THERAPEUTIC TO WRITE

I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE PEEPS WHO GETS A FEED OFF OF WRITING.  I AM A LIST MAKER.  NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP ME TO MAKE LISTS, BUT IT ALSO HELPS ME TO PROCESS WHAT THE DAY WENT LIKE, THINGS I NEED TO DO AND RECORD THINGS PURCHASED.  Personal opinions expressed.

In this respect, it helps me as if it were therapy.  Much cheaper than paying a professional to listen to me then ask me, "So... where do you go from here?"  I have had this asked me after I wanted to know their personal opinion about a situation...where do you go from here?  Probably to my car getting in traffic still with much grief in my heart.  

Therapist are trained to allow the patient to bounce their thoughts off the therapist with no new data returning to the patient.  Many times the therapist does not give ideas or opinions as to how to cope with or deal with an issue.  Simply allows the patient to give the issues more thought processing it themselves.  Looking in the mirror can have the same results and it's cheaper than making a trip to the facility where a warm body is that will listen to you.

They will listen, schedule your next week's appointment and that will be $200.oo please and thank you.  I suppose with co v id, the ZOOM meetings were a hit.  Heaven forbid if you have poor reception losing the connection.  No service available.  That's still $200.oo, thank you.  

Sometimes that other person is a huge help just being there so no put downs on my part.  I have visited with ministers, marriage counselors, head shrinks, personal friends, etc. for a variety of reasons.  Making that pilgrimage to their office made it official that I was seeing someone that would listen and possibly help me navigate some of LIFE's curve balls that were thrown at me, but in reality it might have been less painful if they actually had thrown a ball at me hitting me in the head.  Take that and call me in the morning.

Writing has helped me for many reasons.   Prayer helps.  God is on call all hours of the night.  No appointment needed.  No waiting in line.  Arms wide open, He is there with a listening ear.

PAUSE.

This morning, my husband had a medical appointment in Manhattan.  We were expecting a large snow to blow in on Thursday.  Sigh.  We got up early and made our way to Manhattan.  The roads were horrible and visibility awful.  We left home early and I drove extremely slow.  Roads were slick.  

I'm not very flexible at times.  We made his appointment 50 minutes early.  Since I wanted to sit indoors and not stay in the car while he had his procedure, I had to have my temperature (97.3 degrees) taken and fill out a questionnaire.  As I sat there several more patients came in.  

One lady was carrying a box holding ink pens she had decorated with different colored roses.  She had made these to hand out to those that had helped her as she said they had been so helpful in her health journey.  As she walked over to sit down, she asked me if I'd like one.  I said, "YES!"  I chose a light pink rose.  They are beautiful and I told her so and thanked her.  This was a lovely gesture she has done on such a cold and wintery day.

Romona is her name.

I was concerned about our trip HOME.  We went the best way possible and made it safely HOME, ate lunch and now I can rest my weary mind.  Driving a distance in a snowy weather where visibility is difficult, wears me out.  I'm blessed to be HOME where I can take a nap and recover so the rest of the day is to where I can get some chores done.  

Writing is helping me to relax. 
Tis therapeutic.  

Here's to a really good rest of the day,

~d 

Habakkak 2: 2 

And the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, 

that he may run that readeth it.

 

THRIFTY TRIP OVER THE RIVER and ACROSS THE PRAIRIE

TRIP TO TOPEKA.  I stayed HOME and read while Hubby made a run to the BANK.  Then we took some towels to the COTTAGE to dry.  Traveled over the river and across the prairie to St. Marys for a ALMOND STEAMER.  They were out of almond milk so 2% had to do.  Still tasted delicious.  My once a week fix took place.  Off to TOPEKA.

Onward to GOD's STOREHOUSE when an antique bed caught my eye.  Have mercy only $45 for headboard, foot board and carpet rollers.  Solid WALNUT.  Thought this one would make a beautiful BENCH.  We can cut the footboard in to two pieces that would make up the sides with the headboard making the back.  A seat would have to be put into place.

Hum....should we spend the money on this?  Yes, we should.  We purchased it and decided that the larger car would be able to carry it HOME.  Made arrangements for GOD's STOREHOUSE to hold the headboard so we could drive HOME to get the bigger car.  

Went inside the store to look around when a very pretty also in good shape Coffee Service caught my eye.  With the Senior Discount this little set was only $ 11.20 plus tax!!!  Heavens, this is affordable and the inside of the pieces are so clean.  Gotta have this.  

Georgian Gadroon Community Coffee Server with Sugar and Creamer.  Good quality and heavier than I expected.  I know I have something here because of the weight.  After she is polished, she will really shine like fine silver.  I have a service tray that I will use with this.

Now, this is a really clean silver-plated thrift purchase.

On our way HOME, we stopped off at Natural Grocers.  Only needed some Cinnamon and English Cucumbers.  Over to SAMs for some nuts then drove HOME.

Oops...the antique Headboard will not fit in the trunk or back seat of the bigger car and Hubby doesn't want to try to haul the headboard on top of our good car.  What are we-a-gonna-do...what to do???  I talked my Husband into laying the headboard on top of the little car, tie it into place and drive back HOME at night extra slow with the flashers on.  So we returned to TOPEKA to try hauling our headboard HOME on top of our little car named PETE.

We did just that and took the headboard to the COTTAGE to store it until we can create a beautiful bench if we so go that direction.  At any rate...it is a solid walnut treasure for sure that we can enjoy. 

By the time we got HOME, I was tired.  The day was a good one with a lot of driving to do plus a thrift adventure to boot.  

Sometime on Wednesday, I will go through cardboard boxes in the junk room upstairs for a couple of hours and call it good before I box up China from my Grandma's Hutch and corner cabinet.

Hubby has plans to continue painting the Dining room.  Praying this project is quickly finished as the month is inching along toward SPRING. 

To the left of the chandelier is the earth tone color and to the right is the dark blue.  Time for a change.

Going from a dark navy blue to a earth tone.  With this pic you can see the two colors with the new chandy.  I like the new color.  

When we lived elsewhere, I had wanted a dark blue Dining room.  Since living here, we have had the dark blue for almost 4 and a half years.  I believe the neutral color will be more appealing to the general public, so away we go. 

My thoughts have been toward getting our HOME fixed up to sell in the near future and get the COTTAGE fixed up so we can return to living there.  If I could snap my fingers and make it all be done...I would.  Snap.  Snap.

Sometimes LIFE gets so busy I can't snap.  Thoughts have turned towards the invasion of UKRAINE by RUSSIA.  Lord help.  My prayer life will include this awful ordeal.  Lord, You are still on the throne and prayer changes things.  As a child of the most high God, I will pray knowing you are listening.  You are the one that I praise.    

~d    

Guy Penrod - Revelation Song (Live) [Official Video]

WE WERE SO YOUNG

 

                          YOUNG AND SKINNY...not to mention very, very, very poor.  College students.  Living off of $300 a month.  In love and enjoying the bliss of ignorance having no idea what marriage would be like.  Didn't care.  I was so enthralled with being a young married couple attending college studying ART.  Shortly after this picture was taken, I'd become pregnant.

About two months later to be exact.  Wham, I was pregnant.  How'd that happen?  Well, let's see...we were on our HONEYMOON and I mooned my honey.  We were so in love.  When I started getting flu-like symptoms, I thought I had the flu.  That's all.  After all, my Mom had trouble conceiving and so did my older sister.  Apparently, I would as well.  No need to be cautious about not getting pregnant.  Supposedly, I'd have difficulties conceiving as well.  My main focus at that time wasn't about making a baby.  It was about studying art and being young discovering how it is to be starting out as a young married couple mastering everyday living.  I was in no way a HOME MAKER.  Heck, I was barely a wife.  I was lost as lost could be when it came to being a mature married woman.

I was a free spirited woman.  God had other plans for this young married couple.  I did indeed get pregnant and boy was I sick with Morning Sickness.  Morning, noon and night.  I was so sick.  I wasn't aware that there was a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.

I was just reading up on this condition and it generally starts when about 9 weeks pregnant and pregnant with a girl.  Not me.  I started becoming ill shortly after conceiving and I was pregnant with a boy.  I would have been about two weeks pregnant when I became so ill I couldn't keep food down.  The nausea was horrendous.  

I had to stay home in bed, missing out on classes and part time work being employed at JC PENNEY.  The day I stared feeling ill, I had gone to work and became so sick.  I left work and drove home thinking I had the flu.  We were married on August 31, 1974 and I became ill starting November 4th.  I was pregnant with my first child and became ill on what would be my second child's birth day three years later.  

After being so sick for a few weeks, I made an appointment with a doctor that practiced medicine in Marion.  I thought it better to go to him instead of a Wichita doctor where I had only lived a few months.  I was like a fish out of water in Wichita as I grew up in Liberal.  I figured I would be better off going to a doctor in the same town as my Parents lived.  I went to see a Cuban doctor, Dr. Guerra.  I went to my appointment then went to my folk's home.  I received a phone call where Dr. Guerra personally talked to me saying, "Congratulations.  What do you want, a boy or a girl?"  I asked him, "What?"  He repeated, "What do you want a boy or a girl?"  

It didn't register at the moment that I was indeed pregnant.  After all how could I be when my mom and sister had a difficult time conceiving?  I was stunned.  From there, the rest is history.  I began to think that I am going to be someone's Mother.  I was fast forwarded into becoming a grown-up.  You might say I sobered up rather quickly after I realized I was pregnant and started planning on having a baby.  How were we going to do this?  Baby would need this, this, this, this, this and so forth.  After I held my baby in my arms for the first time and looked at him, I was a changed woman.  This gave me so much meaning, it surprised my free spirited self.  I was a bonafide grown up.  June 16th, 1975.      

I had gone to Dr. Guerra for a physical before I married.  He advised me to not go on the birth control pill as I had Rheumatic Fever as a 6 year old child and believed it best to not take this pill.  So I listened and had the delusional thought that if my mother and sister had trouble conceiving then I would as well.  After all it must run in the family, right?  Little did I think that I was an individual and just because a relative suffered something didn't mean I would as well.  I forgot that I could become pregnant when being sexually intimate with the opposite sex.  duh.  I was out to lunch when dealing with this adult subject matter.

How could I be so naive?  I just was and as life would have it, the older I got the more interested in God's ways I became.  I would be enlightened that there are so many human mindsets that are not convenient. 

I continue to learn as I go and if I had to live life over, I would have buckled down sooner embracing the things of God and drawing nigh to Him in all His ways.  I would have been sheltered in the Most High's shadow long before I finally did.  I would have been asking Him in prayer what He wanted me to do and was it alright to do such and such.  I would have been more concerned about what He wanted for me and not just what I thought I wanted for myself.

I'd learn the hard way, that it's hard to kick against the pricks.  Painful and hurtful to kick. 

KJV Acts 26:14  ...it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.    

  I definitely am not Paul of the Bible, but I know that when we are being rebellious and also a Christian, that when we go against the Lord, it will be hard.  

We had a Christian Wedding, but as a couple we did not seek the Lord first for His guidance.  We did not pray together, we did not worship God together, and we did not read the Bible...period.  We were not behaving or living as a Christian couple that loved the Lord.  We were actively in pursuit of doing our own thing and that was the best we could do at the time, so I thought.  As awkward as it was, our relationship to God was distant and not as fruitful as it should have been.  I was pregnant, this I would say was fruitful, but our marriage was tainted by worldly desires so we were bankrupt in many ways when we could have been so wealthy and satisfied by God's tender mercies and favor.

We chose the rocky road and it had pain in it.  As a young child, I loved the Lord.  I loved God, but I had a anemic relationship with Him as I grew into a young adult.  I didn't know Him the way that God desires.  That sweet and intimate relationship between child and daddy was vacant.  I was missing in action.  I was the one that stayed away from His glorious presence that blesses us.  I stayed away from reading God's word.  What I thought was important wasn't.  

As the years passed, I returned to wanting to know Him and His ways.  Having children assisted me in wanting to get to know God's ways better so I would raise my children in the admonition of the Lord.  Being married to who I was made me buckle to my knees falling on my face as a broken woman and cry out to God for help in every area of my life.  Our marriage was headed for divorce and I was not a well woman.  I was only a fragment of what I was suppose to be.  Our world fell apart.  My Husband turned to God to rebuild our marriage.  It was during this phase of our lives that we truly sought after God for healing and having a marriage that was biblically sound.  God became OUR God.  

As I was a stay at home wife and mother being a homemaker made me to lie down in green pastures leading me beside the still waters to restore my soul and led me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Just as Psalm 23 says... 

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

I am a child of God first before being a wife and momma.  I am a child of the most high God before being a HOME MAKER.  I am to seek His face, learn of His ways, embracing His counsel and grace.  I am to consider His guidance and protection. I am to know His word, the history, the love letter to His children, the poetry, His divine ways.  I am to know HIM to become a healthier me.  It is in loving God and embracing His ways that I can become a more loving person that understands the ways of God which will only enhance the life I am to live.  It will make me a better woman, wife and mother.  If I put Him first, He will help me love my family all the better.  I will be a better person for loving God and being baptized in His spirit.    

After living LIFE where I ignored God's word and rebelled against His ways, I decided that I wanted to be BLESSED instead of kicking against the pricks.  I want His blessings and protection.  I want to have peace and joy with joy unspeakable.  I want to be who He wants me to be.  I want to be a godly Wife and helpmeet.  I want to be a spirit filled woman that's a godly wife, Homemaker and godly mother.  I want God's mercy and grace,  I want to know Him the way He wants me to know Him.  Blessed be the name of the LORD.  This abundant LIFE He promises...I want it.  I need this.

Psalm 91 [1] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

I was so young once.  

I've learned quite a bit along the way 

and am still learning,

~d

THOUGH IT'S TUESDAY, SOON TO BE WEDNESDAY, I'M JOINING THE PARTY @
https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2022/03/happy-homemaker-monday-03072022.html

WEATHER: WINTER ADVISORY THAT RAIN AND SNOW ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: GLOOMY WEATHER.

RIGHT NOW I'M DOING: GETTING READY TO GO TO SLEEP.  LONG DAY.

THINKING AND PONDERING: ???

HOMEMAKING TIPS:  DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE YOUR HOME A HAVEN.

HOW I'M FEELING:  TIRED.

BREAKFAST PLATE:  HOT MATCHA GREEN TEA IN A CUP.

READING LIST:  DR. COLBERT'S BOOK ABOUT BEYOND KETO.

TV:  THE GILDED AGE.

MENU:  LOTS OF VEGGIES, SOME PROTEIN, A LITTLE FRUIT, SPRING WATER AND HOT MATCHA GREEN TEA.

FROM THE CAMERA:  GETTING READY TO BOX UP CHINA.

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE:  THE JUNK ROOM NEEDS ATTENTION.

TO DO LIST:  LAUNDRY, GO THROUGH BOXES, EAT BETTER.

PRAYER LIST:  HOME AND FAMILY.  RUSSIA INVASION OF UKRAINE.  

DEVOTIONAL:  PROVERBS 8 AND 9.

God is still on the throne and prayer changes things,

~d

Down On My Knees

MAKING NEW MEMORIES

YESTERDAY, I traveled to Marion along with my daughter and her tiny baby, Mister C to visit my Mom.

Mom knew her Granddaughter and Great Grandson were coming to have lunch with her, but I was a tag along that wasn't mentioned.  A surprise.  I knocked on her door around 9:20 in the morning and my dear Mom answered still in her pajamas.  Ha.  Surprise!

We had a nice visit and ate Lunch together.  I got to watch my Grandson a little.  Sweet moment turned into a sweet memory.  It was nice to see my Mother and hug her.  Also time traveling to and from Marion was a pleasant time with my Daughter.

Marion holds a lot of memories for me.  Many that I cherish.  One more was made on THURSDAY.

Thankful I was a tag along,

~d

 

THIS MORNING I woke early and made all kinds of plans for the day, but I have a case of the 'tireds'.  So I'll tweak my plans a tad.  I do still plan on walking on the trusty treadmill and afterwards I will sit in a comfortable chair and continue to shred papers.  

It is mind boggling to me how many pieces of paper I have yet to individually look at and decide to keep or pitch.  I am further along than I was and that's progress.  

I stayed up late and listened with earbuds to Christian music that I use to listen to.  It was very soothing to me to hear the words/lyrics and listen to the musical instruments.  Sooooothing.  Think I was awake until 2:30.  Perhaps this is why I have a case of the 'tireds' today...grins.

But as I sat in the dark listening, I was refreshed as I heard the music.  I played each song several times.  

Here Comes A Miracle by Ray Boltz
The Old Man Is Dead by Del Way

I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

Daystar and I Bowed Down On My Knees by Gaither Vocal Band

Daystar by Joseph Larson 

In Christ Alone by Michael English

I Exalt Thee, HOSANNA, and The Anointing by Jeff Fenholt

You Are God Alone by Philips, Craig and Dean

Praise The Lord by The Imperials

Revelation Song by Guy Penrod

IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I HELD A 'AT HOME CONCERT' JUST FOR ME.  Selah.

Sipping HOT MATCHA GREEN TEA.  I need to go easy on the amount that I do drink as it works too well at lowering my blood pressure.  Too well.  I've done some reading this morning concerning health issues.  Main interest right now is how to naturally lower cholesterol, high blood pressure, A1c and weight!  My plate is full.  

Yesterday, I did well on my food program.  In the evenings, I record what I ate and figure how many calories I had during the day.  I had a terrific day on the calories.  With my blood sugar being higher than I like, I'm eating less carbs.

According to Dr. DON Colbert, one needs to watch the carbs, starch and sugars.  I know he is telling the TRUTH.  I need to watch it.

I wasn't concerned about the carbs before...I need to be.  Pat myself on the back about the not eating the starchy foods.  One more thing to add to my WORK OUT of what and how I need to eat.

I have to admit that the fat around my waist and what is known as BELLY FAT has got to go.  I'm working on that.  Saying it's in the mail doesn't work for this issue.  One step in front of the other, spring water, praying, more vegetables, some fruit, less caffeine, less meat, more olive oil, super low intake of sugar, more healthy fats like avocados and olive oils, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans...avoid the icky chemicals and food additives also soy, do eat grass fed beef, soy-free eggs, organic and non-GMO foods, wild salmon twice a week.  

I learned that I need to eat wild Alaskan salmon NOT farmed-salmon as it has had food colorings added so the salmon looks pink.  What the fish are fed seriously affects them after we eat them.  Both types of fish are good sources of Omega-3 fats, but the farmed-salmon is not as healthy as the wild caught.  Yes, there's mercury in the wild caught, but eating the farmed is a worse choice for you.

NAP TIME.  I need to close my eyes for a few minutes before walking.  Hope I am successful.

God bless,
~d

FLASHBACK THURSDAY

REMEMBER WHEN...

THE OLDER I GET 
THE FASTER TIME FLIES and the years pass by.  

Each moment becomes a memory and this is one I love.  
Lil Miss was running.

If all I could do was run...i would.
God bless,
~d

 http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2014/05/if-all-i-could-do-is-run.html

IF I COULD DO BACK FLIPS.....

IF I COULD DO BACK FLIPS, I WOULD BE DOING THEM...as we are headed toward SPRING!  I am ever so glad that Spring (on the calendar) will be March 20th and when the actual weather is spring-like it's even better.  Hallelujah and a half.  Yesterday, the weather was springlike at 74 as Hubby and I went out to play for the day.

THE COUNT DOWN TO SPRING began as it was March 1st.  What am I going to do with this?  I have to return to being more restricted with my diet/food intake/food program as my weight plateaued once again.  I stepped on the scales.  I maintained, but have plateaued.  Another 50 pounds needs to come off of my frame.  Back to it and may God bless my endeavor.  Hubby took my blood sugar and it was extremely high.  That's not good at all.

I'll begin walking on the treadmill today as I have to get more physically active.  I have to and then I have to stay with it.  20 steps to Spring.  

TUESDAY...The day was fantastic.  We headed to St. Mary's for lunch and a steamer made with almond milk.  While we were in the small town of St. Marys, I wanted to go to FLORENCE ADAMS and 37 PINE, two fine stores that are favorites of mine.  

I knew 37 PINE sells Mrs. Meyers products as I wanted to get some HONEYSUCKLE Hand Soap and dish detergent.  They only had a refill bottle of a different scent, so I'd look for some in Topeka. 

Lunch was once again a Rachel Salad with a small side of Potato Salad.  The Rachel is made up of lettuce as the base and chunks of turkey on top with melted white cheese.  Usually with coleslaw.  This time I had potato salad so there was no coleslaw.  As we were checking out, the clerk gave us a SENIOR DISCOUNT.  The first time ever and we have been dining there for years.  Different clerk...different compassion.  

I had parked the car on a side street so we'd walk and get some exercise on the beautiful day.  Fresh air and sunshine makes for a good recipe for the day.  After we ate and shopped, we went onto GOD'S STOREHOUSE in Topeka.   The drive was pleasant and I was ready to look at the thrift items.  We purchased two violins in sad shape needing some work, but the price was right.  I believe the violins can be repaired and become usable.  When A violin is $6 minus a 20% discount, it was hard to pass this treasure up.  $4.80 plus tax.  Hubby wants to use it as a prop for a still life.  

I found an affordable small cloth wallet that will be used to hold my NEW telephone.  I wasn't excited about carrying the NEW phone loose in my handbag.  I'd like to keep the phone in good condition and not break or scratch this new fangled device that I am still learning how to operate.  I know myself well enough that when it comes to new phones, that I am a bit timid and do not want to venture out of my comfort zone with new things.  I'm ancient and stuck in my ways.  High tech devices are just that, high tech and I am not. 

There's an area in North Topeka that I have passed by quite a few times that I haven't shopped at and I wanted to go check this area out as they have a ALDI, WALMART, DILLONS GROCERY STORE and many eating spots and places of businesses.  I drove over there checking out WALMART first.  Parking the car was easy as they have a huge parking areas.  It was a huge store that was relatively clean and extremely organized.  I have to say it was a fun shopping adventure, but when we got into line to check out...there were only 2 human checkers.  The lines were extremely long.  The store has a multitude of check-outs and here they only had 2 open besides the self-check with the line even longer.  They had 1 self-check going.  One.  As we stood there another checker made an appearance and away we went.

My philosophy about the time of day to shop has been adjusted.  If one can, it's best to stayed stocked up on essentials.  Shopping by computer has gained popularity.  I still enjoy the journey of being able to handpick the fruits and vegetables in person.  Looking at items in a catalog doesn't satisfy actually handling the real McCoy before purchasing.  Life goes on.    

Onto the new ALDI.  Another very nice parking area with extra parking provided.  Another nice time shopping.  Purchased some organic foods like kale, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, strawberries, cheese, almond milk, organic milk and grass fed beef.  Saved on the butter that came from Ireland using grass fed cows.  Same thing with the checkers...only one checker.  Shortage.  Then to DILLONS.  I picked up organic beets, green beans, chard, radishes. Once again super nice shopping.  By the time we shopped, I was ready to drive HOME to rest for the evening.    

As we drove through St. Marys, I asked my Husband if he'd like to eat Mexican for Supper...of course he would.  It's his favorite.  I overdid the taco chips.  No worries on the salsa.  Chicken Enchiladas for me, rice and beans.  The downfall in this was...too many carbs for a diabetic me.  This will cause my blood sugar to rise too high.  I should have only ate 6 chips, half the beans and half the rice or skipped the rice altogether.  I did drink H2O.  No candy.  The tortilla wrap that was around the shredded chicken added to the carbs and I probably should have had red sauce instead of cheese on the enchiladas.  OK.  I get it.  I have to really watch it.  Not simply watch it enter my mouth, but watch it.  

He was a HAPPY CAMPER eating Mexican food.  We had a fine conversation and relaxed before driving HOME.  My dear, sweet Husband unloaded our spoils and I went to sit.  Since I'm the driver, he carries the groceries indoors putting the items away. 

TODAY, as I type, the French Doors are open allowing fresh air indoors and it's suppose to be in the 80s!  AWESOME.  80!  Tomorrow, if the weather is nice, I'll do laundry and hang the clothing outside to air dry.  A wonderful time to catch up on the laundry.  I like to hang blouses and shirts that come out of the washing machine onto hangers, then allow them to air dry.  Doing the laundry this way allows me to skip a step and when the laundry is dried, it's already on the hanger.  The hard part, is carrying the hangers up the stairs then hanging the clothing back into the closet.  I am lazy.

My count down has begun.  20 steps til Spring.  I will continue going through boxes in the JUNK ROOM.  My goal is to have gone through all of the cardboard boxes in the JUNK ROOM and have the room arranged to where our television will be moved into the room like it's an actual television room.  I have 18 days to accomplish this.  Can I do it?  I pray so.  Back to the grind.

The joy of coming across things I haven't seen in 5 years takes place.  

During the month of MARCH, I hope to have the yard raked and edged.  This will overflow into APRIL.  Making headway for SPRING.  

EASTER IS NEAR.  April 17th.  Praise the LORD, He is risen and at the right hand of FATHER GOD.  Praise the LORD for HIS LOVE and provision for us so we can enter into the throne room of GOD to visit with God.  With Christ as our Savior, we can unashamedly visit with Almighty God as we are now a child of the most high God that has been granted favor.  This is something money cannot buy.  A rightful relationship with HIM.  This is something that religion cannot give us.  No rituals are needed to pray as we go from being human to being born again through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God...we are filled with the Holy Ghost.  Spectacular.

We do not have to ask another if we can speak to Jesus or our Heavenly Father.  Jesus paid the price and it's not necessary to help Him out.  It is finished.  He did the work.  Nothing compares.

I may not be able to physically do back flips, 

but in the spirit I am.

~d

      

Bride's Parents Pass Away Before Her Wedding, But Their Legacy Lives On ...

In July 2021, my favorite cousin Denice and her Husband Ray were killed in a automobile wreck.  Their daughter would marry in December.  This film is about the newly weds.

I so miss my cousin.  

I pray that the newlyweds will be blessed,

~d

  

FINDING JOY IN THE MUNDANE

IN A LOT OF WAYS MY JUNK ROOM IS LIKE THIS OLD ATTIC FULL OF THINGS JUST WAITING FOR ATTENTION.  These illustrations have more order than my messes in the junk room.

I believe that there is light at the end of this tunnel and I will keep on task of getting organized and downsizing.  Oh, what a wonderful time that will be when I am in maintenance mode.

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE...I will REJOICE and be GLAD in it!!!

How can an old woman like myself find joy in the mundane of going through huge boxes of paperwork that have been sitting for over 5 years?  How can I go at this with enthusiasm knowing it will take hours of time going through all of it sorting through mixed up papers?

I had an epiphany of sorts the other day, when it registered and soaked in deep that we still had possession of all the letters, cards and receipts, etc. that the fire didn't destroy.  Some of the things do have smoke stains on the edges, but no odor due to all being ozoned.  

I had started yesterday sitting in the JUNK ROOM going through boxes and pictures for several hours.  Today, I woke early and started in again.  Letters, cards, photographs, certificates, newspaper clippings, school programs, children's artwork, my childhood artwork, hubby's sketches, obituaries, funeral programs,  knick knacks, etc.  I came across a small drawer that belongs to a Civil War Plantation Desk we have that I knew was in one of the boxes, just didn't know which one.  It was a YES MOMENT with great enthusiasm.  It is like long lost relatives finding each other after years of not knowing where each other were.  This baby drawer has been reunited with its mother.  This is a bit of an exaggeration, but it makes me happy to be able to say this that they are reunited.

I came across receipts from when we ordered our Ethan Allen furniture back in 2000.  I pitched fabric samples and pictures of furniture that were destroyed in the fire.  Items have been replaced and I have no need of this paperwork anymore.

I shook my head saying, "I think I kept everything."  I'm alright with keeping instruction manuals of appliances, old tax statements, achievement certificates, artwork, pictures, drawings, ribbons...this sort of thing.  I can get back to being organized once again.

Grouping things together for children and grandchildren will become a delight once again as I manage to give each child a yellow envelope to hold individual pictures, cards and invitations in them. YELLOW ENVELOPES are the way to go for keeping these items.  With my children, each child had a file box and I still have these.  I went through an accordion folder book with more papers for my husband, children and self.  The folder book had become too thick and had a smell to it.  I took the papers out and placed in a plastic basket then when time permits, I'll put in YELLOW ENVELOPES.

I came across newspaper articles that my Father.in.law had mailed us of various subject matters. I can't pitch these right now.  They will go into a labeled YELLOW ENVELOPE.  All the loose papers can find their way to a YELLOW ENVELOPE for keeping for the time being.  At least the things will be in some kind of order.

I can pat myself on the back for the amount of paper and old magazines I have pitched.  The garbage/trash bags are becoming OBESE.  This is a fantastic thing for someone like me that has KEPT almost way too much.  It's a lot of paper to handle.  I did go through two large boxes of old receipts.  After I finished looking at each paper receipt, it got easier to pitch the unimportant ones.  I think I handled hundreds of pieces of paper.  I did smile at some of the purchases.  We ate here and here, were blessed to purchase groceries here and here, shopped here and here, paid this medical bill here and here, etc.

I have never starved and truly have not done without necessities.  I may not have had the best quality of things, but I never really did without.  Some things had to be waited upon, but I never did completely without.  God has seen me through and my husband has been faithful in much.  I tried to be resourceful and efficient in much.  Still I can see where I could have done better and should have.  I know I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself, when I should have been rejoicing that I have been taken care of.  Praise the LORD and my hard working hubby.  

Once again, I went down MEMORY LANE as I looked at certificates that we were given through the years.  Old pictures that I thought had already been boxed up and put away....more were found.  What a treat this will be going through when I do another round of looking at pictures.  I know I need to give my kids more of their childhood pictures.  

More sleeving will be done for letters and drawings so I can put them in notebooks.  I'm not done, but I am further along than I was yesterday.  

I sat in the sunny room and worked pretty fast for 'ole me.  Some enthusiasm was back.  This is wonderful.  I'm not dragging my feet today.  I have cleared out quite a few cardboard boxes and have many more to do so the excitement may wane, but for now, I feel like my blood is pumping and I can work faster than I had been.    

It amazes me how quickly the week went by.  I stayed busy each day and I know this contributes to helping make the time fly.  I can hear some birds chirping outside with the Sunday temperature being about 52 degrees.  We should have pre-SPRING temps this week before another wave of chill makes its way this direction.  I'll do my best to soak up some rays of sunlight and breathe in FRESH AIR. 

How can I find JOY in the mundane?  It helps if I pray about my true feelings and allow the LORD to minister to my weariness.  He is faithful and a new boost of energy flows through me. It's with HIS HELP that I can get through this ordeal that I am going through.  It helps to have some JOY while doing this.  JOY.

I came across a personal letter that my cousin Denice wrote me quite a few years ago.  She had such beautiful handwriting.  She had sent me a book that I had forgotten about.  She died last July in a horrific automobile accident.  I did cry on this one find.  I miss her and it is partly why I have this urge to get organized that has caused me to get after this long put off task.  When I get in the car to go somewhere I am reminded that she and her husband were on a outing to go see their children when they were in this accident.  I'm not fully relaxed when driving.  

It is with HOPE and JOY that I can forge ahead to get organized and downsized.  It needed to be done long before today, but it is what it is and away I go making a memory about the time spent going through boxes up in the JUNK ROOM.  After I had been up there for a few hours, my hubby joined me and together we chatted about what we were finding.  This was special in itself.  

Finding JOY in the mundane becomes a uplifting time.  I need to get back to it as I have hours of more work to do on this day.  It helps to admit and allow myself time to do this knowing that it cannot be done all at once.  I can only do so much and I'm doing it.  

I'm moving my fingers, hands and arms.  Wiggling my toes and feet.  I can still see and think.  I can reach and stretch.  Turn my neck.  I'm breathing in and out as I sigh and laugh then cry while going down MEMORY LANE once again.  May the LORD fill me with JOY and I can recall oh so many good times that I have had as a child, a young adult, a woman, a wife, a daughter.in.law, a mom, mother.in.law, and a grandma, friend, daughter, sister, granddaughter, Aunt, sister.in.law, niece, cousin.  Many different hats I have worn and I hope to wear a few more before my time is over here on planet earth.  

This is the day that the LORD has made...I will rejoice and be glad in it.

~d  

Why I Eat 4 Eggs Daily and WHY YOU SHOULD TOO

ANOTHER DAY...

I have been somewhat overwhelmed by the messes about my property that I need to deal with, but this evening I gave THANKS to GOD that all the pictures, letters, cards, and receipts I have to go through putting into some kind of order are still in my possession and weren't destroyed by the house fire.  After our 2016 house fire, every ounce of order I had was undone.

For six months after the fire, we still didn't know what would return to us that was saved and cleaned by Service Master who was hired to handle our belongings.  I had no idea what we'd get back.  Today, we still are going through boxes.  It amazes me that 5 years has passed and we are still going through things and working at getting organized again.  I had forgotten that after the fire, we made a move and when the 650 boxes were returned to us, we had to put these boxes in storage.  When it came to moving into our present HOME, the upheaval moved with us.  

After so long of continual working on retrieving what we had, I couldn't continue to handle all the emotions attached to what we lost.  I had to take a very long break and I did.  I inch along making sense out of each box.  I am hopeful that I will see the day when this is completely behind me.  

Tonight, I thanked God that the boxes I am going through to make some sense out of, are still something I have ownership of.  Not everything was destroyed.  The pictures, letters, cards and receipts I have to sort through will be sorted through and I can decide what to do with these now.  SO it is with a lighter heart that I forge ahead and go head on into continued tidying.  I think I will be able to go faster with this task now.  Hallelujah.

A huge emotional hurdle has been jumped.

This past week is coming to a close as the week-end is here.  It's been a cold one with snow, wind and chilled to the bone weather.  Today, I ventured out and went to pay some bills in various communities, go thrifting and eat out.  Did quite a bit of driving as the roads were good to travel on. 

Before we left HOME, Hubby boxed up 5 small Christmas trees from our WINTER WONDERLAND and loaded them into the car as we would donate them to God's Storehouse along with a large box of things I had gathered to get out of the house.  We had Lunch at SugarCreek and a steamer from MJs.  A utility bill was paid, a mortgage payment made and a Natural Gas bill paid.  We donated the trees and box of goodies then did some shopping at God's Storehouse.

They were extremely busy and again I had no shopping cart until I had been in the store awhile.  I had to have one of their peanut butter cookies.  I found another 1930's Federal Glass Madrid Amber Dinner Plate for $4. 

 

Hubby lifted up a Churchill Company Blue Willow Chop Plate for $5 that is a fit for my present China.

A cute Cookie Jar caught my eye.  A Cracker Barrel Chicken Cookie Jar chirped for $5.  

AFTER we made our purchases, we sat in the car to check what these items sell for on the internet.  We did well.  

Onto Natural Grocers where I bought a darker shade of lipstick and blush.  Rounded up vegetables and fruit.  Off we went to eat supper.  By this time I was fading and needed to be Home.  

I'm hoping that I rest well tonight and tomorrow I will spend a full day going through boxes and making a dent in what needs done.  I pray that I make huge progress.  Hubby plans to continue to paint in the Dining room.

EARLIER in the week, I stayed busy shuffling cook books, going through old receipts and loose papers, sleeving old letters into sheet protectors.  THURSDAY was a pleasant day for me spending some time with my new Grandson.  He's a keeper.  I enjoyed our visit.

THIS WEEK-END I will return to eating more apples, veggies and avoiding sugar as best I can.  I have done horrible with eating too much sugar and chocolate.  I confess.  My episode where my blood pressure dropped so low, made me nervous.  I've settled down and can return to concentrating on a healthier way of nourishing my body. 

The world is full of chaos, isn't it?  For now, I can have a haven that I am thankful for.  Not all are as fortunate.   

ON A VERY SERIOUS NOTE:  What has happened with the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia?  On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest, marking the largest escalation of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014.  2014.

The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing war primarily involving Russia, Belarus, and pro-Russian forces on one side, and Ukraine on the other.  Armed conflict began in February 2014 in the wake of Euromaidan, centred on the status of Crimea and parts of the Donbas, which are internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

The start of the 2022 invasion began on February 23rd.  When this happened, I asked my Husband if it were a satanic holiday?  He checked and said, it was Russia's DEFENDER OF THE FATHERLAND DAY.  Putin gave a speech that the Ukraine has no right to exist. 

According to President Trump, Putin is a genius.  

God is still on the THRONE 
and prayer changes things.  Praying.  

  ~d~