Here was the last project that I finished in the last week-



Just like last time, getting up in the lift was kind of scary...not only was it high, but I had to maneuver it a lot to get it above the awnings to the right spot.   It took me about 10 minutes each time just trying to get the lift in the right place to begin painting.   

The weather was kind of cold but it wasn't as bad as the day before.   Before I got up close to the sign, I just assumed it would be a fairly easy project. But when I saw it up close, and realized how large and long it was, it really made me scared that I wouldn't be able to meet my deadline.....look how long it stretches!



I thought, "Should I just leave it be and not start this one? It's just too large of a project for me. I can't do this!"
But I remembered the building owners saying how excited they were about the sign being done, and I just decided to try anyway, so as not to let them down.

 I just decided to work on each small part at a time and not think of it as a whole.

 I trembled in fear a lot up there in the lift, because of the way it sways back and forth. I kept thinking, "I'm going to die....I just know I'm going to fall to my death."   I'm sure that was a bit of an overreaction, but remember: I'm new to this!!

Over time, however, I got used to being up there and it didn't seem quite as frightening. Except a couple of times when I almost gave myself a heart attack using the driving joystick instead of the lift joystick.

After about 3 hours of working, this was all I had done:





And I thought to myself, "OH NO, now I've really bitten off more than I can chew. If it took me that long to do those three letters, there is NO WAY I can get it done before Sunday.  No way on earth."

I kept praying that God would somehow give me the strength to get it all done in time.

He answered my prayers, because in the next two hours (after getting lunch and feeding the baby), this is how far I had gotten:



Now I had hope that it could be done!  And I felt motivated the rest of the day...and I worked until it was dark.  Then I was absolutely exhausted- not to mention homesick.  This was the longest time that I've been apart from my kids and I was really feeling it.   I missed them so terribly.   I felt so emotional and cried when I got home.   I couldn't wait for it to all be over.  I love painting but am not used to being at it for so many days in a row, away from the kids- and my husband.   Many times, I have taken my kids with me when I'm painting, so this was just new for me.   I couldn't wait to be home on a regular schedule again!

The next day, after getting some rest, I felt energized again and worked really hard. The building owners had asked me to change the word "mart" at the end, to "est. 1914", so on a grid paper I drew out the words and used the grid to transfer it to the wall.  I was worried it wouldn't work or look good, but it ended up working out well!  I was so pleased.  I was done before 2:00 PM!

Here is the building when I finished it:


As soon as I finished, the man who owns the building asked me if I would like to paint the trim on the windows.

Since the lift would only be there till Sunday, I told him I would need to start right away...so his wife left to get the stain for the building, and I got started around 3:30 PM.   I finished the first coat on the trim above and below the windows by 5:00 PM, and this morning at 6:00 AM I started the second coat and was finished by 7:30! 

So I'm finally done with all of the painting projects for this year!  Hurray!