Everything Happens for a Reason

Have you ever heard the saying "Everything happens for a reason?" I have heard it several times, but mostly I never hear or notice the reason. This time within weeks we noticed the reason.
On Christmas Eve we spend the whole day cleaning up a wet basement due to a broken water pipe. After trying to call the insurance company for days, I finally got a hold of someone (and not a machine) on Monday. She asked if I called the cleaners. What? The cleaners? All I knew was that when I called the office the machine said they were closed for the holidays. She was very nice and directed me to whom I needed. The cleaners came, the next day, and said most everything looked dry. They estimated some damages; and cleaned carpets.
Flash ahead to Thursday January 15th we ran to the emergency in Florida. There is no cheap way to travel. We did drive, and family in Florida helped with meals and a place to stay ( Thank you Jack and Melissa). Gas alone was over $200. While down there our maintance light came on. Brian checked it out when we got home and said we needed to replace the timing belt and water pump. This is almost $1000 to have done, but I married a mechanically engineered man. He replaced both of them for $250, I owe him for "labor". I wondered how bills would get paid this month, but knew somehow we'd make it.
I'll be darn if we received the insurance check in the mail for our "clean-up" fees (we got paid for the cleaning Brian and I did), replacement of flooring, and more. It wasn't enough to buy a new car, but Florida and the van repairs are covered.
Things Happen For A Reason.

White Everywhere

Okay, I had some motivation today and decided I would repaint some of the doors white. One door lead to the trim inside and out, and the door jam. Then into the hallway was base trim, more door trim, another door with several more possiblites. I went through almost 1/2 gallon of paint. Ah, fresh white.
I finally leave the house tonight (I was sick of riding anywhere after the long hall back from Florida) and to my surprise flakes are falling. For some reason when I see more snow falling lately my stress level flies through the room. I think it even starts before I see it. Great, I am like those people that get body aches before it's going to rain.
The van is up on jacks in the garage while my personal mechanic is fixing it. I am one luck wife. (I wonder if my husband knows I sleep with the mechanic, plumber, construction worker, handy man for our house.)
What consitiutes as a Once A Month House Project?

She Came Back

The last week has been full of stress.
We packed up and left 1 week ago for a long 20+ hour drive to Florida.
We received a phone call Thursday that my mother-in-law was in the hospital on life support with no response. We tried to get flights, but we couldn't afford them (almost $500 per person, not to mention we'd need a rental car). We drove staight through with Brian's 2 sisters, brother and their spouses.
What we witnessed when we arrived to see her was so scary. The nurses in the unit she was in were horrible, and she was not herself. I touched based with some of my family and prayers pulled her through.
We stayed with family down there and they cooked for us. What a giant help!
While waken every morning not knowing what to expect; she continued to get better.
By some miracle she was able to come home Monday. We stayed and spent some time with her and left Tuesday evening.
One of the scariest parts is how she talked about seeing the white light and somehow she was pulled back.
Praise the Lord she is still here.

It's Hard To Hear the Truth

Why is it that it is hard to hear the truth? And sometimes it comes better from one person than another.
Brian and I have been studing the Fireproof Your Marriage Couples Kit. (We loved the movie) Every Tuesday night him and I sit down together and have discussions. Some of them feel like a pin pick to me, and others are eye openers. I say nothing negative, sometimes I can't say anything I'll let his words soak. I really believe as we are following the instructions and guidelines we are learning so much, even after 7 years!
I have noticed a major difference in my husband. I have been up early, really early for me (5:20) to watch my nephew the last two days and he gets up after that and he is made the bed. A thoughful gesture for someone who doesn't normal do it. When he gets home from work he is really considerated of my feelings. I know he may not agree, but he doesn't show it.

What are somethings that make your marriage better?
What date nights do you enjoy?
Do you vacation for our anniversary?

Are you Green?

All the talk going around about people being green, and I think to myself not me.
Today I paused and thought to myself, I am green; maybe not as much as I could.
Here are some of the things I do:
Resusable grocery bags (Kroger gives you 5 cents per bag you reuse!)
Carpool to out of town events
Let my child ride the bus
Recycle plastics, glass, cans, and cardboard (and when I need boxes for donations guess where I get them?)
I make my own laundry soap (reusing the old laundry soap containers, this save's tons of money, I can make approx. 4 bottles for $1.50)
I use the dishwasher, if I washed dishes I would use 10 gallons of water each time!
Bake extra cookies or bread and freeze, this saves electricity and time; very convient!
Reuse tissue paper and gift bags.
Reuse mailing envelopes (do you know how expensive bubbled envelopes are?)
Reuse Ben school notes paper to print coupons on the reverse side.
I email instead of mailing, saving postage; including bills.
Cramming a bunch of errons in one run.
Making "fast food" at home; saving gas and money. I challange you to find one of your favorite foods you order and make it at home.
How are you green?

Landing after the Holidays

I love Christmas and the joy of seeing the family, cooking and eating fun and exciting new recipes, opening presents, and the fun on everyone's faces. After Christmas I feel is a crash landing, especially with the first snow storm. I have winter depression, or depression that worsens in the winter, so the snow accumliation weighs on me.
Christmas Eve we awoke to a broken water pipe in the basement and a good 2 inches of water on the floor. Guess how we spent Christmas Eve? Cleaning the basement. It didn't look like much, until we started and couldn't stop. We did break and let the kids open their Christmas presents. We started a tradition about 3 years ago. Brian has Christmas Eve off and we don't do anything so we let the kids open their Christmas presents. On Christmas Day they get 3 presents from Santa representing the 3 wise men and the 3 presents they brought Jesus on Christmas Day. Then off to Mom and Dad's we go for Christmas. The kids did good on playing with their Christmas toys while Brian and I cleaned the basement. The kids argued at one point, I broke a piece of furniture, and got so overwhelmed I broke down in tears. It was time for me to get a timeout!
Needless to say we got a hold of the insurance company on Monday December 29th because the office was closed Dec 24-28th. When I talked to my insurance lady she said if I stayed on the phone the message would have told me about emergency clean up. What the heck? I have never had an insurance claim and didn't know how to deal with it. Live and learn, that's all I can do.
We managed to re paint the kitchen cupboards and Brian made me doors, since some smart-butt took the cupboard doors when they moved out of this house and we can't buy new kitchen cupboards. I need to touch up the paint and we need to apply the handles and then I will post the before and after picture. Let me remind you before hand we are on a limit budget and can not afford a new kitchen so we will make due with what we have.
House project after house project is what we do, and when we take a break it stresses us out because so much needs to be done.
Any de-stressers or advice for house projects?
Has anyone every asked another couple to help with a project and then went to their house and help them? Kind of a house project swap.
Lisa