Friday, December 26, 2014

The Mother's Sword

David made a sword for me this Christmas.
I have wanted a mother's sword for a long time.
I guess he decided it was time I had one.
David started with a block of steel about 11" long and 1 1/2" or so in thickness.  He has worked relentlessly for the past couple of months--heading out to his shop after school and spending his days off working away out there.
Any time I came near his shop David would chase me off.  All I could see was the billowing black smoke from his forge and the clang of his hammer tirelessly working the metal on his anvil.
And now I have a mother's sword.
Down the length of the sword David engraved the reference Psalms 149:6. He placed two silver dollars (we have a special thing about silver dollars in our family) at the end of the handle and wrapped the handle in paracord (he's always making things out of paracord using all kinds of knots and such).
He also carved wood with his knife to make a scabbard to house the sword.
It was amazing to watch him as he did all this hard work. He mentioned that it "came out a little rougher" than he'd hoped for.  He still has much to learn and experience to gain in his work but these early swords are so precious.   All the sweat and pain that went in to this sword amplifies its beauty far beyond anything a factory could ever produce.
It is indeed a masterpiece.
He is a masterpiece.









And then it was (FINALLY!!!!) Christmas!



It just isn't Christmas without a grenade in the stocking!

The only kid on Earth who WANTS coal in his stocking.

This is the workbench Jason built for David to go in his shop.


Portrait of a happy man.

You're welcome, world.



Who in their right mind gives something like this to Joe?!!!!

Time to hit the slopes!

Blame his father.

It's on!


Katie got a big hat.


Again, blame his father.



Joe has a bullhorn.  You've been warned.



And then Joe had his Eagle Scout Board of Review

Which he actually passed so he's now officially an Eagle Scout!!!!!!!!

And then it was December and...

These are the flowers Jason gave me for our 21st anniversary.  I love having an anniversary around the Christmas season because there are such beautiful flower arrangements out and he always picks out something so beautiful and different.


And then the guys decided I should go Hunting with Them

And Joe drew the short straw and got stuck with babysitting me...

We got up into the little hunting area they have set up on top of the shop and it was apparent David had hunted up here at a previous time:



 


I learned much about myself from this experience.  
I spent the evening concentrating very hard to keep my cool and control desire to jump up and yell "Run, Bambi!!!!!!!!!" should we see a deer.  I had been invited along on this expedition and I wanted to be a good guest.  
When evening came and the sun dropped it was time for the deer to come out of their hiding spots in the woods.  I doubled my efforts to behave myself and not ruin the hunt for the guys.
We finally saw a deer across the field I found myself excitedly telling Joe "Shoot it!  Shoot it shoot it shoot it!!!!!!!!!"
Wow.  
So that's what I really am, huh?!
Good thing they didn't let me carry a gun.

And then it was Joe's Birthday




And then it was Thanksgiving



And then Joe got his Call





The November Report (a.k.a. getting caught up again)

First off, we had a little snow...