With Mondays like this Who Needs Dentists?

After a fitful night's sleep, due to I.T.'s and my tense, Sunday afternoon discussion concerning a certain budget (thank you, Dave Ramsey, for that Financial Police University), Monday rolled in about an hour late for what the responsible, working world finds acceptable. Thus, this mother/daughter home educating duo reluctantly marked themselves tardy. Two and a half cups of coffee (drunk from a uniquely Charleston mug *smile*) later, the discovery of the empty toilet paper roll came too late.

Mind far from the day's schedule and farther still from the calendar in the kitchen drawer by the phone that tells it, caused the call from the perturbed dentist's receptionist, which rang in as I stepped from the shower, to deliver a quick shock followed by a deep sinking feeling like being tied to a pole in the bowels of the Titanic after she hit the iceberg. Failure, my favorite feeling - punctuated by the fact that this was the rescheduled appointment from the one I missed last month. Who needs dentists anyway? I brush. "Well can you get here in two minutes?" No, I can't get there in two minutes, my hair is wet and I haven't brushed my teeth.... "Oh. Well. Then. I guess we can RE-schedule you for next Monday at...." But next Monday I may still be feeling too embarrassed and schmucky to face the dentist. I think I'll just move to Australia like Alexander in that Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day book.

The cupboards are bare, the shopping list lies on the counter. But is it possible to stay within the budget? Don't shop on an empty stomach. I am hungry. But the samples at Costco are enough for any girl's lunch. Costco. Budget? Costco. Budget? ???? It's 2 o'clock in the afternoon for crying out loud. I've gotta get going. I.T. will be home soon and no dinner could lead to another budget discussion. No thank you.

Tuesday, come quickly- I need to start over.

Uniquely Charleston Giveaways Arrived- Pictorial

Remember back in August, Greg, from Greg's General Store, decided to have a giveaway? I entered and then went on vacation. I returned to find I'd won! Thursday was my birthday and the giveaway arrived on Saturday. What a nice birthday present! Thank you, Greg! See what I got....

(yes, purple polka dot pajammies)

(Fash's birthday card to me is playing peek-a-boo in the background)

No sweat. Time flew...and then it was here!!

Awesome, Charleston mug!

And the flip side.

A pair of matching Charleston mugs!!

The only tea plantation in the U.S.- is just down the street from Greg's place! Cool!

A bag of biscotti! Yummy! Only three left, as I type...("I can't believe I ate the whole thing.") and a bag of coffee- mmmm....

Thank you so much, Greg! These uniquely Charleston gifts are terrific. Everyone is welcome for a cup of Charleston tea- anytime!

Thankful Thursday, the Birthday Edition

Thanks to Sonya, at Truth 4 the Journey, every Thursday bloggers everywhere can celebrate the top five anythings for which they are truly thankful! What could be better?

1. I.T. presented me with a birthday card this morning. When I opened it, a band was playing and I.T. (or someone) was singing:

Youuuu're still the one....we're still havin' fuuu-un and you're still the one.....

2. Fash gave me a card with a monkey on the front, of course, and inside she wrote," Thanks for always being there for me, I greatly enjoy our relationship." Nothing could be finer than to read that one-liner in the mo-oh-oh-rning. I love it that I have a "relationship" with my daughter, that she greatly enjoys. I GREATLY enjoy it, too, Fashy!

3. Dinner out tonight- Celebrate good times, come on...there's a par-tee goin' on right here...

4. Fash is staying in the dorm tonight with someone she knows who attends the college we'll be visiting tomorrow. I.T. and I will be in our hotel room. "Yoooore still the one....who can stratch my itch........we're still havin' fu-u-un and yoooore sti- ill the one...." Woot woot!

5. 46 years of family and fellowship with the one, true God who fashioned me in His own image, calls me by name and meets me where I am each and every day, takes me by the hand and leads me on the path of righteousness. It doesn't get any better.......

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and birthday singers from cyberspace. I tried and tried to get a YouTube of "Still the One", but I could not figure out how to put it on here for you. Would anyone like to leave me some clear instructions in the comments on how to get a video from YouTube onto my blogpost? Thanks again everyone! Eat a piece of cake for me today!
One of my favorite books as a child- I still love it.

The Blog or the Husband? The Project. What's Real?

The house is a mess. The "project" in our bathroom continues. Three coats of skim coating (thin layers of plaster slathered on every square inch of wall and ceiling, then sanded off, then put on, off, on....repeat, repeat, repeat........)

In the past two days, I learned that there is such a thing as a husband feeling replaced by a blog. This problem demands action.

I've had visions of me sitting alone on half a barrel in my new, run-down studio apartment (run-down, because that'd be likely all I could afford) clacking out comments on blogposts and pouring out woes on my own blog, using a laptop with a cracked screen from the trash bin outside the apartment complex, while my cat (I don't have a cat-this would be a cat I found in an alley) weaves around my ankles begging me to take time to open our last 33 cent can of tuna. Believe it or not, in the vision, my mouth is not smiling and my eyes are not happy. But I'm blogging.

(If there is an artist out there, who would like to paint this scene in oil on canvas, or sketch it in pen and ink- I'll take a copy. It'd be a perfect, purposeful piece to hang in my bathroom.)

This would be my alley cat in brighter days, before she became addicted to a blogger.

How is it I can be so drawn to a world of strangers, as kind and caring as they are, that I neglect my household- chores and people? Let's get real, Heidi. But bloggies are real.

Outside the Box and Fash, my live-in counselors, tell me blogging is not evil and it is a valid outlet for the love of writing. But really, mom, you gotta get a grip. Set a limit. Set a timer. You see how well their mother has taught them? I now get back at me the teaching I doled out over the years. Isn't it wonderful?

The blogging has become my great escape- from "the Project". Poor I.T., he slathers away, as I slither away to the computer nook to blog. Not good.

So. I'm thinking about my predicament. I'm wondering if the 12 step program will work for blogging addiction.

In the meantime, I'll blog, but maybe less. I'll read blogs and comment- not sure if less will do. I'm only on step 1, remember. But one thing is for sure. I will hold the light to the ceiling, so I.T. can see where cracks still show through, for as long as he needs me to hold the light. I'll hold the vacuum hose under the sander to catch as much plaster dust as possible, until the sanding is done. I'll vacuum up all the plaster dust and wipe down the entire stinking bathroom, even though the sanding will resume within 24 hours. I'll try not to burn the rice, as I did last night- again -(because I just couldn't pull myself away from reading and commenting on Dandy's bachelorette party and Greg's broken cars , I mean Dandy needs to know what color dress I should wear if she wants me to be the alternate in the event that a bridesmaid drops out and I certainly cannot ignore Greg in the midst of his jalopy troubles) even though the timer was going BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP,BE....... At least I set the timer!This is what I do for the sake of "The Project".

Tomorrow is my 46th birthday. October 8. I'll be riding in a silver, Chevy Malibu Maxx south to Indiana with I.T. and Fash to see if the college there will suit her fancy. Never mind we have oodles of colleges right here in Michigan. That's okay, Fash. Because you're something really special, we understand it will take a really special college to get you educated for the real world launch.

As for my birthday- I'm getting a steady stream of lovely cards from my aunts. My amazing and ridiculously birthday card sending time conscious aunts are the most faithful birthday card senders, who ever lived. In fact. It is said in my family that if you do not receive a birthday card from my aunt Donna Lou, it probably isn't your birthday. I can't believe how blessed I am to have aunts like this, who think of me, the peon niece in Michigan, every single year after year, and send me a glittery, "you're the best niece" card. This always makes me smile.

By the way, did anyone notice my fantastically intelligent cousin, K.D.'s comment about the bee? She informed us that the bee is a woman. The men bees only fly when it's time to mate (aha!). After that they just laze around until the hard-working girly bees get tired of them and eat them up. So much to ponder here. Go visit my cousin's blog! You'll love the title. She has collected elephants for as long as I have known her and been involved in Girl Scouts for longer than any girl I know on the planet. She IS Juliette Low, probably. It'll be easy for you to get to know her right off the bat, as she participated in the Random Dozen meme last week. Go! Go meet K.D. and leave her a comment, so she'll know you were there. Say hello for me!

I'm hoping to have 50 followers by my 46th birthday. I have 49. Who wants to be my "birthday present follower"? I have a gift for my 50th follower, but you'll have to leave me your e-mail in a comment, so I can get an address. It'll be something from the Christian bookstore, where I work. Where I love to work. Gosh, I love that bookstore.

Finally, most importantly, see the button in the sidebar of my blog, at the top, that says "Please Pray for Andrew.", well- please pray for this precious boy, his mother-a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and their family and their doctors. Thank you.



To God be the glory, great things He has done,

A Bee

All summer I tried to get a shot of this bee. More than once I almost got stung. She or he, is this a he or a she bee? Probably our friend, KW will know. I'll guess he. He would not stay on one flower long enough for me to choose the best setting, focus, try to figure out how to get the light right. Today I just didn't worry about it. I put the camera close and holding it as still as possible, pushed the button down. Yeah, I see the shadow and some fuzz, but I did get that bee! See....

Buzzin' off to bed-

All the Trees of the Field will Clap their Hands, as You go Out in Joy!

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." Isaiah 55:12&13

I've been spending too much time on the blogs lately. I hafta getta grip and budget my time before I.T. no longer recognizes me. Catch ya later,

Thankful Thursday, though I just remembered it's Friday and a Five Word meme

Sonya, at Truth for the Journey, hosts "Thankful Thursday" weekly. If you click on her name, you'll find many other participants and read all about what everyone is thankful for today (actually yesterday, but who's keeping track). I am not sure who started the 5 Words meme, so I do not know to whom I should give credit. If someone knows, please tell me in the comments.

Today I'll be integrating five words given to me by KrippledWarrior at Some Things I've Learned- the words will be highlighted among the Thankfuls.

#1. About four days out of seven, Fash and I sit down on the sofa in the living room (next to Ziah, the bonsai) and read together from the Bible. We have been doing this for eleven and 1/2 years (the Bible reading part, I haven't had Ziah that long). Currently,we are reading through Isaiah. Today we read chapter 56 and 57. It went something like this:

Isaiah, being a Bible times prophet, doled out messages from the One True God to the people of God. In chapter 56, Isaiah tells the people of God (paraphrased of course), "Look, even if you are socially outcast for some reason, like you can't father children or whatever and even if you are a foreigner- not original Jewish, Israelite kind of guy/gal- God is for you, He is yours, He accepts you, you're really 'in' with Him forever. His casa est you casa. To proclaim this in person, He's going to send you a guy (actually He's comin' down here), whom with his very life, will secure for you- salvation. All this for each who knows and loves Him and therefore seeks to do what is right every dog-gone day of his/her life. It's a real good deal."

57 "Furthermore," Isaiah goes on, "there is rest for the weary in a life lived for God and an everlasting life that will be lived with God! Dude! Don't you want to have it all?"

But to the iconoclastic rebels of the day, God, through Isaiah, had this to say:

"Look. If you insist on living for the moment, drinking to utter drunkenness, lying with prostitutes, burning up your own children to appease Molech- though this whole lifestyle wears you out, yet, you do not deem it hopeless- well, then let your collection of idols save you."

But, of course, they could not.

God goes on to basically say, "My people. I am not some misanthrope, reveling in the destruction of mankind. Mankind is my creation. I made you in my image. I gave you life and breath. I gave you all things good. I love you. Return to me. I'll have you back. I want you. Return and I will be your peace, your comfort- your all-in-all."

I'm thankful for a loving God, who yearns for me to be His own and promises to be my peace and rest. I'd rather have that than anything this world is offering today.

#2. Love. What is it? I think it's Jesus Christ. I can't come up with a definition otherwise. It certainly isn't the warm, tingly feeling I had when that cute football player from my college days winked at me from across the dining hall. At least I hope that wasn't it, because that feeling vanished with my second bite of mashed potatoes. It isn't when he says, "I love you." I know that can't be "it", because two minutes later we are in a heated disagreement about whether or not the first house we ever bought together had lace curtains or shutters. It just has to be something much deeper. I think it is that thing for which you would give your life. And I think it all started with God and was made truly known to mankind when He (Love) came down and gave Himself up for us- that we might live. There is some mystery in it, I know. But this is the best I can do. I'm thankful for love.

#3. I'm thankful that the sardonic, self-centered person that I once was has been redeemed by her Maker and transformed into a less selfish woman, whose passion is to live a life that honors and obeys her Savior, with plenty of fun for everyone and a bit of wit in the mix. There is joy in the journey for the one who chooses the road less traveled. Freedom is found on the straight and narrow. A nice story illustrates this: Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

#4. I just realized I'm doing the Thankful Thursday post on Friday afternoon. WaaHa! Just occurred to me. Oh well, take it or leave it. I'm sooooo thankful it's Friday!! I just like Friday.

#5. I'm thankful for ArtPrize! Fun competition in downtown GR, where artists have plunked their art in places all over the city for everyone to enjoy. And enjoy it we did- last night- my sister, her youngsters, my parents came back in town for it, Fash and me. Artistic expression is just another fabulous gift from God. Have a great weekend!

"Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Savior as my all- in-all, Standing on the promises of God." (my interpretation of this art)

Table and Chairs artwork sitting atop the bridge over the Grand River downtown.


Close-up of what is written on the inside edge of the underneath part of this table art.

Every dog-gone day of your life,

Just re-read my post on my blog, I forgot a word from the 5 Word meme. Shoot! Next time....stay tuned....