Wordless Wedensday

Good Morning!

Wow what a strange night.
I slept very little .
I found myself up throughout the night with full on board celebratory exuberant excited full of anticipation joy!
The idea of being debt free! Or much closer to it.
The idea of still even in a total life change ,a socio economic free fall into a lesser home a more humble neighborhood there is a freedom. I am so relieved the thought of the loss of stress over every dime and making ends meet every month. What freedom awaits me. It is funny really we worked our whole lives gaining more raising up in home ownership, accomplishing such luxury only to see the very great cost it takes to do so. Oh how much I have waisted!

When we lost our high end job 5 yrs ago we went down in wage 2/3's yet we have managed to stay and now to choose to let it go to have that free choice!
We do not have to leave because we could stay and live here scraping by and all.
We have a choice, many do not.
I am so relieved to think of the freedom to do things with and for our children and for others.
To once again have extra to share... I am so excited.
I know that all will unfold in HIS perfect timing.

Well Dash is wanting me to build Lego's gotta run.
What freedom there is in JOY!

This is an excerpt from a devotional that Short Bear sent me this morning...
Because joy is a deeply-rooted confidence that God is in control, it only stands to reason that the highest joy will come through the greatest pain. But that only happens when we choose the right attitude toward pain. Here it is!

James 1:2-3 Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (NLT)

When was the last time you threw a party to celebrate the trials and storms in your life? God’s ways are higher than our ways and most human reactions are in direct opposition to the paradoxical ways of God. Honestly, there are times when what He has asked me to do simply does not make sense – to me. And there we find the problem. Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic. At the heart of every storm is victory – waiting to be claimed!

What storm is raging in your life today? What step do you need to take in order to experience His strength for that storm? Your Father stands ready to meet you in your darkest hour. He longs to wrap His arms around you until the winds die down and the waves are stilled. Right now – surrender. Celebrate the storm that dashed your battered life on the shores of His unyielding love.

That was pretty rich.

Dash made a Lego Captain Under pants...

Captain Underpants by Dove

Young at Heart and Blessing Awards

Care O' Lynn over at "Talk to Grams" gave a hug and a smile today with this set of awards.
Thank you so much for these awards!
Here are the rules:
The blessing is as follows:The idea…it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for 3 blog friends. By participating in this endeavor we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to. If you receive a bloggin’ blessin’ please leave a comment on this thread here so that we can rejoice in just how many blessings have been sent around the world.

This is the Young at Heart award
I look forward to passing them on this evening after my days work.
Thank You Carolynn.

It is official!

We meet with the Realtor tomorrow!EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have so much to do to ready this place. My laundry is so undone and the dog poop needs to be scooped and , and and ....
Oh I am so excited I love that I am excited for this new adventure. Making it official today is a real help. I have had good referrals and went with a lady who is with Realty Executives. We used that group last time with good results. My sister referred me to a real go getter who sold and help purchase for her more than once. I spoke with the woman and she is full of positive news. With the rates so low were in a good market for a high end home to sell. This is so powerfully charges with energy I am trusting all will wash out beautifully. One step in front of the other. I must walk courageous in this new adventure. I want to be debt free too. This has never really seamed like "home" to me it always felt temporary. We lived in the other home 14 years that was a "home". I know that there is a place that is my "home" to raise the children and rest in around the corner. I know that it is now a time of full on diligence and hard work. Oh Man I am excited and ...and ...everything two times!

Tackle It Tuesday

Good Morning!

This is my first tackle after getting the other one to school.
This little fellow can not go to school today. Pink eye treatment and 24 hours off contact with others.

This has been the most difficult challenge, putting eye drops into the eyes of a child who is afraid and non compliant!
Nothing to relieve the fears, however he let me do it last night when daddy man was holding him he was such a grown up trooper...Not this mornig!

So He is now medicated and the emotions of this Mom worn...
Man that is hard to do eye drops when a kid is bent on you not doing it. At least he did respect me enough not to run away and refuse like yesterday. He just is really afraid of it.
I think it was harder on me :)

So It is Star Wars and Lego's this morning for Dash Hawk and school at mid day is he is up to it.
I am not sure if I will take him or not. He is doing much better his ear is already feeling much better too.

Tax time again!
In the bag is all the medical from last year! Can you imagine....
I need to dead file the former years properly
And to refile the safe with the necessities.

I need to file all of this big mess!
The dead filing must get done so the other can fit into the file drawers. This is so undone and embarrassing! What a mess! When you have two special needs kids the paperwork alone is a nightmare! I must get a handle on it.
Taxes also need preparation work. At least the medical is accomplished.

Good Evening!
Sorry for the side ways shot it would not rotate right. So Now it looks like this.
The file drawer is now 2008.
2007 is boxed and ready for the tax info to be removed,and itemized.
It is a lot closer to finished.

However my table still looks like this...All the tax stuff is in one box however .
The stuff for the safe is together ready to be organized.
Beloved is working overtime tonight so I might get a bite taken out of this too.

I did get my corner swept and dusted.
I have so many tasks to do I must get the sewing center packed up so I'll need to complete half done tasks that matter.
I packed up a bin of fabric, leaving out the Easter prints.
Karen W.
The eye drop trick worked great!
Thank you!

Happy Day!

Dash to the Doctor first thing thinking he had a ruptured ear drum....Rejoice with me! It was ear wax not blood that was seaping out the ear. It is infected but it did not rupture. Got the medications for the ear and for the eye infections. We had a nice movie together "Teribithia". What a sweet son I have. If I could just get him to keep his hands off everything. He is contagious and I don't wany it to get passed around.

Passing on the awards

I have in my heart to offer all of you such a kindness as I have received recently. For those of you here listed have swam upon my heart in the tides of this day. Rain drizzling life into my world. You are all a gift too me. May I offer you these awards as a token of gratitude...

"Gabi's World"

"Fruit in Season"

"An Island Life"

"Little red hearts from God"

"Scamps Place"

"Shorty Bear"

"Miles to go before I sleep"

"In the Life of a child"

"Three peas in a Pod"

"Just a Mom and that's more than enough"

"Laughing through the tears"

"Living and loving every minute of it"

"Just a Mom"

"yesu garden"

"Unlicensed Mommy"

"Life in the midst of writing"

"Photo Daughter of the King"

"Pieces from Me"

Beautiful rainy day!

Wow it is splendid here! We all spent a good hour or two out in the yard on this wet day! It is so fantastic to all be together in our yard playing/working in the rain. The children donned their slickers and played in the puddles while Mr Uncommon fixed our gutters . They were clogged and coming off the side of the roof. I went over to the side of the property to feed the birds to find the gutters on the east side being pulled off by the weight of the rain. In the desert you don't think to clean out the rain gutters there is so little to clear (mostly just accumulated dust).
The neighbor lady gave my hubby a new drill for screwing her gutters back up. He was very awkward about receiving it, but I told him that perhaps that "is" Gods provision. He would rather the invisible reward. Here we needed it the drill today. I helped him clean the dirt and leaves out and he fixed both sides of the house. He had screwed the west side tight last year to find they had worked themselves loose. So now they are good and secure. I weeded the front gravel while enjoying the children in the rain.
Dash has Pink Eye bummer so he will need to get some help tomorrow. Last time they told us that it is best to run its course. so I'll have him home next week.

Sunday Smiles

Last night Mr Uncommon came up to me and just held me. Tenderly he shared that while he was in the shower he was praying. He then said..."You are so beautiful!" and held me melting in his arms. The children sitting on the sofa behind me were jabbering and Mr Uncommon smiled at them with such relief in his face. His burden lifted in the thought of a move out from under this mortgage.

Then this fine morning Mr Uncommon came into the kitchen and greeted me with such a peaceful glee and tender delight, a sweet smile of relief upon his face. Girls I think I am going to be moving.

My Sweet Dove gave Rena (the golden retriever) some chicken broth on her kibbles. She has such a caring heart.
Dash came in again this morning to make his own eggs. Yesterday he all but made mine for me.

He is so capable and so proud of himself.

My beloved has an upper respitory infection and Dash has Pink eye. Oh Life!
You know it is a strange thing but I have always felt that this is a temporary home for us. I have really enjoyed this building I always felt like I was living in a resort house. I sorta feel excited too. There is so much to do. The market and all of that feels of little consequence for if indeed this is the path we are set upon I just know it is all well with my soul. I have seen so many wonders in my few years upon this earth. I think that it is going to be a real good thing. I have grown so wherry of listening too the anguish in Mr Uncommon s voice and the depression on his face. I really just look forward to being free of all of that. I want my Beloved back. He is an uncommon man. I know he is a man that loves God. Thats what I prayed for some 25+ years ago. Well we will be having too down size too. When I think of the labor and the sell out of property that feels a little overwhelming. I think it will be good to rent a storage shed. Funny how the very first thing the economy...well that does not seem to concern me near as much as the just getting ready to sell. Think of if little to no debt. Wow. we are older now 46 and 51 with children the age of our pears grand kids. We will be in such a better place for his retirement. This place is such a palace with so many amenities. I have been spoiled with all of it so long. I hope my flesh does not give me too big a fits :)

Bren here is my Color palate You asked for...

I love the blues and purples together or the yellow and greens.
The Kitchen has the burgundy, browns, yellow and greens.
Really all the colors are represented around the house.
The walls of the Main living room/dining room are the pale greens.
My kitchen walls are the dusty pale beige browns.

I hope that answers your questions. I am so excited about the pay it forwards. I need to finish my last one and get them mailed. I'll be here today if you would like to call.

Pounderings

My husband and I have been talking about and investigating different options we have for our lives together. What give and take is there for the considerations. We are reviewing our present financial and future Prognosis. So The big question before us is do we sell out this house and buy down maybe even buy way down and be free and clear of debt. Not just a little stressful, but at the same time sorta thrilling to think we could be able to do things with our children that our present mortgage prohibits us from. We long to be debt free and we researched all of the costs we have and have found no way to really cut cost much farther. We live at our means. So we just may sell the house. If we can find a house that we could move into and live comfortable down sizing property we just may do it. I trust that if it is Gods will for us it will all work out. Our last home sold in two weeks at tax time (unheard of). A man who spoke fluent Russian bought it and signed at the curb. He asked me if I spoke Russian and I told him we were hoping to return to Russia for a second child. So I know that if it is to happen that our lives are sheltered under the wing...
Refinancing is still a debt that lasts a long time. I think we are going to talk to a Realtor.
We prayed together tonight to try to understand His will for us . We just keep dancing around the same pole. As tired of this as my readers must get imagine how tired I am off it:)
We have had some benefit though we are getting a few things accomplished. Beloved did the master bedroom threshold. It has been a year and a month in the cue. Ya! its done. We will have a lot of down sizing and sorting to do. It is all a step by step job. Wonder what the future holds, not doubt it is the best thing for us. I sure have had a privilege to live in this house so long. I hope the next one will fit us well. It is a good thing I'm getting help for the stress in my neck....Ha!

My My awards galore :)

Thank you Denise for all the cuteness! How fun. You warm my heart with these and gave me a smile.

Aloha Friday

What do you like best about WHO you are?

Everyday Kindness

Jaye over at "just a Mom" sent me this... KINDNESS AWARD I give this to,,,,,
Donetta , now Donetta gives out so much sweet kind things on her blog.

Thank you very much Jaye I'll have long lists to pass this one on to. So many many of you have offered me kindness.

Thank God no disc involvement.
MRI on my neck is normal.
Thats what working too hard and being too stressed out did for me.
I strained it.

Thursday Thirteen *time out*

I took a time out this week. I did not do my meal plan menu, nor did I do a tackle on Tuesday. I set a side the Wordless Wednesday and just fled back to my youth for a "time out".
Thirteen things I discovered...

1. I really needed a break from meme's
2. I have been driving myself with the meme's instead of them just being prompts.
3. I had a nice day and got a lot accomplished in a very relaxed way.
4. I let meme's be my motivator (human doing verses human being) instead of following the goose ( Holy Spirit).
5. My numbers dropped and that was a challenge for me. I have aloud myself to be driven by the number of hits. I have been motivated by the number of hits to the blog.
6. I desire my compassion for others to be my motivator.
7. I want to have this blog compliment my life and not find my self hood in it.
8. There are several of you who genuinely love and care about me.
9. I do not have to perform or post exceptional post every day. It is too exhaustive to do tutorials every day. I need to slow down.
10. I can share my knowledge without exhausting myself. I can simply be me.
11. I was becoming addicted to blogging it was flooding my every thought.
12. Balance is beautiful. My focus became skewed, I want to share my experience strength and hope. My weaknesses are a part of that, I do not have to always be strong. Even if the numbers drop I can still be real.
13. Although I care about each of you, my readers, there are several of you who I have come to know and love personally. I care deeply about you all as individuals.

Sound Advice

Perfect devotional for me today, Thank you Denise.

Sound Advice

Read Exodus 16:1 through 18:27

Kathryn complains, “I feel like I’m always rushing around, always stressed. With family, work, church—my life is so busy! And I can’t seem to say ‘no!’” In some circles, stress has almost become a status symbol. However, there are times that it is necessary to “cut back” on one’s responsibilities to maintain health and peace of mind.

Moses once faced a similar problem. As God’s appointed leader, the newly-freed Israelites came to him to seek God’s will. Whenever they had a dispute, Moses would act as a judge to settle the issue. His father-in-law, Jethro, was concerned.

Moses father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:17–18).

Jethro offered some sound advice. He suggested a plan to appoint capable men to assist Moses in the work. The work load was evaluated, and distributed among responsible men. Moses was able to handle his responsibilities.

Challenge for Today: Feeling stressed out? Evaluate your work load and set priorities. If necessary, cut back!

Quicklook:Exodus 18:17–23

Yep this one must have been written just for me!

Thankful Thursday

The mountain air is pure and clear and I wish to my soul that I could always be there...but
There is a reason for living way down in the valley that only the mountain knows....

I have been in a valley for a while grieving I think. Coming to terms with the thing I last wrote about on my other blog. Sometimes in life messages run deeply as the river down in the valley. Some rivers run to the sea. It is my hope that soon this one will run into the sea. Lies forge deep cliffs and the edges are steep as a gorge cut through. Flushing out the lies and exposing them the river runs wild and awash with rapids. I know in my head that the events were not my fault by a lie runs as the rapids do, treacherously cutting and scaring the topography. I am cut deep.
It is in the great forge that I traverse many stones and sharp edges of time. Hiking through to the other side. Climbing steep ravines.
These hikes make one strong yet week in the knowledge that I must be week to gain HIS strength. It has been in my own strength that I stumbled upon the stones that are scattered across my daily path. Some stones need to be picked up and tossed aside and other to be stepped around and avoided. Having the wisdom to know the difference ...ahh it is the lesson of the valley. I am grateful and humbled by the valley. For it in itself gives cause to gaze up at the mountain.