For the Birds

Working with wood is always an adventure. I wasn't sure if I was up to the task when my wife Jennifer suggested I might build a couple houses as Christmas presents. The task was even more daunting in that she made the request shortly after Thanksgiving. Over the years, I've learned a few tricks and shortcuts. But building multiple houses in less than a month? Of course, I wouldn't be working alone. Jennifer said she could help with some details, like painting. Yeah, right; there's nothing to paint before the house actually gets built. As only a person who loves you can ask, Jennifer convinced me it was not only possible but we could get it done.

Years ago, I had the privilege to have a teaching partner with whom a lot of woodworking ideas and techniques were shared. I remembered a time when he made 20 miniature typewriters as a gag gift. To make one at a time would have been way too time consuming. He figured out what the profile of a typewriter would look like and with several passes on the table saw had a piece of wood long enough to simply slice off short lengths to make individual typewriters. There was the solution. Just make a house profile on a piece long enough and then cut off the houses. By now you've probably figured out that we're talking about rather small houses here. The result of our efforts were about 30 houses of tree ornament size.

Our silly little project was the culmination of efforts of many people. The memories of working with that good friend in the wood shop all those years ago were revisited and like I said earlier, when one who loves you asks you to do something and assures you they will help, it would be foolish to turn them down. We are into the season when we celebrate Someone loving us so much that He gave us the ultimate gift. Because He loves us and because He is asking us to do something we think we can't, remember He promised to be with us always and nothing is impossible for Him. So don't be foolish. Listen to what He asks and get to it.

May your Christmas be blessed and the New Year be one filled with joy.