Category Archives: Gratitude

The house that God bought

Little Miss Grace is doing a link up on our favorite blog posts…a throwback Thursday…except it’s a Wednesday…she’s crazy like that.  I posted a throw back post earlier today on marriage, being all reminiscent with our recent anniversary and all and when Grace threw out the call I immediately remembered the following post and figured I’d share, because we ALL need some God moments in our lives and tangible moments are just that extra icing on the cake–and I DO love cake!!  Hope you enjoy…and then you can take yourself over to Grace’s place and read about other favorite and assorted blog post faves!  It’s a rainy evening here and I’m all settled in for some blog reading on my end…enjoy yours as well! 

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009

It is still sinking in and I am quite certain there will be a post or two to follow in regards to THE HOUSE…..here’s the quick version: 

6 weeks ago I got a nudge with several affirmations that it might be time to buy our own house.  It all seemed completely preposterous to me and far beyond my means, so I gave it up to God.  Literally and figuratively.  I have told the kids many times, we will go where God wants us to go, when He wants us to go and we will know when. 

During our marriage, generally, I have picked out homes, Hubby tagged along and agreed, as a good husband does, and then he took care of everything else, I showed up to sign at closing without a clue of all that took place prior to closing.  To do this without him here was a tremendously daunting task.  Suffocating and overwhelming.   We spoke frequently and he guided me along the way and with the help of good friends, I had outside information and quick access when I had questions. My parents offered unending support and love.

When anxiety hit, I let go and God took over.  It was smooth sailing all the way.  Ridiculously smooth.  Thanks be to God, for I am certain without Him none of this would be possible!  Now….that said, I DID wake up at 3 a.m. today in a cold sweat thinking “what the heck did I just do????” and spent the next hour in prayer to release the anxiety.  And again all the way to closing.  Those prayers sustained me throughout the 3 hour closing while the 7 of us swapped various stories to kill time while waiting on the bank to see how long they could drag it out. 

In the end….I have a multitude of keys on my key chain, 2 garage door openers, ecstatic children and a beautiful neighborhood with the promise of our next amazing chapter!

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                                                                                          Home Sweet Home!!dsc_0012

 

                                                                                    Love this sweet center islanddsc_00081

                                                                       Fabulous back yard AND swing set to play ondsc_0009

                                                                                                      Back patio

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                      This mural is in the kitchen, I just love it.  Reminds me of my favorite movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun”dsc_0013

 

                                                                         Jasmine around the mailbox….heavenly! 

***4 years later…update:  It’s still a great neighborhood.  We’ve had friends and family stop by, stay over, come for dinner, birthdays, holidays and just to hang out.  There have been countless maintenance/upgrades in closets, bathrooms, and various other thingamabobs inside the house and in regards to the pictures I’ve put up with this blog: we’ve repainted the house and trim, the front island got a makeover with stones replacing the wood “curbing”, the swing set hit the curb about 3 years ago, the magnolia tree next to the swing set was cut down due to disease and replaced with an elm in the front yard, the back porch received a super cute makeover (I really need to Pinterest it at some point….), I still love the mural in the kitchen and the jasmine faithfully blooms every spring.  God has been gracious and generous and continues to guide us and protect us every step of the way and this house that we call home….is a daily reminder of the fact that God IS good.  

Memorial Day

As we remember those who died serving our country, the sacrifices of those who currently serve and the veterans whose lives are forever changed by their service, we gain an extra day off in the process.  In the wake of this week’s brutal slaying in the UK we are reminded of what these men and women face daily and how easily we can take that for granted.  So this weekend, say a prayer of thanksgiving for our service men and women, buy a meal for a veteran or a soldier home on leave, encourage that ROTC cadet.  It is a bittersweet occupation, but for those who answer the call and their families, let us pray for them and give thanks for their sacrifices.

 

May-hem…the gardening version

Friday again and that brings us to Jen (who’s got a publisher!!!!!! for her book!!!!) and her peeps.  Can you say book tour???  Yes.  Yes, I can!!  Of course, let’s let her enjoy her newborn and finish up this crazy little month of MAY!

And with the craziness of May…what WAS I thinking of pulling off the annual “Every day in May” blog-a-thon again?  I totally and completely retract that post, statement and thought.  It’s been a big fat FAIL, in fact, this QT is basically consisting of photos of our garden and spring in full bloom here.  Check ’em out and if you have some tips for us…throw ’em out in the comment section…(I do LOVE some comments) because we are mostly winging it in the gardening arena!!!

Without further ado about nothin’…..our garden (otherwise known as “Who knew Hubby had a green thumb” AKA “How will we know when it’s ready for harvest”).  Enjoy!

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I hope these babies do as well as last year….MAN we had cucumbers every other day!!

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Lettuce. I guess it’s ready when it’s bigger?

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Peas. Experimenting. They are almoooooooooost hooking up with the lattice to climb.

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And….yeah, not really sure when to pluck these. Clearly not yet…but…..yeah, not sure when.

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We’re not even sure WHERE the broccoli is going to show up. Another fun experiment, because we can eat some broccoli around here!!

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Disregard the weeds that we need to yank, but that isn’t grass folks….and sadly, I don’t really remember WHAT kind of onion it was….I’m leaning toward green onion, because I do enjoy those. Hmmm, time will tell.

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No explanation needed. These did well last year. We got a little flooding last weekend and spotted a few (unwelcome) visitors, so they’ll be getting the Sevin treatment tomorrow….and hope for the best!

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check out those ITTY, BITTY oranges!!!! First year we’ve had ANY sign of life out of this tree. Super excited!!

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For kicks, we figured what did we have to lose except a little part of the yard that does nothing!

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My hydrangea!!! First year of blooms since I planted it two years ago!!! Looks like the flowers will be pink! LOVE. THIS. PLANT!!

And so that was more than 7….I know….it’s been a long week!  Thanks for humoring me 🙂

Have a blessed weekend !!

Friday..flipping it to the weekend

Here we go, people.  Friday.  Sliding into the weekend.  After this week from H.E.double toothpicks at work, I’m THRILLED to see it here.  Now if I make it through the day without the big cheese showing up with a briefcase and calling me into the office, I’ll be good to go.

 

— 1 —

In case you missed it, yesterday was my birthday.  27 again.  See yesterday’s post for the deets. Pics at the bottom!

— 2 —

With all the work stress, I’ve been REALLY, REAAAAAAAALLLLLLLY trying to decide what ELSE I want to do/be when I grow up.  Hubby has some good ideas, so this weekend I’ll have to actually sit down and get the ball rolling.

— 3 —

I did spend time in Adoration yesterday, which is ALWAYS good for some peace.  Trust.  Strength.  Courage.  And I’ll trust that God will provide the window/door/key at the appropriate time.

— 4 —

I did come up with some ideas on blog changes as well, something I’ve been mulling over for a while.  It’s a little lower on the priority list but I think they are some good and useful ideas, especially for busy people who want to live and eat healthier.  Got your attention, right??

— 5 —

I’m going to start sewing!!!!  I’m currently looking for a good machine…not terribly complicated but able to do wild and crazy things.  Maybe THAT’S my next calling!!!!  Or just a stress relief.  Either way…ideas????  Send ’em on….

— 6 —

May is winding down.  We still have a spring band concert, awards, 5th grade graduation and end of the year parties to go, but we are taking it one-day-at-a-time and checking the white board calendar as we go.  Love summer, but getting through May is a necessary evil, no?

— 7 —

Bday flowers at work.  Gracing a work station.

Bday flowers at work. Gracing a work station.

Homemade bday cake!!  Deeeeeelish!!!

Homemade bday cake!! Deeeeeelish!!!

Bday dinner.  Before the carnage.  You'd think we never feed these kids!

Bday dinner. Before the carnage. You’d think we never feed these kids!

Our post-brawl cat sleeping it off in the boys open drawer.  At least he's eating and drinking and moving around now.

Our post-brawl cat sleeping it off in the boys open drawer. At least he’s eating and drinking and moving around now.

My great casserole dish bag from "Thirty One"..HMU if you want one, I'll put you in touch with Amanda!

My great casserole dish bag from “Thirty One”..HMU if you want one, I’ll put you in touch with Amanda!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

27 again…birthday fun!

Every time I turn 27 again, it’s just awesome.  Really.  (16 times now, I’m getting good at this!!)  To the guy who sold me my lottery ticket and wanted to make sure I was 18 (wink wink)….he so has my business forEVAH!!!  To my favorite co-worker who told me how young I look.  THESE are the people who make turning 27 again, just fun!!  what’s a number anyway….phhht!!!

Since I didn’t take the day off, my awesome friends at work had b-day snacks aplenty in the healthy fashion…even the cake was a lo-cal version….of the frickin’ delish nature!!  And lovely flowers from one of the girls who just has an amazing garden of flowers and shares them for birthdays.  Adoration for lunch.  Bomb-dig.  Chinee-takee-outee (is that PC?) for dinner and homemade birthday cake for dessert.  Catching up on Once Upon a Time with the girls after showers.

Top it all off with a slew of text messages, phone serenades, Facebook/Twitter wishes, a super awesome “Thirty-One” casserole baking carrier, Silpada earrings, mani-pedi, hand soap….what girl could be happier??  None in this house.

And now, it’s time to put this 27 (again) gal to bed!  Peace out y’all!