We Need Each Other

Hi There! I'm still here and doing fine! I Even prepared a post this morning with pictures and all, thought I posted it, but somehow it didn't happen, probably because I was doing too many things at the same time, left the computer on, didn't follow-up and... not sure what happened.

Anyway, in response to someone's suggestion, I thought I'd show you why we are having this deck/patio design challenge. This is what our back door step to the patio looks like and why it needs some help to make it safer. This is the approach from the driveway up the patio to the back door.

And this shows the same view with a litle more of the patio past the door. We come up the driveway, up these two steps, onto the patio, up the two steps (+1) up into the back door.

Here you can see the opening to the back yard from the driveway, around the patio, past the garage into the back yard. This shows the rest of the patio, coming out of the back yard, up two steps, to the back door on the left side of the bay window.

Wow! seeing this on these pictures looks pretty bad! We've lived here for 32 years, and you just get used to it. And I must say, that when it's not covered with snow, it's covered with flowers and gives a great view over the back yard, so we've always enjoyed it and not really noticed what it actually looks like. But on top of that, now it's not safe. Anyways, there's the challenge!

Thanks for the suggestions you've already sent our way! We'll also make a bit of a list of what we'd like to achieve. In the meantime, come by for a visit. While you're here, have a look, and add your suggestions to the mix. We'll be helped and honoured by your input and value the sense of friendship and community in this project. It's not that we can't/couldn't afford to have this done. It's just that we couldn't/ didn't come up with a plan and now that I'm experiencing this whole new feeling of support and community, and love from everyone, I'm learning that there's so much more to life than just independently, without others (and sometimes God too) taking care of ourselves and surviving. I'm finding and experiencing such rich community and it's wonderful!

It's actually this prayer that inspired me and allowed me to dare to ask you:

Oh, God, we go through life so lonely, needing what other people can give us, yet ashamed to show that need. And other peole go through life so lonely, hungering for what it would be such a joy for us to give. Dear God, please bring us together , the people who need each other, who can help each other, and would so enjoy each other.

by Marjorie Holmes

(from Soul Weavings - A Gathering of Women's Prayers- ed. by Lyn Klug)