One Thing Leads to Another

I finally found what I was looking for! In the bookshelf department, that is. I've been looking for a couple years. Actually, more than a couple. And it's a good thing I waited. For at least 8 years, I've watched Costco repeatedly sell a tall dark wood bookcase, which if I remember correctly, began selling for $150. Not a bad price at all for the quality. However, back in those days, I never had an extra $150 to burn. So each time I saw it, I would covet it, but figure I'd wait until the next year. They continued to improve it slightly, added a light to it . . . I continued to show self restraint. A time came when I knew I probably could afford it, but still kept waiting. Eventually, I began passing it by because I decided I liked a more rustic look. Well, you would think it would be easy to find a bookshelf. WRONG!

After months of 'Not' finding what I wanted, I tried reducing my book collection. I did reduce it, but not enough to not need a book shelf. I actually weeded through several times, giving away and donating books. But if you know me well, you know that I like to buy books and learn their content by osmosis . . . I hold it long enough to digest the information without reading it. OK, so I have a book addiction! Could be worse.

Anyway, I love to stop in a Hobby Lobby whenever I am near one, bc there isn't one within 30-40 minutes from me. So the other day, I went for birthday celebration for one of my besties, Kim Speck, (also one of my followers and fellow bloggers!) and we happened upon Hobby Lobby. I knew going in that this was NOT a good time to spend money. The day before, we had bought a car which required a down payment, which we had saved up for . . . most of you know the deal. But isn't that how it always happend? When you have money to spend, you can't find squat! When you don't, you find exactly what you are looking for! At least that seems to be a pattern in my spending life. If I could just figure out how to switch that up.

Like most good girlfriends on shopping missions, we split up the moment we entered the store. Why waste time chatting. Of course I was finding lots of great little decor items which were reasonably priced that weren't going to hurt my budget. So I was filling my cart . . .

As I rounded the last corner of the store, 45 minutes in, there I saw them. Not one, not two, but three small bookshelves. Rustic. Weathered paint. Most important - aqua-ish color! Plus a shelf with large shelves for my scrapbooks which I have forever been trying to store. Well, you all know what happened. Luckily, my instincts had compelled me to empty out my van and stow the seats in case someone had made a large purchase.

And so, one thing leads to another. I came home, looked around, considering arrangement. Decided to move my oversized cheap, flimsy, particle board, and wrong-colored-wood desk (which I'll add that my hubby NEVER wanted me to buy in the first place.) First problem, it had to be taken apart and there was no way on GGE (God's Green Earth) that I could move it. Next problem, I had to wait for my husband and his Father to do the task. (I'll hold my comments about this process! Loved the helpt though!) Then, trying to figure out where to put all the junk that my desk held . . . how to re-arrange . . . Finally I figured out where to put things and realized that now, half the other stuff doesn't look good. So out with more stuff, in with more, including a trip to Elements for a cabinet that had my name on it (more money!). I also realized, in this process, how much I really do need a desk. So I began discussion with Elements, one of my favorite stores! about having a desk custom built. Wouldn't want to spend 5 more years looking for something to match.

I guess this is life: You begin one project with enthusiasm and energy . . . and then the multiple little projects in between twist and turn, drain your energy and bank account . . . Hey. I'm not that impulsive thought. I'm sitting here typing on my grandma's antique secretary desk (which my laptop barely fits on). My furniture includes a chair and phone table from my god-mother's house, and an old church pew that my parents salvaged from somewhere. If I were that impulsive, I'd have a nice matching set, new from . .. wherever.

Next project, tackle the closet so I can have room for what used to be in my desk -




OH BOY, here I go!

Happy Holidays!

Here I am on my 'vacation' . . . No, the kid's vacation from school. We need to re-label that time of the season for moms, because as we all know, it is NOT a vacation. Funny, I was just wondering to myself what the actual definition of a vaction would be, so I did dictionary.com and sure enough, I was RIGHT! "No Dictionary Results" Huh. Must be mothers who are in charge of dictionary.com!

In all seriousness, I haven't gotten to blog about my real vacation in the islands because since I've been home, I've pretty much been dealing with my kids' vacation. Obviously, I can't even post a picture because I havent figured out how to get those on my computer!!! But I will. And let me just say that waking up when I wanted to wake up, eating when I wanted to eat, sitting for as long as I wanted to sit, finishing a full conversation whenever I wanted to, THAT was a vacation. Didn't even have to be in the islands, although that surely did help!!!

So New Year's is the next obvious holiday, two days . . . which Dec. 31 is also our Wedding Anniversary . . . 14 YEARS!!!! Shinia Twain's song 'Looks Like We Made It' surely is appropriate for us . . .

Anyway, I was talking with a young female client the other day, who happens to be single. If you are reading this and either under 30, single, or not a mother, feel free to skip this part, you might not relate. So this gal was sad and worried because she didn't have anything to do for the first time on New Year's Eve, or more importantly, anyone to be with. This was my first moment of jealousy. So I talked with her about how she might make the night special for herself . . . and she planned to do yoga (second moment of jealousy), make a new recipe just for herself (third moment of jealousy) and then get some art supplies and do a vision board (through the roof jealousy). Now she was kind of feeling like a loser for having 'this' plan for New Year's. I confessed to her my jealousy, because at this point of the conversation, this self-disclosure seemed appropriate. I told her I'd think about her New Year's Eve when I was surrounded by MANY children of all ages while we played games during my Mother-N-Law's family game night.

Don't get me wrong: I like games, and I like kids. I even really do like my Mother-N-Law! But the combination of all this, including kids up way past their bedtime, fueled up with Sugar, Salt, and Fat . . . Oh Boy. If a magic fairy offered to let me trade places with my client, I would be awfully tempted . . . Luckily I won't have that option.


As I shared my New Year's Eve plans with her, I saw her face change. Her feelings about her own New Year's plans were shifted into a new light. The grass is always greener . . . I think I'll work on appreciating all my family fun chaos!

I hope that all my readers (all 6 of you - I learned of another one!) have a blessed and safe and happy New Year's Eve and a happy New Year with many new beginnings!

Learned Something

Well, after my dream vacation, which I'll write more about later if I ever get the chance, my kids continue to pay me back for leaving.

Particularily Jacob . . . the 4-yr-old ever-changing-weather-pattern. Day one of my re-entry, he decided that paybacks were necessary. So as soon as the snuggles were over, which was about 2 minutes, the oppositional behavior began. To just get to the point of my story, because once again, at present moment, he is lying beside my chair crying b/c he can't make a ramp for the ice-skate christmas ornament b/c it fell on Julia's head . . . Anyway, He was crying and screaming so hard the other day, about nothing, that I finally decided if I wanted to stay sane, I had to get hime out of the house. So I did. I locked the doors before he could come in from the car. He stood in the garage, kicking the door as hard as he could. Then he went to the front door, and pounded the doorbell repeatedly, a joyful noise to my ears. I had decided much earlier that we would likely either be visiting the hospital or protective services that day, because he was probably going to hurt himself and I wasn't in the position to stop him. Either that, or I'd be in the car shop b/c he would have dented the car with his kicking. I was prepared for either/both.

Luckily, and here is my point, popping him outside in the freezing weather when he is throwing a fit seems to work. I actually just threatend it, and he cried "But I'll be alone and cold!" "Then quit crying," I said. He did. It's a Christmas Miracle.

If any of you know people that have strong willed little boys, please forward them my blog. We need need a support group!

I'm The Maid

After picking up all my family members clothing from the bathroom floor and dumping it in the hamper, I stated loudly, "I'm not the maid, you know!"

Julia (7) sweetly said, "Mom, I know you're not the maid, but you'd be really good at it if you were."

Maybe there's a future for me here!

Dream Vacation Begins

My LONG awaited for vacation began this morning at 3am. UGH! First stop: the beautiful Detroit Airport where we boarded the cheapest most uncomfortable airline in the world, Spirit. The seats did not even recline, and somehow I managed to sleep for two hours with my head bobbing to and fro! Next stop, Ft Lauderdale. With a 3 hour layover, I thought "Great, we'll get some exercise, breakfast, and find the bookstore for leisurely browsing!" My Bad! As I set out for our walk, attempting to get out of the multicultural crowd where we were a minority, I knew the first stop needed to be a restroom. There was one right there in all the congestion. However, there was a line, and the bathroom appeared small. No worries, I thought, there will be anotherone up the way. Chris had been successful with the mens room. We began walking again, for about 20 seconds, and came to a sign that said "do not go any further". Oh....we must've gone the wrong way. We turned around, through the crowd, a 30 second walk, the end of the airport. That's it? One hallway? One restroom? One magazine stand? No starbucks? A million people? Three hours!

You'll be happy to know that we survived. We bought coffee from a Maxine look-a-like
(hallmark cards) and sat and decided to talk with zero children interruptions.

Current status: our flight to St Thomas is being delayed!!!!

I have no business complaining about any of this! I know how lucky I am to be going to the sweetest place on earth. I'll only complain if we don't make it there!

The Gate!

I finally finished, and now it's too pretty in my opinion to hang crap on. Back to the old drawing board!

We are Masterpieces - Wow!

Ok Readers of my blog, (all five of you) I know I am usually pretty darn funny . . . well, at least I crack myself up. Which is a good thing, really, because I rarely get lonely or have to go looking for fun. Anyway, I actually had something seriously beautiful happen this morning. I began to write about it in a journal so that I could possibly remember it in days, weeks, years to come. After my first sentence in my journal, I thought, "This is one for everyone." So here it is.

To give the background, last week, I was at Treeside (where I work) and was chatting in the garage with Renee, who was doing some yard work. Yes, I was just standing there watching her and NOT helping. I had a good excuse. Anyhow, suddenly I noticed an old and rotting wooden gate leaning against the wall. I pretty much screamed "Can I have that?" as quickly as I could get it out of my mouth. Renee quickly glanced to see what I was freaking about. She of course looked past the old, rotting, gate, because it was in the 'Take to the Garbage' pile. "The gate!" I said. "Yeah," she said. "Just text Jim and make sure it's OK."

I texted Jim, who was out in the middle of nowhere - shooting holes in his vehicle (another story here) but really trying to shoot a deer . . . anyway, Jim's exact response was (in text language) "u can hv the gate with my blessings!" I didn't realize what the blessing would be.

I was so excited, you'd have thought I'd won the lotto. I was literally calling a couple friends and raving about this old rotting gate I was now the proud owner of. I was even scared to express my excitement and plans to Renee, for fear that she would then see the value and want it back!

I picked up the gate, brought it home, and carried into my house immediately because if it settled into the garage, even for one day, I knew it might end up as one of those projects that never gets done.

After work last night, I had my mind set on painting the gate. Now, anyone who is a mom knows that it is risky to even try to have a plan for yourself, such as completing a project, while your kids are home. As soon as I walked into my home at 6:30 pm, my kids were hyped up about some pretend monster they had 'created' to mess with Jacob. They wanted to tell me all about it. In fact, they were following me all over, even the bathroom, b/c they were so darn excited. The monster? It is called a WangDoodle, it has stripes, it's habitat is the common home, and it feasts on Thanksgiving Dinners. Jordan had even drawn a picture and Julia was creating pretend messes (from the monster) and then cleaning it up. They were setting pretend bait . . . . anyway, I did the minimal mother duty and made sure that Jacob wasn't really and truly scared, and then continued to 'pretend' I was listening, but really began obsessing about painting my gate. Oh yeah, I also did the obligatory preparing of dinner, pancakes and sausage. But as soon as my last bite was taken - and yes, I was the first one done - I was setting up my paint.

The job went quickly, because I was going for rustic and weathered look, which the gate already had. I was just trying to add some artistic color. What took more time for me to deal with was Jacob, who was insisting on helping me. So I was trying to find a way to let him help and get it out of his system . . . all efforts failed. So Chris, my DH, kindly too him away and got him dirstracted.

My plan for the gate was to paint and decorate it with collection of unique hooks. Then I was going to put it in the hallway, where you would only see it if you went down the hall. You all know the problem: coats, backpacks, scarves, sweatshirts . . . all those things that end up on the floor all over the hallway, no matter what kind of organization system you have! I had always resisted putting hooks in my hallway, even down by the garage door and laundry room because then there would just be a bunch of crap decorating my hallway. But NOW, I thought this would at least be a classier way of hanging the crap. And if I got special hooks for each child, they might even WANT to hang their stuff.

So as my rotting-gate-now-artwork was coming together, I began to think it needed more of a special place to be displayed. I was more and more excited, even tried to call a friend over to see it - just like a new baby or something. So far, no one has seen it. But it's only been a day, I need to relax. Anyway, just for fun, I cleared some things out of the spot you first see when you enter my home, and I placed the gate there . . .Wow. Even Chris - who had rolled his eyes when I first mentioned the gate, which meant "here she goes again, collecting more garbage!" even Chris thought it looked pretty good there. He had previously thought putting it 'there' would look junky. Go figure. When I woke this morning, and came down the stairs, this being the first time I saw it in the morning light, IT LOOKED AWESOME!!!! I was so happy!

So I sat down to read my morning book, Jesus Calling, and it was about how God loves us more than we can imagine, regardless of our performance. It even said 'We are His Masterpieces' . . . a work created magnificantly.

I don't know about you readers, but I know that DAILY I fall short from being a perfect person. In fact, I am often really down on myself for some of the selfish decisions I make. But this was reminding me that NONE of that mattered when it comes to God's radiant love. The book said my responsibility was only to be receptive to His unconditional love, regardless of my feelings or behavior.

Of course my thought's went right to my new 'masterpiece' . . . it's new placement being in a spot where it is highlighted. And old-decaying-falling apart-rusty-garbage-bound-gate, NOW a masterpiece (in my opinion) displayed in the prime spot of my home. I thought about my excitement of 'finding' and 'claiming' and preparing, and valuing this gate. My desire to show others and share my joy!

And God was showing me He knows the feeling, Pride in His Masterpiece. Humbling.

PS: I will of course post the photo once I get it complete!