Bekah and the Power Washer

Back in my single days, when I owned a home and had no idea how to take care of it, my parents were really good about scheduling "Habitat for Bekah" days. They would block off a Saturday and come over to help with (or just flat out do) something I didn't have the knowledge or tools to do on my own. Last Saturday, Ryan and I scheduled a "Habitat for Parents" day in which we returned that favor! (In full disclosure, I'm not insinuating my parents lack knowledge or tools. We were just the muscle.)

There were a few little things that needed done, but the big project involved power washing. One side of their house and outbuilding had started turning green, and their fence had the same problem. Yes, of course they could wash it all by hand, but why, when there are beautiful inventions like power washers?

Ryan's family owns a power washer, which you may or may not remember from the podcast episode in which we painted our garage. Remember when the paint can slipped out of Ryan's hands and paint went e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. in our garage? Remember the power washer sitting in our garage at that time? The one we had borrowed from his family? The one that got soaked in paint?

It survived us the first time and still works! So we went to borrow it for a day, so we could complete our habitat mission.

Because the other projects really needed Ryan's attention in ways I could not possibly hope to participate, he graciously decided to offer that project to me.

I think for you to fully appreciate what I was getting myself into, you first need to see the loading of the power washer.

Yeah. This is not your mama's power washer.

Ryan gave me a lesson in using it and then set me free to try. The first time, it nearly knocked me straight onto my backside...kind of reminded me of the day I tried my hand at running a fire hose!

But I got the hang of it and got to work!

And once I finished the buildings, I moved on to the fence!

I'm not going to lie: this project was SO MUCH FUN. I loved seeing immediate results and feeling like I actually accomplished something good and helpful! Three cheers for that!

Meanwhile, Ryan was able to install lights, paint, and do all kinds of other things that were totally beyond me.

So now I know I like to power wash, and even thought I was crazy sore the next day, it was a good feeling to accomplish this project!

(I'll keep this on the possibilities list for someday-careers.)