Mazur Manor: Why the DRY Season?

Jessica Mazur
Jan 30, 2019
6 min read

Updated: Jul 13, 2019

Clearly, there has been a VERY large gap between projects at Mazur Manor.

Prior to the bathroom project, I hadn't posted since December 2017.

...that's because we didn't do anything for over a year.

Well, ok...

We did things.

But nothing to the house.

Let me just catch everyone up...

October to February (amidst barn wall construction)

Austin and Bryan flipped a house in Leavenworth! He and Bryan were working long days/nights, even into the weekends, to complete (what eventually became) a beautiful masterpiece. There were many delays because of shotty work that had preceded them, causing them to completely tear down and start from scratch on several projects. The city of Leavenworth also became a roadblock in completion of other code-related matters, delaying the installation of some electric, AC and water heater components. The home they were perfecting actually happened to be an old home like ours that the owner had poured a basement plot for and transplanted! So upon completion of that loooooong project, Austin felt pretty equipped and encouraged for the upcoming projects on our property (though, clearly the Lord had His hand holding us back from any tangible progress at this point).

[[Meanwhile... I got a little stir crazy... I ripped out a bedroom closet thinking I could handle a solo project. OOPS! I did manage to paint the main living spaces, which sufficed for a while. I also found myself busy mending tense relations with Lola Cat who was trialing round two at our house. We became best friends, despite the multiple gashes she left in my face a year prior, sending me to the hospital!]]

March:

With plans in mind for the house, Austin took some time to get organized. He'd hope to take a month in the beginning of 2018 to replace tools, sharpen blades, survey our home, and make a plan of attack for our own goals. Part of the game plan included the purchase of a brand-spanking-new 20-some foot trailer (this would allow him to be more mobile between jobs, staying more organized and open up storage space while we work on the house)! Much of the beginning month of 2018 served as an opportunity for Austin to get some much needed rest for his weary bones. The Lord knows the limitations of our bodies, and had just the right timing to send some relief!

April:

We took a "vacation" through the Smokies, over to the Carolina/Georgia coasts, and back in to Douglas, GA (I never want to return to this place, by the way... talk about middle of nowhere) to pick up his custom designed office on wheels. This organization was not well organized, and needed an additional week to complete the trailer (despite telling us it would be ready the day we arrived).

I guess we just had to go down to Florida for a bit! My Aunt and Uncle made up a room for us last minute near Tampa, and we stayed a few days with them before heading back up to claim our order. I had to call in some additional days to work that were unplanned... though, I like the think that the Lord simply knew we needed a longer vacation than we originally thought. :)

We encountered so many people that were in need on this trip, spiritually, monetarily, hungrily. Whether it was the waitress we encountered at the beach side diner, our Air BNB hosts, or the homeless man sitting on cardboard at the bus stop. Jesus placed many of his sheep in our path, saying Jessica, Austin, "Do you love me?" Our answer was, of course, "Yes, Lord." His response firm and simple... "then feed my sheep." Though at the time we thought we were blessing others, the Lord revealed to us that they had truly blessed us in the end. Thank you Lord, for showing us your heart for your children; teach us to love like you love.

April to August:

We arrived home with a fervor for serving the homeless and began making weekly trips to downtown KC. We just took the leftover snacks and water bottles from our pantry (thanks to the Sam's Club 5 minutes away) and hit the streets. We met many, many individuals, each with their own stories... some more sad than others, some more content with their circumstance.

During this season of service, we met three individuals and struck up a friendship. After each of the three hit a downhill slump in their housing or finances, we ended up taking them in. Two of them were with us for a short stay, and the third, much longer than we planned.

To make a long story short, yes... we had three homeless people living with us. While Austin worked on our three vehicles, all of which decided to need maintenance at once, and I worked home health, driving all over the city... we also became parents/chauffeurs to three adult individuals. My patience was tested to say the least. Without going into detail on all of the events, I can simply say that the Lord used this experience to CUT. US. LOW.

I thought I was generous. Nope... I'm as selfish as selfish gets. I thought I was patient. Nope... I had the shortest fuse in the bunch. I thought my love was unconditional. Nope... Jesus showed me the darkest, most embittered, crevices of my soul in this season.

Though it was painful to face, both Austin and I learned some extent of the depths of our own depravity. I truly believe that the Lord led us into that season to humble us and though I would ask Him to please never lead us into it again (at least, not in the same situation), I am incredibly grateful for the spiritual growth He gifted to us.

Fall:

We finally found new housing for our third guest, and now it was time to get a move-on. Austin returned to work for a few jobs and I started a new job myself! Working Home Health, in combination with our other circumstances, proved to wear me down. Though I remained on staff PRN, the Lord has led me into a season of rest from constant bee-bopping about and unhealthy living, settling me into a role in a more contained environment for now.

December and January:

However, Austin completely stopped all "work, work" and solely focused on our house. We found over the first year in the house that trying to balance both of our jobs and make headway on the house was not a possibility. He spent this season REsurveying the house, REassessing the priorities, and we ultimately REplacing and REplanning for our shifted goals. Until the weather got nice enough to take another crack at the basement (without hiking up energy bills), we put our efforts into the room where we spent the most time... the bathroom :).

2018 left our heads spinning.

Only being 2 years into marriage, with a new (old) home, in over our heads... and all that praying we did for the Lord to bring us into a property prepared for us... boy did we get what we asked for. At the beginning of Fall, we found ourselves transitioning back to the church I grew up in, leaving one that had an outward appearance of righteous truth, but lacked much of the biblical doctrine that God left interwoven in His word to train us up. 2018 (and a lot of 2017) revealed the Lord's refining fire to us. In His wisdom, He predestined trials, not uncommon to man, for us to walk through, so that we would find our way closer, and closer to the path that His precepts lay out for us. We learned that the Lord's plan for our life is not merely material, tangible, pleasurable gain... but rather that we become like Christ. That we love with a love that desires another's highest good. That we trust His sovereignty in working all things for our good. That we count it joy as we encounter various trials. That we come to know the secret that enables us to endure all things. That, like two rods of iron, a husband and wife sharpen one another. That our strength is found in the joy of the Lord. That in this world there will be trouble, but HE has overcome.