Dirty Laundry

So I will try to cover this up with some cutesy pictures!! I am pretty real on my blog. I do not try to cover over my faults, though I do try not share all of them....a girl has to have some secrets! I deleted my last post. Too much "real" dirty laundry there. I am too raw, and though most comments were loving, there were a couple that stung too badly to risk leaving myself open to more. I am too weakened to stand in the fall of it all. (edit: If you are wondering if it was your comment, it was not...if you can ask yourself that then it was not you) I will say this....do not ask God to send a spirit of brokenness into your life if you are not really ready for it. Brokenness hurts, but it is necessary in order for God's glory to be complete in your life. Along with a spirit of brokenness comes the attack of the enemy. He is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour....I got bit badly.....mauled. Still, there is something in all of this from my Father. Something He wants me to see. I am to easily frustrated with my daughter's behaviors. Ok, enough of all that....I plan to spend much time in examination of myself.....deep reflection. I am afraid of this, and the fact that it scares me says it is necessary. Thank you for your prayers.

Let's talk happy stuff......Zach lost a tooth. That may not be a big thing, but he is 9!! Yes, NINE years old and still has all but 2 baby teeth....well 3 now. Those top 2 middle ones are loose, but not real loose. I told him to "work" on them and he could have 10 bucks each!!! Oh yeah...I want those puppies out of there. If they are not out by mid-August, I will have to PAY big bucks to get them pulled. That was the deadline from our dentist. They are turning dark, so they are not all the way alive.
Also, our garden is producing some grape tomatoes and wonderful bell peppers.Look how tall Zach is getting. I just noticed with this photo that his is able to rest his arm on the counter now.
Kyle is enjoying his part time work. He is working in the volunteer services department of the Center of Hope. Wednesday is his big day....he helps deliver Meals On Wheels to shut ins, and he cleans up a local park. When not doing actual volunteer services, he is working on his math skills. I love that guy!!! What a blessing to have him. Here is part of a conversation that went on here a while back:
Zach: How come Bud gets Kyle when you die?
Me: Well that has always been the plan. Why?
Zach: Cause I want him. He can live with me and my wife and kids.
Charlotte: No way! If Bud doesn't get him, I am the next oldest so I get him!
HeeHee....I love it!
Charlotte is keeping very busy this summer. She is a master on her roller blades. She is rarely in the house, but always outside with her friends playing. The social butterfly of the house. When she is inside, she chatters MUCH. Lots to share and much to say. She is spending her evenings reading. She found a series she LOVES....The Chronicles of Narnia. She has all 5 (or is it 6) books. I think she is on number 3.
Sassy-girl had a hay day yesterday. I went with my mom for the afternoon and while I was gone Sweetheart turned off the a/c (he paid the electric bill yesterday....wonder if that had anything to do with it lol) ALL the windows were open. Sass LOVES an open window. She ran from window to window not quite knowing exactly which one was the window. It really threw her for a loop when the dining room windows were opened.....she had never experienced those. Along with the open perch came lightly blowing window sheers....she LOVED that. Once the windows were closed for the night, she found herself at a loss.HEY!!! Get off of that table!!!!!

Once home from my time with mom....thank you mom for the BEST lunch I ever had....I ate the leftovers for dinner myself!....there was a box waiting for me. Remember back when there a was a giveaway for the Homestead Blessings DVD series??? I was wanting them so badly. I lost that giveaway, but I planned on asking for them for my birthday, and knew even then it was a long shot. Well, they were all sent to me by my sweet friend Amy.I had no words. The kindness was so overwhelming and I felt a little selfish. Amy....this is my prayer for you,

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

Along with the DVD's she sent me a Figgy Pudding dessert roll and a Fig Tree turnover. These are the BEST kinds of treats!! Moda had a brilliant idea in opening their bakery!
Thanks Amy, I love you and am praying for your family 's move.

I am planning a quiet and reflective weekend. Lots of hand quilting and solitude...(thanks Sweetheart!) Tomorrow our Pastor starts a 4 week series called "Broken". I KNOW! Can you believe it??? I am hoping to see the grandkids tomorrow for church. I am not sure if they are in town or not.
Praying you all have a blessed weekend!!!

Time Alone

My little kids have Vacation Bible School this week, so my mornings are free. Yesterday, Kyle went to work and Sweetheart took his mom for outpatient surgery (everything went well!! PTL), so I was home alone. I had planned this out for days....I scheduled my time over and over again, changing and rearranging things in my few hours of solitude, not wanting to waste a moment. When it came right down to it, I had no clue what to do. I did get some time with my Heavenly Father, uninterrupted. That was awesome!

I also got a drawer cleaned out.Do you have things in your utensil drawers that you have no clue what to do with? I don't even know what this is, or what it does, but I know it has a use. I can't get rid of it until I know I won't need it. Anyone know what it does?I did a couple loads of laundry...got some table runners switched around for something different.
I started picking up in the family room, and came across Zach's Nintendo DS.....I started playing Bejeweled Twist and before I knew it 45 minutes were GONE!!!! And I played the whole time standing at the counter in the kitchen! Will I ever learn to relax??
My mom stopped in just before the kids were due home, and we went to grab lunch and brought it back here and then sat out in the sunshine on the deck.
The kids came home, after the fastest 3 hours in history, with McDonald Happy Meals (thank you Miss Candy) and backpacks they had made.They went again today and Sweetheart and I had the house to ourselves. Tomorrow will be the same. Thursday and Friday, Kyle will be here too, which is still like being home alone, cause he does his own thing....like sleeping in. Mornings are peaceful this week, that's for sure!!
Zach's birthday on Sunday was fun!He is growing up too fast. My baby.
Speaking of babies, my sweet baby, Emerson showed Grandma how to pick your nose like a lady at the dinner table..... Now for, little Miss Sassy-Pants, who followed me all over yesterday morning....everywhere I went, she was there. Once the kids got home she took her nap. She has taken lots of flack for putting on weight recently. She figures if she stretches out just so, her sleekness will be more apparent.Hmmmmm. Wonder if that will work for me!!??

A Fun Kind Of Busy

It has been a busy couple of days here. Miss Sassafras has been keeping the fly population to a zero here in our home! She gets worn out easily and must rest often.....she is now an even 10.0 pounds. My mother says her head is too small for her body. I say she is fluffy and has lots of hair!

Thursday my mom and I took Zach birthday shopping and look what we found at WalMart..... A GRANDSON!!!

As we were leaving the store, there he was with his Mommy, Daddy, and sister. Of course he HAD to come home with us. I did not even know he was in town. It was a nice surprise! He is playing Zach's Nintendo DS and new game....a birthday gift from Grandma, Aunt Debbie, and Aunt Robin combined.

Friday it was Emerson's turn at Grandma's. TJ went to see Toy Story 3 with his parents, and Em stayed with Grandma. She loved my new rocking chairs. I got 2 for 10 bucks at a garage sale. Well, I tried, but my mom beat me to them and then gave them to me!!! They are like new and very comfy. I sit out on my porch in the mornings with my coffee and Bible. Quite the spot now!

Today we had more company. I looked outside and this is what I saw along my front curb....There were TEN boys, all playing football in the yard....Kyle and Zach are in there somewhere. The tallest and the shortest of the crowd!!! This is only a portion of them. The others are out of camera shot.I had my hand quilting group today, but all the ladies were either out of town or busy today. Instead I made Zach's birthday dinner for tomorrow.....he requested Homemade Lasagna.Funny, all my boys request a home cooked dinner and homemade birthday cake, but Charlotte and I both request dinner out and Charlotte always wants an ice cream cake. I made Zach a chocolate cake, and while mixing it up, I splattered batter all over!! It hit my automatic soap dispenser on the counter.This is IMPOSSIBLE to clean. Every time you try to clean it off soap comes pouring out. You can see the mess running down the front of it. It is driving me nuts!!! As I am typing this, it is coming to me that there is an on/off switch on the back!!! DUH!!!!!

I also worked in my binder this afternoon.

I made a new Master Schedule and included quilting time for myself. If I don't, these Christmas quilts will never get done! I am so anal about a schedule that if I don't have one, I accomplish very little. My kids thrive on a schedule also! Zach asked for his own copy! :pThe little kids also got new chore charts.Monday morning they both will start a week of VBS. Kyle will head to work and Sweetheart will be with his mom (say a prayer for her....she is having outpatient surgery). I WILL BE HOME ALONE FOR 3 HOURS!!!!!! I have planned and re-planned those few hours over and over again!

I was going to tell you all something else....oh yeah! Funny story. My mom got a facebook page. She is a riot, let me tell you! I put this pic on for her profile....she can change it to a more current one on her own. So....an old friend of hers left a comment on the picture something like this,

"You look nice in this picture. How old are you? lol"

My mom was a bit upset.....she said, "Why does she think I am 101????? AND she used L's and an O instead of the numbers!"

I tried so hard not to laugh. I explained what lol meant....she still does not quite get it! So if you are a friend of my mom's on facebook, don't lol her....she will think you are calling her old!!!!

Here's another funny.....

A Whole Lotta Nothin

Life is moving along here at my house. Summer has worn out it's welcome and I am ready for Fall.....Summer is NOT my favorite season. Better than Winter, but not above Fall and Spring.

I walked into this in my hallway.....A Lego guy hanging from a piece of rope. Thank goodness he was not hanging from his neck! He must have been on a rescue mission, and then forgotten.He hung perilously from the second floor.

I made the BEST salad the other day. Just your basic salad, but I threw in a can of drained mandarin oranges. Something about Mandarin oranges in a salad.....the BEST!

Sassy has the right idea.....Find a patch of sun and take a nap!!!! I love this picture of her because you can see the chocolate in her coloring. She always appears coal black in pictures, but she has much brown in her. She is never left to peace for long. Someone always has a kiss or a pat for her!She has learned that it is not necessary to even open an eye when this happens.I have been thinking alot about my Grandmother. I miss her so much.
She was always someone you expected to be there. She was taken so suddenly that there was no time to think about life without her. I learned a lesson in that. I do not take any ones life for granted anymore. Still, I miss her terribly. I would have spent more time with her.....*sigh*
I do spend time with my mom. Today is our day out. We missed it last week. We are going for breakfast and then taking Zach shopping for his birthday....a tradition with the little kids. Zach will be 9 on Sunday, but he knows that means he gets a Thursday with Grandma too! She will kill me for this pic, but I love it!! It shows the "kid" in her!
Finally, I will share the verse I am memorizing (again...thank you menopause!) this week:

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Isaiah 43:18-19

Is that a promise or what!!!!!!

This House Is Clean

I can't get that line from that icky movie out of my head!!! Since all those sick kiddos were spreading their germies around my house, it has not felt clean. I finally took care of that and I was SORE by the end of the first day! I did not do laundry (except for rugs) or any other daily chores....no, I did not even cook dinner. I ordered pizza! Most of my time was spent in the kitchen and at the desk near the kitchen.The frig got cleaned inside, outside, top and bottom! Lot's of decluttering on top of that frig. For some reason I tend to throw things up there. I normally clean off the top of my frig every other week. I am certain it had been 2 months, easy, since this was done. I have slacked on my home keeping quite a bit of late! All the cupboards got a quick (not a deep) straightening out and swiping down, but the outsides of all the kitchen cupboards, doors and drawers got a nice deep clean.Compared to most kitchens, mine seems to be in need of an update. I have no stainless steel appliances, no granite counter tops, no ceramic tile or wood floor, but I am content with what I have and as long as it is clean, I think it looks pretty good.It looks like an early 90's kitchen cause it is one!!! White appliances and counter tops, oak cabinets, and a linoleum floor. BUT.....it is very clean!!!!

The desk in the eating area was filled with clutter. I took all my cookbooks down and cleared off the desk top and it made a much nicer presentation.Awwwwww. Look at Sassy's baby picture!!!!Do you have a junk drawer? I have a couple, but I also have a junk cabinet. UGH!!! It collects EVERYTHING!! If someone is looking for a lost something, the answer is always the same...."Look above the desk." Here is the before picture.......UGH!!! The horror of it all!!!!!!

Here is the after shot........Ok, so ya wanna know what I found??? Remember last Christmas when I could not find our 1979 "First Christmas Together" ornament? I cried for days. It is in that polka dot bag!! Next Christmas when I am going crazy cause it is still missing, remind me where it is, will ya? Also, I found a little gift I bought for Emerson in Arthur last year!!! Many other treasures were found and the kids all crowded around with lots of "Hey! I was looking for that!" and "Ooooooo, I forgot all about that!"

Once the kitchen and desk area was done, I was toast! I did not want to do any more....still I pushed on and did the rugs and hardwood floor. Sassy watched from a chair all the while and when I wasn't looking she would sneak down and put her paw prints in my wet flooring.By the way, the Lavender Pine Sol worked wonders on my entire kitchen and my hard wood floors (It says it is safe for wood, and it is). Next I moved onto the family room. Charlotte organized the library books, which were a mess. She did a nice job. I dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned all the wall art and decorations. These sconces gave me fits! They are sharp and were full of dust!Ceiling fans and light fixtures also got a good cleaning. Kyle was here to bring in the ladder, which was good, because I was very sore and tired by this point. *sigh* It stinks to get old!So that is were I stopped yesterday. Today I started all over again in the front of the main floor. Along with laundry and my normal dailies, I did a deep clean on the "Old Lady Room", as Sweetheart calls it.It does look like it would be a room where an old lady would live.....hmmmmmm I think it is waiting for me!!!!

I also deep cleaned the dining room.The entryway had already been done yesterday except for the cabinet that is there. I wanted something different. I forgot to take a before pic, so I grabbed an older one to remind you what was there.That doesn't look bad at all, but along the way, more pictures and "stuff" got added and it looked very cluttered. Not to mention that birdhouse started "shedding" leaves and twigs. I decided to put it in storage and this is what I was left with....YUK!!! Look at this filth left behind!I cleaned it all up and took some pictures away, added a lamp and viola!!!Something different and not so cluttered.Now, I am DONE! Dinner is cooking and the laundry is just finishing up. Hand quilting is calling my name!!!!

This House Is Clean!