Rowen's 53rd birthday (January 21)

This is a gift Jeffrey gave Rowen.

It is a new Swiss Army knife; Rowen lost his down at Federal Heights a few weeks ago when he was shoveling snow at the church where we do children's ministry.

We all love and appreciate Rowen so much for being a wonderful husband, daddy, and example of Servant/Leader to us. He always puts all of us ahead of himself. He is one of the most unselfish people I have ever known. When he does voice a preference, we want to honor him by doing it. He loves fruit pies, so this is his birthday dessert. Apple pies. We will eat them at a family gathering today with two of Rowen's sisters and family in Greeley.

I thank God for the gift that Rowen is to our family and his family. When he was in the womb, his mother was 42 years old. She also had a grapefruit size tumor in her uterus. Nowadays, she probably would have been advised to abort the baby for her own health. I told her many times while she was living, "thank you" for giving birth to Rowen. He has been such a blessing throughout his life. His sweet, loving, patient, forgiving attitude is so special. He has always been a great teacher, passing on the things he learns to me and our children, as well as those with whom he works. I am thankful that he gave his heart to God when he was young and has lived a godly, consistent life.

Birthday bathroom project

Rowen's birthday was yesterday and something happened this week to give him a project to do on his birthday. He would rather have a project than a party, so Jason obliged him by actually fainting in the blue bathroom on Monday morning, and his head busted this hole in the wall! Of course, it was not intentional, and we were very relieved that Jason is okay and did not hit the tile floor or the ceramic "furniture" and have to have stitches in his head.

Rowen cut the hole into a nice square and covered it for a few days with this political sign leftover from some town election. (We have used political signs several times in our projects; they are great!)

Then he patched the hole with drywall.

And mudded it. Ever since we remodeled this bathroom in 2004, we wished we had put tile on this wall also, so since this accident happened, it was a good time to tile the wall.

Rowen took off Friday, his 53rd birthday to do the tiling. I thought about calling this next picture "Homeschooling in the bathroom." When we have a project to do, the kids get to observe and help and it is practical homeschooling. (They did their book learning in the afternoon.)

Jason got to cut the needed short pieces with the tile saw.

Jeffrey helped Rowen place the tiles until he had to go to work.

This was after the tiles were all in.

Today, Rowen and Jason grouted the tiling.

It turned out really nice. Rowen found another piece of trim for the bottom, already stained and varnished and leftover from the 2004 remodel. So that is a great find!

This next picture shows the wall and wallpaper after the new tiles, but before repainting.

This is after the grouting was finished, floor trim installed, and the bathroom was repainted, with decorations back on the wall. We have not yet added a wallpaper accent. We will wait and see on that... The paint color is matched as nearly as we could, but the paint is supposed to be an improvement over the paint we used in 2004. It is Benjamin Moore Aura Bath and Spa matte finish, bought at our favorite Johnstown ACE Hardware Store!