I’ve been working on installing a DIY patio now for several weeks. By myself, I dug out the area and transported the sod to the backyard where it can be tilled and incorporated into a deep slope.

By Saturday, I had finished digging out all the sod and spent that day tilling the area with my small tiller, raking and leveling the area with a slight slope up to the side of the house and the pool to insure proper drainage.

Today, I spent four hours laying out the landscape weed barrier and pinning it into place. I barely had enough and had to piece it together in a few places.

Now I’m waiting for the delivery of the crushed run. There is nothing else for me to do in this area until I get it. Once delivered I’ll have to spread it, and tamp it down with the tamper you see to the left in the picture.

Why am I doing all this work?

• I wanted to make it easier to mow around this area.
• I wanted to make a place to provide a bigger swing set for the grandchildren to play on.
• I wanted to make an area for a fire pit.
• I wanted to make an area where a table, chairs, and umbrella could make a shady spot to eat.
• I wanted to make it look like a cottage garden. (More to come on that.)
• We couldn’t afford to hire someone to do it.
• I wanted to prove to myself that God can help me accomplish hard things that most people would not do.
• I wanted to build myself up physically.

But— the biggest reason I wanted to do it is summed up in this quote I saw framed on the wall of a tiny house that a young man built by himself with a little help from his wife and neighbor.

It goes like this:

“If you do what is easy, your life will be hard. But if you do what is hard, your life will be easy.” — Les Brown (Motivational Speaker)

Les Brown also said, “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.”

AND

“Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.”

AND finally…

“If you fall, fall on your back. If you can look up, you can get up.”

God has made all of us stronger than we think. Physically and mentally. He has given us the ability to do hard things with His help. And I want to prove it!