Day 4

Our frame is complete.

Can I get an AMEN?

The days are draining for sure but we've learned a lot and have immensely enjoyed the last four days. Life's funny like that. I spent a month dreading the start of construction and a month making myself worried sick about how the boys would sleep during the framing. The time came and went and the boys didn't miss a beat. They slept beautifully and so did Ella. Watching the guys work gave Lilly something to do on her spring break, we went on many bike rides, watched less TV, spent more time with Andy since he was home overseeing the construction, and formed a bond with the framers and learned from their way of life. What hidden treasures we found.

We have done a lot of juggling babies, that's for sure. These boys are amazing. They go with the flow and are pleasant and easy. Thank you God!

The addition is boarded up so Lilly doesn't fall out of the open windows so the light is dim. This is the view down part of the hallway and into the door of the new master bedroom.

The view from the hallway to our new bathroom...

Stella was crying and this is where we found her. Silly cat.

We first met with our prospective framer, Alfredo, a year ago. I was pregnant with the twins and met him in the driveway to discuss our plans for an addition. Lilly was immediately smitten with him and him with her. Alfredo is from Guatemala and speaks pretty good English. We later met with him and part of his crew and Lilly again was drawn to them. She even took pictures of them with my cell phone. They all laughed and assured us she was not bothering them. When the left that day about 8 months ago, Lilly told me she wanted to marry them. Ha.

Last Friday Alfredo and his crew arrived and Lilly spent most of the last four days hanging out on her bike in the front yard, watching them work, and chatting with them. They were so tolerant and sweet to her. Andy and I grew to really care about Alfredo and his crew as well. There is something so genuine and honest about these guys. Not only were the hard workers but they had integrity and grace even through ten hour days of very physical work. They were always friendly and in good spirits from sun up to sun down.

Tonight, we spent some time chatting with Alfredo as they were finishing up. We were all sitting in the new master bedroom talking about life in Guatemala, how many of them are homesick, how tough life is working in America, how Alfredo's brother is here on a 3 month work release and left behind a 6 month old daughter and wants to go home, how hard it is to pay bills, how they support their families back in Guatemala, Alfredo's 7 years spent living and working in Richmond, Virginia, and how he plans to make it back home to his mom, dad, 5 brothers, and 1 sister by the time he turns 30. The kids were with us while we chatted but during that time Lilly slipped away. She returned with coins in her hand from her piggy bank. She walked up to Alfredo and handed him $.17 and told him that she wanted him to have it since he said he didn't have a lot of money. She then proceeded to give each of the guys a half dollar from her collection of special coins that Andy gave her from his childhood. They were very touched and so were we. As the time came for them to leave, we took a picture of Lilly and the crew...

*Alfredo has his arm around Lilly.

Alfredo called her "Leelee" which she loved. When they pulled away, she sat on the front porch and sobbed, "I am going to miss Alfredo so much!!" Andy and I felt very emotional as well and I can say that as I type this, I know that we were changed by our experience and time spent with Alfredo and his crew. I never would have thought we would have this experience and I am so very grateful for our time together.