more bling, Walmart and a busy week

So I’m supposed to be working on the grocery list so I can get in and out of Wallyworld early tomorrow and be done with it.

But I’m here.

Sometimes I just don’t want to think about what we’re going to eat. And on a week that celebrates the turkey it’s kind of hard for me to decide what I should make.

Cuz I cook with chicken and turkey every day.

But I don’t make cranberry salad and pumpkin pie every day. Looking forward to those.

There is just so much on my heart today. I just feel so full. But it’s a holiday week and I know you girls just aren’t going to be around as much. And I know it’s the stuff that can take it out of me..not grief stuff..God stuff. Perhaps I’ll write and wait to post. Perhaps I’ll just go for it. Or perhaps it won’t happen.

This week will be busy, even though we aren’t doing school. Well, we aren’t doing the academics. We’re doing PE. That gets us one more week closer to being done with it. On this schedule, we will be done with PE when we break for Christmas. We’re loving that.

I made a birthday present to send to someone I love. Look familiar?

I made mine and wore it out shopping yesterday and got so many compliments on it that I knew I needed to make one as a gift (so I ran out late yesterday, bought the stuff and made it so I can drop it in the mail tomorrow morning). I look at it and can’t believe I’m wearing something so cool.

And I made it.

Well, I guess I’d better get back to the grocery list. It’s not going to make itself. What are you up to this week?

homemade bling

This little elf has been busy.

The four on the left are Christmas presents and the two on the right are mine.

I love the one with the big cross and all the pearls.

I also love the purple one with the glass piece on the end.

Ya know..that might be the back..but it’s a really pretty purple flower.

It’s been fun doing something a little different.

But I need to get going on scapbook calendars so they’ll be ready for Christmas.

Have you started Christmas shopping/crafting yet?

mini posts

Look a little closer. 

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Why yes, as a matter of fact, I *am* a germaphobe in the kitchen.

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Somebody’s excited about something. (and just so ya know, hubs drew in the glasses and scar!)

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The end.

the blanket

I watched Marie Osmond the other day on Oprah as she talked about the sudden loss of her son to suicide. I wanted to see what she had to say. I am always interested in how people talk about loss. She talked about her son’s life and some of his struggles. And then she talked about when he died. And how he died. (he jumped from his apartment window)

One thing in particular she mentioned is that it will not “get better”. And she feels better since other people told her the same thing. That made me very sad. It makes life sound hopeless. I know she is Mormon, so she at least gives some sort of nod to some sort of god. But what a sad testament to her “religion”.

It just left me very sad for her and her family.

Because there is hope. The morning does come. I’m not here trying to say that I have everything figured out. Not in the least. But I know there is hope. And life to be had…even after a loss like that. (sudden or prolonged)

I remember the early days after Bub’s diagnosis and many other hard days. I say I remember them and yet I was in a fog and details are sketchy. I know the feeling and the thoughts and the sights and smells often more vividly than details..although I do remember many details I wish I could forget.

Yes, it was horrible…you could even call it a nightmare. But it was also like I was blanketed in something. That something was peace. I know that sounds crazy. And a part of me feels like a fake for saying that, because there were moments that peace was hard to find. Some moments left me struggling with every part of our reality. Those moments were hard, I won’t lie. I would be full of worry and anxiety. And looking around at everything going on filled me with fear.

But then God would draw me back to Himself and I would turn my focus to Him. Not the circumstances. When I focused only on Him and dwelt there, there was peace. And such a beautiful time of growth in Him.

It reminds me of a few sentences I read in Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. It was like putting a huge ah-ha time of my life into words…

Then one day you take off the blanket of deep grief. You fold it neatly and tuck it away. You no longer hate it or resist it. For underneath it wondrous things have happened.

The why questions have been replaced with truths from God's Word. Verses that stung to read at first have now become the very lifeline you cling to. God's presence has fallen softly upon you and helped you see that good can come and will come to you and through you.

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There are days I still take out that blanket. Some days it is to grieve. Again. But other days…most days… when I take it out, it’s to remember all the things God taught me under it. And be thankful.

time for the news

In random news tonight…

I called Subway the next day and asked to speak to the manager. He didn’t act like he cared that much to hear about my issues. Why do I even bother???

And now for a personal interest story that’s sure to make you smile for all the wrong reasons….

Today I went to Kroger, the orthodontist’s office and out to lunch with friends. And then came home and realized there was a hole in my jeans at the top corner of one of the back pockets. And it flashed pink checked panties out the a little smaller than a dime hole. All day long. Clearly I need to spend a wee bit more time reintroducing myself to my clothing in between seasons before I go gallivantin’ all over town thinking everythang’s fine.'

You’re welcome.

And now for a nice fluff piece to end this newscast…

When we got back from Disney, I just pretty much threw a lot of the random stuff in the middle of the living room floor as I was weeding things out to find clothes to wash. That includes the leis we were given as we entered the Polynesian.

  

The cat seems fascinated with them and enjoys curling up behind them, putting her nose in them, laying near them…whatever strikes her fancy.

It’s so cute, we don’t want to take them away from her.

Well, I guess that wraps up tonight’s random newscast. Good night, y’all.