Marriage Monday

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Joy...?
"Hun, He said...I don't know if I have ever really felt that joy that the Pastor spoke about."

I gave pause to thought...Then replied I that "Joy as I see it is a different sort of thing than most may expect it to be or think of it as. To me I have come to think of it and equate it more to the abundant fruits of strength"
The strength to endure to withstand and uphold a banner of purpose and character (with a "Dear God please help me!"). It is that exuberant thrill that comes after the storm of each trial. Beloved and I have had many a trial, many a challenge a test as it were. This most recent challenge to sell out the estate. To become debt free to be willing to let go. Only now being able, to more deeply regain and receive what possessions and luxuries
we do have. The opportunity to support the union by walking into the goal...counting all loss, but to see my husband free. Yet freedom comes in so many different ways. It is for freedom sake that I packed this home and opened it for weeks to strangers on end. It was for freedom sake that I was more than willing to receive a house that even the Realtor was stunned that I would consider.
I am my beloveds and he is mine. The banner we hold over each other is love.
It is that love that will empower me to work toward the debt free goal even though we are not selling out. It will be a long term goal that will take all the support I can give to my mate. He has a dream and a desire and it is one to travel. It is that we are one. That it is a dream I share with him. It is my hope to get employment in the fall. A thing I thought I would Never want to acquire. It is in all things working together to accomplish a goal. It will take me to a newer level of strength to learn more about selling and merchandising my jewelry.
The Joy , the joy is the strength that I am witness too. It was with great Joy (strength) that I packed and let go of this home with an open hand. It will be in joy that I return. Returning into this home will take great strength. Box after box and it will be a Joy (strength) of character to let go of those things that are of no purpose here anymore.
The Lord gives me strength.
It is the Joy of the Lord that is my strength. Being like Him (as I am able) strengthens me and the victory of exercising that strength bring floods of joy as a benefit to the prudent.

May we all find great Joy (God given STRENGTH) as we live our lives with character and dignity. Setting our eyes to the prize and not to the struggle. For if not for struggle we would all be weak saplings snapped in the storm.
Trees of righteousness firmly planted , strengthened as the wind blows our forms into twisted weathered beauty.
Above all... guarding our hearts that we not loose our gaze upon the greater prize of it all...

The Joy.

Sunflower Heart gets to come back home.

Good Morning!
You are my Sunflower video
Oh so Good!
Our contract with the Realtor is up on Monday. We have "come on home".
Please celebrate me home!
My Beloved, feeling poorly, poured his heart into mine yesterday.
Independence Day! Free from selling and moving out we have "come on home".
With so many wonderful lessons along the adventure.

To our delight we are re establishing our living room the way "WE" love it.
It felt so nice for our little family to watch movie night in the living room together. Well I left after supper to play (work) on my fabrics.:)
I just had to!

We used a chair on wheels to move the television into the living room. We still have the other half of the entertainment center to move.

I have gone from this week sewing here to ....

THIS!
Oh! Glory ! Oh Joy!

I watched a lot of u-tube videos and found some ideas for my new sewing room.
One of the many perks of packing the house up is now that we are unpacking I get to start all from scratch and create a wonderful studio.
I am so grateful to begin again.
I have a clean palate of a house .
We have all the walls freshly painted.
When we moved here it had rose pink carpet throughout.

This will be my new sewing station. We sold the sewing desk that was once here.
This has been used in Hubby's old office, Dash's room and now it will become my sewing desk.

This is the view of the cutting table storage from behind.
All of my supplies, well not ALL of them but box by box.
It is very hot out in the garage so we have to just do a little at a time.
I will be very choosy about what comes back into the house.
We will still be making great efforts to become debt free.
So I will be selling things as I sort out.

I have got to have color!
This is a beautiful fabric I got when a sewing store closed.
I will do the kid's bathroom in it.

I will create a flower, and earth theme I think.
I love the cute little insects.
Life! I love life all around me.
They will match the kids decor

So much JOY here to get to stay!
I was willing and took all measure to let go of my home and it has been given back to me.
I let go and God said learn, stay and continue to grow.
I will most likely get employment part time in the fall.
It will be a job caring for the elderly I think.
We will continue on our budget and financial plan. It will be a much slower process.

Thankful Thursday

Refreshed.
Knowing what I have need of.
Knowing my heart better than I.
Loving me beyound any measure.
Dressing me in HIS spender I see the reflection of myself in His eyes.
I weep with the truth of the beauty I see.
I am loved.

Spending the evening with my dear friend ,I remembered who I am.
I saw my artisic soul sitting there awaiting her turn.
I saw the thrill of color.
The color of the thrill.
Chickadee and sunflower shine.
She smiled with me my friend, laughed and cried.
Appalled by the lack of humanity we were human with and for each other.
Delighted and reshed.
Humbled and beloved.

A new day.
Today my hair has been cut for the first time in 30 years.
All of you close to me may think... 3 inches max.
For you have known me to hold on.
This adventure in letting go of my home and not having to loose what I have,
has caused me to let go of my hair with a remarkable ease.
I cut 8-9 inches off. Yep me...
I am beautiful.:)

The children are spontaneous.
Dove cut her hair today like Kit Kidridge in the movie.

Dash has a little boy cut too cute!

They are free
as am I.
I just did it!

Just like them... I decided too, and just did it!

Where have all the manners gone?

Hello!
Well I got 15 hours of sleep yesterday I passed out (well practically) at 5 p.m. and Mt U came in and gave me my medications and a bowl of cereal at 10 p.m. and I slept through until 5:30 a.m. where upon Dash woke me with..."Can we take the splint off now mom?" I removed it as per the ER doctor advice and put him in a warm bath , the sticky little soul. He has full range of motion and he is alright! Praise God and all of His merciful goodness.
My day started with the migraine that ended the day before , but I took a "big Guns" medication and slept 2 more hours on the sofa and felt able to take the kids to class. WOW what a ride.

My post title well...After a very full day (yes another one) of Basket ball , a play date at the mall (the new Lego store) waiting 30 minutes to just enter the store.I was driven (by my girlfriend) back to our community then I drove the kids home. I had the children clean up and after they built there little creations we tidied the house (thank God!)
So tonight I fixed a meal, washed up all the dishes as I went along (again thank God) at 8pm! Yes 8 PM
I get a phone call that they want to see the house at 9 AM Yes!
9 a.m!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh arg. rude RUDE rude!
So the house is now undergoing the final tidy so we can all go out and sit in the heat tomorrow morning while they come to see it.
They better buy it! :)
Their Realtor told mine, that they wanted to start early and avoid the heat. Ours is the first house they have on the list. I hope it gives a lasting positive impression.
Prayers please :)
So with a promise too my Beloved I will attempt to rest. I have only the floors tomorrow. I do not think it right to have my children here when the buyer come to view the house. Even though they say they do not mind... I do. I think it could be traumatic for the kids. So off to the neighbors. Well the house is pretty clean tonight except many loads of laundry due to the crazy week. Mr U said we can just put it in the back of the truck! Now why didn't I think of that? Works for me.
Ha!
I found a new surgeon for Dove
Dash's arm is alright
My head is better
Mr Uncommon is exhausted and so will help in the morning.
At least someone is looking at the house.
I really look forward to selling out and living more simply.

Lady Love Progresses

Today was a full day.
I picked up my neighbor and dropped the kids off at a good friends. I took this woman to her CT appointment. She was so frail and petite for a woman of 43. She is so scared that she is losing her life. Her blood pressure dropped 40 points upon standing when she was at her other appointment and it was already very low.
She and I stopped to get a little fast food when she was done for it was IV and she had fasted.
We spoke of God respecting the wills of others and the way it is
(how I believe)
that once we get out from under the will of others we can change our lives.
She felt she must have done something terribly wrong in her
"past life"
to deserve such health.
I shared my experience, strength and hope.
I told her that what was meant for our harm made us into people that can have a greater ability and perhaps capacity to have compassion on and for others.
We have walked in the shoes and understand more deeply.
Just throwing seed.
Please pray for her eternity.
We went to get the kids and Dash saw the cup and bemoaned the privileged of the fast food (I do not go often). She called her 15 yr old at home and we went and got him and took all of them to the fast food. She treated my kids to a kids meal.
Cool thing... the toy was for a movie "Water horse", but the meals came with some other toy. The children returned them with thanks and No thanks. The woman returned to our table where she tore apart the display and gave the children the very toy each one desired. Another good choice it goes well for you opportunity!
I was pleased that the kids turned down something they really did not want.
They are satiated.

We had a family movie night of a DVD series "the young Indiana Jones". We are taking a break form the "Walton's" while we await the 7th season purchase. We thought a change was in order.
Just before the show the phone rang We have 2 showings tomorrow!
We had all but given up.
So I cleaned a bit and have minor chores tomorrow.
Wow! It still could sell and we would be that closer to being debt free.
Moving???????in the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD's Will Be done.
I really do not want to have to enter the work force. I have waited so many years for these two kids. I really love being a school room mom. I attend all field trips and such. I would so miss that.
Everyone in to bed so I will close.
Good night.
Thank you for your prayers for my family and the sell of our home.
If we sell... the purchase of the next home as well.
Rejoice with us for we are in the palm of HIS hand.
No matter what the future brings.
To be debt free.....:)
Our hearts desire.

Dripping! It is hot!

before (the other day)

Dripping... and not from a pool:)
I swept the floor and cleaned up the mess.
I swept the door step and made it nice to enter.
I was able to get all the home school books and manipulative's together.
They are all on the shelf now. I can take the inventory and start to sell them lots of valuable books here.
I think I will do a little home schooling during the summer. Today I read them Psalm 3. I told them that I need to teach them because the do not want to attend the Sunday school classes they still need the lessons.
They sat attentively. It was cool.
We may go see a movie tomorrow but, All the ones we were looking at start Friday. I told them I might just take them to Mckotoos. It is an indoor play ground with tubes and such $$$.

The friends never called about going swimming today. I left a message with with the Mr. but the Mrs. was asleep, she never called back. Dove was real disappointed. I cleaned the attic and the garage up. Gotta go do more. I need to take them to get a gift for a child's' bday party. It is Saturday. Dove rallied she came to me and said that at least they have that to look forward to.

Half of our garage (the two bays) is/are full of our boxed belongings and additional furnishings.

I cleaned up the attic so there is an isle as well.
I was just dripping! It is around 110* up there.

Provision for everyones need

Tomorrow I have over 30 local Realtors from the office near us coming to tour our home. My Realtor set it up. I have to have it all ready for show. It is a long dusty road of trial and endurance this house selling. I do appreciate your prayers. Perhaps this will induce a sale.

Little Dove has a 9 am orthodontics appointment. She will need two teeth pulled out soon. I am sad to pull good teeth , but the option is her having head gear for two years every night. With her Sensory issues I think that would not work out. It is hard enough for any kid to have to sleep in head gear. Let alone a child like Dove. We had to have the surgery on her 2 years ago for that maverick tooth in the upper palate. It pushed the front center teeth out so far.

I'll put the dogs across the street. I think I will take the children to the movies to use the time in the cool of a theater. It will be 100 * and so I have to get creative.

Dove is better now as is Dash. Willy the Lab is now doing well again too. He has been very sick for two or three days . We think he ingested ant powder. He had a real mess two nights in a row at 3 a.m. Poor Beloved knelt to clean it all up. My knee disability came in handy those two night HA! That dog tried to run from himself and it was ALL over! Try to sell a house with dog all over! I have been giving him rice to eat. He is blowing me out of the house with his gas! Mercy!

I had another visit from M yesterday and Jewels was here and got to talk with her also while I was tending the children. M is so troubled. Her body is dying on her and her spirit is searching out. She brought me some supplements for the dogs and a few "swiffer" cloths to gather the dog hair. I need to tend to hemming the pants for her.
I dreamed of visiting someone in the hospital and them saying "why are you being so nice to me" and I answered "because that is just what you do" thats the right thing. Then in my dream I was then being admitted as the other patient. My helping the other patient made me forget I was being admitted. :) funny dream , but I think true to life. It is so good in deep trial to help others and to reach outside of myself. The suffering I have become intimate with is making me able to empathize with M on a very deep level that I think may be uncommon for her.

Well I got a house to clean and prep. Pants to hem. sleepy eyes to open ( or nap) I wish :).
Children to feed and dogs to give gas x to and throw balls for. Ha!
List to make and thoughts to think, Prayers to fellowship with my Pappa God. A kitchen to clean and a meal to plan and prepare for tonight. Cooking in the cool of the day I just reheat in the late afternoon.

Welcome all you new readers.

Your kind words were a loving embrace.

Grab the day by the tail and hold on.

Tackle It Tuesday

I was up at 6a.m. got the hubby lunch and breakfast (whole wheat toast with butter and a pealed navel orange in a recycled to go food box) for the road( it protects and the kids played until it was time to eat and then off to school. It is nice here in the early morning.
I cut up a nice big melon for the Ladies Bible Study social.
I drove around for a few moments looking at the houses we will be going to tonight. I made a pro/con list for each house. It is funny the things that are more important.
Then I went to the church and joined the others there.
We had a nice time and just after prayer time we were going to begin a study video.
I got a call on the cell phone.
I had to rush home clean up the house making all beds and sweeping floors and just overall detail so that the house could be shown.
I had all the lights on, the ceiling fans running and the incense was lit.The job got done 15 minutes after they were due...but They never came!
So I sat outside in 102* heat at the neighbors back yard with the dogs. For 30 minutes.
Then I came home and melted for two hours.
I turned all the lights off and shut down the shades and blinds.
I turn the house off at 1p.m. so that we save on utilities.
Tonight we go to look at 4 houses that are for sale.
Hay the house is clean...:)

I met the kids as they got off the bus with a snack and a cool drink.
My children are cooling off watching afternoon T.V. and resting.
It is so hot for kids here at school. This is a hard time of year for kids to play or be outside.
Dash has a tummy ache. He turned down a root beer and chip snack. I think he got overheated today.

The Dogs got over heated too.
They are both just balls of fur in a big heap on the cool floor.

Well...as I was finishing this post I heard a funny noise. It was Dash vomiting up his tummy full.
I could not get to him because the pool was blocking the way.
Becca grabbed towels as did I and I used them to walk on.
My sweet boy this is only the third time in his seven years of throwing up.

The washer in running on hot with the towels.
Well...now it is mopped and the walls are scrubbed...
He has a hard lesson he ate Pizza!
My allergic to MILK kid decided to eat PIZZA!
Well he heaved again and now has fallen asleep,
so I guess the evening of looking at properties will have to change course.
Poor kid.
Hard lesson to do what you know you should not do.
Ah... Motherhood:)

Calm at the summit.

Hello Friends, So long have I been away from blogging. It is a season of great change for me. The calm is here as we sit on the summit awaiting the cresting of this grand adventure.
Yesterday at the 11th hour I finished the taxes. It was the first time I even had opportunity to accomplish it and I was able to complete and mail them just 5 minutes before I was due to a luncheon for volunteers at the kids school.
I got to have a nice chicken and salad lunch and visit with the teachers of both of my children. That was yesterday.

My Sweet Little Dove was home sick today. I enjoyed her presence. She has stopped biting her nails! I am so very proud of her. It has long pierced my heart that I gave my child such a poor example. She now owns her own hands with pride. I acknowledged her success with a nice manicure and pedicure. She still struggles with the sensitivity issues but she did real well in allowing us this shared time of pleasure.
She is so growing up! look how big girl her hands and feet have become.
She will soon be 11!

I made croûtons, and breakfast cookies today. Then I placed a nice roast in the oven studded with garlic and slathered in BBQ sauce. It baked for many hours and was melt in your mouth tender. I served it with roasted root veggies that were sprinkled with olive oil and sea salt. YUM.

It was a pleasure to cook again.

It is time to find something to craft! I went out in the boxes and was able to find this project. I began to cut it out and just felt like I was home again.
See my "sewing room" in a tin.

We had our first showing yesterday (Tax day) the first day that the house was not perfectly set. I had an hour to rush around and stage it mopping floors and turning all the lights on. We (the kids, dogs and I went over to the neighbors to sit on her porch. My agent called today saying that it was not shown to a client by the other Realtor it was he and his wife them self who are interested in the house for them selves. She was told that they will be discussing it tonight and maybe making an offer!
The house has been on the market 8 days now.

Well I just though I would check in. I hope you are all doing well. I have very little quiet time with the TV here near my computer. The noise of it chases me out of the room.

Works for Me Wedensday,Gratitude.

Wow I have been working my hands fast and furious trying to get ready for the photographer.
The house is beautiful!
I am just stopping for a bite of lunch.
This is a beautiful day of low 70*'s all the windows are open and the birds are going strong.
My new medication is working wonders although yesterday I just had to rest. I have not rested very often in so long that my Beloved was glad to see me do it.
I'll take some pictures too, it is really shining around here. I'll work on the inside of the cupboards soon. My hands are chapped and I really need to get my hair trimmed. Soon I will just take some time out to manicure,pedicure and have my hair trimmed. I'll color it myself to save on the budget. It is so hard just to take the time out and do my hands and feet (I do them myself).
Wow if this place shows it aught to sell real well. I have settled into Gods timing.
I will keep doing all that I am responsible for and just watch it all unfold. Praying that the buyer resist temptations and well as all my loved ones and myself.
They are out there, and I am here. Peace fills me as excitement buzzes around me to keep to my duties and task. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to fill this role for the family. My talents will help us out.

Sunday Smiles

I had a nice week End. It was full!
With a yard sale on Saturday It began with a rush. At 12:30 a.m. I awoke thinking it was 4:30 and jumped out of bed and started the shower only to wake up the rest of the way shut it off and go back to sleep! That was weird! So when the sleep fell upon me I was then awaken by Dash around 1 a.m. , he had a bad dream and crawled in between us. We were both too tired to take him back to his bed. I then awoke at 5 a.m. and dressed and went to the store for lemon aide and a petty cash of change for the sale. Got back to see Mr U. setting up tables, and a yard sale "hawk" circling the sale she hurried to buy one of the drawers for her students.
I had so many teachers and church folks come it was cool to share with others who have hearts for children. Our favorite experience was a van full of special need adults came and they were in a van, well I gave this one girl a doll and she smiled! She cried out with glee MY BABY!!!
The children we there and saw this too. It was heard loudly as they pulled away...MY BABY" thank you for my baby! Oh it was just wonderful. Then a paster came and bought a crib we had for a church. We all but gave it to him. Several teachers of special needs kids came and got the school stuff. Mothers of children and so many clothing sales of the kids stuff. One woman was buying a figurine I had of a angle and two children. I was letting it go but still found it hard a bit. I told her I got that when I adopted my son. She said oh! I am just adopting a little girl and she will be ours this week. It felt so freeing inside and liberating to see how Gods hand worked in it. I was then easily able to let go of it.
We made 173.$ and many great memories. The children made $12-15 in lemon aide sales then paid me the split difference of the supplies. It was a wonderful lesson in sales. Dash was a real go getter, all but chasing down his customers. Dove was so excited and just giddy over every sale. It was the best part of the sale.

The sign is in.

The fellow who planted the sign was entertained by Dash. He shook his head as he finished and said" you have one very intelligent little boy there" . I agreed.

We have this bay back. I set the shelf and the table up with all the home school curriculum on it so I can do a Crags list later and try to recoup the costs. Bren I know I am trying to get to that point. :)

At the end of the sale I packed it all up and Mr U. loaded it and I took of to drop it off and he took off with the kids to the park. I met them at the park and the children found joy in climbing trees as we sat together on the grass and watched them.
Saturday movie night for Daddy Man and the kids me... I fell asleep on the sofa and then went to the bed at 7:30 p.m. and slept through tell 7 a.m. this morning RESTED!

Today I shampooed the master bath and we did a few things around the house. Tomorrow is the first day on the MLS.
We had a date at 11 a.m. our dear friend came and watched the children till 6 p.m. Wow time alone together. It was so nice. We went to lunch and then used the rest of the gift certificate buying BBQ sauce. We called the Realtor and met her at a house that I had showed the kids. It is vacant. Beloved and I toured the outside while we were waiting. She met us and he got to see the inside. I love that it is down the street from the elementary school. I has some needs but the landscaping is impressive. The house is doable. It is in foreclosure if we sell this quick we may stand a chance at it and for a low price too.
We then got a soft drink and drove around. We went to a mall. Walking together we realized it has been more then a year since we have even walked in a mall. It was peaceful together. I found out the diamond in the ring he found is not real. I still think it a wonderful gift from my Abba.
We then went to a riparian area and walked. We saw great blue herons, egrets and many stilts ducks and such. It was quiet! The bees and insects buzzed and you could hear them.
We came home after a long lovely walk and Jay and I visited as the children bathed. They had story time and are off to sleep.
I am feeling so SO much better the saritonin levels are back up and I feel like myself again. I am so grateful to have gotten the help.
Well now we have another marathon to do. Keep this place show ready. The children have 20+ days of school left and then It will get very interesting. Oh OH may it sell fast!

Tackle It Tuesday

My Master carpenter
Beloved fixed the door.

It is a mettle plate.

I painted it job done.

Remember the craft and Home school drawers.

Before

after
This space is finished now.
I got it packed yesterday.

Dash has a clean room

So easy to pick up with nothing thrown around:)

I finished Doves room staging as well. We still have a half wall behind the shelf to paint. I packed the shelf but we still need to move it to the garage.