I have really narrowed my junk -hauln' down to two times a year {it is just to much for me physically} and in my ever so humble thoughts, this really is the best show out there.

YUP, its Glitterfest.

Its a super~fun day. My favorite parts {this might sound kinda silly} is everyone is happy to be there. Lots of laughing and smiles...just a great time!!! So come on over and say

"Hey, Doll face"!

I have so not been very BLOGGER-rific for a few months,
things have been mad-cap crazy with the construction on the new house, moving, sick kids...

Exibit ~A. The kitchen in is before and now current condition. Not to shabby ?

{We removed that little cabinet that jets out, along with the bulk head}

{not the best picture with my phone..but you get the idea}

Nothing is really finished. ..It is really more and a “well, it looks better than it did kind of stage. Which really, I am thrilled with.

Today as 2011 plays peek~ a~ boo with 2012 I have to be honest;
I can’t wait for this year to be OVER.



There is something clean and refreshing about a fresh start…a new clean calendar. FABULOUS!!

This past year, really, the past two years have been.... well,...GROSS .


I stared to list all the STUFF and deleted twice. Lets face it, really who what’s to read a list {big one at that} of YUCK.


Instead I’m going to I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, and I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. For if I'd never had a problem, I wouldn't know God could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do.

Happy New Friends!

 It’s my hope that when you face trial and devastation in the new year as we have this past year that you too “choose” {life is about choices… that is my mantra to the Blessings} to praise the Lord in those hard times . CHOOSING to not miss the glory of the Lord.

I've had many tears and sorrows,

I've had questions for tomorrow,

there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.

But in every situation,

God gave me blessed consultation,

that my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus:

Through it all,

through it all,

I've learned to trust in Jesus,

I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all,

through it all,

I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Verse 2:

I've been to lots of places,

I've seen a lot of faces,

there's been times I felt so all alone.

But in my lonely hours,

yes, those precious lonely hours,

Jesus lets me know that I was His own

Verse 3:

I thank God for the mountains,

and I thank Him for the valleys,

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I'd never had a problem,

I wouldn't know God could solve them,

I'd never know what faith in God could do.

After my last raw and heavy post, I thought I would lighten things up a bit and show you what has been consuming my days thoughts {thank you Jesus}. Our little
{still needs to close escrow} 

"Acorn Cottage"!

This little house was the forever home for one family for 45 years.
That is just so precious to me!

Part of me feels guilty for pining to paint over their ledgers on the walls....
{that will change as soon as I have the paint gun in hand }.

Out with the carpet and and tile {1966 original I might add} and in with dark wide plank wood flooring!

So long fake wood panels....
HELLO gobs of white paint!

Merry Christmas Gals,



I was in my quite place this morning; {aka the shower} thinking about how I have been hiding from my blog.

I know that sounds ridicules…but, it’s the raw truth.


Jesus and I have been played tug-a- war. He tells me “these things are part of the testimony I have given you.. so, I can be glorified.”

and I tell Him but,… Lord….I don’t wanna! My life is already a fish bowl. And I’m okay talking about things if asked…but, no one is asking Lord!

“No child, I am telling you”!


Last year I was diagnosed with Lupus: an Autoimmune Disease that truth be told… kicks my tail feathers!!!

When diagnosed, the Papa Blessings and I decided that we would not have any more blessing added to the Cottage as we had hoped.... since stress is a big trigger to flair ups.

8 months into my diagnoses we received a call for a 2 month old baby girl.

We declined {I cried}.

They called again. We declined {I cried}.

They called again…..
We prayed {I cried}. We prayed and prayed and prayed.

We both had this overwhelming peace that this is what He wanted.

We picked our precious Blessing girl and she immediately became OURS {just they all had}.


Then 3 weeks ago while at the market my phone rang… with what felt like a sucker punch right to my gut. Our baby was going back to her birth mother. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor right in the isle way. But, Lord she is MY baby! We have loved her, and raised her for a year!

 "No, child. She is mine, and this is my will".

Of course there are so many more threads to this, and as each day passes we feel Gods arm squeezing us tight.

I can honestly tell you without a shadow of a doubt our faith has not skipped a beat. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38


Is it painful?
Yes.

Do I mourn the loss of my precious Jo-Jo?
Absolutely!


I do not know WHY this is God’s plan for our lives {and hers} but, I know just as He took his time hanging each star just in the right place so He does with our lives and we CHOICE to thank Him.

BLOGS!

I have my "regulars"you know, that I check in on and snoop around , I mean read...and quit honestly I get a little bugged~out when I plop myself down to do so and there have been no updates!

Well HELLooo pot...

Meet kettle!

I have not blogged in over two months, and trust me it is not because I have not had 1000000 things to say. I have not had three minutes to think to myself let alone try and type it out.

So heres the deal!

Come and see me Saturday at Glitterfest.....

 Will talk....

I'll tell you all about it!

Like you, I have different girlfriends for different occasions.

The “road trip gal” that is up for anything.

 

Or the one that you can call at 2 am to go get a donut!
                     Don’t judge me...there good donuts!



The one that sends you a birthday card when it’s not your birthday, but knows that you LOVE your birthday….
or
The poor Sista’ that sits and listens to you pour out your soul over a pot of coffee! { G.G.G. you know who you are}


Soooo at Taco Night I was with some friends that I L.O.V.E. and they were inquiring about ALL that stuff that the HOB staff and I have been going through the last 6 months, and “bless their hearts” they for some reason think I have super powers!!

“ I don’t know how you do it..I couldn’t if it was me”


“ I think you are the baby whisper; your kids never fight”
{she clearly had too much wine!}

and on and on…


When I left the restaurant and got to my car I lost it…just starting crying like a baby.

“Lord, they don’t know that I come running home when I fall down. They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around. They are right; and I can’t do it either …if not for You. You are the rescuer of my soul. You have the kind of water that will quench my thirsty soul!”

Girlfriends are precious gifts of goodness from the Lord, and I am SO thankful…but, I am more thankful that I have a Savior that loves me enough to know my weakness and gets me!