Mid Winter

I feel a bit like I have been run over by an emotional semi truck!

First, I struggled all last week with feeling like I had no control over dark thoughts and feelings of contentment (hormones).  I was going stir crazy.  I was feeling trapped.  I didn't like anything that I was doing and resentment was bubbling up.  I knew I was making mistakes and damaging relationships with my attitude but I felt helpless.

Them, I kind of feel like the Lord put me in a crisis situation to deal with that struggle.  First, my mom was in the hospital with heart issues and pneumonia.  Family members being very very sick snaps you out of every selfish/feel sorry for thought and I went into "go mode" because my thoughts were off of me and onto serving others.  I joked with my dear friend Michelle that serving others outside of your family is so much more "satisfying" because they are actually thankful.  Nobody sheds a tear because you washed their underpants!  But if you do some basic service to someone sick (sit beside them, bring them food), it is appreciated and being appreciated gives a form of stamina that I don't normally experience.

Second, coincidentally, a friend had shoulder surgery and on an impulsive, spur of the moment, it was put on my heart to minister to this friend.  I kind of can't believe that I went through with the coordination of a special blessing basket LOL, but I rallied 4 other friends to contribute what they could and I spent a day driving around to pick up goodies and then dropped off the basket at this friend's home  This friend has been through a lot, is very strong, and I doubt she has ever had friends step in to bless her.  Her husband was so moved he wrote a group message that ended with  "God bless you, dear ladies."  When the Lord shows up to share His love in tangible ways through the people that Love Him....WOW, so amazing to be part of.

Third, a family friend is struggling...God has used facebook of all things to lay it on my heart to pray for her.  I think of her daily.  I messaged her parents to let her know that the Lord wants me to pray.  

Can I just say, it is so nice to be a part of a system where God wants you to play an active role in the lives of others in whatever ways He wants you to minister to them.  After a couple of weeks of stir crazy, house bound, discontentment....He took me out of the house and put me in a position of "mad dash" to serve....tangibly and with prayer.  It was therapeutic to me, despite the emotional taxation.

This is me...going crazy.

BLUE SKY!  I had to take a picture.


Seriously...this dog.  She drives me crazy (rather the children drive me crazy fighting over her) but she is well loved.

Finding the humor in Sawyer driving around the Drivers Ed car on a flat tire.

 MUST....DO....SOMETHING...CREATIVE...


I have been waiting for this all month!  Time to plan for Spring!

The girls have taken to cell phone selfies...with my phone LOL!

Oh my heart....I am feeling like a wicked dragon and they promise that it will all be alright and give me rancid nuts to eat.

You know, I feel so incredibly blessed (and undeserving) to be married to this man.  After a truly beastly week, I told him, "I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE."  I proposed thrift store shopping, he drive me and managed kids.  It was such a good day...and it seems forever ago (though it was less than a week).  My mom (same day) was admitted to the hospital but I feel like I had this little adventure and indulgence that carried me through!

The best of all worlds...Phil time (we went out to dinner), family time (car travels), alone time (in some of the thrift stores), all wrapped into one!

I so love my little paradise!

My treasure!!!  A vintage Hundertwasser print found at a thrift store for 50% OFF.  So, I only know of this artist because Gram and Gramps had a print (and I can picture exactly where it was in their Capitol Hill home) and the Abregos had 2 prints in their bathroom.  I recognized the artist based solely off the memories of the artwork from the family homes in which I stayed.  So, having this print was so exciting to me.  I love love love the layers and the patterns and the colors even though one of my children told me it looked like crying squirrels and they would decorate their house without scary masks, skulls, and weird pictures.  LOL!

Then I found these mid-century curtains and they are completely ridiculous because they are way too small for the window space I hung them in LOL.

Hanging out with my mom!  It was truly awful to see her so sick.  She went from barely able to take a sip of water to up and about in 4 days.  I can't explain the relief!

Oh, how I love this man!!!  Working from home so I have the flexibility to head to the hospital, concern over my Cabin Fever and planning a fun outing, driving me around and supporting every.single.thing I do.  He turned 46 and I can't believe how lucky I am to spend just a smidge over 20 years of my life with him (we met in December 2000).  Here he is, dozing, as we turned off the half time show of the superbowl assuming it would be garbage (and it was, I heard it was horrific).

A teensy, tiny big of snow!

This poor dog....

The (muppets) Swedish Chef must have been in this kitchen....

But, I was glad to get a protein and veggie packed dinner to my parents (and us).  I am loving oven roasted veggies!

More mysterious selfies...

Why can't they just sleep in their beds?

Just this week, I noticed the change in color of the grass...I can feel the Spring coming from the chorus of frogs in the evenings to the mornings with the song bird's arrival to the green green of new grass.  









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