Here is a shortened version of life followed by my thoughts on the matter.
This was our lot when we first started the Self Help Homes program! We were so excited to be getting a house at such a young age. Now, don't get me wrong, we were blessed, but boy was it also one of the biggest trials for me too. During the entire building process I was a student. Now that would sound easier than having kids at the same time ... unless you did the Medical Laboratory Science program. I had 4 tests EVERY week of school. They were way more difficult than any other test that I have had in my other classes (including genetics and cell biology). Honestly, I am not trying to brag, I just am trying to convey the depth of the difficulties the past 9 months. From January 5th through June 19th I completed a mandatory internship in order to graduate. Most days I began before 6 am and was required to stay for 8.5 hours ... for free. 6 months, more than 1,000 hours of free labor was more difficult than I had originally thought. Now, to add on top of that, I STILL had 3 to 4 tests WEEKLY. So during this time, I was a full-time worker as an intern, a part time student, and a part time construction worker ... all without pay. It was one of the most difficult time balances I have ever had and most definitely the longest battle.
So these two pictures were taken on New Years Eve. What a great way to spend the holiday ... not. It was SO BLASTED COLD that day. Every half an hour I had to warm up my fingers and toes by the kerosene heater just so that I could move them enough to use a nail gun. Boy that day was miserable. Thankfully this was kind of the "hump day" of the program and everything seemed downhill after that.
40 weeks
10 houses
more than 1500 hours of labor between Jonny and I
Many cuts and bruises
Countless pairs of work gloves
Many stressful nights
More tears than I care to admit ...
Countless hours of driving from Provo to Heber and back again
probably over 100 little ceaser's pizzas
and our house is DONE!!!
This isn't the most recent picture but I couldn't get it to upload. The main difference is that we have stairs and sod. Building a house has been such a journey for Jonny and I. We have both learned SO many things over the past nine months. I still remember on our first day there I was told to go get a nail gun ... I had to ask what it looked like :) It is insane to me that now we feel somewhat competent to complete our basement with the knowledge we have from this massive undertaking.
The Wrap Up
So, to sum things up, we are almost done! On Wednesday I took the ASCP exam. It was the most difficult test I have ever taken and definitely the most stressful. 1.5 years of medical knowledge tested with only 100 questions. Sheesh, it was awful. But I passed! Which means I have officially graduated from college and I don't have to take any more exams.
On Thursday, our house had its final inspection. Lo and behold we passed that too! On the first go! That was wonderful news. It is so weird to not have nearly the same commitments coming from both the house and from college. I'm sort of having a life crisis ;) a wonderful life crisis!
That pretty much sums up our entire 9 months of being a construction worker, student, and full time employee.
On last tidbit of great news though. Jonny got Rookie of the Year award from Utah's Science Teacher Association. It was such a great honor for him as a Physics teacher at Wasatch High School.
