Simplifying my life.

Everything has a season. I guess this is my season of simplifying.  I cleaned out the attic yesterday, box after box of useless junk that at sometime meant something to me. It is like I am somewhat detached from the process. Things I wouldn't dream of parting with two years ago I am parting with easily, almost too easily. I guess it is a realization that at 55 I have only a small amount of time left, and how do I want to spend it?  Maybe it is the fact that my daughter's lovely home burned & nearly everything was lost, so what do we really need?  Altho, in truth, I started this process many months ago.  Of course the grandsons figure in to the equation.  I need more time to free to help with them, and I no longer have the luxury of free time to sort, & clean & dust so many possessions.  Dust if you must, but I'd rather be spending time with those I love..  Photos and memorabilia have so far been spared.  But as for the rest, I am pitching it, be forwarned.

What's good Wednesday?

It's Wednesday again & in honor of my eldest daughter's birthday, I am writing a WGW post, which she usually does.
All 17 of my precious family are alive, & healthy.  This is despite many attempts of Satan this past year to destroy us. But God is faithful!
Desiree's photo albums were pulled from the fire, & the photos are is in good shape!, just not the albums.
I am hopefully going to my last dr appt of the week! :)
All my Christmas shopping is done except for stocking stuffers.
We are completely decorated for Christmas!
Tony's arm is miraculously improving after 8 surgeries & a horrible car wreck in May.  He is surprising the doctors with his recovery!
I am blessed to be Dramaw to 3 precious grandsons, one of whom thinks I am better than Santa!
A new blessed grandchild is on the way in May!!!!! :)
I have good, thoughtful & caring children, which is unusual these days!
I have the most incredible friends!
I have to get on the road to the dr, but thankfully, I have the gas & vehicle to take me there!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Tomorrow, Nov 18 is my Mom's birthday.  She would have been 93. Mama refused to buy a house, because she wanted to travel & she didn't want to be tied down. She never got to travel... Mama took us out to eat once a month even though we didn't have money to pay all the bills because she knew that the bills would always be there, and the memory making moments would some day be gone. Mama believed in magic & she could make you see the wonder and magic in any situation, however ordinary.  When the electricity went out and we were terrified of the storm, Mama would light a lantern and we would huddle on blankets on the floor and tell ghost stories. She taught us to celebrate the ordinary.  We gave gifts "just because I love you".  My Mama always seemed to know the answer to everything.  I don't ever remember doubting her ability to make everything all better.  She could pull money out of a hat for the most anything we really wanted to do in life, music lessons, dance lessons, band instruments...but she skipped lunch every day and worked 3 jobs without complaint so that we wouldn't go without those luxuries.  I can remember her coming home from work hungry, really hungry & grabbing a cold hot dog from the fridge like it was manna from heaven.  Mama could cook, not often, but her homeade stew has never been equaled. She made homemade rolls the size of your fist, and they were sooo delicious. Mama taught us to never give up, to always do our best, to always tell the truth & to always leave the picnic area cleaner than we found it. Mama taught us that no matter what the problem if we would get a good night sleep we could start fresh again in the morning and it would be better. Mama worried when I kept having children because what if something happened and I had to raise them on my own...like she did. Mama was always right, of course, and I did have to do that...but her with her example of keeping on, never giving up & hanging in there, we made it through to the finish line, just like she did.  My memory fails me often, age catches up with me at times, but I will never forget the wonderful lessons I learned from Mama.  Happy Birthday Mama, I love you still.

Making a difference.

Something needs to give in my way too busy life. What needs to go?  I want to weigh everything I do in the light of eternity...does each thing make a difference?  Does it impact anyone for the better? Would the world collapse if I didn't do this? Who benefits? Who gets the Glory?  What is my true goal in this life? I wonder what will make the cut?   Prayers appreciated.

Drip drip drop, little October Showers...

I love the sound of the rain as it prances off the rooftop and splashes onto the brick pathway outside my dining room window. It reminds me of my thoughts this morning as I took my daily shower. Every morning I shower and wash off all the dirt & remnants of the day before. It wakes me up, revives my senses & gives me a fresh start for a brand new day with no (so far) mistakes in it. Most mornings, (not every morning, I'm ashamed to admit), I also shower myself with the Word. Those are the days I pray and ask to be washed clean, to have created in me a clean heart, a renewed fellowship with my best friend & Saviour. Just as on the days when I water shower, I smell good, feel good and look better, on the days I spiritually shower, I act cleaner, send a sweet savor to heaven, speak better & make wiser decisions. The rain outside my window is gently washing away the footprints on the pathway. The air smells fresh & clean and I love the cooler breeze it makes. What a gift. I want to be that gift to others.

Grocery Shopping for a crowd...

I was doing some minor (for me) grocery shopping yesterday. I quickly filled the buggy with 6-10 cans each of things we use all the time, such as spaghetti sauce, cr of chicken soup, green beans, diced tomatoes etc. I don't even need a list for this type of stocking, I have cooked for 8 kids and their spouses & various friends for so long that what we use most is forever embedded in my mind. I stood up from bending over the soup aisle, my arms laden with chicken noodle and nearly collided with an elderly woman driving an electric shopping cart. "I'm so sorry! Excuse me!" I quickly said to which she replied: "Oh no! It's such a joy to see someone buying plenty. I live alone and have no one to cook for anymore....and I love to cook!"
Wow! Now that gave me much food for thought...I am so used to buying in huge volume and still not having everything I need at times because it dissappears as quickly as it is bought. I started thinking how much my food needs have changed in recent years as four have grown & left the nest, and only four, plus me & hubby remain. Would the day someday come (I will be 64 when the youngest is 18) that there will only be me to cook for & I will subsist on lean cuisine? What will I do with the empty pantry space? How do you make Meatball & Ravioli soup for one? Just thinking.............

A Time of Blessings...

Autumn is my favorite Season. It is a time of summing up, of harvesting the fruits of our labor and especially of tallying up our blessings. Besides that I love the fall colors! I usually decorate to the hilt for fall at our house. My favorite tradition is a trip to the Perkins Pumpkin Patch! A time of blessings...let me count them up:
A solid relationship with my Lord & Savior. He is my strength, my rock & my hope of Salvation.
8 beautiful children, each uniquely talented in their own way. All endowed with a loving spirit and the gift of helping others. They are all healthy and everyone of them is a blessing to me. Three adorable grandsons, all of whom live fairly close by. They are my hope of the future.
A husband who is healing miraculously from a near fatal wreck in May and the sparing of the the children who were with him. His doctors are amazed at his recovery. I tell them we serve an awesome God!
Amazing friends who stand by me in times of trouble. They love me even when I am most unlovable and while they have busy lives of their own, they have been know to put theirs on screeching halt for me.
A lovely home that is paid for and a God who provides for me when no provisions seem available. Knowing that God alone is my provider so I need not ever fear my circumstances.
The realization that health cannot be taken for granted and the blessing of a recovering knee.
The acknowledgement that many of my burdens are really my opportunity to minister. The faith that giving God all the broken pieces gives Him the opportunity to make a positive blessing out of them. A faithful church home full of dedicated friends & prayer warriors.
A heritage of wonderful men & women in my lineage that have passed on their perseverance to me and their memories live on to encourage me and cheer me on.
I am truly blessed.

There's a hole in the bucket, Dear Liza...

My kids used to sing a song "There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza" to which the exasperated Liza would holler: " Then FIX it! dear Henry, fix it!"
That's how I feel sometimes. With a family of 15, fast approaching 16, someone always has a problem to solve, an issue to deal with, that needs a quick band aide & kiss from Mom to make it all better. What happens though when Mom is the one who needs the quick band aide & kiss to make it all better? This has been an eye-opener to both me and my family when I recently tore the meniscus in my right knee & needed surgery. Mom's down now...good old dependable mom...and no longer able to run to the rescue. It has been interesting to watch them grasp the concept that Mom needs rescuing & they need to fix their own buckets before I "kick" mine! LOL! I have been grateful to see those same kids learning to take over my responsibilities & chores so that I can rest. It has been a learning experience for all of us. Thank you to my children & friends for stepping up to the plate. Love ya, Mom