Jackie’s Tiny House Update: a smashed thumb a thunder storm and still great progress

We’ve made great progress on Jackie’s tiny house. Over the last couple of weeks the walls have gone up and roof put on. This is mainly due to the building skills of Jenny Dorsey, the strong help of big brother Jacob.

Jackie – when she can get away from Ben Franklin for a day – is a great helper too. She brings her special sizzle to the team.

I (Jason) help out as I can but they are doing the bulk of the work.

There are a couple of fun stories in this building project. Like when I smashed my thumb hammering.

I was at my desk at the studio working on my Psalm sermon series. I was preparing my sermon on Psalm 22, which Christ’s quotes on the cross, and thinking about how in his time of extreme pain and suffering He was quoting Scripture, showing how the Scriptures were so deeply embedded in His heart and integrated in His life.

When it came time to put the plywood on the roof, Jenny and Jacob needed my help. We hoisted the plywood onto the rafters, and nailed it down. I was showing them my prowess at hammering when all of a sudden my hammer missed the nail and came down SMACK with all my considerable might on my left thumbnail, causing a great deal of pain. I climbed down the ladder, cuss words and grunts and groans flowing from my mouth. Later as I considered the contrast between Christ quoting Scripture and me cussing in our moments of pain, it was a great moment of clarity in His perfect righteousness and my need of a Savior, and a very useful sermon illustration.

The other fun story is that when we had about 1/5 of the plywood up we could hear thunder in the distance and so got a few tarps ready. Then the rainstorm hit, and it was like and Indiana rainstorm with sheets of water falling. And we’re trying to throw the tarps over the roof. And Jacob can’t see because his glasses and his eyes are covered with water. And I keep shouting orders though no one can hear my words. And Jenny is running around trying to get tools and boards under cover. And we’re all laughing because the whole thing is absolutely comical. Thankfully we were able to cover the roof pretty well and protect the inside of the tiny house from damage.

The next week we returned and finished the roof and put up tar paper. Here’s Jackie herself hammering in nails.

Putting up the doors was fun. Jed and Renae and Willow came over, and we were thankful for Jed’s help. He’s really good as a craftsman.

We’re on track to have the tiny house finished for our December “Christmas in Miniature” show. Jackie is planning to have the “ribbon cutting” and “grand opening” of her tiny house then, and even to display some of her own miniature paintings in it!