A Christmas Family

As y'all know, Waylon and I are mending our relationship.  His now ex wife never wanted me to be a part of her family, except when she wanted something. 

Waylon invited his girlfriend and her 4 children to Christmas dinner.  Gloria is such a beautiful woman. She is shorter than me :)  Her daughter Jasmine is a freshman in high school.  She is so beautiful and a great cook.  She dreams of becoming a marine biologist and is a great help to Gloria with her siblings.  Complaints are a rarity from her.  Next comes Dominic, who is in the 3rd grade.  He is very open about his feelings and I found him delightful.  Marissa is the shy one of the bunch.  She is in 2nd grade.  Frankie (or baby J as they call him) is 4.  All the kids exhibited manners and they all pitched in to help clean up, with no complaints.  All 4 kids are on the honor roll.  Gloria has done a wonderful job raising these kids on their own.   

Gloria's parents died in a car wreck when she was 3.  She has 3 siblings, a brother one year older, a sister one year younger and another sister 2 years younger.  They were raised by their grandparents on a cotton farm in Seminole.  She is a hard worker and has been working at Walmart for 7 years. 

Waylon and Gloria are not rushing into anything but she is someone who could become a daughter.  Oh, did I mention the bonus that comes with having Gloria? Besides her kids, of course?  She can cook some awesome menudo!!!!!   I am in hog heaven.

The best gift I received for Christmas this year, a family!  We are doing another Christmas the next time Waylon can get Devon.  Kristina swears he is sick so Waylon was unable to get him on Christmas Day like he was supposed to.  Don't want to put a damper on my Christmas blessing so I will take my anger to God over Kristina's continued antics to push Waylon out of Devon's life.

Merry Christmas my friends!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

This year Jesus, my gift to you, is my heart!  I realized I have been holding back part of it but today, I give you my whole heart!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

New Tree ornaments

Well, we gave away the 7' tree and have a 4' tree.  My flannel ornaments were way too big so I reduced the pattern and made some smaller ones.     

I put my nativity set on top of the frig as my Roo can reach all the other places.  The way he handles things, all my wise men would be headless.

I decided not to put up outside lights.  Go ahead and say it, "Bah humbug"! BUT remember, a tree went up this year, the first one in over 15 years.

Christmas movies

I think I have overdosed on Christmas movies, if that is possible!  So many new ones this year but sadly, the majority are just remakes with a slight twist.

My broken heart

My heart broke into a thousand pieces tonight. Devon screamed and hollered when Waylon got him ready to go back to Kristina. Roo wanted to stay with his daddy.  Lord protect Devon from an unstable mother and pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease intercede so that Waylon can be the custodial parent.

More uncluttering

Roo went home early and while I was upset, a couple of good things came out of it.  Waylon will now get Roo Christmas night through New Year's Eve (praying Kris keeps her word) plus, I was able to get some things done.

1.  Out of town Christmas packages mailed.

2.  Sewing scissors taken in to be sharpened.  Should have them back this week.

3.  I was able to borrow my boss' deer truck to go scoop cow manure on Davey's deer lease.  Got it on the garden before it rained.  Hopefully this will help mom's garden grow this summer.  Of course, not having 90 days of 100+ temps would also help.

4.  Donated another approx 100 books to mom's church library.  Believe it or not, my bookshelves are still full, however, some shelves hold Roo's clothes and VHS tapes (75 freebies).

5.  Cleaned my sewing room.  I have been buying sewing containers at garage sales for the thread but that also included lots of the travel spools of thread, pins, buttons, etc.  Not really needing those small spools, I bagged up spools of threads with needles and donated them to the local pantry to distribute.  Now someone can at least sew on a button or mend a seam.

The more I de-clutter, the more I find needs to be de-cluttered.  Thank you Jesus, that for the better part of this year, you have been helping me to realize how much stuff I have that I do not use or need, that can benefit others.

This morning I am going to go help Davey fill deer feeders.  They have started Davey on insulin and right now, finding the amount that works hasn't happened.  His son cannot go with him and no way should he be out on the ranch alone.  Davey is not a Christian so I am praying for God to open the door for me to once again share the gospel with him.  I have been praying for Davey's salvation for almost 16 years.  This is an area he and Waylon have in common.  They believe in God, they just do not want to make him Lord of their lives.  One day, they both will.  I just know it.

Well, my ironing is waiting and I still have the cabinets in the laundry/sewing room to unclutter.  Hope to get these done before Davey gets here.  Next is my bathroom cabinets.  I would like to get them uncluttered before Roo comes on Thursday.

I can't tell you what a difference it makes to have less to organize, sort through and CLEAN.  Lessening my stuff to be dusted takes a load off my shoulders.  Less housecleaning required, more time with Roo, sewing, reading and other things.  I FEEL SOOOOOO GOOD!!!  THANK YOU JESUS!

Scratch-offs etc

I am truly beginning to think that Thanksgiving is the most overlooked holiday as people are so busy with Christmas stuff, BLACK FRIDAYS, etc.  I did not want to fall prey to that but I have still found myself focusing more on Christmas than Thanksgiving.

I had to make a list of Christmas stuff to buy, make and do (and keep it on the cheap side) since I have not done Christmas (tree etc) in a very, very long time and have no ornaments etc.  I probably would have just put up my nativity as I always do and put the presents under it BUT with Waylon's divorce over and having Roo here, I want to make Christmas special for them both.  I have more scratch-offs than things left to do.

Scratch-offs 
Purchase Christmas tree - bought a brand new 7' tree at a garage sale. I prefer a real tree but mom, Waylon and Roo all have severe allergies, so an artifical tree it is.
Make Christmas ornaments (see pics in previous blog)- used cardstock, flannel, glue, paint and twine - already had on hand
Purchase Christmas tree lights - several strands at a garage sale
Make 4 quilts for Christmas presents - already had flannel and batting, just needed some thread, which I got  at a garage sale
Purchase/make presents for family - decided on family gifts for my nieces and their families. Ordering pecans for both families, with Mom, Waylon and I are splitting the costs
Make Christmas stockings for mom, Waylon, Roo and me with material already on hand

Not counting mom and Waylon's gift (already had Roo's), Christmas came in under $50.  Not too bad and I had a lot of fun making the ornaments and stockings.

To do for Thanksgiving
Veggies and whipping cream for Thanksgiving (very last minute purchase)
Mail Kyra's quilt
Clean carpets
Dust

To do for Christmas
Pickup Black Pepper ham from Miillers in Llano
Dust
Veggies and whipping cream for Christmas (very last minute purchase)
Fruit for stockings

Roo comes today and does not go home until the Monday after Thanksgiving only to return on Thursday for his 1st weekend of the month visit.  Although I will be tired, I am so looking forward to having Roo for almost 3 weeks. Having Roo for 3 weeks PLUS working longer hours is WHY I have been working on getting prepared for Christmas prior to Thanksgiving.  Now I can enjoy Roo and not sweat the Christmas stuff.

We are celebrating Christmas on the 17th as that is when Waylon has Roo for Christmas. 

While I do not like the commercialism of Christmas, I do want to see the joy on Roo's face and have the opportunity to share Jesus with him through this season.  I want him to understand that Christmas is not just stuff, but what is in a person's heart.  Although he is only 2, now is the time to start teaching him that it is better to give than to receive.

Thanksgiving, here I come!

That's my boy

At work last night, Waylon's bosses held a group meeting, asking all kinds of questions.  The first person with the correct answer got a chance to bowl for a turkey. Waylon answered a question correctly and bowled a strike to win a 12 lb. turkey for Thanksgiving.

Yessiree, that's my boy!!!

Christmas decorations and Kyra's quilt

Mom and I made some decorations for the tree.  I no longer had any decorations as I haven't put up anything but my nativity in years.  Roo changed that!  We got a brand new 7' tree at a garage sale for $20 and not wanting to spend $$$$ on decorations, I decided to put my creative mind to work and use the card stock piled in my closet and some scrap flannel to make decorations.  Thankfully, someone posted free patterns on the internet to download.   We made several of each pattern and if needed, I can always make more.  Tonight I add the twine hangers to the back and am ready to decorate the tree  with Roo.  They are crushable but not breakable, a very important feature with Roo around.  I have some baskets to put candy in on the tree, after all, the reindeer have to have food too.  Usually they eat candy canes but I am giving them a little basket of Hugs and Kisses (Hershey's).

This is my sister's quilt.  The picture makes the squares look pink but they are salmon and in person, the quilt looks really good.  She spent time in Alaska when her youngest daughter was stationed there, so moose seemed a great idea for a quilt.  At least she will be warm in Maryland, where she lives with her other daughter.

Tonight, I am making Christmas stockings for all.   I have stockings that I made for everyone but Roo, however, it is time for new ones.  Waylon's life changes mean he will be starting new traditions with Roo.  New traditions, so why not new stockings!!!   Making them out of red flannel that has penguins on it.

In case it is not obvious, I love working with flannel.  Next to flannel, I love working with denim. 

Too bad I have to get to work. My creative juices are flowing!

Just the facts

1st lady wanted a larger loom than mine, hopefully, it will be just right for the next lady

3 quilts down, 1 to go
my back and arms hurt from speed quilting
my house is covered in thread from ragging 3 quilts and my vacuum decides to break down.  oh well, at least I now have colorful carpet
I am sooooooo sleepy
starting 4th quilt this morning, should have it done before Roo comes on Thursday

boss is not leaving early for the deer lease :(    there goes my afternoon nap

Gene's quilt

My boss loves to hunt so if you look real close, you can see the white deer standing by the trees.  Perhaps this quilt will give him visions of deer dancing in his head while he sleeps at the deer lease.

Where o where did my sleep go??????

I am sure that y'all have experienced the side effects of the time change.  One good thing about being up at 4am, I can work on my rag quilts.  I am just finishing Gene's (my boss) and will post a pic as soon as I get Waylon and Mom to hold it up for me.  Since Waylon and I do not see each other except on Saturday and Sunday, the pic will have to wait.

Kyra's (my sister's) quilt is next.  I also plan a quilt for Roo but just not ragged.  I can see him putting the rag strips in his mouth and chewing them off.  Definitely no ragging on his quilt.

I need to find more interesting and colorful flannel sheets and shirts.  Gene's quilt is awesome and it was made from sheets.  Much easier to cut up sheets than shirts but shirts can be so much more colorful.  God will provide.  He did for Gene's quilt.

Waylon's divorce is now over.  I pray Waylon will seek the Lord before seeking another wife.  It is hard on this mom to see my son struggling BUT, he knows the answer and refuses to make Jesus a part of it.  He knows I am praying and one day, he WILL accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

Guess I better go put Gene's quilt in the dryer.  It takes 4 washings and dryings to get the quilt where it does not leave so many strings behind.

Weaving loom update

I have 2 ladies interested in my loom.  Praying one of them takes it.

Goodbye Weaving Loom

A few years ago, I bought a floor weaving loom.  I have always dreamed about weaving.  This past spring, my room of many colors was ready for me to put the loom together.  The lady who was to help me, lost her mom to cancer so we delayed it and then the heat came and so did Waylon.

Sadly, my weaving loom did not get put together.  Sadly, I did not learn to weave.  Sadly, I am selling my weaving loom.  There is no room to put it together and to have it sit in pieces in my storage room until mom dies is ridiculous.  It is not a great time to put it on the market but there is no reason to put off the inevitable.

A sad day for me  :(

Phewwwwww!

I went back to the surgeon as my breast was hurting.  Having had 6 other biopsies, I knew something was not right.

 Good news!  Everything looked good.  He will see me with a current mammogram in 6 months.
 Bad news!  The pain will continue for about 2 years due to all the cutting they had to do.

They are still not sure what is causing the rash and bruising but no cancer is detected. 

Praisin Jesus!!

Booksneeze

I joined Booksneeze where you get free books inexchange for an honest review on a public website (such as Amazon), Booksneeze's website and your own blog.  Mine is called, Should I Buy the Book. I have been posting reviews, some from books I have gotten at garage sales etc and some from books I got from Booksneeze.  Took me awhile to realize, a picture of the bookcover would be helpful, so today, I got my bookcovers posted with my reviews.

My next book is on the way, "Ascent from Darkness: How Satan's Soldier Became God's Warrior" by Michael Leehan.   Looking forward to reading it.

I am in like!

I like so many of the lights on this website. They even have ceiling fans like Julie's at the ranch, the ones with the curved ends. I would not have found this website if I hadn't been looking for turbine pendant lights that I saw in Country Living magazine. Now I want a taller house so it would make sense to order some unique lights.


http://www.barnlightelectric.com/

Homesick Texan

I got a little carried away in my last post.  So, on day 1 of my new improved attitude, I want to share a blog I discovered.  Y'all may already know about it.

Homesick Texan - http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

An accidental old woman

I turned 55 and became an accidental old woman.  Looking in the mirror, I can honestly say, wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.  I envisioned being thin and married with a loving family.  I never planned to work outside the home.  I just wanted to be a wife and mother, not an employee. My days would be filled cooking, sewing and just loving on people.    Grandchildren would come to my house to enjoy a vibrant and cool mamaw!

So the reality is, I hit the double nickel and I ain't talking about the speed limit.  I am not thin (except my hair), I am not married and my loving family are my sisterchicks who accept me, wrinkles, cellulite and all.  My little Roo has a tired and cranky mamaw when he comes on the weekends  and well, unless Jesus or my ship comes soon, I will be working as a Walmart greeter or something else until the day I die.

My boss has already told me there would be no bonus or raise again this year.  A paycut and 2 years without a raise is hard.  May have to go back to housesitting or get a part time job to enable me to have spending money. Both options are limited as 1st, 3rd and 5th weekends are designated for Roo and the 2nd weekend of the month I work for Davey which does not leave me with much employeable time.

Anyway, for my birthday I decided to GET A LIFE.  Due to limited funds and available time, I am gearing my list to things for a broke, single and getting lonely woman.

1. Try something new, like actually starting and finishing my craft projects.

2. Lose the 60 pounds the doctor suggests would help my health - okay, I can afford walking.

3. Take a vacation (more than one day or afternoon off from work) and for once, leave the house.  I would really like to stay at least one night in the Hotel Blessing.

4.  Go out on a date. I have been single for 20 years and it has been 5 years since my last date.  I am not getting younger and would love a man to grow old with. Don't any of you know any godly, single men my age?  It would be nice if they liked to fish, hunt and work with their hands (got a big to do list).  Of course, it is a given that they must like short, fluffy women.

5.  Have an attitude of gratitude and leave the grumbling to others.

6.  ?????????????????????????????

I have no need of a long list or a bucket list. I am taking life one day at a time and waiting on Jesus to help me GET A LIFE.  The blessing of a car is evidence that God cares about me and my desires.  When I asked for someone to share my life with He provided mom (still not liking having her at my home) and Waylon.  All they do is make my desire my a husband stronger. 

The weather is cooler so now it should be easier to put my plans into action.  It is semi-bearable in the storage room where I will do my craft projects.  I need to remember to take my walking shoes to work.  Maybe I can even squeeze in some porch swing time (will have to wait until mom goes to bed so I can enjoy my time).  I can peruse the web to see what all there is to do once I get to the Hotel Blessing.  YEP, YEP, this will be a better year.

My quilt solution

Roo sleeps in my room on a blow up bed.  He is very active in his sleep, plus he sleepwalks so I cover the brick area around the fireplace to keep him from getting hurt.  I found a really cool fireplace screen at a garage sale which hid the ugly gold plated frame that is there now.  The fireplace screen is made out of a metal screen door that went over a front door for security, so it is heavy.  I quickly discovered Roo likes to crawl behind the screen, which causes the screen to tump over and the results are bruises on his body where the screen hits him. 

Okay, the screen moved to another place in the room, pillows of all kinds put in place.  My room looked like a pillow factory had exploded plus, the floor was completely covered in pillows so there was no walk room. For Roo, it became a romper room and once again, the brick was exposed. 

An idea hit! I covered the brick with foam and the foam with a quilt. Than I put pillows in place for a seating area. Now my room feels a whole lot less cluttered and Roo's head is safe.  Okay, so my quilts are a little fru fru but Roo doesn't care.  It is now a place for him to sit and read.  His blowup bed lays right in front of the quilt so he can go from his bed to his sitting area without touching the floor.

Where o where does all this stuff come from????? pt 2

Again, I am going through the house and getting rid of more stuff.  Seriously folks, where does all this stuff come from (no one better say garage sales).  After spending a day cleaning house and still not finishing, I knew it was time to unclutter some more.  My bookcase, movie case and desk area are my 3 worst offenders.  Last night, I tackled the desk area.  I am not finished but I found my desk.

My problem:  I cut out cute craft ideas, interesting articles, etc and where do I store all the paper?  Most of the time, I put them in 3 ring notebooks which take up space.  I have scanned some into the my computer and that may be my solution.  Just not sure.  Anyone have any ideas? 

As for my bookcase, I have skinnied it way down and there are only a few books I am ready to pass on. Most of the books are ones that I really want to read, just can't read fast enough. I have even slowed way down on buying books at garage sales and thrift stores.  

Movie case - if I wouldn't watch it with Jesus in the room (like he's not already), then it goes.  There are some exciting Chrisian movies I would like to fill the movie case with instead.

My fourth big offender is the sewing part of my laundry room.  The HUGE dilemma is that I have  lots of flannel to cut up, which in time, I will get it cut up.

Roo comes Thursday, goes back Tuesday so my time will be watching him.  There is always next week after he goes back to Kristina to work on the sewing room and these other uncluttering projects.  I do get a little done while he is sleeping.

Past time to get ready for work.

Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus!!!!!

Last night, I was given a 1999 Buick Park Avenue Ultra.  What a praise!  It is fully loaded, one mom can get in and out of and has more room for garage sale goodies. It also has a CD player while mine only has a place for cassettes.  I am losing my great gas mileage but the upside to that is my son will now be getting good gas mileage PLUS air conditioning.

Waylon's car is pathetic, no a/c,  needs lots of work and not worth putting more $$$$ into it.  I cringed when he told me the wheel bearing was getting worse.  Not safe driving with a bad wheel and neither of us has the $$$ to fix it. 

When we spoke about the wheel bearing, I mentioned to Waylon that perhaps there would be a way for me to get a car next year so that I could give him mine. 

I got an email from a friend who knew someone donating a car and did I need one. HELLO answered prayer.  What an unexpected way for God met my need!! 

I pray that Waylon sees God in this answered prayer!  Lord, thank you for answering where there is no doubt that YOU are the source of this met need.

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

Forlorn

                                        
                                          Such a sad little mailbox!

Gateway to my room of many coats

My room of many coats needed a grand entrance.  I think this will work!

A tribute to Julie's animals

                                                                    I see the sheep.

The sheep see me!

I see the rooster.

The rooster sees me!

                                                               I see the fish.

 

The fish see me!

I see Roxie!

Roxie sees me!

I see the bird.

                                                                  The bird sees me!

I see the (shy) bobwhite quail.

                                                             The bobwhite quail sees me!

                                                                        I see the cat.

 

The cat sees me!

I wanted to get really creative in this tribute but did not want to take the time to paste the food pictures over my clothes so all you saw was a food bag with arms and legs.   

This tribute marks the end of my time of caring for Julie's pets.  There are many good memories associated with all the pets and some bad, such as headless chickens, dead chickens, snakes in the henhouse, SNAKES PERIOD, watching the older animals slow waaaaaay down.....

God is calling me to invest my time in Waylon and Roo. I am look forward to this new mission but it is a little scary.  My housesitting money helps pay the monthly bills so this will also be a time of me trusting God to meet my financial needs in a different way.  For way too many years now, I have worked 1 full time job, 1 parttime job plus did housesitting.  I am wearing out.  Perhaps it is time to slow down just a bit.

Epiphany

So I am a little slow on the uptake.  While doing some re-organizing to make the house more Roo friendly,  it dawned on me.  All that simplifying and uncluttering God put on my heart made it possible for Waylon and Roo to have a place to roost.  Took way too many weeks for the dotted lines to connect. 

Thank you Jesus for getting my butt in gear all those months ago.

Kristina took Roo

Kristina took Roo with her to East Texas this morning.  She is bringing back her half sisters who are supposed to help her with Roo this summer.   

God, my heart is heavy.  Please protect Roo.

Getting to see old friends

If you find a good deal on a new brain at a garage sale, would you please buy it for me. I need one that has a GOOD memory.

Davey called to let me know what time he would be bringing Jimmy and his family by the house Friday.  I HAD TOTALLY FORGOTTEN THEY WERE COMING!!!  I will lay the blame on unexpectedly housesitting for Julie and Don instead of a faulty brain.

Jimmy is Davey's uncle, who is not much older than Davey.  Jimmy was married when I met him and divorced not long after.  Davey, Jimmy and and I were the singles of the fishing group so we always shared a room and a boat.  Jimmy irritated most of the family but he and I always got along.  Due to his work, like Davey he is a plumber, he couldn't always come.

Jimmy decided he wanted to slow down in life so he moved.  I haven't seen him since before I moved here to Marble Falls.  Davey is bringing Jimmy and his new wife by for a visit.  Jimmy's son is supposed to come too.  Jimmy chased women his son's age and his son, always chased women his dad's age.  Believe me, it could get comical when everyone was together.  Sure wish I could remember Jimmy's son's name.  See, I told you I had a faulty brain.

It will be good to see Jimmy and meet his wife.  Too bad it will only be for a short time.

Roo

My heart hurts.  I miss Roo.  Sure did not take me long to get addicted to having him around everyday.  It can be rough on the heart being a mamaw.

I miss Roo

Kristina has Roo this weekend.  I miss him already.  Next week is my last week with him, supposedly, before Kristina starts having him during the week and Waylon has him only on the weekends.  I am praying that does not happen, that we can have him most of the time.  PRAYING BIG TIME!!

 

So many changes

The storage room is organized.  There is room for improvement but not right now.  A friend is coming today to install a light over my dining room table.  Once that is done, most of my electrical issues will be complete:  ceiling fans: front porch, living room, Waylon/Roo's room,  storage room, and my porch.  Lights in storage room have pull chains affixed.  Used paint can keys to dangle so I can reach to turn them on and off.  Motion lights installed on front and back of storage room and one replaced in carport.  New light in mom's bathroom.  Why the previous owners wanted to light the ceiling is beyond me but now mom can see. 

On to the other repairs such as the gate, deck etc.  Plumbing repairs will have to wait.  Feels good to get some more things done.

Waylon has moved in and most of the time we have Roo, which makes it hard for Waylon to spend a lot of time looking for work.  Meanwhile, I am enjoying Roo all that I can.  Waylon has been helping mom with yard stuff, which is a good thing.

When I shared with one of my prayer partners about Waylon and Roo, she goes, do you remember when God told you that your mom would be living with you.  It has been hard but there has been healing for you and your mom.  Then she said, do you remember when God gave you a vision that John would be coming back into your life and Waylon's?  God did a major healing in your life.  Then she asked if I remembered telling her that God gave me a vision that Waylon and Roo would be moving in.  Alright Candi, yes, I know.  God is healing a family.

I have peace!

Authors I enjoy

I have always enjoyed Richard Paul Evan's books.  His "Walk" series is very good.  Sadly, the 3rd book will not be out until April 2012.

I have since found another author I enjoy a little bit more than Mr. Evans.  Charles Martin's writings make it possible to feel as if you are right there with the characters.  His book, "The Dead Don't Dance" was movie optioned by Hallmark and then dropped.  His new book, "The Mountain Between Us" has been movie optioned by 20th Century Fox.  Sure hope this one does not fall through.  Because he has changed publishers, his next book will not be released until May 2012.  Look forward to reading "Thunder and Rain", a story of a retired Texas Ranger.

I have now found another author. Ginny L. Yttrup is a freelance writer, speak, life coach and ministers to women wounded by sexual trauma.   Her debut book, "Words" is very good.  The subject matter is very difficult but her way of handling it compels me to keep on reading.

Who are some of your favorite authors?  I know, there are the main ones like Francine Rivers, Teri Blackstock, Karen Kingsbury, but have you found a fairly new author whose a good read?

Got more done

Came home from work Wednesday not feeling good.  Allergies were kickin my butt and I had a low grade fever.  Got up Thursday feeling even worse.  Had a higher fever and could hardly get a breath in.  Took the day off from work, loaded up on mucinex and Aleve.   Took awhile but finally the mucinex kicked in, my fever broke and I could breathe.  Breathing meant I could start tackling the storage room.

I managed to get the storage room about 97% organized.  I can now work on getting the loom put together.  Hopefully the lady who said she could help me is available soon.   I feel such a relief getting the storage room tackled.  I have rid my home of so much stuff and lightened my load although by how much I have to dust, it doesn't seem to be less.  Where did all that stuff fit in my house and storage room? 

Now to read lots of books and start clearing my book shelves.

Getting there

Slowly but surely, the storage room is getting organized.  2 ceiling fans have been installed, the pegboard is getting filled and mom has diligently been putting nuts, bolts, screws etc into stackable containers.  My plan last night was to put up one last shelf and organize what was going back into the desk drawers.  Due to a bad allergy attack, that did not happen so hopefully today after work, I can't get it done.

The opportunity for the weaving loom to get put together is getting closer.

I had messed up my wrist.  One night, as I stretched out my in my sleep, my wrist popped and pain insued.  Then , while taking care of Dottie, the muscle from the elbow to the injured wrist got pulled and torn.  I was doing ok with the anti-inflammatories and pain killers when needed for sleep.  At least I was doing OK until I took care of Roo.   I picked him up and my wrist, well, let's just say, I am glad I did not drop Roo.  Guess healing will take a little longer.

Kristina is back to saying she wants a divorce and all those men she has gone to dinner and a movie with were just friends and that they weren't having sex.  Waylon says he feels like he is losing his mind.  She wants a divorce but wants Waylon to live in the apartment with her.  TROUBLE!!!  Waylon doesn't see it that way.  He thinks they will be able to work things out.  WAKE UP WAYLON!!!!

I had a major mother's day meltdown but I finally have some peace. Right after my meltdown, I was listening to Chuck Swindoll teach on the Holy Spirit. He referred to Ecclesiastes chapter 3:  There is time to be born and a time to die...... vs 3 says, there is a time to kill and a time to heal.

Chuck Swindoll spoke about that if God appointed our time to be born and our time to die, wasn't it likely that he appointed our time to heal??  For the first time since mom moved in, I have peace, I don't hate her being here, etc.   Perhaps Mother's Day was my appointed time to heal!  Over the years, I have been in counseling, some group therapy, done studies etc, praying to get over my past.  It just seemed to loom about my head but not since Mother's Day.  So my healing was 50 years in the making.  Who is going to argue with God's appointed time?

I bought some windchimes that sound like churchbells.  I don't mind it so much that the wind continues to blow.  I think I want a few more sets of them.

Thank y'all so much for listening to me, for praying with me and for me through the years.

My room of many coats

All it took was lots of oops paint, lots of time, two very sore and exhausted people and the painting is done. Now to get it organized. One step closer to being able to setup my loom.  Just need to find someone who can help me put it together based on a picture I have.

Honoring the Sabbath!

For way too many years, I have spent Sundays after church, trying to get caught up on all I did not complete during the week.  With my jobs and housesitting, I can get pretty behind.  Sometimes, I know I need to come home and do my bills, etc but after being on a computer all day, I don't want to be on it at home, too.

I need to start honoring the Sabbath!  Step one:  No shopping or working on the Sabbath.   It may not be much but it is a start.  All I know, is that I am not getting renewed and refreshed because I stay way tooo busy. 

Not working on Sunday means I must better budget my time at home to get done the things I normally do on Sunday, like laundry.

Starting this Sunday, I will see how step one goes. 

Storage room

I am almost finished painting the inside of the storage room.  I forgot to take before pics but oh, well.  How hard is it to imagine dark, unpainted walls.  The walls are complete and now for the ceiling.  I know the ceiling should be done first but Waylon is supposed to paint it and as of yet, he hasn't.  I could not wait as I wanted to get the painting done before the higher temps set in.  I started the ceiling last night, painting a very tight section about some shelving that came with the building.

Each panel of wood and each shelf is a different color.  Love it.  The guy who built the building did a poor job.  The studs are on 24" centers instead of 16", the plywood/panel sections sometimes overlap the studs therefore, the edges of the panels having nothing to which I can attach them.  He used bits and pieces of wood.  Found pieces of duct tape where wood had broken off.  Oh well, it is a storage room and at least it is colorful.

Once the ceiling is done, I need to find someone to help me put my weaving loom together.  I only have a pic, no instructions.  I am getting excited about the loom being put together this year.

Who knows!  Maybe one day I will actually make a rug.

Yeah for pickers!!

Over 1/2 of the garage sale stuff is gone.  The shelves are particle board or I would have hauled them close to the street.  Rain on them would be detrimental to their stability and they are too heavy to move back and forth.  With rain chances ending tomorrow, I will move them to the street for the pickers when I get home.

Grateful others can use what I no longer need.

Garage sale items

Oh silly me.  I misunderstood my friend Lynn.  She is not having a garage sale this weekend so, my carport had oodles of freebies sitting in it.  When rain chances are at 0%, I will haul the stuff to the street and let whoever wants it, grab it.  Come the weekend, if it ain't gone by pickers, then I will haul it off.

Praying for lots of pickers!

Where o where does all this stuff come from?????

I have 4 housesitting jobs in May.  I am tired just thinking about them all.  My boss gave me Good Friday off but with one condition.  I still had to check emails and voicemails, which I could do from home. 

Friday, Mom and I made our list, hit about 6 stores and wiped out a portion of our to do list.  When we got home, we each started on our respective to do list, repair this, plant that, etc.  My one major goal was to clean out the storage room, AGAIN!

Saturday morning, I needed a couple more things, so mom and I ran to the grocery store, hit a few garage sales plus the citywide garage sale.  Good thing, got mom a very nice rocking chair and got rid of the dilapidated freebie she had been sitting in.

We stopped and got a couple more forgotten things from the grocery store and ran into Lynn.  Lynn heads up a Relay for Life team from HEB.  I was able to get rid of a lot of things when they had their first garage sale.  I didn't contribute to the second but they are having another one this upcoming weekend, so that encouraged me to get home and do some more cleaning out. 

WHERE DOES ALL THIS STUFF COME FROM?????  I have a whole pickup load of stuff.  This time, mom cleaned out her storage (yard stuff) but seriously, most of it came from the big storage room.  GOOD GRIEF!  I really need to get myself together when I garage sale.  Of course, some of it was stuff mom brought with her that she is finally ready to let go of.

Anyway, the storage room has a lot less stuff in it which prompted to make the decision to paint the inside of the it.  Whoever built it never painted the inside.  It is rather a dark room.  Over the years of living here, I have collected quite a bit of OOPS paint so now, before I organize it, I am going to paint it.  Every section of wood will be painted a different OOPS color.  I will not be able to do most of the work on it until June due to housesitting but at least I got started.  My goal, is to paint one section at a time and then organize that section.  I took out old dilapidated freestanding cabinets and am putting in shelves to hold all my spray paint and power tools.

Thank you Lord for continuing to help me simplify my life.

Spent all day outside and now it is time to catch up on Davey's books and my personal stuff.  If Roo is better, Waylon said he would bring him over.  Not holding my breath but thanking God at least he said he would try.

I am so grateful for so much in my life.  Not quite there with mom but things are better.  Sometimes, I just need more breathing space (at my house). I miss time alone at my own home without mom.  For some reason, she does not understand my need to alone AT MY HOUSE!!!!!

I just heard the washing machine stop, which means I can start load number 2. 

Life, it is neverending (pun intended)!

Doing it again

Yep, that's right.  Over 20 garage sales in Fredericksburg so am up early and hitting the road.  Just hope mom's car is big enough to fit all the goodies (ha ha).

Roommate?

This weekend, I mentioned to mom the possible need to get a roommate to help out financially for a short period of time.  Off and on, since buying my house, I have given this some thought but have been hesistant. Now, I also have to consider mom in my decision.

This morning, one of our clients called.  He and his wife are christians.  They have been helping Penny for quite awhile, until she could get back on her feet.  Penny developed gangrene when her gall bladder died.  She has been out of work for 5 years and is finally going back to work.  She is an RN.  She passed her testing for her license but has had trouble getting a job. There is a nursing home here in Marble Falls that is willing to work with her.

Ron called this morning to find out about rental prices.  I mentioned having a room that she could rent for a few months until she could get established. Ron was very excited and said he would talk to Terry (his wife) and Penny, then we would all talk.  Penny is fixin to be 40 and Ron says she would make a great roommate, quiet, etc. 

Staying with us would give her an opportunity to search out the area, make sure this job is going to work out, etc before committing to a long term lease.

Will be praying as this could be a win-win for all of us.  Hope she won't mind Roo weekends.

Girls weekend at the ranch

I did it.  I will be at work by 5AM so I can be sure to get away by noon.   So lookin forward to fellowship, fun and of course, garage sales.  It will be exciting to meet Tamra and to see Tammie.

Praisin Jesus that I can go!

Francine Rivers Giveaway

I know many of you are like me, you so enjoy Francine Rivers.

Go to http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042  for a chance to win a complete Francine Rivers library! And don't forget to get your free Leota's Garden e-book, available until April 4.

Bamboo update

The bamboo along the back fence is now cut.  We can start killing it with Round-up and a grubbing hoe.  The only way to get rid of it is to kill it at the root by cutting it.  It will be a habitual problem as my neighbor only let me cut what was along our common fence area.  That bamboo is still all over her yard.

Roo Time

I have loved having Roo.  He doesn't give hugs as much as he once did.  He managed to sleep 4 hours before waking up.  Now he is asleep and and I am awake.  Darn this body of mine that won't let me sleep late in the morning.

I must confess, Roo time is worth every bit of missed sleep.

Roxie

I am housesitting at Julie's.  I believe Roxie had a stroke last night.  She had all the classic signs.  It broke my heart to see that her back legs decided not cooperate with her desire to get on the sofa. 

She is the last of the original pets (for me at least).  It saddens me to think she may not be here much longer, however, I do believe that all the love Don and Julie pour into their pets have greatly extended their lifespan.

I pray Roxie does not die on my watch.  Not sure I could handle it but know that God will provide all that I need should it happen.  I pray, that when her time does come, Don and Julie will have their opportunity to say goodbye as they have with all the others they have so deeply loved.

A few more little things done

What a great week.  My boss has been gone so once I clean the offices today, I will be caught up on my work. 

Julie and I had an awesome time with Rhonda.  No words can explain it but it was awesome to see the joy and peace she has in spite of the tragic circumstances.  She had such a God-glow!!! 

I got a few more pieces of yard of re-freshed with some paint.  Fixin to put in new insulation around my bedroom door before I go to work.  Tonight I must pack as I work at Davey's this weekend and next week, I am at Julie's.  Might just take a pile of old shirts over there and start cutting away for my next quilt. 

I am supposed to get Roo the 18th so after tonight, I won't be able to work on my me-do list much until after the 20th.  By then, by body should be ready and able to hit my me-do list pretty hard.

Got to get with Julie and see if a girls weekend at the ranch is still possible for April 2nd, when the Zonta club has their Trash and Treasure Friday and Saturday.  I can't make Friday as there is no way to take off from work early but I can be there early Saturday.  Hopefully it will be a good garage sale weekend.

Got to get busy on that insulation so I can go clean the offices and then start working.  Gene is back tomorrow and there is lots of work to do.

I played hookey

I didn't go to church.  Instead, I worked around the house and yard a little more.  It feels so good to get some little tasks completed, however, one completed task always seems to lead to another I spot that needs doing.  That's life though, isn't it???!!!!

It is almost 3:30 pm and I have decided to stop and rest.  Meanwhile, I have refreshed the paint on the purple bed, painted the posts that the birdfeeders hang on, got the headboard in place, got more yard art painted, fixed a really good lunch and.......  I know there is more. Oh yeah, hung one birdhouse, hung a rack by the back door to hang who knows what on and....

My storage room is in chaos while I look for various things to use in completing tasks on my me-do list.  I have to work next weekend so the storage room will have to wait a couple of weekends.

Going to go shower and then kick up my heels.

A productive Saturday

No garage sales for me, I hit the outside and got so many little things done.  I am still limited on strenous activity but it is amazing how many easy, breezy things I could tackle.

I bought a springy bug at a garage sale in Fredericksburg.  It was a somewhat rusty black color.  He is now a shiny black with a pink antenna.  I painted 2 feet apple green, 2 feet grape and 2 feet mango.  He is definitely much more eyecatching.

I repaired my broken ornamental windmill although if solder won't hold, not sure the wire will either.  Now to buy paint and refresh it's color.

Mom painted one of her birdhouses after getting it repaired.  She painted 2 of the metal trellis in her potted plants.

The zinnia seeds are in the ground.

We hung  some metal trellis pieces on the swing legs for the plant next to it to climb on.

Made a decision of where to put the foot board to a bed I got for $1 at a garage sale last year.  Now to get it in the ground.  Decided to get 3 birdhouses to decorate it.  Mom found a ladybug birdhouse, a bumblebee birdhouse and a redbird portly birdhouse.  Hope she orders them soon.

Hung the butterfly coat rack outside on the storage room.  Great place to hang outside hats.

Had gotten a metal outline of a pig (garage sale again).  It is almost 3 feet tall.  I gave it a fresh coat of black paint and then painted the hooves, eye, nose and ears pink.  Hung him on the back wall of the house.  Now if I could just find a rooster or hen or both.

Refreshed the paint on the metal rocking chair on the front porch and recovered the seat.  Recovered the seat on the bench and my swing has new padding and covers.  I had enough left out of an old quilt I used last year to re-do these front porch items.  Will have to keep an eye out for fresh foam and another quilt to use next year.

I got rid of the table and chairs on my deck.  There were so pretty but the weather did a number on them over the winter.  My friend Lynn is having a garage sale  and fish fry for Relay for Life.  I have been donating to help her out.  Well, the table and chairs are now hers.  The table had been a freebie and the chairs were cheapies, so no big loss.  Will have to find some chairs, benches or perhaps a glider and maybe a coffee table for the deck.  Not sure yet but I know finding metal furniture at a garage sale is not easy.

I also did some inside work.  Got caught up on Davey's books and my own.  Did 2 loads of laundry although the ironing is still staring at me.  I still have one load left.

I had taken the sliding glass shower doors off my tub and ordered a pretty shower curtain.  Sent the shower curtain right back.  The picture made it look a pale green and pink.  Turns out, it was olive green and brown.  YUCK!!!   Placed an order for a different shower curtain.  Hoping this one works out.  Pictures can be deceiving.

I need to get some stuff done before I go to Davey's next weekend.  Lots of mending are piled next to the sewing machine and I really do need to start tackling all that flannel, getting it cut into squares and making quilts.  I am running out of room to store all that flannel.

Of course, I had to take breaks.  My boob still hurts and the more I move around, well, the more it hurts.

There is probably a thing or two I left off my list but praisin Jesus I could do it.

?????????

Yesterday, Julie, my mom and I ran to Fredericksburg.  Coming back, we stopped at Rhonda's to see her new house.  Rhonda was so joyous, showing us her new digs, pictures of her kids and their families.  We oohed and aahed and if you know Rhonda, we laughed.  She spoke of her trust in the Lord and the peace she has.

Last night, Rhonda's daughter took her life.  She is the second friend of mine in the last 3 years to lose a child to suicide.  Kirk left behind a wife and 4 children.  Heather left behind a husband and 14 year old son.  Both left parents behind with unanswered questions.

Joyce Meyer said the "Faith is having unanswered questions!". 

There is a group of us ladies who used to meet at my office, Rhonda, Pat, Julie, Candi, and I.  There were others but we were the ones that seemed to be the core group, true sisters in Christ. 

Rhonda and Pat now belong to a group in which no one chooses to be a member.

My heart hurts for my precious sister.  There are no words.....

Good news!

I got some of my biopsy results back.  There are no signs of cancer.  They also sent some of what they removed for a skin biopsy.  Those results are not back yet and the doctor is not sure when they will be back.

The surgeon still has no idea what is going on with my breast.  Unless the skin biopsy reveals something needing immediate attention, I will not see him again for 6 months.  He wants to see if I am still having broken capillaries, etc. When I commented about the amount of swelling etc this time (my 6th biopsy), he said that they removed a lot of "stuff", that it was like having major surgery on my breast. 

He extended how long I must leave the surgical tape on my breast as it is still swollen but at least down considerably and he also extended my time of not doing anything strenous so now I can't get Roo until sometime in March  : (

Since the surgery, my sleep is so out of whack.  I am up every 2 hours and can rarely sleep past 3:30 am. Waiting for this to pass.

My friend Lynn is having a garage sale for Relay for Life in March.  She has been a great "dumping ground" as I continue to rid my home of "stuff".  You would think I would have nothing left.  Amazing how much "little stuff" I have collected over the years. 

A hot shower is calling my name!  Want to get to Walmart to get a few things before work.

Random nothingness!

Been awake since 2:30AM. Finally decided I was not going back to sleep so thought I would catch up on emails, blogging, etc.

LOVING the warmer weather!!!!!  : )


Update on the bamboo - got a portion of the back fence cleared of dead bamboo but got a long way to go.  The cold weather and surgery has kept me inside.

Miss my Roo but still have 2 weeks before the doctor will release me for strenuous activity and Roo IS strenuous activity.  Haven't had time with him since before Thanksgiving.  : (

Wish my son would call and ask if I am dead or alive.

Am disappointed in how little BCBS pays for all the medical procedures but am grateful I have less to pay than I would without it.  With what it cost for the biopsy and colonoscopy, I could have put wood floors in my house!!!  What is a few more years with the yucky carpet and crumbling peel and stick tile anyway!

Will find out biopsy results tomorrow.

My boob is almost down to normal size.

My tax info to the CPA - check
Davey's tax info - both business and personal to CPA - check
Gene's tax info to CPA - check
Do you hear my sigh of relief???

House dusted.

Accomplished 3 small tasks on my me-do list.  God, I need a honey so I can turn it into a honey-do list.

Recommended read:  The Debt by Angela Hunt

Now reading:  The Day I was Crucified as Told by Jesus the Christ by Gene Edwards

Been looking for a way to make income while being at home, part-time of course.  Hasn't happened yet but not giving up hope. 

Am praying about buying my neighbor's one bedroom house should it become available.  She has mentioned selling it and moving closer to her daughters.  With no money to put down, not sure that I will be able to do it but will trust God that if He wants me to have it, the financing will be available.  Should my sister ever take mom her 6 months of the year, I can move into the small house and rent out my house for almost enough to make the mortgage payments on both places.  First order of business, get rid of all that bamboo!!!  It is all in God's hands.

Even though my desk is too big to close the closet doors, at least having most of it in the closet opens up floor space.  Sure like my room better.

Have way toooo much stuff for my office closet but since I am not sure where God is leading me, do not want to get rid of the folders, etc I have used in womens ministry.

I have too much stuff to fit into just one junk drawer!!!

Miss spending time with friends.

Need to send out my Wednesday prayer list so guess I'd better sign off.

Good news!!!

My neighbors boyfriend past away a few months ago (not the good news).  Floyed is the one that planted all that bamboo that invades my yard. 

Last night, I went over to Cleo's and told her I was going to remove the bamboo that is crunching down my fence.  She told me that I was welcome to kill the bamboo along the fence line.  The negative is that when people drive by her house, they will be able to see my backyard.  Will have to see what native plants can go there once the bamboo is gone, which could take a couple of years.

Be watching for the upcoming report of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the bamboo edition.

Office in the closet

I decided to move my office from behind my bed to the closet in order to free up about 18" of floor space in the bedroom.  The closet is too shallow for my desk, etc to fit so the closet doors must say open.  Doesn't matter, they stay open all the time anyway as the closet holds my office supplies, tax documents, extra picture frames, photo albums, etc.

The closet needed painting so I decided to use a light purple.  It was a gallon of oops paint I bought about a week ago.  Got the closet painted and proceeded to wait for it to dry.  The paint dried to a dark purple, no where near the color on the brush or on the outside of the paint lid.  You would have thought that when Home Depot painted a blotch on the lid to show the color, that it would have darkened like my walls.

I will make do wth a dark closet office as I am too tired and lazy to repaint it another color. 

There was quite a bit of stuff stored in this closet so, in order to accomplish my goal of having more space in the bedroom by putting the office in the closet, I need to make decisions on what to keep and what to throw away.  I will work on it this week so that by next weekend, perhaps I can further rearrange my office area, giving me more bedroom space.

In the closet, I had a bookshelf with office supplies on it, a 2 drawer file cabinet, a set of 3 plastic drawers on rollers and 2 sets of stacking drawers.  The drawers are way more than junk drawers.  No telling what "treasures" I will find while sorting through all this stuff.

Well, my light office space didn't turn out like I envisioned but there is more floor space in the bedroom and that is what is most important for now.

40 day spending fast

I just finished reading an article about a lady who decided to go on a 40 day spending fast from everything except basic necessities.  At the end of 40 days, she had saved $2,000.  She found that instead of buying gifts, she made gifts from things laying about her house.  Instead of buying a book she needed for her book club, she checked it out at the library.  She fasted from her "paper-cup" habit.  When hosting a holiday party, she made it pot-luck, emailed invitations to save postage, etc.  As she put it, "finding no-cash options became a game; though it took some work, it was fun and rewarding"

How much would I save if I went on a 40 day fast????  I can fit Dr. Pepper into my grocery budget and count it as a basic necessity, right???   And how about a 40 day fast from garage sales???  Now that is scary! 

Still, I wonder how if I could do it??  Could I follow through?  After all, my many attempts to quit Dr. Pepper have failed.  I could fall back on the Fruit of the Spirit, that good ole SELF CONTROL. When my health depended on it, I quit Dr. Pepper for 10 years.  Before I moved into this house, I budgeted $20/month for frivolous spending, such a eating out, books, garage sales and rarely spent it all.

God has been speaking quite loudly and abundantly to me about simplifying my life.  Perhaps He is showing me another part of the process. 

Well, at least I will have something to ponder over the weekend!