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!