it's not for them, it's for me!

 Have you ever watched the news when there was a horrible crime, and the victim's family members decided to forgive the horrible perpetrator?  They don't forgive because the person is worthy of forgiveness necessarily, but because it brings them peace.  

There is the Our Father prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

(Yes, the house trashers have been horrid, and I do wish there was an easier way to hold them accountable, it is only basic righteousness that they should pay for their damages.  In New York state though, good luck.   Perhaps REAL landlords with tons of properties and lawyers and such, can go after deadbeat renters.)  

So my choice to not let anger and indignation eat me alive has nothing to do with how slobby they have been ha.  And I hope it doesn't seem like a screaming case of Virtue Signaling, because believe me, it's not like I just adjusted my halo.  I had some awful thoughts, for example it crossed my mind to go on Facebook and mention them by name and shame them and say DO NOT RENT TO THESE PIGGIES.  But, that is not very nice, and what about the kids?  No, my thoughts were not good, but that is just really unhealthy.  I am not going to let my mind be a playground for horrible thoughts and evil ideas.  

This whole journey of renos and renting has been interesting.  You can feel so defeated, but life isn't how much money you end up with, is it?  We cannot take a penny with us, and we know if we seek His kingdom first, all things will be added to us.  

So here's what I'm doing around the house, another Before and After is in the works!  I found a paint color I really like, just love it...then saw that Sherwin Williams is having 40% off, so I decided to buy one quart of it...it's called Rosemary...here's someone else's picture: 

I don't know why I like the color so much, but I want to paint my white end tables in the living room in this, but I want to sand the heck out of the tops, and get all the layers of paint off, so they're wood tops and this Rosemary on the bottom, with the same champagne bronze cabinet pulls as the coffee table, and the kitchen cabinets.  I already have some pulls, and the sander, just had to buy the little can of paint.  I'm going to paint my bathroom vanity first and see if I like it as much as I think I will.  I will try so hard to remember the "before" picture!

This is the Ikea cube thing under the tv.  Wasn't it black?!  Why yes, it was!  I switched it with the one that was in the toy area!  I kept the black cubes, now the toy area has the black one but with the colored cube things.  We are so fancy with our Ikea furniture!  Aaron gave us this one, and Emily bought the other one for me when she took a trip to the Pennsylvania Ikea years ago.  Maybe some day I'll find something different, but for now, they're fine.  I do like this one better over here though.  

Today:  pool, which was absolutely fantastic.  It feels so good to move in the water, I was so achy!  I dropped Camille off at her housecleaning job, then went to pick up my paint, then to Aldi for just a few things...I am having grandkids for dinner tomorrow and accidentally bought jalapeno pizza dough.  ugh.  Next stop was Marshalls to see if by some miracle there was a dress really cheap, a beautiful dress.  Nope.  Then a coffee, ahh, then the nice drive home.  You can't imagine how wonderful it is to drive on a nice clear road in 40 degree temperatures, with the sun almost peeking through the clouds onto the deep deep snow.  It's just really pretty, and so pleasant not to worry about white outs or slippery roads.  I picked up Camille...

Home....ahh, home.  Kathryn pulled in the driveway right after me.  She had to bring Achilles to an appointment, so we were watching Rhys and Jamie.  Rhys was crying upon arrival, good thing I had just bought dye-free lollipops in Marshalls!  She was fine in no time.  We gave check ups to the dolls, and she called me on her cash register phone (the little scanner part, it's not even a phone ha), and we talked across the room from each other.  Jamie put the plastic coins in the plastic pig, and threw the plastic Oreos and played with the singing, dancing Bluey.  I gave them blueberries, he got three and Rhys got five, and he was not fooled.  He said, "Want more, one two three."  Kathryn came back with Achilles, and we had a nice afternoon, wherein I also made a pot of chicken soup for dinner.  

Soup bubbling away in the Dutch oven, keto brownies in the oven (I ruined them with toasted walnuts, they just don't add anything...should have just left them with unsweetened shredded coconut and the Lily's dark chocolate chips, lots of baking cocoa...very good, just not the walnuts!)

Anyway.  It was a good day.  My empty week is filling up:  grandkids coming tomorrow, then Camille and I are helping with Activity Club.  Wednesday, pool then brekky with my pool friends, we've been trying to do this for absolute weeks and it hasn't worked out!  Margaret is coming over at noon, she has some important work calls so I'll keep the kids busy.  Thursday is blank still, Friday Margaret will come over again with the kids.  I imagine the weekend will be working on The House, the Dreaded House, ha.  (We set mouse traps and sprayed flying insect spray before we left the other day, and I set out the lavender infused paper towels, so hopefully it's not as bad now).  Then next week, I will be going to Norway...

Have a really good evening, and above all, be thankful!  Thankfulness is a powerful weapon, it's good and helpful and encouraging and it drives out so much misery.  :)