Diverse Trials

I read this quote this morning and thought "How true..." tonight it takes on a whole new depth as it was quite a day here.

"How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about (arithmetic) ,

and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?

How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone,

and narrow to be everything to someone?

No; a woman's function is laborious because it is gigantic,

not because it is minute." ~G.K. Chesterton

On Saturday both our dvd player and clothes dryer quit. I don't know what happened to either of them. They just stopped working. The dryer DID have a funny smell though... So today we had friends come over (after he looked at it on Sunday afternoon) and bring us a new dryer. Not brand new but pretty close. I'm so happy - it's just the kind I had before we sold everything and moved to smeinary for my husabnd a few years back. It even has the alarm that soudns when the cycle is finished. I loved that! New dryer: check.

The dvd player is not really that important except I was doing my workout video on it. I'm going to try to remember the stuff and do it without though. Back on that wagon I go. With the dvd player or without it!

I had to spend a big space of time with my attorney today (I'll spare you the details) sorting things out. That was SO draining. I needed a nap when I was finished. But...

I had to return a few items from our family dinner (held here last evening) and when we got home there was a HUGE amount of water on the floor from the bathroom. I realized that I had put the drain hose in the outlet but not far enough in and after I started the new load it sprayed the entire tub of water onto the floor. And onto our new wood laminate. UGh... I don't know how to get the water out from underneath it. It will most likely cause the laminate to warp to some degree. We put the electric heater blowing along the edge and prayed it won't be too bad.

Then we smelled electrical and the kitchen breaker flipped off. I was barely finished cleaning up the water spill.

I took a look and sure enough we smelled it BADLY in the kitchen. I found the culprit though. My coffee pot has been leaking water when I turn it on each morning, I just tuck a towel underneath and that catches it all, and I had started a fresh pot after I got home today withOUT the towel. Somehow it was causing a short in the coffee pot. As soon as I shut off and unplugged the coffee pot the beaker quit flipping off. And the smell is gone. That smell can be quite unnerving.

I knew the Lord was dealing with me on both the amount of television the children had been watching (I've guiltily used it for babysitting the past few weeks) and the amount of coffee I drink. Guess He solved both problems today! They were watching probably 2-3 movies a week and we don't have satellite or an antennae. That doesn't sound like alot to many people but for us (and Luke especially) it's too much.

The blessing of the day came in the mailbox (thank you Anonymous!) and in the form of a new garden shed. It's in EXCELLENT shape, matches the house and everything. I couldn't have chosen a better one. And it was free, compliments of our mortgage holder. :o) God is good.

We Have A Toilet!!!

OH man I will NEVER take a shining white, gleaming flushing toilet for granted again. And you shouldn't either! Austin and I laid the tile in the bathroom floor on Tuesday and flushed the toilet for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. It's pretty much been going non-stop since then. Abby asked, "Is it really ok to use? I mean USE?" We had been flushing it just to hear the sound for a while and it seems that she didn't want to be the first one to mess it up. hehehe

I do have a small drip that I have to figure out how to fix. Other than that we're good! I sewed a shower curtain yesterday and matching curtains from a white chennile old bedspread. It's to cute with the fringe hanging down! The color of the walls isn't quite right though... too blue and not enough green. SO that has to be changed eventually. IT's so pratty though with the white trim and the toilet.... oh the toilet...

Ode to a Toilet

Your flush is music to my ears

your water trickling brings on tears

your shining complexion is gleamingly pure

oh toilet, my toilet! of this I am sure

sparkling I'll keep you into the years!!!!

TOILET!!!!

I hold in my hand and certified, bonifide, official approval letter for our septic system! At last! Talk about red tape. This thing was ridiculous. Just infuriating. I managed to keep my cool ( at least in public) but I am so glad that a shiny toilet is in our very near future I am beside myself with joy! I had honestly given up on it, resigned "to be content in whatever situation I find myself" and all that. I wasn't even thinking about it. We are having Christmas here but a few of the family members were very reluctant to come unless I have my toilet installed. I hope it's done by then but if not, well... if you're too good to use a composting toilet then you've got bigger problems than that you need to work on! IT is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. If one considers what goes in it, does it really matter what the receptacle looks like? :)

God is good.

Baby Dreams

I had the privilege of being a doula for my sister again this past Wednesday. She gave birth to a beautiful 10 pound and 8 ounce baby boy! He is Samuel Paul and did I mention he is gorgeous? I"m hoping to come up with the money to start my midwife training. I have fallen in love with birth and all it entails - several years ago after my first VBAC. I often think that it's a good thing I didn't discover it until I had my children. I would have probably gone to medical school and become an OBgyn. Ugh. That would have been a waste. I hope to get started though on the midwifery school - that is my dream.

Clean Sweep

Flooring!!!

The boys and I finished up laying the wood laminate. I don't mind saying that it looks AWESOME! Honestly though, it's not nearly as easy as the commercials make it look. But then that's true of every commercial right?

The boys put in the last few pieces. It took us 3 afternoons all together and boy were we tired afterwards. I was tired BEFORE we were finished though - that's why they are in the picture and I'm not. They finished the task and I wimped out! lol

Falling in Love Again...

I just had to share - this Sunday after church we had lunch together (some of the families) and one of the moms who I don't know very well yet asked if I could give her a ride to a nearby town. Her husband had an errand to run and it would save them alot of time if I could drop her off at such and such rather than him driving all the way back to get her. Plus I didn't really know my way back without the family I follow there. So I took her to - - - Lowes. And someone bought me a brand new refridgerator (Fridgidare and 22cu.ft) and a brand new stove. Both white, both just what I wanted. Perfect. I was so worried about money yesterday morning but kept hearing the Lord say, "That's small fries! Just wait until you see what I'm doing for you TODAY!" I thought I was going nuts - here I can't make my electric bill yet this month and he has something planned bigger than that?? Well He did. So I wiped my eyes, fought the urge to just stay home and went. The sermon was awesome, another single mother, without her husband for 6 years now and he has since remarried, got up and spoke a bit about suffering. I was so encrouaged. And then the appliances.

I can bake for Christmas... God is so good.... I don't deserve ANY of it. None of His love, none of his mercy. And you know the pastor was talking alot about works and how God's love and mercy isn't dependant on those and I realized I have lived my whole adult life trying to please God. Now that's not wrong, but when I felt like I always felt short? ALWAYS missed the mark? NEVER could make Him happy? There was something totally messed up about that. So I cried through the sermon, repentant and loved up by God Himself, then he blesses me monetarily too. God is so good. I am in awe of his love for me . Why would He love me this much??? I am nothing. I have done nothing for Him, I have nothing to offer Him when it lays in the light of His glory - all of my "accomplishments" (which consist of 4 things: my children, and boy don't get me started on my failings there!) turn to dust in comparison of what He has done for me.

I always knew that works didn't save me (boy that's a hopeless endeavour). I always knew "God so loved..." but I have never felt this love for me - this unconditional, totally attached, He-loves-me-He-loves-me-He-loves-me!! kind of love. I feel like I just dipped my toe in an unending fountain. I can't even begin to understand how much he cares for me. For ME?!?!? For ME!!!!

I'm falling in love again...

December Song

I sit here tonight with a spring in my step and a song in my heart. It would seem that God is still on the throne! Last Thursday 3 men from our new church (Hope Family Fellowship) came and brought with them everything we need for the upstairs insulation and wiring. They brought it, stayed a full 8 hours then some, and got it finished - ready for sheetrock. I do not have words to express my heart on this. To be in real physical need is in fact, one of the most humbling experiences I can think of. But to have those needs met by the body of Christ is even more so. To realize one’s total unworthiness on one’s own, then to have the God of the Universe - El Shaddai - come down to your rescue… well. Now that’s humbling. To be loved by the Loveliest. How could one have self-esteem issues when the Lover of your soul is God Almighty?

And it’s not the physical needs only that He has made Himself manifest in my life. The emotional wounds, the hurts, the aches… He is that Balm in Gilead and sends His emissaries to carry the potion to heal. When I have lost someone during this trial He has sent someone along to fill in the gap. When I thought I was totally alone, unloved and rejected, He called in the Cavalry to stand at my right side and my left. He has provided food, shelter, new friends… He is one Awesome God.

As it stands now, I am still in need of the funds for an attorney. But my monthly bills are paid in full and before they were due in most cases. We have a TON of food in the house. We are warm. We are loved. I have until December 15th to hire one and respond to his petition or he will be granted the things he put in his “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage”. There are some things in there that aren’t in the best interests of the children at all and I do not feel peace about letting those things go. But… if no funds show up for the attorney by that date then I will do what I have to do. Sign the papers as they are and get on with life.

We have the wood laminate for the downstairs floor - it is so pretty. Regency Oak… yummy. I can’t wait to get it down and mop, mop, mop! Call me crazy but it’s just the way I am. I haven’t been able to mop these floors since we moved in. They are bare wood and I’ve tried but it just doesn’t work. It will be so nice to have clean floors again. Don’t worry - I sweep, and spot clean, but it doesn’t compare to the gleam of a freshly waxed floor!

Our water situation is still in limbo. There has been progress though. We have the overflow pond dug and ready for inspection. We are then ready to drop the lateral lines and septic tank. Then FLUSH!!!! Our dear dear friends the Norris Clan came and have spent so much time here helping out. Cherie is so UP all the time she’s here. I wonder if she takes medication. I asked. She claims she doesn’t. Whew! I can’t barely keep up with her! And he really ought to have a counseling degree. She has been wonderful at being a shoulder to cry on and an encourager. And those boys. Matt - Gordon, Brian, John and Kevin. I love those boys! They WORK! And they are so competent. Bravo Clan Norris. You are heading down the right road. Your fruit is sweet. J And the Dodsons. What would I do without Don and Sherry? Nursing baby #11 and fighting cancer, she is still full of godly edification and encouragement for my mothering.

There have been so many other people that have called and encouraged, that I know are praying, that have dropped by, sent cards, money, notes… I am humbled daily by the outpouring of love towards us by the body of Christ. We love you all.