Sunday Smiles

My heart eluded me.
A mule wondering in a frenzy.
Tilling the soil so that the labor might end.
when the soft hand came and whispered.

Sitting on the floor with my dogs
I whispered.
To center I remembered them, their hearts.
Hearts made frenzied wondering about the safety.

Whispered I .
My hand came soft.
Tilling the soil, that their labor might end.
No longer a mule in a frenzy

My heart had eluded me.

Photo Hunt

What is your dream (goal) for the next year?

As a regular reader I know you could guess it. To be in our next place debt free, with a financial plan. Looking forward to the travels and activities that include much recreation that involves historical and educational opportunities for the family. Also to be taking much better care of myself. Doing a some service work to help those who are in need. I would love to use my skills to grow community. I think it would be the coolest thing to involve the kids in humanitarian efforts. I love the idea to refresh their lives from all the consumerism and greed. I want them to know the joy of helping others. The decorating and establishing of our next place can be fun too.

visit "Island Life" to have more fun

Thursday Thirteen

1. Lunches
School purchased today, I just gave myself a break this morning.
2. Breakfast cookies

3. Dog food (in the trunk) saved $5.
4. Doves room, friend may come to help

This is my Friend Julie. She and I rest together as we work. We are both at such ease with each other. She is amazing me with her kind generosity. It has so warmed my heart. Even just the presence of a friend in these full days gives me a rest. She reminds me of my goal and keeps my focus sound. She also supports our goal. She does not feel sorry for me , but she rejoices with me. She came. We are there for each other as well for our time together is a mutual edification. She speaks of how so many years ago many sisters in Christ came when she had an infant to move her within two weeks (her husband had been transfered). She had not thought about it in a long time. You see we comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted. So every good deed we do passes on. Pay it forward. Be random in your kindness and it may just change the world.

We made a good dent in it. I spackled the lower half and will get the matching paint to paint it. I'll protect the paper and just re-do the green.

5. Laundry...Laundry...Laundry!

6. Interview the Realtor at 4:15
7. LOST is on tonight! Me time!
8. Roast is thawing
9. Fold Laundry

10. Make supper

I still need to do the root vegetables.

11. Wash all door frames

Julie scrubbed the door frames for Dove and Dash room, the bath room as well.
What a sweet heart. My hands were so painful today and she did what was to hard for me to do.

12. Wash windows
13. scrub both bathrooms

It is a good thing this list is limited to 13!

Thankful Thursday

As I stood on the train that I had boarded The Conductor said..." Donetta this is your stop"
I opened my eyes to the day.

Waking like this tells me my day will be an adventure.

That this is my stop my destination for His purpose.

I heard cabinets closing in the kitchen and the dog food being stirred.
Upon entering the kitchen I found Dash standing above a very enthusiastic Willy (The Chocolate Lab) chomping down his breakfast. Dash had sat in the pantry and dished up the remnant's of the last of the kibble.

Dog food...I am almost out. Then I recalled that yesterday I got a coupon for 15% off. Provision. :)
My Beloved is out of Breakfast cookies and the butter was thawed and in the mixer (Vanilla Spin). She awaited my work for her.
I serve her she, she serves us. Cookie dough on the counter before 7 A.m. My husband will not go hungry tomorrow morning.
Children playing and getting to say good bye to their daddy before he left. The satisfaction of the day began. The knowledge of the porch being clean and the crew coming next week for the yard. Leaves me a little relieved that I just have to clean up the dung. :)
My daughter turned OFF the TV and they just ran off to play together in their room.
Happy to be with each other.
My warm cup of tea soothing a sore joint in my left hand. The heat was healing me as the tea sent its refreshing energy into my veins. Not yet 7:30 my kids fed and dressed playing and I here at my keyboard playing too:)
My adventure begins.
Began it with an invitation from the "Conductor"
This is my stop, my day my privileged life.

Got a big job done

After I dropped the kids at school I worked on the yard.
I got this porch done late in the morning.

This looks so much better! I used the blower that my in-laws gave us.
I blew it straight down and stirred the rock then I blew it to the driveway.
I have a full drash bin and then the trash can is full too.

The tree came to life! In answer to my prayers and petitions, a lot of water and loving kindness it came back! The big tree was acting as if it was dying off in heart. It came back!

While the gardeners were across the street.
I trimmed this bush so that the stone was hiding.
"Por favor" for a favor they let me toss the trimming into the heap in their trailer.

I began to be quiet! Even though the gardeners across the street had a lot of noise I still found the center.
I remembered how much joy there is for me in the garden. I loved the live of each plant I trimmed. Oh! it was so peaceful!

This East side took a lot of hard back bending but all the weeds are gone. I have several sunflowers up in different stages.

I lovingly groomed this little (gift from God) tree.
It is a baby of the neighbors. As I was trimming it a hummingbird came to visit me. It stayed with me a few moments and then gathered some White fuzz from the seed pods off the little tree next to me. Them It and it's little white bundle were of.

As I sat and had a lunch rest, I heard myself call the name of the master of the gardeners. So I looked up at the truck that had just pulled up. It was him! So I spoke as I had saw myself do. He came over and looked at the yard. He even tested the sprinkler system. He said we really need to have it working for the sale. He offered to help me with it for very little charge. This fellow used to hire poor immigrants and I often used him just to get my big tree trimmed. Often offering them cool water. They are the invisible people in our neighborhood. They often act amazed to just be offered kindness. Once I gave a poor elderly man a necklace set I had made so he could send it back to Mexico for his wife. He was so moved to tears.
Now here this gardener is serving us, yes for a wage , but a VERY fair one and I know the work will be well done.
I hired the gardeners for next Wednesday to come and till the back lawn and mulch it, fertilize and throw the seed. The man who owns the gardening crew was very helpful and set up the back lawn for watering all week at 5 a.m.
So outside perked up tomorrow it is Doves room with a little help possibly from a friend who might come.
I look forward to gardening, to the quiet:)
Oh! my neighbor accross the street said I can put my dogs in her back yard while I am showing the house! That is such a big relief!

Wordless Wedensday

I know it is a wordless. I just have to say this...Two hours after I shampooed this rug,
our Golden Retriever took it as a "poo" rug! Oh!Yes she did!

Tackle It Tuesday

Well this will be a busy day.
I have a Little Boy's first field trip to attend to this morning at 8:45.
It is to go see a play of the "Velveteen Rabbit".
He is a bit out of sorts.

Once we got to the school I dropped them of and then when to park. I tended to the cafeteria fees, and paper work for volunteering.
I saw another mom that knows me from when I had knee therapy.
We then had a time of listening to the children's reading lessons.

They lined up with great response.

We made funny faces while waiting for the buses to all load.

He is so beautiful!

It was so fun.

Once at the high school we quickly unloaded.

We all entered into the auditorium.
And had a wonderful time.

I stayed for the lunch with Dash.
Then he left and Dove entered into the cafeteria.
I so enjoyed my time with the kids at lunch.

Then it is the Kitchen

Before

After
Time to go get the children.

I took the kids to go get Daddy Mans herb.
This has stopped his migraines.
I get several when I go so I do not have as many visits to the store. It is $7 a bottle and last around a month I think.

I took the kids to get and Icy and then I had them sit on a bench and purposefully we "people watched". Just to see what they could learn. 4 of 30 people smiled. It was a profitable lesson.
Doves room was undone today for I fell asleep on the sofa with the children watching educational TV. I slept until it was time to fix supper.
We all went for a nice walk around the block
I researched the Dave Ramsey web site and called a Realtor in our area..
We have set up to interview him on Thursday.

Packing up Doves room too. I had a wonderful time yesterday, a sweet friend came and we had a nice curried chicken salad together. Then we tackled the floor of Doves room.

It was so very helpful because it is hard for me to do the floor with all the bending and such.

Work, work, work.

I got a few boxes started of give away /yard sale .

The books are separated and boxed too.

I have the porch to wash off too later this (tomorrow)afternoon.
Yard work and Doves room too.

Resurection Day wrap up...

The Kids woke up ready for the baskets...however we with held them until Daddy Man was a wake to get to enjoy the pleasure of watching them open them.

We got to attend Worship Service! Wow that was so restful! We worked so hard Saturday so that the folks were able to come here in the evening. We painted and packed up in the living room so it would be nice.

It felt nice to put a dress on it was the first time in two months.
We have worked every waking moment trying to follow what we believe is right. It has been a long road but the house is painted and all but cleaning is done(and a few other things:)
By the end of this week we will hire a Realtor.

The Children were so cute all dressed up , but as soon as we got in the door all dress clothes were off before I could get the camera. I was bummed about that

They had so much fun with the window walkers.

These were the hit of the baskets!

Poor Dash his burst the first time he sat on it. I told him I would try to get another one, and to pray about it. Today he was given one in a goody bag from that party I did not attend with him. (they wanted me to just drop him off..For a sleep over! Strangers! I don't think so)

God opened the Iris on Easter Morning "just for me!"

They are huge!
Off to church ...ON TIME!
It was really a treat to go and worship.
It has been so long. I rested all day until the afternoon.

After church we went to attend the invitation to join a wonderfully kind and generous family, who included us in their celebration. There were 12 there I think and the children had a wonderful time (ours and theirs)

They have a trampoline that my children can not get enough of. The therapy they had to do for so long was bouncing. I was taught that it helps them with their central nervous system order. I hope to get one that is recessed into the ground in our next home.

Dash was just "head over heals"

It was hard to keep my son on this earth :)
They were playing something called a WII (we).
We had a great time. I came home gifted with a nice bowl of lemons.

After an half an hour at home and a mad dash to get the last of the task done (the ones I just could not leave). The Grand Parents arrived. They brought a wonderful fruit salad and we had soy yogurt for Dash and I and the others had cottage cheese. They gave the kids Easter baskets, but I had not yet come into the room so I did not get to capture it or even see it. My kids were awful! They acted up so bad that it was frustrating.

We did an embarrassing easter egg hunt in my filthy back yard. I was so appalled ,but I just can not have everything the way I like it. They were fussing and argumentative. TOO much sugar! They were probably pretty tired too. It was so crazy making. They seam to always act up bad with the Grand Parents ( I wish the folks could see them when they are normal). I just don't know what to do. It is like they are strangers and act really angry and such. Sorry folks I wish you could know them for who they really are.

They began to open their plunder on the dirty porch and they were ushered into the table where before I could stop it they were stuffing more of the crystal into their little vain

They were pretty out of control.

I was trying to find a puzzle to do and they were too pricey so we all played a game. I wanted so badly for the children to get to have a little one on one with the folks.

The folks seamed to really enjoy the time with them playing the game. Dove blew on the die for her Grandma and was thrilled to get the perfect count for her. It was very nice and just the right time so that the folks would not have to travel in the dark on the way home.
Off to bed for the little sleepy eyed freshly bathed babies who were asleep before their little heads hit the pillows.