Friends of all kinds

I have fabulous friends.  They are not all alike - in fact, they are quite unique in many ways.  I need every type of friend in my life.

Some always bring a smile to my face.

Some bring me to tears of laughter.

Some bring me to tears of sorrow.

Some share my burdens, no matter the heavy weight

Some seem to read my mind & mood and know exactly what to do.

Some allow me to serve them which brings me joy.

Some take on the difficult tasks, shielding me from frustration.

Some are honest no matter the cost - they keep me true.

Some energize me and get excited for the next "thing".

Some will come along side me and pray.

Some are always my friend even though we connect very rarely.

Some I am in awe of and aspire to be like them.

Some have been in my life for a long time and others very short.

Some friends have been temporary.

I cherish all my friends!  My best friend is my hubby.  He sees the good, the bad, the ugly and loves me continuously and without condition. 

Remodeling in the holiday season

December tends to have enough busyness without any added projects. This year, we have the kitchen completion happening with the approaching holiday.

With the chaos of the remodel, putting up decorations is futile. With that, none of us are in a particularly holiday mood. I have found this fact to be nice. We are not anxious to "get things done" before the big holiday. We have an attitude that, if we can, great; if not, no big deal. The girls and I actually enjoyed a shopping outing looking for gifts. Even the gift giving has changed since we are looking for reasonably priced gifts as our budget is taken up with remodeling. I think our gifts are a little more thought out and definitely not as grandiose. With DH laboring on the remodel, I believe we have even found more family time than we typically have at this time of year. When Daddy has finished laboring for the day and is "resting" or maybe we are awaiting the next stage of the project, we have time as a family to be together - - - watching movies. But as I think of it, our family time is also as we work together on the remodeling project. All of us are involved instead of running here and there from one event to the next.

I am missing some of the decorations. Pictures of Christmas morning in the future years, I might feel a little sad. However, the excitement of having an operating oven again has tempered my yearnings. I am hopeful to put up a few things once the counters are installed. Once we grout the new tiled floor, the refrigerator (in the family room area) can return to the kitchen - makes room for a tree, if we desire. With the counters, the cook-top and dishwasher should also leave the dining room take their rightful places in the kitchen. Oh, imagine how big our little space will then feel!

Last evening, we pulled together and made a casserole. It was so tasty! After so many months of microwave food, take-in, dine-out, cold sandwiches we were ready for some good, home cooked, comfort food. Eating tator-tot casserole never tasted so good. Hopefully I can remember that when it becomes mundane once again.

The excitement of the cabinets being installed has given way to the reality of all the tedious, time consuming, back laboring work still to be done to make the project complete. The floor being laid is another huge step. Unfortunately, our counter installation has been delayed. I was so hopeful it would have been this week but now will not happen until early next week. We are still on track to make Christmas dinner in our new kitchen.

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving Day, a day set aside specifically to remember our blessings and give thanks. From the beginning of our country's existence we have given thanks to our Heavenly Father, for His hand upon our lives. Sometimes it is easier to give thanks than at other times. I imagine those brave travelers on the Mayflower finally reaching land after a tumultuous journey, upon the sight of land the rejoicing and time of thanksgiving that must have followed. For some on that journey a loved one was lost to illness, yet they were thankful at their arrival.

For me, some days are easier to be thankful than others. The Bible says "be thankful in everything". This is a lofty task. During a challenging, trying time, I have little feelings of thankfulness. I usually cannot see the benefit or anything to be thankful of during a difficulty. I am usually sour, dour, and irritated - not thankful. I just want whatever 'it' is to go away. How do you become thankful during those trying times? One piece of advice is to keep a thankful journal. A journal one can refer to when one isn't feeling particularly thankful. Remember the things that are good, to remember what God has done in your life. Usually after that trying time, during reflection I can see many things of which to be thankful. I am not much a journal person - this blog is a close as I tend to get to a journal. But this is something that I think I want to institute, it could be a file on my computer.

Today, on Thanksgiving Day Eve, I remember a few things I am thankful for in my life:
The gift of God's Son Jesus, His sacrifice on the Cross, that I can have eternal life and look forward to living with Him in heaven.
My wonderful, loving husband. He truly is a gift.
My beautiful daughters. I have been entrusted with precious lives that have brought much joy.
My warm, snug home. It hasn't always been snug but it is today. It is just the right size for our family.
Our freedoms we have in America - - many of which are taken for granted... speech, religion, mobility, etc.
Our health - - we have thus far been blessed with health.
Fabulous friends that surround us during the good, bad, and the ugly.
Simple things such as a soft bed, hot water, email, modern appliances, reliable vehicles, beauty of nature

This list could go on and on... it is just a small sampling of what I am thankful for this day.

Integrity and Faith

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." Daniel 6:3-5

Wow! Daniel was a man of integrity and faith. Could these words be said of me... something to stive to attain.

Dry Wall

It is happening! Drywall is being installed as I write. By the end of the day the kitchen will once again have a ceiling and walls. Wow. It has been a long road and there is still plenty of road to travel. However, this is a big step towards completion.



DH has done a fabulous job prepping the room. He has evened out sagging ceiling rafters, leveled the floor, put in lots of lights, put in many outlets, fixed studs, added studs where necessary, installed a vent for the cooktop's draft, added ventilation for the sink, moved plumbing for the sink and fridge, and the list goes on. DH is tired, rightly so. He deserves a well earned rest.



Our original goal of having the kitchen functioning by Thanksgiving will not be met. But, I have hopes to have it usable by Christmas.



What have we learned during these weeks and months of remodeling construction? hmmm....



1. It is possible to live on microwave meals

2. Take-out is your friend

3. The bathroom sink cannot fill a jug of water

4. The fridge is convenient next to the tv - easy access during movies

5. The cat does NOT like to joist walk -move his food to stop the whining

6. Save your marriage- hire a designer/planner

7. Patience is a virtue not easily learned

8. Appreciation for small things such as a kitchen sink

9. Home cooked meals (provided by dear friends) are the best

10. DD#1 is capable of climbing a ladder

11. If it seems impossible - think again

12. The project will take longer than anticipated

13. Insulation grime is worse than drywall dust

14. Everyone around is glad it is you and not them!

Highest Civic Duty

Tomorrow we have elections here in our nation. A day that we can actively participate in our government process. A privilege not to be taken for granted. Many men & women have sacrificed their lives for this privilege.

Last week, I was discussing the election with my DDs. Being too young to vote, they are on the side-lines watching and learning. As parents we are trying to include our children and discuss some of the issues and explain the process to the best of our ability. Of course they are exposed over and over to the commercials and advertisements in the mail - not to mention the phone calls. However, in our discussion, it occurred to me they can participate, in fact, it is our highest civic calling which is to pray. No matter your age or voting eligibility, political leaning, social status, economic status, or nationality anyone can participate in this election. They can bring our nation to the feet of Jesus in prayer. This is our highest civic calling.

Have I prayed enough for our country or leaders? No! I never pray enough. The verse that challenges me is to pray without ceasing. Continue to pray for our nation those who lead us.