It is amazing how God works to help us along our journey setting everything into place.  Sometimes the bad has to happen to make the perfect stage for the good.  I have enjoyed my morning thoroughly this morning. Helped my daughter get ready for spirit day today and smiled inside at what a beautiful young woman she is becoming. I will cherish every moment knowing that the days will pass so quickly and she will be out on her own.  My son looked strikingly handsome this morning going off to school and the bond that he and his father has is amazingly beautiful.  I hope one day he grows to have a wealth of talents he shares with his family from what he has learned tagging with dad.  My husband and I had quiet time together and he pulled me close to his chest and told me he wished he could keep me there forever.  My heart leaped and overflowed with love.  My work schedule has worked out and I should have one extra day per week through the end of January, which will help with the winter bills.  My house is warm and full of love, and it feels so good to find refuge here.  My father sent me home the "issues" to review before voting in a couple weeks and it is a nice feeling to know at almost 36 my father is still interested in the decisions I make.  My mother shares her Amish love story books with me and for some reason I feel bonded to her when reading them knowing we share similar values and morals, and I reflect on how much she prepared me to be a good mother.  I am trying to prepare for a girlscouts meeting this afternoon and decided I was trying to hard. This is about giving the girls a sense of belonging and setting an example and guiding them to be better people. Not about awards or time limits, so I hope to have a great meeting today.  It was posed to me not long ago by someone I love dearly that it just didn't make sense that there was a God that would let bad things happen to people and war to be going on and famines and homeless people. If he was a real father He would make everything right. Sad to think that at one time every thing was perfect and sin ruined it. God doesn't make the bad things happen, sin and the devil does. Pride does. Selfishness does. God is the small glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, the hand that picks us up, the good that is left in this earth.  He has to be invited to help us and we have to be willing to make things right. He shows us the way instead of handing us the answers.  The devil has knocked on my door so many times in the last 3 or 4 years and tried everything in his power to discourage me and make me give up. I have been close but every time I was at a breaking point and in tears, I closed my eyes and gave it all over to the Lord and simply looked for the answers.  There was always answers and my family has grown. I cannot begin to count the blessings, our cup overflows.  So I will continue to smile and enjoy my days and pray that you will to.  Be grateful for all of your blessings instead of focusing on the misfortunes. Have a great day everyone.
 

This morning I am grateful for my high school english teacher, Mrs. Marie Ellerbrock. I helped my nephew with his college english essay and I see that it is just not being taught like it used to. I asked him to write down his thoughts and then I transformed them Ellerbrock style!!! He had a huge smile on his face with the end result.I am thankful grammar skills and imagery were instilled in us that we might pass it on to another generation. It feels like it is gonna be another cocoa or capaccino day. I hope everyone stays warm and toasty. Gonna prep for the girlscout meeting on Friday and work on my portfolio to gain an advancement at work--5% raise to put my accomplishments and efforts on paper.  The scheduler called last night from Dupont and I was able to sign up for another day per week through the end of February which again is a huge feeling of relief and satisfaction.

A very dreary day today, but yet i am thankful. Every season has it's place and has it's part in our beautiful world.  I have felt very blessed by my family today. I sit and ponder sometimes or rather ponder while I try to do things and I thought today how much we really have to be grateful for and how we should be sure to be aware of everything we do. Some people are homeless and begging for a warm blanket and 50 cents for a coffee. How easy is it to leave a blanket on the floor and complain about it being drafty in our "too small" home--or even sweep 50 cents up in the sweeper or throw it in the car ashtray.  Someone is paralyzed and dying to take a step--how many times do we take our strengths and abilities for granted.  Someone is in a coma and dying to speak and tell someone they love them--how many times do we not say the words when we had the perfect opportunity to the people that mean the most to us.There is a mother or father dying wishing they had just a few more moments with their children--how easy is it to tell your kids you will play or participate because things need done first. There are people dying to go to work--how easy is it to complain about overtime and fatigue. There are handicapped people giving 150% to learn a skill--how easy is it to ignore our talents and blessings and be lazy instead.  I challenge you to be aware of every minute of your day so when you go to sleep you have a pure sense of happiness and fulfillment. I am off to make a pillowcase for my daughter--just because she wants to.!

As I clean my house today and try to find spots for everything after the kitchen remodel, I try to remember what inspired me to accumulate all of this JUNK.   I have come to the conclusion that the statement "someone's junk is someone else's treasure" is only partially true.  I have so much of my grandmother's from both sides, mother's and shawn's mother's things in my home. When I took them in I think part of the time I was thinking this meant a lot to them so I should keep this, or maybe I will use this maybe someday.  And do you want to know what: I have never used the stuff and now all it has created is unwanted clutter. I have made a promise to myself that if I am not POSITIVE my family will use the item, it is not coming into my house.  I love my little house, but cannot stand clutter.I believe whole heartedly that less is more.I have amish friends and their house is immaculate and there is no clutter anywhere. The kids have  a small corner with toys, there are a few precious handmade decorations, and the bedrooms are simple and uncluttered and meant for sleeping. It is no wonder their homes are so beautiful, they do not have to move and shuffle junk in order to clean.  I hope by this winter to have my home simplified, donating what is not needed and recycling the materials that can be taken to the center.I have cleaned people's home as employment in the past and growled under my breath at excessive clutter---my oh my I wonder what the cleaning lady would mutter in my home.  Now back to my accumulations and trip to simplification.

Shared from a dear friend

"Worry and stress communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we’ve been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won’t be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small, indeed." from Crazy Love by Francis Chan

My favorite things this week

My favorite things this week so far is the crunching of the leaves under my feet as I shuffle through the yard, picking the ripened pears off of the tree and cutting for the freezer. Coda throwing a surprise party and planning the menu for no reason at all. The pride on Chelsi's face when she brought home all good grades/seeing her excitement planning for the homecoming game.  My husband being silly and romancing me like we were still dating. My husband going as a chaperone on the preschool field trips and keeping his cool.  My newly redone kitchen made out of almost all recycled goods costing less than 150 dollars.  My home interior wall arrangement I was able to get at a garage sale for about 1/10 the cost.  Doing a happy dance with a toddler in her hospital room after a successful treatment.
My favorite deals/finds this week were: the recipes for windex type cleaner and febreeze type cleaner, a copycat recipe for Bob Evan's Potatoe Soup, Taco Seasoning Bulk Recipe, Recipe for Hair Detangler, Recipe for Carpet Deoderizer.  I did most of my shopping at save a lot this week, and the items I was going to price comp at Walmart-they actually already had cheaper- so it wasn't a struggle this week. My CVS savings for the year hit 600 dollars this week-hehehe.

wow, hard to believe that first post was almost a year and a half ago. Let's just say things exploded and became very very busy.  I think I am finally getting a grasp on it enough to start this blog thing again. I did get a job at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne. I work with children which makes my job so much easier and rewarding. Shortly after I went through orientation my husband lost his job at the factory so we are still on one income. I took on the task of teaching Pediatric Advanced Life Support at a sister hospital. I also substitute as school nurse at a couple of local schools.  Shawn went back for his EMT and passed with flying colors.  He is now continuing on for his paramedic in hope for a better paying job.  I hope to return to school when he is done.  I joined the Van Wert Nurses Association and am now a member of the preschool board. I also became a Girl Scout Leader and am trying to learn the ropes for that.We made it through another year of softball and soccer. BLLLLLUUURRRRR.  In my spare time(lol) I coupon and try to make stuff for my family. We have limited eating out, I do alot of second hand shopping, and use coupons and voutures weekly. I make most of my own cleaning supplies and enjoy sharing my secrets with friends.  We have made it and I think we have done it comfortably.  I know my daughter would love to shop the mall weekly and have more money, but I hope in the journey of this thing called life, my children learn what is really important and what should be valued.