N&B

Not too good with multi-faceted life these days. Mostly we work, cook dinner, work on home projects, and try to plan our Sunday lessons ahead of time. A little update on us is in order:

- Nate is enjoying teaching at the University! We have come to the conclusion that the first few years of teaching will definitely require putting in more hours than one would expect. This requires me to be supportive, encouraging, and understanding when he leaves at 7 am and doesn't return until 7 pm.
- For my birthday last month we spent the weekend in Portland seeing lots of good friends and attending the endowment and sealing of our very good friends Ben and Jill. We also saw Multnomah Falls for the first time ... and although it was raining WHILE the Falls were spraying - we enjoyed it very much. We really want to go back in better weather and check it out.
- Unfortunately on our return from our weekend trip I started having progressively worse back pain and by the following Friday couldn't even bend over to tie my shoes. This necessitated a visit to a chiropractor. Unfortunately (or fortunately that I have the means and availability) I have been seeing the chiropractor twice a week ever since. Just as I am starting to feel better, I over do it and hurt myself again - it is very frustrating.
- I have been working on a few DIY projects (which I can't seem to leave alone because they are so much fun ... but then I hurt my back and have to set it a side for a week until I feel better and I keep catching myself in this cycle) that I will post when I have completed them. As a little preview - this is what I have been working on:

• 4 chairs to be painted and reupholstered
  
• one square pedestal kitchen table to be sanded and painted
  
• one side table to be sanded and painted

The list doesn't seem too long ... but I have learned (the hard way) that taking your time is very important. Doing it right the first time is better than re-doing. I bought fabric and paint and was a little too eager on everything and painted two of the kitchen chairs right away. A few days later, when moving the chairs around our tiny apartment, I nicked one of them and the paint came right off. One finger nail scratch later and I knew that I had painted in haste. These babies need a good sanding which would require removing the paint and re-painting them. I succedded in doubling my work :( Sigh.

I have, however, already painted Nate's bed side table ... a lovely shade of gray ... I love it. I purchased a staple gun and reupholstered two of the four chairs I have for the kitchen table. That was also a lesson in patience, having to redo one of the chair backs to ensure it looked right. I knew if I left it I would be self-conscious about it and hate it. So i took out what seemed to be a zillion staples and re-did it and I am soo happy I did. They are going to look great!

Pictures to be coming soon ... of before, during, and after! Wish me luck that it will turn out well and that my back will get better.

I am so into this whole furniture refurbishing thing that Nate bought me this for Valentine's Day, and I couldn't be happier:

(its an electric palm sander ... in case you were wondering)