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?
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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?
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?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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?
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?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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
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
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Speedin' in December faster than a Jet Plane
It feels like it was just Halloween, I blinked and Thanskgiving Day I was looking for the day after shopping deals, and here we are days before Christmas.
Last weekend was packed. We had practice for the Christmas program at church Saturday morning with lunch followed, then home for a nap and Speed Gonzolis house cleaning for the Christmas Party with Brian's family. (Why does it seem you never have enough room, and the house isn't good enough?) We managed, and survived. It was nice, and cozy. Sunday morning we woke to rush around to get ready for the church program, then home for a quick bite and nap, then off to Dad's work for the Christmas Party, then home for a quick dinner then off for another Christmas party. Whew! (We have more this weekend!)
Monday I helped at Flora List school with the Santa Shop. It was fun, and funny. I had one kid that had the wrong list and I was trying to tell him he only had 5 people on his list and $5, he told me he had 9 and $9. Finally I asked what his mom's name was, it didn't match the list. Then to finish his shopping he insisted he get his sister a cat toy. I tried to put it back and have him get something else, but he said his sister and him love cats. Hopefully they have one.
Tuesday was a day of shopping so I can make several dishes including: Spinach dip in bread bowls, White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mallow Bars, Green bean casserole, P B Cookies, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies, and muffins. We have two Christmas parties this weekend along with it's my turn to bring snack at church, (this means I make and bake "goodies" for everyone at church).
This is Ben's last day of school before Christmas break, so tomorrow I am going to put him to work in the kitchen.
Brian will soon have a couple of weeks off work, so hopefully we will get some house projects done. I am aiming for kitchen cupboards. I am embarrassed to admit, we do not have any cupboard doors on our top cupboards, and we can't afford to replace them so we are going to make cupboards. I will try to post before and after pictures.
Okay, if you've followed this far thank you so much. I need some advice.
We have a small house and "our" house. Our small house is currently being rented, which pretty much pays the house payment. I would love to sell it and be done, one less stress to worry about. My question is what is the name of a good realtor to list with? Or if there is a "bad" one please let me know of those too.
Thank you in advance.
Last weekend was packed. We had practice for the Christmas program at church Saturday morning with lunch followed, then home for a nap and Speed Gonzolis house cleaning for the Christmas Party with Brian's family. (Why does it seem you never have enough room, and the house isn't good enough?) We managed, and survived. It was nice, and cozy. Sunday morning we woke to rush around to get ready for the church program, then home for a quick bite and nap, then off to Dad's work for the Christmas Party, then home for a quick dinner then off for another Christmas party. Whew! (We have more this weekend!)
Monday I helped at Flora List school with the Santa Shop. It was fun, and funny. I had one kid that had the wrong list and I was trying to tell him he only had 5 people on his list and $5, he told me he had 9 and $9. Finally I asked what his mom's name was, it didn't match the list. Then to finish his shopping he insisted he get his sister a cat toy. I tried to put it back and have him get something else, but he said his sister and him love cats. Hopefully they have one.
Tuesday was a day of shopping so I can make several dishes including: Spinach dip in bread bowls, White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mallow Bars, Green bean casserole, P B Cookies, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies, and muffins. We have two Christmas parties this weekend along with it's my turn to bring snack at church, (this means I make and bake "goodies" for everyone at church).
This is Ben's last day of school before Christmas break, so tomorrow I am going to put him to work in the kitchen.
Brian will soon have a couple of weeks off work, so hopefully we will get some house projects done. I am aiming for kitchen cupboards. I am embarrassed to admit, we do not have any cupboard doors on our top cupboards, and we can't afford to replace them so we are going to make cupboards. I will try to post before and after pictures.
Okay, if you've followed this far thank you so much. I need some advice.
We have a small house and "our" house. Our small house is currently being rented, which pretty much pays the house payment. I would love to sell it and be done, one less stress to worry about. My question is what is the name of a good realtor to list with? Or if there is a "bad" one please let me know of those too.
Thank you in advance.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Kids Say the Darnest Things
Ben and I were watching a tv show the other night and he saw the Call Sam commercial. I've seen it a million times, so I wasn't listening.
Then the next commercial came on and Ben said, "Mom look at that we can call 1-800-Call-Sam and he will give me a $1000. He gets kids 1000's of dollars."
Great now my child thinks we can call a lawyer for no reason and get money. I tried to explain you had to be hurt, but I am sure the next time he falls down or gets a scrap he'll be crying 1-800-Call-Sam.
What have your kids "picked up"?
Then the next commercial came on and Ben said, "Mom look at that we can call 1-800-Call-Sam and he will give me a $1000. He gets kids 1000's of dollars."
Great now my child thinks we can call a lawyer for no reason and get money. I tried to explain you had to be hurt, but I am sure the next time he falls down or gets a scrap he'll be crying 1-800-Call-Sam.
What have your kids "picked up"?
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