it's coming along...

My daughter's new house, (well...new to them - anyway), is being unpacked ever so slowly - one box at a time.  My feet ache with fury too!  I was so disappointed today when I contacted Craigslist for an advertised cupboard.  We thought it would be fairly large - but when it arrived - it was ever so small.  I wanted to cry!  And so did my daughter.

The builder who built this house - must have been a single guy who never cooked!  There are only 2 drawers in the kitchen and one of which cannot open because the stove handle is in the way!  There are very few cabinets and not very much room to put anything away!  Sadly - they will have to make due until they can find a better place than this.

It's situated on the river, which is very pretty!  But very sticky and humid! And loads of bugs!  But....for a while I'm sure they will enjoy living there.  The master bedroom is HUGE...and so is the living room.  It's all open to the kitchen and dining room.  However, the 2 other bedrooms are very small - and one doesn't have a closet. Thankfully, they have a wardrobe/dresser to help with the clothes.

it's not a bad little house...but it has very little storage.  And what storage it does have - is not situated or easily accessible.  The closet in the 3rd bedroom may go as wide as the room - but you can't get to the clothes through the tiny door they installed.  It's really crazy!

It's pretty disappointing because their landlord said that he was going to clean it up and paint, but did nothing.  There is no mirror in the main bathroom, the towel rod is missing, there are countless holes with make-shift patches, the walls are filthy and spider webs are everywhere!  There is a board screwed into the living room wall - and all the screws are stripped - so you can't take it off the wall!  The carpet as pet odors, and needs to be cleaned!  The air filter was disgustingly gross and pitch black! Yuk!  Nothing like destroying your airconditioning and heating unit!
Tomorrow will hopefully be a more productive day. 
My grandchildren are so excited about sleeping in their beds in the house for the first time tonight!  We got the most of their things unpacked and tried to set up their rooms the best we could.  I somehow think that we didn't even make a dent in the boxes though!  Ha ha!  But one box at a time....and eventually - they will be settled soon enough.  Shew!

Meanwhile though....I'm keeping an eye out for a pantry to help with their situation of no storage space!

Moving In Day

Shew!  What a day!  HOT HOT HOT!!!  My car temperature read 114 "HOT" degrees!  I am soo thankful that my blower started working again - or I'd be without airconditioning!  Thank you Lord!!!

My daughter Michelle and son-in-law Jay had LOTS of snags in  moving into their new house.  They couldn't get in touch with the landlord - so when they arrived in town - they didn't have a key to the house.
They also discovered that the city wouldn't turn on their water until they saw the lease in person!  So...no water! AND it was Memorial Day Weekend - so businesses are closed until Tuesday!

Their was no choice but to stay in a hotel!  Which is nice - and thankfully Steve was able to get me a room with points.  Remarkably (for a Memorial weekend - and LOTS of travelers - we were able to get rooms and right across the hall from one another!  Yeah!  

The moving truck arrived this morning and I think after a few hours - my daughter was in near tears.  The moving company broke many of their belongings - and then had the nerve to say there is a "deductible" for $500.00.  I think NOT!  They broke it - they pay for it all!

I've never seen such a lack of care for others' things - but to have a long-distance moving company NOT use a GPS!  Crazy!  The one guy's attitude was horrible.  He was mad that he had to work on Memorial Day Weekend!

Anyway - they need to do a claim for all the pieces broken.  The story is lengthy...so I won't go into detail.  I think they need to do a claim for sure though!

F.R.U.S.T.R.A.T.I.O.N.  DOESN'T SEEM TO COME CLOSE!!!

But....on a lighter side of things.....the hotel's swimming pool was mighty inviting after an extremely HOT day of moving...unpacking what little we could without water......(they didn't clean the house - as they promised!)  I think my grandchildren had a GREAT time!!!

Tomorrow....another day.....and more boxes to unpack!  Maybe I'll try to get into the girls' room!  Shew!  Q. Oh where is my hairbrush? A.  In a box!  Ha ha ha!  Just kidding!

Thank you Lord - for another day!  I'm praying for a better - more productive day - WITH water!!! :)

Wonderful weekend in Blowing Rock, NC

It was a restful and wonderful weekend with my son Matt and daughter-in-law Jessie.  They booked us a room at their favorite Bed and Breakfast in Blowing Rock, NC.  the Maple Lodge is a quaint B&B in a quaint little town.  Everywhere we went was dog-friendly.  I've never seen a place where dogs are such an overwhelming welcome part of the town!  The town itself was very accomidating to people, and benches, chairs, tables with umbrellas were scattered everywhere throughout the town, along with paths that led to, yet another, beautiful place to see.  Rodedendrons where everywhere - and soo beautiful!  Nestled in the Appalatian Mountains - the view was beautiful!  I had such a great time!  Steve, on the other hand - was very antsy - as work....well...he has a hard time NOT doing!  He did however, keep his phone calls to a minimum.  lol

There were posted signs in all the restaurants and shops that requested, "No cell phones."  So Steve slipped outside.  OH well....work is work...and when it rains - you gotta do what you gotta do.

All in all - it was a wonderful weekend.    As for the guys though...Matt and Steve had a blast at the dulcimer shop...and are now proud owners of the beautiful instrument!  I think I may try to learn it too....it's a lot of fun and quite a remarkable little instrument! 

I am so thankful!  As we ventured down the many paths - I began to wonder just how beautiful Heaven and its gardens will be.  There are some places just soo beautiful here on earth - that it makes you wish time could stand still while you grasp its beauty!  Heaven will - no doubt - be breath-takingly beautiful for our eyes to behold!  I catch myself wishing Jesus would just take us home. 

Our world...and its ways - sadden my heart so much!  The craziness of our political world - with a multitude of opinions, the famine in various places, the earthquakes, tornadoes and floods that have devistated such vast areas throughout our world!  The wars and rumours of wars....violence seemingly everywhere!  The list is endless it seems!  The party-world of godless people - who live to have their next drink, or drugs, etc.  My heart is enormously heavy!  Do they not realize that we will all stand accountable one day before the King of Kings???!  What will we say when we stand before the Throne of God - as we will not have an excuse for anything - because there is no excuse - except for plain disobedience and rebellion against God!  So many in our world today refuse to accept Jesus as the ONLY way into Heaven's doors!  Then there are still so many who attend church religiously - but  their hearts are far removed from God and His ways!  Even so there are countless lost who talk about Jesus - and use His name - yet fill themselves with beer and wine and hard liquor until they're drunk - and have the ignorance to believe that they will still enter the gates of Heaven!  It's those that I pray for - along with so many other things in our world today!  I'm praying that God will open their eyes before it's too late!!!

Jesus tells us not to be drunk with wine - but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit!  He told us that we can do greater things than He did while on this earth - because it's HE who empowers us to do all things!  Sadly, however, many have been taken captive to do the will of Satan - rather than that of God's!  Yet, they do not even realize it!

Then there are those who won't give God 5 minutes of their week - or life - and yet somehow fathom that  when their lives are ended on earth that they will inherit the Kingdom of God for all eternity! They're so deceived!

We must no longer live as the world does - we MUST live as aliens in this lost and dying world!  The Bible tells us not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove that which is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God! (Romans 12:2).

My son-in-law Jay was a Hospice Chaplain dealing with those who were terminal.  He came to the conclusion that even in their old age, KNOWING full well - that they were terminal and dying and at the very end of their lives - the majority were embittered toward the gospel of Jesus and didn't want any part of it.  Even though they were told and KNEW that without Jesus - it would be an eternity of torment!  They just didn't care!  I'll bet they will start caring once they're cast into the outer darkness, where men will weep and knash their teeth.

...For the mind set on the flesh leads to death, (eternal separation from God in a lake of fire, where the thirst is never quenched), but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (in Heaven.....where the Light IS
God...and peace).

We all make choices!  Every single moment of every single day - we have the priviledge of choices!  I pray for those who have not yet considered Jesus Christ for their Lord and Savior....believing upon Him for eternal life everlasting!

If you died today?  Where will YOU spend eternity???

Choose Jesus......and then find a Bible-believing church - and get into the Word of God!  There is refreshing unspeakable that cannot be explained in words.  It's awesome!  Jesus truly is the answer to every problem!  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life....and NO ONE comes to the Father - except through Him.

Praying for you today!!!

Packing 'em up to move them out!

Whew!  It's been a whirlwind of packing up my daughter and family to make the move to Tennessee!  I am elated - to say the least.  I have prayed for them to move back to Tennessee...and God granted the request!  I'm so grateful!  So completely thankful that my daughter and grandchildren will only be 45 minutes away!!!  Meanwhile....my feet hurt and my muscles are soo sore!  But....such progress!!!!  The house is nearly packed completely!
I think I'll leave the garage to my son-in-law though!  :(  I hate spiders......of any kind!!!!

I cannot wait til they're settled into their new house!!!

Woo hoo!!!

Wagons.....Hoah!!!!   Yipee!!! :)

Delight yourself in the Lord...and He will grant you the desires of your heart!  He has mine!  Thank you Lord!
Pictures to post later.....my computer will not connect to their server!

Glucose levels down today! Woo hoo!

I awoke early this morning to the sound of a very annoying kitty-cat!  Grrr!  Her alarm clock is NOT favorable!  I had forgotten to shut my door...which I won't do again!!! Needless to say - that I could not get back to sleep and decided to start my day earlier!  :(

First things first.....check my glucose!   This has been the biggest and most challenging battles of my entire life!  I am trying hard to stay within the limits of 20 carbs or less for each meal. (At least it's NOT 20 carbs per DAY!!!  Totally impossible!!!)  I was quite encourage this morning - my glucose reading was 85!  Yippeeee!!!!

Now - to start working on the dreaded workout routine.....THAT will take a little more doing!

While searching for my food calorie/carb counter book - I found the Low-Carb Bible!  It's a beautiful book filled with wonderful pictures and delectable low-carb recipes!  I worked on the zucchini and yellow crooked neck squash with garlic, onion and stewed tomatoes!  I can't figure out the carb-content - but it was soo good!  I think it needs a little bit of basil. 

I'm trying to season without salt.  Salt is my 2nd worst enemy.  My first - is sugar!  NO MORE SUGAR!

If I cannot get my glucose levels under control - the next step is incilin!  NO WAY!!!  I have to get serious!!!

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.  Psalm 36:5

Worst lab technition ever! And I met her today!!!

I had to go in to the doctor's office this morning for routine lab work.  I thought it would be a piece of cake!  Easy - peezy!  In and out - and back home so I could eat...but more importantly was to have a cup of COFFEE!!!!!  This was a fasting lab work.  I dislike those - but, at times they're necessary!
As I sat in the little lab room - the nurse proceeded to do her routine and when she went to draw blood - it didn't work....instead I began experiencing the WORST burning pain that I have EVER felt!  So...instead of her withdrawing the needle - she plunged it further into my vein - and I could barely contain my tears!  Oh my gosh!  The hot burning pain pulsated - racing up my arm!  Finally - she withdrew the needle - and tried the other arm.  Thankfully - it was successful! 
I'm not too sure that I want her to do that one again!  Good gracious!!! :(
Worst lab experience I've ever gone through and pray I never experience again - EVER!

Rearranging.....AGAIN!!!

Whew....I am soo exhausted!  I was soo busy today rearranging my office....yet...again!  One day I will get it right!  lol...
I had moved my desk - only to realize that the lighting was so bad that I could not see very well - and just couldn't use my desk.  Even with a lamp.  So - I moved my desks near the window so that I can SEE!!!  My eyes just aren't as good as they used to be.
Now to finish hanging a picture, (large picture), and then I need to get even busier!  I need to finish rearranging the filing cabinets - clean out the junk - and arrange and organize so I can find everything again!
Whew!  What a busy day!!!!

I am going to be soo sore tomorrow!

But at least now - I can see!!! :)

Today is the day that the Lord has made....I will rejoice and be glad in it!!! 
Hope you're having a blessed day! :)

Mother's Day was soo nice!

I am so thankful for my children!  Everyone of them remembered me in special ways - and it made my heart warm and fuzzy!  I miss them so badly!  It's not easy when they all grow up and move away!  I don't get to see them or talk to them much.  Most times - I feel if I do call too much - they think of it as an intrusion.  In that respect - I tend to feel them pushing away and closing me off from their lives. 

But enough of that....

My son Josh spent the night - and we stayed up playing spades.  Later - Josh brought out his extra Wii hand controls - and Chris got the Tiger Woods Golf - so we played miniature golf.   We had such a great time!
Steve won!  Bummer....I came in last.....but then again - I didn't quite know how to use the controls.....ha ha!

Yesterday morning - we were running late, and so we ended up going to another church in Whitehouse - which is a lot closer to us!  It's not LongHollow - but it's still a nice church!  We met up with some wonderful friends, Lori and Darren Melching.  I just love them!  They are really sweet people!

In the morning before we left for church - I turned the oven on at 250 degrees and placed in the cut up vegetables that I prepared the night before.  Also added to the mix was russett baked potatoes and sweet potatoes - nicely wrapped in foil.  By the time we got home from church - the veggies were all cooked - and all that remained was firing up the BBQ'er.  YUM!  What an awesome lunch!  What an awesome fellowship with my children!  I enjoyed my time so much.

They remembered me!  My daughter Michelle left me a message on facebook, my son Matt text messaged me....(welcome to the new age of life...no one actually TALKS to you anymore!)  But anyway - it was nice to hear something.

My son Matt and Jessie sent a goody package with a new apron, (desperately needed - I may add), and 2 beautifully fluted yellow coffee cups.  I love them!  Along with a new rubber spatula!  All from Williams Sonoma - which is always wrapped so nicely!!!  Thank you Matt and Jessie for your thoughfulness.

Chris and Josh went in together to get me a HUGE designer clock.  It's really pretty!  I'll take pictures soon.
Also a card that said the sweetest things!  It made me want to cry!!! 

My daughter said the package from her and my son-in-law Jay was on it's way.....but I still have not received it.  Oh well....I'm looking forward to the surprise!  All in all - it was a nice day!

I did though - miss my mother.  I always will.  I cannot believe that it will be 5 years this May 25th since she died.

I did call my first mother-in-law Betty.  She wasn't feeling very well.  I sure miss her!  She was the one who taught me to cook!  And how to gracefully prepare a feast! 

Steve's mom died a few years ago too - so I'm sure that he was forelorn - only never said a word.  I guess guys don't.

Anyway......Happy Mom's day for all the moms out there!  Cherish EVERY moment as if it's your last - and be busy about creating precious memories!  As the memories are the only thing you will be left with.....and what you'll cherish the most.

Cleaning and Organizing....Doing what I do best!!!

It's been a busy busy few days!!!  But well worth the effort it took.  All looks so nice!  I think I was most blessed - and I truly LOVED my time with Micah!!!!

Spent the day with Grandson Micah

It's been a long day - that actually started at 3:00 a.m. - (thanks to Sadie who thinks she needs her kitty food at that time!  Argh!

Micah couldn't go to daycare due to his ear infection and pink eye.  Poor little fella!  So I drove into town and stayed with him all day.  He's sooo cute! 
As I was sitting there holding him - he busted out giggling!  Ha ha!  I have no idea what he thought was so amusing!  So cute he is!  Wow!  He's getting HUGE!  He will be one year old in June - I cannot believe that much time has gone by since he was born.
I will post pix later.
My pillow beckons me!

Sweet dreams!!!

Grieving, Rejoicing that Osama bin Laden Is Dead

It's hard to know how to feel with the news that Osama bin Laden is dead!  In some ways - I want to cry...tears of the memory of 9-11 and all those lost by the acts of this terrorist.

Sad for a lost and heartless soul that will spend an eternity in the fires of Hell, where men will weep and gnash their teeth in torment.  I suppose it's justice for someone so heartless.

It's so hard for me to realize that in our world we have people who have no conscience or thought toward others.  Just sheer hate that resonates from their demented mind!

Grieving, Rejoicing that Osama bin Laden Is Dead

He's dead!  And now - I'm holding my breath to see the retaliation from his followers.  The terrorists - I've no doubt - are already plotting their wicked schemes!