Nice Day

Today Mark and I got a bunch of furniture out of the house.  Two chairs and another desk left our house today, along with various odd and ends that were no longer needed.  It feels good to get things cleaned out.  After dropping the unwanted items off at our local thrift store we headed for Boulder.  We had lunch at our favorite restaurant called Breadworks.  Then we did some shopping.  I was able to pick up a lamp for my new desk for $20 and a chalk board (which will be hung over the desk mostly for decoration).  Once home I put both items with the desk and they all look great together.  Now all I need to find is a chair for the desk and it will pretty much be set to use.

Otherwise there is still plenty to do.  Brandon's bedroom needs to be painted and set up as a guest room.  And we need a new sofa and loveseat.  And there is also much more junk that needs to be sorted through.  We will just keep picking away at it all day by day..

Doldrums

The dictionary defines the word this way "unhappy listlessness" which I think describes me.  Listless means a lack of enthusiasm.  Yes, that is me, I have definitely had a lack of enthusiasm.  It has come to me that this is a time of resting given to me by the Lord.  I am struggling with it which I wish I was not.  I am learning that we cannot and should not hang on to the past.  That we have to let go and continue on with the Lord.

I am feeling better this week so I was able to get a few things done with the house.  We moved Brandon's desk out and took it over to the thrift store and then picked up from the same thrift store a new desk that I purchased.  Also moved some furniture around upstairs.  Moved out our old recliner that had seen many days with pets and children.  And we moved up the new leather recliner we bought in January.  I moved a lamp and accent table downstairs and set them up next to my new sitting chair.  Tomorrow Mark and I are going to be taking more things to the thrift store.  It feels refreshing to get the house looking good.

I can tell Mark is feeling much more relaxed at home these days.  All of this has come at a good time for him.  With the new position he has taken on at work there is a higher stress level.  It has been nice for him to come home to peace and pampering.  One day this week he worked from home which was great.  Since we have an office where he can work, I think he really enjoyed working from home.

I leave you with a bit of encouragement from Holley Gerth..."The goal is not perfection.  It's simply to be in an intimate relationship with Christ each day, embrace who He created us to be, and seek to fulfill the purpose He has for us."  This is what I am working on, but wondering a bit what my purpose is now (which I am sure empty nest moms all go through).  

Be My Valentine!

Thanks to the Lord I am slowly adjusting to my new life.  It feels good to have freedom and I am more relaxed.  I am keeping in touch with the boys.  They are both doing as well as can be for where they are at.  Mostly, I am over joyed to know that the Lord is definitely taking care of both of them.  It is so amazing!  I may not agree with all the choices they are making, etc., but the Lord is right there with them.  He is always able to establish hope in my  life when I, Miss Drama Queen, think there is none.

Right now I am struggling to overcome this virus that I have caught.  I'm in my 3rd week with it.  I start feeling better so I do stuff.  Then I get set back and have to rest.  Really looking forward to the day when I am well.  Otherwise I am enjoying church, Bible study and visiting with girlfriends.

I am also having fun with redecorating and rearranging the house.  Since my younger son no longer occupies the basement, the concentration of my redecorating is going on downstairs.  Its going slow, but I am having fun with it.  My redecorating plan includes visiting various thrift stores.  I have been blessed with good finds...praise the Lord!  One of the biggest blessed finds was a newly recovered chair for $55!  When I am feeling better I will have to take pictures.

Wishing all of my blog friends many blessings.  I hope to get back to blogging more regular and visit your blogs.  Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

   Happy Valentine's Day!

Gray Skies

Feeling a bit low...slightly depressed...but not so low that I am not moving through my days.  This week I went to our devotional group and house church, also visited with two girlfriends...a much needed lift.  The Lord has been speaking in His quiet voice.  Reassuring me that He is taking care of me...and my boys that have flown away.  It is now time for me to rest.  I was looking forward to this time, but having arrived...I feel differently than I thought I would feel.  I am not quite getting with the program...at least not yet.  I guess there has to be a sort of mourning period.  Sigh.  I know the Lord probably has some exciting things up ahead, but haven't caught a glimpse of them yet.  Still just muddling about in my mud puddle thinking the rain will never stop.  It will...but for now there are dark clouds above me.

As for Colorado, it seriously needs gray skies, but unfortunately the drought continues.  Here it is January with barely any snow and temps in the 60's!  I keep praying for snow (lots of it), but we remain dry.  It is scary.  The old testament speaks of drought as being a sign of judgment.  I can see why judgment would come to America.  Many are looking to government (man) for answers rather than to God.  Where has honor and sense of duty gone?  Is everything all about feeling?  Feelings come and go, but the word of our Lord stands forever.  I see our nation turning away from Israel and the constitution is not being upheld.  My course of action?  Prayer and keeping  my mind stayed on the fact that our Lord is in control.

Galatians 1: 10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 

Empty Nest

I do not know where to begin.  So much has transpired since I last posted.  On December 21, our youngest son, Brandon, left home.  He lives nearby, but he is living a troubled life.  However, he is keeping in touch with us much better than our older son, Eric.  Mark and I endured many hurtful things through the holidays regarding our boys.  But we praise God that our marriage has remained in tact and we continue to stand together.  We also praise the Lord for our church family and the many friends and family that have supported us through this difficult time.  We are starting out the year by participating in a devotional group at our church.  It has been a great way to start out the year and our new life as empty nesters.

Chaos!

Life at our house has been an explosion of chaos.  It has been hard to sit down to blog.  Many heart breaking things going on.  We praise God that our Thanksgiving was peaceful.  Eric called to wish us a happy day.  Brandon was able to take time from his busy schedule to join us for dinner.  We went over to a friend's house and had a wonderful time.

However, since Thanksgiving day there has been plenty of trouble of the heart breaking kind with both boys.  Currently, we are not on speaking terms with Eric.  And Brandon has taken a turn and has decided he does not want to go into the Army.  He wants to drop out of high school and move to California to be with a girl he knows.  On Christmas Eve Brandon will be 18 years old and he says he wants to leave soon after he turns 18. Please pray for us as you feel so led.  Thank you!

Thankful for Small Things

Life is ever moving and flowing.  Sometimes it seems it moves by too quickly.  Other times it seems to be in slow motion.  That is how it has been for Mark and I lately.  We are edging more and more into the slower pace, but not quite there yet.  Every now and then we get a taste of that slower pace and we really enjoy how it feels.

Definitely, the slower pace will allow for my creative juices to flow more freely.  There are so many ways to be creative and I think sometimes I discount the little things.  I think that I have to do something grand to call myself creative. Well get over it!  I am going to be thankful for the little things.  God works in the small things as well as big.

Lately, I have been blessed with ideas in the kitchen with new products I've found at the grocery store.  Take for instances the picture below.

Used these products to make a tasty morning breakfast.  Its husband approved!  The new Natural Bliss coffee creamer doesn't have to be used just for coffee.  Using it on your morning oatmeal is a great way to give your oatmeal a flavor boost.  Another product I've tried is Land O' Lakes cinnamon sugar butter spread which they put out just for the Autumn season.  We have used it on our pancakes and its given them the flavor of "french toast".  Very yummy!

So enjoy Autumn, be creative and rejoice in little things.