No is easier to say than yes, but I seem to have trouble with the "no" word.....

 

I am not sure when this photo was taken, but other than the brick wall out front being stuccoed, it's pretty much the same.  It was built in 1950.  Other than maintaining the outside,  the inside has had various upgrades over the years.  It is quite beautiful.  

So, here is where I spend most of my time if I'm not at home.  

I am not exactly certain when I volunteered to help with organizing the icons in the Sunday School building.  No, wait ~ that's right, someone called me and asked me if I would like to take on the project.  For some crazy reason, I said yes.  I had absolutely no idea what I was taking on.  

I actually started the project almost a year ago.  The icons (see below if you don't know what I'm talking about) are mounted on a set of wooden runners that are the length of the building.  Well, here's a photo of what I'm talking about.....

 

Although these particular icons aren't very tall, there are some that take up the entire space between the runners.  There is also a sheet of plexiglass that fits into the the runners so that the icons don't fall out.  

That was one of the main problems: the wooden rails had warped somewhat and now the plexiglass panels fall out, as there is more room between the top and bottom of the rails due to that warping issue.  Our priest said he could get more plexiglass panels that would fit ~ but I haven't heard anything since.  So, I ruminated over how to solve this problem, and after talking it over with one of our parishioners that is a carpenter, she agreed to meet me there one day, as she had an idea.  Her idea was to bolster up the rail so that the plexiglass fit again ~ not a bad idea.  Not perfect either, but it worked for most of the panels.  

The next part of the project was to put these icons in order of their feast date.  (So usually it's an icon with one or more Saints in it, and on a particular date, we commemorate them.  Usually on the date of their martyrdom, but sometimes its for something else.)  There are about 65-70 million icons.  Ok, there aren't that many, it just seems like it.  I did go to work on putting them in order, but I unfortunately picked a date during summer Bible School for the kids.  I did get some stuff done, but it was so chaotic I decided to come back another day, haha.  

I could have (and probably should have) gone back the next week, but being me, I kept finding reasons why I could do it later.  I did meet up with a friend and we worked on one part of it, but there is still a lot more left.  I want to finish it next week...no, I need to finish it next week, because it's become the definition of albatross, and it's always on my mind, driving me crazy.  

I think that there is a sign on my back that says "sucker".   

Just remember, there is always a sucker out there, just don't let it be you.....

Love, 365