Showing posts with label Zac's Eagle Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zac's Eagle Project. Show all posts

Thursday, August 9, 2012

How to Grow an Eagle Scout {7 Easy Steps}

Zachary salutes the US flag at his Eagle Court of Honor, held on his 18th birthday.

1

Begin with a rambunctious boy who loves adventures in the outdoors and reaching for the stars.
Cub Scouts Ryan, Zac, Canon, and AJ enjoy the muddy shores of Baker Lake, with Mt. Baker looming beyond (2003).
2008 hike on Galbraith Mountain with Zachary in charge of the crew as a den chief in action.

2

Add a uniform, an oath and law, teach him to live up to his promises, to be a patriot, 
and to be obedient to rightful authority.
Zachary in his new Cub Scout uniform (2001) sporting his first lost tooth.

3

Focus on his extracurricular interests and hobbies, encourage him to discover new ones and teach others.
Riding on two wheels, Zachary on his first bicycle (2000).
Zachary steers Peter along the length of Lanezi Lake on an 80 mile canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness (2011).

 4

Stay close to God and help him deepen his faith, grow in personal holiness and foster a servant's heart.
Zachary serves at the altar as acolyte on Easter Sunday 2011.

5

Explore the heights, but stay grounded in day to day requirements and chores; let him pack his own gear.
Zac crossing the Chilliwack River in style with AJ on our 50 mile hike in the North Cascades, 2008.

6

Encourage him to persevere and work diligently, connect him with virtuous mentors who can further his skills and help him fulfill his ambitions.
Zachary works on the historic carpentry merit badge with Mr. L as his guide, 2010.

7

Be his home base as he grows into a leader, pray unceasingly for him to realize and fulfill the unique mission for which he was created.
Zachary works on the roof of his Eagle {carport for our priests} project (2012).
Proud mama (Bridget), Eagle Scout (Zachary), Scoutmaster (Tim), First Class Scout (Peter), Life Scout (Joseph) 2012.
Congratulations on reaching Eagle Scout Rank, Zachary!



Now go visit Jen @ Conversion Diary for her hilarious 7 Quick Takes.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Blessed Carport {A Catholic Thing}

Zachary, Peter and Joseph process to the carport following daily Mass
The finishing touch on Zachary's Eagle project carport came from above in the form of a blessing with a formal procession following daily Mass.  The community which has supported his efforts, with financial, spiritual and material assistance joined in the joyful occasion.  

Jesus leads the way, in Joseph's care
Our new priest, Father Joseph Altenhofen, presided for the blessing of the carport, and the rite of blessing beautifully recalled Christ's own labor on earth as a carpenter and His giving dignity to workers by His own example as one who labored.  The final touch came in the form of holy {blessed} water, sprinkled liberally throughout the new structure, a tangible claiming for good and dispelling of evil.
Father Joseph gives the blessing, calling upon the Lord

Father Joseph blesses the new carport with holy water.

Grandma Billie, Zachary and Tim; three generations of hard workers

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Almost Eagle {Board of Review}

Pack 222 Webelos and Bears 2004

One of these Scouts is about to join the Rank of Eagle Scout...

Hints:
  • today was his last day of high school
  • he earned Life Rank at age 12
  • tomorrow he'll be in a cap and gown
  • he is an extraordinary young man
Zachary's Board of Review is tonight!!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Clean Dogs, Book Burning and Broken Skin {7 Quick Takes}

Ordinary dog washing doesn't have the thrills that dog-washing-while-dodging-water-balloons has.  Just ask Joseph, who somehow managed to wash both dogs and avoid being pelted by water balloons on a recent sunny afternoon. Neither Charlie nor Rocky found anything thrilling about being hosed down and shampooed when they had excitedly assumed someone was going to take them for a w-a-l-k when the sounds of the gathering of leashes and collars reached their ears. 


Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled that Joseph decided to bathe the beasts without even being asked.  However, the placement of the bathing operation (a few feet from the front door) did make me wonder if we are ready for dog washing 201.  Having deleted all the carpet on our main floor and stairs, the visible damage and dirt from dogs and boys has been severely reduced, mostly, sort of.


A 2+ hour webinar last week especially geared for home school students with entrepreneurial tendencies was a huge hit with Joseph and Peter.  But the real huge hit came at the closing infomercial where you can 'join' the program for only three easy installments.  The boys were ready to sign up, and granted, if the promises for potential income were to come true, the program would pay for itself several times over.  But let's just say we did not hit the 'buy it now' button.  The e-tips gleaned may bear fruit in some future money making scheme, or it may fade away like the great ideas of yesterday.

It's not every day you get to have a book burning at Church!  With the new translation of the Roman Missal, the proper way to dispose of the old books is burning, and I'll bet you can guess who jumped at the opportunity to head up this service project in the hours before our Easter Vigil began.  Before long, the fire ring was surrounded by males of all ages ready to pitch printed pages into the flames.

"Hi!" he said.
"Hi!" he repeated.
I think perhaps Luke heard a reply!
Another day at the office for Zachary at the Eagle Project carport site on Saturday, with a few adults and a brother to cut the 2x12's for the outriggers to hold up the fascia and install the 4x6 supports.  Once again the weather was amazing and although a hefty to-do list remains for the project to be complete, a little progress is better than no progress.

Zachary's shin took had a run-in with a slab of concrete at his Eagle Project during clean-up yesterday.  I'm pretty sure that lower puncture wound needed a stitch (or at least some glue), but my vote wasn't counted in the official balloting.  According to Zachary's version of the mishap, either he was leaping over a tall building in a single bound, or he was testing the strength of the concrete.
Tim's take sounded more like someone avoiding ten whole steps by taking a shortcut.  You decide!

Thanks, Jen, for hosting 7 Quick Takes!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Carport Roof Takes Shape {Zac's Eagle Project}

Scout volunteers & our pastor Rev. Qui Thac Nguyen

An early morning phone call on Sunday awakened Zachary to the news that his construction-savvy-adults were not available for the rescheduled work party after all.  Rather than cancelling, Zachary rounded up other adults with know-how and forged ahead with the plans for an afternoon of sawing and hammering to place roof supports for the carport.   A big pot of chili, chips and home made cookies kept the energy levels and spirits high.

A team of Scouts and adults enjoyed the sunny Sunday outside together, with sure signs of progress to show for it.  At the close of the afternoon session, almost half of the roof supports were in place.  The carport-in-progress has already survived winds in excess of 60mph.  Another work party will soon be scheduled, following a short break for a little traveling to visit local universities.

Joseph on the hammer
Tim covered in sawdust
Peter and Mr. O hold the roof beam in place.
Joseph: not hiding from work, but from the ever present camera.
 
Another day closer to Eagle = progress to celebrate!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Tree Trimming {Carport/Eagle Project}

Zachary vs the trees~

Slated for removal or trimming per the architectural designs, then spared for the sake of not changing the landscape too dramatically, these trees simply had to be topped to make way for the carport roof.  With a good friend and fellow acolyte, Zachary spent a few hours on Saturday doing battle with the branches.

Zachary's core team of skilled, knowledgeable adult workers took a well-earned day off to go sailing and spend time with their families, offering to come back on Sunday for another session of constructing the carport.  In their absence the planned Saturday work party was rescheduled for after Mass on Sunday, and Saturday became a supply gathering, tree trimming, plan studying kind of day.
Zachary carefully studies the plans before placing a large lumber order.

Kevin takes a whack at the hedge while Father Qui Thac admires the amazing view of the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands beyond.
Tim delivers a custom over-sized lumber order, marked creatively for safe and legal travel.
Architect Scott Piper reviews the plans with Zachary and Tim. 
Father Qui Thac, home safely from the house-building mission trip to Mexico, checks out the progress. 
Zachary makes a final materials list before for a Saturday shopping spree.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Carport Going Up {Zac's Eagle Project}

After four years of planning and preparing to build a carport at the rectory at Sacred Heart, Zachary's Eagle Project grew wings this beautiful spring weekend.  Volunteer construction experts on hand with piles of tools and know-how~ Zachary's project finally took flight. 

As the group assembled to raise the carport, one small obstacle remained: Father Qui Thac's car.  Parked in the work zone (its usual reserved spot) the car might have prefered to wait for Father's return from the NCCM mission trip to Mexico.  A spare key could.not.be.found.  The work party, delayed for an hour or more, began to muse about using the forklift to relocate the vehicle, when fantastically, a spare key was located!

Serious man power was need to rotate the beams into position for raising.

Zachary tightens lag screws on the post.
Tim sets the post in place.
A meatless Lenten lunch served on Friday

Zachary, Peter, Joseph and Tim on the job site; some with steel toes, some with bare toes.
Mr. G expertly lifts the final beam with the forklift and sets it in place following meticulous hand signs from his co-workers to avoid upsetting a live power line overhead.

T+drill=skill
Zachary attempts a few pull ups on the new beam; punishable by splinters.