Thankfully Over It

Well I was all excited to get to cook in my new kitchen and KAPOW I realized that none of my important pieces of equipment were hooked up.  Yeah....they are just sitting haphazardly in my new and beautiful kitchen.  

This blog post was birthed from that moment of realization.

I miss my living room.  It is currently a big, dusty, open space with sheet rock and a few boxes and bags of garbage (was that too personal?).  I want it to match my new kitchen (sans the haphazardly placed appliances) and I want to be able to relax in it at the end of the busy days.

I miss the playroom.  The playroom is now a makeshift hell hole of a living room with toys, food, blankets, clothing, papers, etc spread all about (and the room is only like 16 x 16).  It used to be a place the kids could play in and watch their lovely educational programming.  Now its...a mess we all live in.

I miss having two complete bathrooms.  Currently, we have one bathroom that is a mess because we need to complete the painting in it and get everything squared away (simple not hard on this one) so it looks functional.  I do miss having a bath tub to use for the smallest man in the family.  

I miss having internet and Directv and telephone service.  I feel very Amish these days.  Yes, I watch PBS but that is as close to Amish television as you can get.

I miss living in a dust free, dirt free home.  Between the saw dust, sheet rock dust, and any other dust known to man I am at my wit's end.  The kids have some bloody noses every now and then and we are all stopped up.  I keep the windows open and the vaporizers going.  I also stay out of the house except for about 12 hours a day. Ha!

I miss meals not in paper bags.

I miss the grocery store.  Oh my gosh weirdo.  I miss planning out what to make for dinner and I miss grabbing a snack from the basket that isn't a Little Debbie cake.  Oh my gosh weirdo.

It has been a month and a week since I have been able to live like a normal human being in my home and now it is getting to me.  I mean why the crap didn't we go to our second home on Bimini Bay for this whole fiasco?  We could have loaded up the jet and taken off and spent the brunt of it all by the beautiful sea.  

Oh wait...must be the dust getting to me.

In a month where we blab about being thankful I can tell you I am thankful for a put together home that doesn't require a respirator or a lent roller to live in.  I am thankful for appliances that work and being able to use them.  I am also thankful for the house I have and hope that one day in the very very very near future I can utilize all of it's magical wonders (like washer and dryer) and not be toting stuff a couple miles away and lugging it back.  I am thankful for my mom who has tried to help out with the kids even though she's having to take care of her mother.  The kids have made this process super hard because we are limited on what we can do with them around but we've made it through thus far. 

I am not thankful for dust.

I hope to begin the reveal to you all next week on the blog. 

5 Things Friday

Linking up with April, Christina, Natasha & Darci!

Ahhh, breathing a lot easier these days here's my five!

1.  Bar Stools

So now I am on a mission to find some bar stools for my new kitchen island.  That is a little more difficult than I imagined.  The kitchen is a lot of wood so I wanted to incorporate metal, I also want a bland backing and seat.  I believe my work will be cut out for me!

2.  Plates, cups, bowls, mugs....

Cute but not what I am getting.

It is finally time to get some new dishes and boy am I glad.  We have tons of plastic and kiddie stuff but no grown up stuff.  Lucky for me Target is having their Home For The Holidays sale which means all the stuff for the kitchen is on sale! 

3.  This recipe right here

I haven't been able to cook at home in ages so I am busting at the seams (from fast food) to do it!  I love to cook so much.  I also love The Pioneer Woman.  

4.  Thanksgiving

I am really feeling like I can get all festive now.  To say I am excited about our yearly adventure to the mountains for Turkey Day is a major understatement.  I hope it is a little nippy out so we can get a good, wintry picture for our mantle.  I also wish that this time of year were just a hair bit longer....it is so enjoyable and yet so incredibly fast.

5.  This printable 

November Cliche

So Facebook, Twitter, other blogs, etc are all jumping on the easy bandwagon of November to post what one is thankful for.  I've been joining in too and mentioning only things that I normally take for granted.  I mean hello we kinda know you love your kids, husband and or wife and or partner, your dogs, your mom and dad, sister and great aunt Coco.  

I like to think out of the box so my list has consisted of things like vodka, white vinegar, cabinets, Kindergarten, etc.

Well I decided once a week I would add one of my thankfuls to my blog post.  This week I decided that I should let you know I am thankful for winter coats.

Yeah..winter coats.  

I think it is the small things in life we totally do not appreciate.  These are things we just push to the side not realizing their true worth.  We should be thankful for them because without them our day to day lives would be altered in some way.

I am thankful I have two coats to utilize when the weather is below fifty degrees.  I have a Columbia Coat and a black wool pea coat.  They bring me toasty feelings and shear delight when the wind is whipping.  They prevent my body from freezing and allow me to go about my day without any real concern.

When you think about a coat you should seriously remember that even though we live in the USA there are people who do not have a coat. With winter approaching that is scary.  There are families who live in poverty and who cannot afford to purchase one.  There are families that are too proud to go get a free coat from a service like Give A Kid A Coat.  There are elderly folks who have no one caring for them who need one.  The homeless that wrap themselves in plastic bags. 

Last year I donated four coats to Give A Kid A Coat at the local A Cleaner World.  Since I have kids of my own I could not imagine a child going cold because my own kid had four coats herself to pick from.  I had a surplus as well so it only made sense I donate too.

I am thankful to have the means to purchase a jacket and have it on me when there is snow in forecast.  I am evermore thankful to understand a surplus is unnecessary in my closets and to be able to donate warmth to someone in need.

So here's a challenge....show me your thankful for something you have in your closet to keep you going and donate it to a charity who can use your assistance to help others.  I can double dog dare you by choosing to donate to non retail establishment and instead a food pantry, or public closet.  Go the extra mile, you can do it.

See ya'll later.

3TT

Three things on my mind....

1.  The house is nearing completion.

I haven't been a good girl and gave you the proper updates but I can tell you the outside is done and the inside is closer to being wrapped up.  We ended up having to gut another room...totally off plan.  Hey it happens right?  I will soon have photos!

2.  November is so fast.

It literally just started and we're at the middle already?  Jesus!  I can tell you November is not a month to plan for teaching anything because the kids aren't in school enough.  We had Veteran's Day and up next is the Thanksgiving holidays.  What do we do?  CRAFTS!  I'm kinda sad my favorite month is speeding by so quickly.

3.  Snow.

It looks like snow today.  The weather man (who obviously got his degree from like weather.com) said we'd see some flurries here in NC today...at first I said "whatevs" but as the day goes on I'm thinking hmm he may have went to UNCC (of course not NCSU...he's not that quality of good meteorological cloth...hehe).  

Christmas Party-ing

So I'm all for Thanksgiving (it is my favorite holiday) but right now I'm focusing more on the Christmas season.  No, I have not been manipulated by mass retailer's marketing schemes.  It is just that the Christmas season will not only bring the celebration of the birth of Christ but also the celebration of the completion of our home.

This year in celebration of all things being complete with the project we are having a Christmas Open House also known as a Christmas Party also known as a Christmas Soiree. 

We know the theme of the ugly Christmas sweater is old news but my husband wants that theme so much that I'm like sure darling.

Even though we're weeks away from completion on the project the idea of planning this little event gives me such happiness.  I am also finding that I am thankful for Pinterest to get fun ideas.  So I guess this blog post serves two purposes sharing some cool stuff I have found and hope to utilize for the get together and also begins my simple thanks theme I hope you all notice in each blog post for November.

So here's what I'm liking....

If you haven't caught on I like love all things retro....I like this invitation from the 1950's -

Source

It also is pretty freakin' perfect for everything this get together is all about!

This is my next little love.  I would adore being able to make these for our guests to take home.  At Christmas I think a lot of people link "believe" to Santa (and I do too) but there's more to it than that.  Believe in the Christ Child....believe in the Lord....believe in the grace.  I've had my beliefs tested and they have prevailed through this whole process.

Source


You have to have something sweet on the table...how sweet are these little guys?

Source

Since the adults are invited to wear their ugly sweaters I was thinking it would be awesome if kids could come in their pajamas.  That way when its time to go home they'll be all ready for bed!  Aren't these sweet?

Source

I think I found the perfect HORRIBLE Christmas sweater....

Add caption

Take me to the cross....

I am not a Bible thumper I'm a normal person who keeps the majority of her faith to herself unless asked about it.  I will tell you I love my faith and love my Jesus but I will never throw it in your face.  I have respect for all religions.  This post is a little more than what some of you may have bargained for but when it is weighing on my brain for days on end it has to come out in a post.  I am not putting up a disclaimer and I'm not saying sorry if I offend anyone because...I'm not sorry.

I grew up watching Billy Graham on the television set at my Mammaw & Pappaw's house.  I remember playing on the floor during his crusades and my Pappaw would be "amen-ing" while my Mammaw would be going over the next day's Sunday School lesson.

I didn't think much back then about Billy Graham.  I was a kid.  I was coloring, playing with dolls, eating popcorn, in deep thought about things to get into.  However, I knew who Billy Graham was.  I knew he was a preacher and he was from somewhere down the road.  

I also knew...at a pretty young age...what he stood for.  Billy Graham stood for Jesus Christ.  He had a strong voice and was a big man on that television screen.  I remember him getting excited and the voice going deeper and louder. I'm not sure if it was the words or the crowds of people that really caught my attention.  It doesn't matter....I heard him even as I watched people weep in the crowds, hold up their hands, and shout for joy.

Billy Graham was a part of my childhood as much as Cheerwine and Cheese Doodles.  Billy Graham wasn't a novelty to me because I wasn't a stranger to what he was talking about.  I knew about Jesus...I knew he was born as the Son of God and I knew He died on a cross for me - a ten year old girl in North Carolina wearing a Duke basketball tee shirt.  I knew Jesus loved me and not just because that's the first song I was (probably) taught. 

 I knew Jesus.

After the Crusade would go off my Pappaw would ask me "A-manda (the A always pronounced apart from the rest of my name) do you know Jesus Christ died for you?"

And not even looking at him I would respond with a tween sigh and moan, "Yes Pappaw I know."

He would conclude with, "If you let him in your heart you will always be alright."

Then my Mammaw would interject - "She knows."

----

So this past week Billy Graham released what will probably be his last message.  He's no longer the black haired, leather skin man of my childhood.  He's now ninety-five.  This time around I wasn't sitting on the floor in a living room coloring a picture with him in the background.  This time I was in a kitchen with a laptop on, feeding my son, watching....crying.

For the first time I was really paying attention to the words from that man's mouth.  I stopped and really took a long look at him when he spoke.  Even though I know his voice this was the first time I heard his voice.

The crusades of the 80s and 90s are long gone.  Billy Graham's message is now geared to us...the kids who are a little older than we were twenty years ago.  

Come to Jesus.  

The world is in a place where we are losing sight of what matters.  We think that money and labels and hood ornaments make us who we are but all it makes us is more ridiculous, out of control, and ill willed.  

We think going to church is all we need to do and if we go to the "right" church then we're getting free passes to Heaven.  

We think wrong.  

We are filth, we are grime, and we are unworthy.  

Every day we become more detestable as we do the nastiest things imaginable. 

 I am guilty and every person who reads my blog has dirty hands as well.  

We are nothing but stupid humans who put ourselves on pedestals of rust mistaken for gold.  

I know I'm a sinner.  I sin every day of my life.  Get me at the right time and you'll find me in tears over something stupid I have done.  I can admit it to you because I am ashamed but I know you're the exact same way --- just not so quick to admit it yourself.  I do things I know I shouldn't do.  I talk bad about people, I cuss, I have ill will thoughts, I put myself first. 

 I am quick to do all the things I shouldn't do and slow to do the things Jesus would delight in me doing.

But at the end of the day when I'm alone and I have that time to cry for something I have done or something that has been done to me I am reminded of something...

I am made in the image of God.

For free I was created by the Creator to be a mirror of Him...

What?

But I allow sin to take this image and mess it up.  It takes hard work to keep that image untarnished and no one will have a squeaky clean reflection until the day comes that we put aside all our human glorification and whole heartedly glorify the:

Father

Son

Holy Ghost

In closing, I am saddened that Mr. Graham will be but a man in a history book soon.  However, I know he will have a beautiful welcoming when he returns to the Heavenly Father.  I just hope I can be an ounce of as much of an intentional child of God that he has been for this world for the past 95 years.

Billy Graham

Five on Friday!

Linking up with Natasha, Christina, Darci, and April.

5 on Friday...yes!

1. Me Day!

In honor of my birthday I am going shopping tomorrow.  I am so excited!  I have vowed this trip will be an all for mommy trip.  That's right no buying things for the kids.  I have some ideas as to what I'd like to get....

Total throw back of my husband!

2.  The hubs!

He's been super sweet this week.  I'm so glad he is the one I'm on the journey with.

3.  Nearing completion!

We are around 80% complete with the house.  I need to share some photos huh?

They'll come...next week!

source

4.  Faith!

My faith has been my strong hold through this huge changes.  Thank you Lord for blessing me immensely.

Click here to visit!

5.  Zach @ Good Deeds Insurance

There are insurance agents and their are insurance angels - Zach fits the latter!  He has been a true blessing helping us navigate and get new insurance on everything.  I am so appreciative and if you are looking to get good insurance with a reliable agent then you need to message me and get his info (or click the link up there).  Tell him Brownie sent you!