My kitchen

SO.. I've been working on getting my kitchen painted for quite a while.. last few days I've finally had some energy and got it done.. still want to do a few things, but for now I am pleased with it. Lots of pink :)

The valance over the stove.

Looking straight in.

                                           My tea set up... with my bottle of vanilla for hot milk!

                                                       Mrs. Tea waits to serve you.

It was nice to finally get it done. Now to move onto another room.. one by one I want to get things cleaned up and cleaned out... so much stuff!

Always a Mom....

Something really bothering me lately.. all these changes with finances.. basically I have half what I had 3 months ago.. but MANY more bills... more every day. I am adjusting to doing with less.. I have heat.. food and shelter.. mostly I am content.. I love being home.. but what does upset me.. is not being able to help my children like I could before! Now.. they are grown and doing pretty well.. it is not something they make me feel guilty about or anything.. they have always been thankful when I could help out some.. when I needed help they were there for me too!

But I find myself resenting this situation.. one that was none of my doing.. or theirs.. because I am now limited to what I can do.. One has a car repair bill.. used to be I'd drop by and pay it.. one needs tires.. used to be I'd just go get it and get them... or fill the tank.. one of my delights was surprising them with gas!

So now I need to accept that it is a different time.. I can't do the things I did before financially.. but I can pray.. I can pray for God to bless them and provide all they need.. and maybe even  bit more for an occasional treat :) I can be here for them when they need me.. While I do pray every day for them, I am going to begin a special time that I pray for each ones needs specifically... and I'm going to write... so as I see what God is doing for them.. it will build my faith also.. and help me be content with where I am!

They know I am here for them.. anything I can do.. I'm thinking that is what matters.

Tea breaks...

I got quite a bit done today.. the dining room is looking good.. kitchen is ready to paint, but haven't felt like getting into that. Thinking I will work on tidying up more before jumping into a big project.. maybe living room tomorrow..

One thing I am doing.. is allowing myself tea breaks... not the grab a cup of tea and hope to drink it before it gets cold, but the fix a pot and use a pretty cup kind of tea... then I sat and read a little from a really nice book I got today. It is written by Mrs. Sharon White, titled For the Love of Christian Homemaking. It is almost a journal of sorts, Mrs. White would sit quietly in the morning before her household was up and about, and these are a collection of her writings during that time. You can visit her at "The Legacy of Home" blog.

htttp://the legacyofhome.blogspot.com/

Today I read...

"Sometimes one of the greatest secrets of joyful homemaking is knowing when to quit"

I tend to do nothing.. or overdo! I get so involved I exhaust myself and then am no good for the next few days. I need to work on pacing myself, so I can get the things done I want to. So today I made time to sit with tea and read.. 15 minutes was enough to refresh and give me energy to continue.

I wanted to put a picture of the teapot I used today bit for some reason I can't get it to work... maybe tomorrow. For now.. I think it's bedtime.. Buddy is waiting :)

Phone calls.. and my peace of mind...

I hate making phone calls... unfortunately, I have spent the better part of some days on the phone since Winston went in the nursing home.. I call.. leave a message.. they call.. leave a message.. when I actually get someone they say I'll check into it and call you back.. and don't. I can't get anything resolved or settled..

So this upsets me.. I get aggravated and annoyed.. and that solves nothing.. just makes me aggravated and annoyed! So I am trying to develop a better attitude about phone calls.. first.. I pray before making it.. if I don't get the person I am looking for.. I pray to just accept that it wasn't time to talk to them.. if I don't get the answer I want, (or need) then I pray for Gods answer.. and I pray for contentment as I wait on His reply...

I really need an attitude adjustment when it comes to being content... I am so happy to be home.. but am discontent with things.. not knowing what my situation will be day by day.. I am working on accepting this moment.. enjoying what time I have home, because I could be looking for a job tomorrow... one phone call with the wrong answer and this could all be over...

I don't know how I'll ever get caught up.. thousands in bills... but I have heat.. food.. and no one's taking the house.. I need to work on being content with what I have. Which is a real delight in being home again...

Stress? Got the solution....

Meet the best stress reducer ever....

Ignore the date :) I've had "Buddy" 3 weeks tomorrow.. I've wanted a puppy for  along time.. when I made the decision to leave work my girls started looking.. Sierra found this little guy and surprised me with him.. He is amazing... he just moved in like he has always been here.. sleeps with me... follows me around.. but here's the best part.. usually in bed is when my mind starts working overtime and I get worried and stressed.. Buddy will curl right up next to me and cuddle.. it is completely impossible to worry and stress while rubbing that tummy :) He is so loving!

Today I got a lot done.. cleaning out the kitchen so I could paint.. fussing around, washing sheets and cleaning out some notebooks of stuff I've printed out, sorting through stuff. Realized as I was texting with Myriah... I never got dressed! This is not a habit I want to develop! So tomorrow getting dressed will be first on my list :)

Started working on a homemaking notebook.. something I have started a few times, but never really had time to work out the details.. basically a notebook to keep track of things around here! I am a list person.. while I know things that need to be done, having it written in front of me helps me to actually do it. I have some big goals for getting this house cleaned up and decluttered... I also need to keep track of tons of paperwork for the nursing home, medicare, medicaid etc... so this notebook is going to help me keep track of my life!

I haven't had to count pennies for a while... I was working and he got SS... now it's only his SS and I have a pile of bills and I need to start budgeting and figuring out who is getting paid, how much and when! Aaron likes to eat now and then too... He's lived on frozen pizza and the occasional meal when I was off...  since I've been home these past few weeks I've been getting back into cooking for him. He's thrilled!

So my notebook will definately have a budget section! I'm going to work on it tomorrow and maybe post some pictures. There are so many good blogs I've been looking into all day for ideas.

I am so excited to be home again... so many things to do.

This is my absolute favorite hymn..

                             Just listening to it brings me a feeling of peace... should listen more!

Worrying my life away...

My daughter bought me a Jane Austen devotional. Each page has excerpts from one of her books, and a devotional take on it. The first page I opened to was on worry... something I do a lot of lately. It included the paragraph where Mr. Woodhouse is concerned about going out into a storm after a dinner party. Now.. that seems like a reasonable thing to worry about.. unless you know Mr. Woodhouse.. he even worried about GOOD things! I would always laugh at him.. (I have about every video/DVD made of Jane Austens books).. it's fun to see the different ways he was portrayed.. but one thing for sure.. he worried about everything!

It seems that God sent me to this devotional first... it's not the first in the book..and it's a good sized book.. but lately.. I worry..a lot. During the day I get tough and say I can only do the best I can.. but at night.. I lay in bed and the bills.. the letters.. the phone calls.. all start going around in my head.. my heart starts racing.. I can't breathe..what makes me think worrying about them in bed is going to do any good! Why can I trust God during the day but not at night? Obviously.. I'm not trusting... day or night. This worry is stealing my rest, my faith, and my health... and not accomplishing anything!

God says.. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" Phil.4:6.

I can't pay a single bill while laying in bed worrying... but I can pray.. I can give to Him who owns everything.. my problems..my anxious thoughts... I can let Him carry the burden of the bills.. the letters and the phone calls... I think from now on.. before I even open mail or answer the phone.. I'll give God a call and ask Him to take it for me :) I don't know how I'll ever get caught up.. but this past week God sent me 3 angels to help me and to encourage me.. so I am choosing trust. (now let's see how I hold up when I go to bed!) let you know tomorrow!

My first goal for the year... more prayer... starting each day with a devotional and prayer. Day 1 done! See you tomorrow!