Happy Valentine's Day!

Found this on the kitchen counter: Jackson says, "Tic Tacs + Fried Egg Gummies + Cherry PopTarts = Mmmmmmmm"

We still have that unsettled feeling that I know won't characterize our lives forever, but for now, I can see God's goodness in it. We're appreciating the daily, the now, the details. And here are a few!

A delightful little girl:

Keri, Clemmie calls the Rhyme Bible you gave us her "Jesus Loves Me Book". "Jesus Loves Me" is her favorite song, asking to sing it every night at Vespers. This coat of hers was a hand-me-down from a little girl in our home school group who is almost a year older than MC. Every time she puts it on she tells me, "Baby gave me."

Jackson made a chess game (or checkers? He seems to use these terms interchangeably) out of coins and markers. Betsy, this made me think of Charlie; something he would do.

We took a day trip to Frankfort yesterday, and saw the Capitol building  Cody-style, arriving during off-hours, running around to each door hoping to find one open. No luck, but it's just beautiful on the outside. Will go again.

Next, we toured a bourbon distillery, all 5 of us. Fascinating! I took this picture to show the Brewers Mold, which is found on the outside of buildings where alcohol is stored. During Prohibition, the police would go around looking for this black mold. Another interesting fact: this distillery was one of only 4 that were allowed to stay open during Prohibition. They had a pharmaceutical license. So they've been brewing here continuously since 1787, the year of the Constitutional Convention. We got to go into this building, which was floors and floors of barrels. We plan to visit a few more distilleries--and take an in-depth tour: Corn to Cork. If you need any bourbon advice, just ask our kids.

Tonight we built a fire in the backyard, something we've been doing regularly. There's the moon. And Jackson's Marshmallow Flambe.

And backing up a little. When Sarah was here she let the boys at Angry Birds on her phone. Of course they thought they'd gone to digital heaven. They created all the characters in play-dough a few weeks later:

And the diploma arrived in the mail! We have PROOF! We weren't entirely goofing off those 7 years in Austin.

Love you all,
R

Nebo Report

2/3/12

I went with Ken Armstrong to Nebo specifically to look at the house and evaluate it's condition and needs.

First: THE GOOD NEWS

1. Ken's experience gives him a bias toward starting over--the bulldozer solution. BUT, he was surprised that the shell is in good shape. We took an ice pick and knife and poked at the studs and plates. They felt sound.

2. The roof is in good shape

Now: THE BAD

1. He agress with our assessment that the value of the property if sold is land only and would be worth more with no house.

2. in order to protect the shell and avoid the house falling in it would require:

a. windows: 26 X $300 = $7,800

b. ground work with bobcat: $1,000

c. Hardi-siding and soffets: $10,000 (there are cheaper choices)

d. sheet rock underside of rafters and vent space: $3,000

e. other: $2,000

TOTAL ESTIMATE: ~$24,000

3. here are some images of the problems.

This is a vent pipe in the

kitchen

this is Dad's rotten corner with downspout putting water right at the base of the wood. Here is where the

bobcat is needed.

This it the kitchen window we could not get closed

A hard to interpret photo of the gap at the top of a window.

The bottom line is at least $24-25,000 to keep it standing (and usable for us, but not rent-able).

We need comments, sooner rather that later. BB

News from the Home Front

Jan 28/2012
As some of you remember, when we moved from Austin and kicked the blind girl out of the last home she had where she could see, and displaced
the doctor with multiple sclerosis from the clinic, causing him to quit and his
partner to leave town, we moved into the
little house and started building. First we built a tractor shed (1984), then a greenhouse (1985), then some other stuff, then the big house (1987-1992).

So the tractor shed has served us faithfully for lo these many years, somehow maintaining it's sturdy functional look, protecting the tractor through thick and thin, wind and snow, trees falling on it, etc. Josh and David swore it's demise, but apparently had too much respect to lay a hand on it.

Until Matthew, noticing that we had built another tractor shed, kicked it.

Jackson says it was still standing when he and Matt left, I never asked Matt because I hate to see grown men cry.

This is what the new shed looks like, for those who haven't seen it.

And this is what Matt looks like when he is decked out with his PHD robes and Ruthie.

Christmas funny from Emma

As I was lighting our pellet stove this morning using rubbing alcohol as lighter fluid, Emma says, "I don't touch alcohol." pause... "Just eggnog." Now, where in the world she got THAT association, I have NO idea!

Dear Emma,

We're saving a spot for you at the front of the line. . .

And on the bench. 

We want to know how you are,

So we're looking forward to seeing you at Christmas!

Love,
Your expectant cousins, Gracie and Mary Clement

Acknowledgements

Hi, folks,

I got my dissertation submitted today, and I wanted to share the Acknowledgements with you all:

The University of Texas at Austin has been an excellent place to conduct graduate training and research. I am grateful for the collegial and supportive atmosphere of the Department of Government, and in particular the leadership, counsel, and encouragement that Robert Moser provides graduate students. I owe a great debt to my dissertation committee members, all of whom have been persistently helpful and supportive. Thomas Pangle and Robert Koons deserve special thanks for their extensive and insightful comments on my work throughout the project. Above all, I am indebted to J. Budziszewski, who possesses a wise and generous heart along with a precise and penetrating intellect. He is a man who inspires and merits emulation in many, many ways. I am deeply grateful for his mentorship. Beside the work of all of these scholars, I am very aware of the deficiencies of my own. I am, of course, responsible for those errors that remain.

My debts to family are even more numerous and profound. My wife and I have been continually blessed by the friendship, wisdom, and generosity of our extended families. We would not have made it without them. Whatever there is of value in Chapter IV was learned first experientially from Bill and Sarah Wright, and second, in my own practice of fatherhood. Among a thousand gifts that could be named, I thank Jackson, Harry, and Mary Clement for daily renewing in me the desire to achieve my best self. Finally, there is no way to thank Ruthie adequately. Her labor for our common good has been unstinting and often thankless. Her love, friendship, and creativity animate our life together and profoundly inform all that I am and do. This work is dedicated to her.