, wrote while she was gravely ill in 1866. She spent an entire year in bed writing one hundred verses of a poem entitled "The Old, Old Story" which, the following year received wild acclaim in London. The hymn tune composer, William Fischer, took several stanzas of Katherine's poem to create the hymn we know and love. Here it is, sung by Emmy Lou Harris and Robert Duvall...

Here are a few more pics of recent work in and around the project. It's truly a story worth telling!

Nursery Door leading to the playground. 1"-thick glass
makes this space really bright and cheery!

At long last, kitchen cabinets are in!

Stainless steel counter top in kitchen.

More stainless steel in the kitchen, with the great sink!

Beautiful iron railing in the Fellowship Hall...
and just look at my office door!

Beautiful bathroom tile with cabinets.

A low "tub" in the custodial closet...
wonder how many dogs could be washed in there?

Breathtaking craftsmanship in my office.
More on this in a later blog.

More wormy chestnut in my office.

The back side of my office door is as lovely as the front!

Our elevator lift is ready for use; Ray Powell, John Coleman,
Stephanie Dysart and I were trained to use it today.

Handy-Dandy 60-second dishwasher!
The Presbyterian Men will enjoy this device for sure!

Painting the ironwork rails.

Installing under cabinet lights in the kitchen.

The final pane of door glass goes in. There's a lot of glass!