minimizing....

I am NOT a minimalist, quite the opposite, although I have a strong admiration for the empty look.  The less cluttered spaces.  A few years ago I was with some friends, and one was talking about how she was minimalist, didn't want too many toys for the grandkids, ect., and another friend, to whom English is a second language, said, "I am a maximumalist!  It was too funny.  

I want to have ALL the toys for the grandkids, and all the small appliances, all the cups and mugs and glasses and silverware, yet...when I visit someone who has just one matching set of silverware, and not random chopsticks and plastic forks and several baggies of birthday candles and twists from bread loaves in their silverware drawer, I think maybe I'm a teeny bit too hoard-y.  (To be fair, we have a lot of birthdays, and I do use those twist ties...what do people do when they open the powdered sugar?  Leave the bag opened?  Wait, I know! they have a beautiful plastic storage container with a nice wood top!  ugh)

 Clearing things out is always satisfying, and I actually do it quite often.  I don't save trash or things I don't care about.  I am not actually a real hoarder, but I would like to be a bit more...simple.  We put away the Christmas decorations, and every single year, the Grinch story lines come out of my mouth..."On their walls he left nothing but hooks, and some wire..."  The thing is, it always looks so stark, but this year, I'm finding I like that starkness.  So instead of going through my stuff and finding more to put out to replace Christmas, I'm leaving it stark.  Less is better, right?  The girls have said a few times how they like it like this.  So, we'll see.  ( I have three white fluffy blankets to replace the Christmas ones, a few white and beige fluffy pillows, one gray print snowflake blanket...)

The pool was lovely this fine morning.  When I get home, always a hot coffee, then a bit of a sit in the comfy chair, then get up and move it again.  I vacuumed, and puttered.  The plants needed some water, and the fronts of the kitchen cabinets needed a wipe.  I made a double crust for chicken pot pie, the girls are at work painting today, so I'm going to surprise them with their favorite dinner.  

The sun was shining on the beautiful snow today, for just a little while, so I put my boots and coat on and went out on the deck and basked...it felt so nice on my face.  I need to go to Florida, and it's only the beginning of January.  

The question was asked about me being converted, I'll try to answer.  I was raised Catholic.  My parents had seven children, me being #6.  I did make my first communion, but after that, our church attendance was spotty.  I did feel very holy when I did go to church though.  My little brother and I had a bible story book that we read though and we talked a lot about God.  We shared a room when we were little, and I remember our theory, when talking at night:  every time you did something good, you got a white mark on your soul, something bad, a black mark.  We would lie there and tally up, hoping we did more good than bad.  

My mother's younger brother, my Uncle Billy, was a long haired hippie, but one day, after not seeing him for a while, he came to visit, and he looked like a lawyer, all trim and neat with short hair.  He had found Jesus.  Every time he visited, he would open his bible, and it was amazing.  I had no need of that life myself, I was happy, and things were fine.  But the words he spoke really went into my heart.  

My older brother got converted first.  He went to some small Christian meetings, with my uncle and a few other people.  He neatened up, stopped smoking, drinking, ect., cut his hair.  He called us all in to the dining room one afternoon, and set things straight:  he had taken money from my dad, he paid it back and apologized...he apologized for different things, and said he was going to be different from here on.  It spoke volumes, and I was intrigued.  

At the same time, Paul had some Mormons come knocking at his college door, and he told me he was thinking about God.  I was too.  So we went to this small gathering of Christians, and I remember after that first meeting, that feeling something was missing in my life, that I wasn't such a great person.  

The gospel I heard apprehended my heart.  It gave me hope, and purpose.  Jesus came and made a way for ME!  I could be free from the bondage of sin, and live an overcoming life!  To partake in so great a salvation, day by day, year by year, it's been incredible.  I have experienced, time and time again, that God is near me, and answers my prayers.  One time when Ben was a teenager, for example, he was tearing up the back yard on his four-wheeler, like he had a death wish.  I sighed inside, and silently pleaded with God to watch over that crazy boy.  I heard a voice, loud and clear, Don't worry.  I have bigger plans for him.  This is the truth, God spoke to me as clear as day.

That path was not just a linear path for Ben, we got some gray hairs and were down on our knees, he was a challenging one, but God saw his heart, and heard our prayers, and he was with him in all of it, especially when he was in Afghanistan.  Now he's such a decent upright man, just a pleasure to be with.  

God has given me the patience I needed for just one step more, the grace I needed to be good when I felt awful.  He has blessed me when I've felt at my wit's end, He nudges me to acknowledge the truth about myself, and prods me to be obedient in the small things that nobody sees.  He has poured out so much blessing in my life, it far outweighs any sufferings.  All things work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  All things.  (Romans 8:28). I can say this:  it's a good life, and the very minute you are ready to trust Him with all your heart, and not lean on your own understanding, he will direct your paths. (prov. 3:6)

You can read articles from activechristianity.org if you're interested.  I don't like to preach on here, but I hope I answered the question.  

Now, I need to heave myself from this comfy chair, and go make that chicken pot pie...Miss Charlotte Claire is only here for a few more days, and I know she wants some before she heads back to Germany.  Have a really good day, and if you live in snow globe land, I hope you don't have to drive in it!  If you're south, or in Florida, can I come visit you?  

forty three years ago today...

 ...I met Paul!  I'm sure you've heard this story before, and far be it from me to repeat a story! (Does anything sting like hearing one of your kids mumble, Mom, do you know how many times you've told me this?).  But, since this is my blog, and I like telling stories, here we go:

When I was sixteen years old...wow, I'd slap my girls silly if they did this, but anyway.  When I was sixteen, I spent the weekend at my cousins' house.  I could write a book just about these cousins, their house was down on a little creek that flowed into Owasco Lake, they also owned a little empty lot right on the lake, for swimming and camp fires.  They called us their City Cousins, even though we lived in the suburbs.  Back then, before the internet, before satellite t.v., differences of living just an hour or two away from someone could mean different regional sayings (they called soda pop!).  They went to a school that was in the middle of corn fields, and they wore flannel shirts, even the girls.  We loved them so much, and loved visiting them, with their goats and chickens.  

Anyway.  My cousin Susie was 18, and my older cousin Tim took us out to a nightclub that is no longer there.  I had to lie my little butt off to get into that bar, I assured the bouncer that I was born in 1963...back then the drinking age was 18, and places weren't as strict.  So I got in.  My cousin and I didn't drink, we just stood around and picked out cute guys.  I chose this tall thin guy with long curly hair, in a navy blue velveteen v-neck pullover.  (The phrase of the night was wouldn't I like to bring HIM home to mama!)(we were very silly!)

Well, that cute guy was up at the bar getting a beer, and my cousin pointed out that his shirt tag was sticking out.  She dared me to go tuck it in.  So I did.  He turned around and had two Old Vienna splits, remember OV splits?  7 ounce beers.  They were two for a buck that night, I think.  He handed me one and we started talking.  Oh dear, was I ever smitten.  He was in college, and assumed that since I was in a bar, I was at least 18...oh dear.  

Anyway...the rest is sort of history?  We both got converted before we got married, decided to live for God, and things have been very blessed and amazing for us, although of course not without trials!  

Anyway.  That was a long long time ago.  (He said he never went out like that but it was his last night of break before going back to college, and his younger brother dragged him out of the house, good thing he went!)

We're in a snow globe again.  It's lovely. 

Yesterday some grandchildren visited me.  Wulf was building a tower, and next thing you know, he ran out of blocks so grabbed a few from Achilles, which prompted his whole tower to be knocked over...so this was the calm before the storm.  Wulf, Achilles, Tennyson, Rhys across, and Jamie at the end.  Blythe was running around being an angel and not opening cupboard doors, drawers, boxes, and bins.  :)

Margaret made this cake for New Years...

Charlotte Claire and Camille and I went out and about the other day, stopped at a nice little coffee shop.  We then went to the thrift store, where I got a few LulaRoe things, brand new with the tags, for 99 cents.  Someone donated their entire shop of stuff, it was actually rather sad, considering how much they must have paid for those things.  I got two dresses and three tops, for five dollars.  

This fine morning, the lighting all bright from all the snow!  I think it's time to pack up the Christmas stuff today.  The tree has already been taken down, but I've dragged my feet with all the other stuff.  I like it.  But, it's time.  

Yesterday some of the kids came over, Margaret brought some beef to make in the instant pot, I made pot roast with gravy, potatoes and carrots in the Dutch oven, and Char and Cam made a few pizzas with the grandkids.  Football was on, the snow was coming down, and it was a cozy day.  The kids have those bad colds with coughs, but we've all been exposed to each other anyways at this point.  I feel like I'm fighting it.  That sometimes happens and I don't get sick, but who knows?  

Inching away from sugar again has been challenging.  I mostly fast during the day, except for my coffee, then eat dinner.  After dinner, I find myself wanting something chocolate, sometimes a cup of tea will do it, sometimes I find myself with some Hershey's kisses.  Last night I had two Trader Joe's peanut butter cups, they are terrific.  I made a small batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies yesterday, and made the mistake of breaking off a little piece.  What do I think is going to happen, I'm going to think Oh yuck, I don't want anymore of this!?  Nope.  Chewy and satisfying and carmel-y and crunchy and sweet and amazing, oh dear!  Ten times harder to stay away from, ha.  

Ah well.  Time to get moving.  I try not to sit for too long at a time, I washed dishes and did laundry in between, and got a second cup of coffee.  The hard part is that my computer only works when it's plugged in, and if the cord gets jostled when I get up, I have to restart it.  (Oscar replaced the battery for me, and it still happens). (But it still works, so I still use it).  Anyway.  Have a really good day, and if you're in the north east, enjoy the beautiful snow!