History

On June 2, 2007, history was made in our home. We bought a bed. I know you think that purchasing furniture couldn't really be that big of a deal, but, we rarely buy furniture where you go to a store, pick out what you like, write a check and have it delivered. I usually collect furniture. I might see someone I know getting rid of something I have always liked and so I ask if they would consider selling it to me. Or possibly at a garage sale I will see something that strikes my fancy and I simply must have it. I admit I have a chair "thing" and cannot turn myself away from a classic. Our home is full of furniture like that. So, when husband strongly suggested that he would really, really like to have a new bed, and not just any bed, a king size, fabulously gorgeous bed, I was almost offended. After all, I bought the bed we had been sleeping in (not the mattress and box springs, only the furniture part of the bed) for $10 the week before we were married from a co-worker's sister-in-law's neighbor. It is a beautiful, french antique, of which I am extremely fond. Thus begins the saga...

"OK, OK", I said, "let's go." We found a reasonably priced (high priority for me), splendid, king size bed that we both loved. Husband picked out the new mattress and box springs and all were to be delivered in 10 days.

We looked around the house and husband declared, "We cannot possibly put that beautiful bed on that ratty carpet!"

It was true, the carpet has been there longer than I know and was beyond repair in many areas, so, we marched down to the carpet store and ordered carpet. We purchased carpet not just for our bedroom, but for 16's bedroom and the office, niether of which had had new flooring since we have been in this home. It will be installed in 10 days and we must pack away all breakables and electronics. Thus begins the purging...

We cleaned out the closet in the office and the two desks which contained more paper than the redwood forest could have produced. I bought file boxes and filed away paper we should keep close and documents that could be kept in the attic. I organized and sterilized until I was paralyzed. Who knew a small home office could hold so much? We bought a shredder and labored over it until it was smoking. Old checks, warranties for items we no longer have, and even hospital bills for illnesses we forgot we had endured are all in the tiniest of pieces filling three large bags.

"When the men move out the big desk in the office, don't put it back, I don't want it any more!" husband asserted.

"Where will you sit and work? What will we do with our stuff that the desk holds?" I asked.

"We will figure something out, maybe just a table." Thus begins the shifting...

Since 16's room will be empty for the installation of the carpet we decided we should paint. 16's room had been 18's room a few years back. 18 had painted it "Home Depot" orange. We had all grown weary of it and this was a good chance to change the walls without worrying about spills. If we change the paint we must change the decor, nothing she has goes with her new color (she chose a nice color of green). So, we emptied her room and thus began the transformation...

16 needed new bedding and now new storage since husband will take her small desk to use in the office. I found a sturdy, handsome antique armoire that will complement her antique sleigh bed. We will use it for an entertainment center and extra storage. We will move her small chest into her closet. Those are good plans for her room.

The carpet was installed, the bed was delivered and now I can finally begin putting my house back in order. As I have hinted in previous paragraphs in this post, EVERY SINGLE ROOM IN MY HOUSE IS A MESS! Our old bed was moved to 18's room, 18's bed was moved to 16's room, 16's small desk was moved to the office.

For the master bedroom I had to buy new bedding, new linens, even new pillows so we now have KING size everything. I couldn't put our old nightstands by our new, splendid bed so the old nightstands were moved to the dining room (for a sale in the near future). They sat next to the huge desk. Thus begins the shopping...

I shopped for nightstands, and found some, hence I needed new lamps for them. Found those. My bedroom now looks pretty good, except for the art work. I have plenty, I will just move things around. I took every picture down in every room in my house and brought them to the master suite. Finally had a friend help me with that and now the art work looks pretty great! Uh Oh, the master bath doesn't match any more!! I shopped for curtains, towels, rugs, and soap. Now it matches fairly well.

Who knew that buying one piece of furniture could cause such chaos? It has taken literally three weeks for me to get my house back in order. And if I really wanted to be honest with myself there are a few more things I would really like to get to finish out "the look". They will have to wait. I need to buy groceries this week! (I just hate it when I have to spend my grocery money on groceries!)

Soul Food

Have you ever really needed a break from the difficult day to day drudgery you must endure? Have you ever just wanted to get away and simply do things that you rarely get to do? Selfish things like spend days with friends who genuinely care about you, or walk lazily along a street lined with quaint shops that entice you to come in and browse. Have you ever wanted to experience novel things like harvest lavender and bring a bouquet home to release it's gentle aroma in your bedroom? Maybe you have wanted to pick perfectly ripe peaches to make a fantastic homemade dessert and just never took the time.

These are just a few of the things I experienced with my girlfriends this weekend. Let me just add a few more things to the list:

*soaked in the hot tub at the hotel until we were beeeeet red.
*sang hymns at the top of our lungs.
*ate snacks until I thought I would explode.
*bought fabulously charming old furniture.
*shared our hearts.

At dinner one evening I asked each friend to describe the weekend in just two words. Here are their words and it really sums up the entire trip. I can add no more.

Restful, easy, soul food, happy heart, desperately needed, refreshing, fun, new experiences.

Hooray for the GRT (Girl's Road Trip) I couldn't ask for more.

PS Whose pillow do I have?

Mosquitoes!

Today my sister-in-law and I were going to take our regular walk of 3 or 4 miles to retain our svelte figures. We routinely meet at the local park and briskly walk for about an hour. I would like to share with you that I go and exercise because it is good for me, but, alas, I would be fibbing. I am there for the conversation, any healthy benefits are just a perk.

We began our usual conversation, catching up on the news since the last time we marched ourselves around the park. Then we looked down at our legs and arms and they were literally covered with mosquitoes. I slapped all the black dots I could see and swatted at places on myself I couldn't see, then as I turned and looked behind me there was a swarm coming our way. We left the park and went hastily to walk in my neighborhood. I was sure we would be safe there.

We parked our cars, retied our shoes, and began our meager effort at physical fitness. We picked up where our dialogue had been cut short. Then, as we walked beside some freshly cut grass there, too, was a cloud of mosquitoes chasing us and desiring to have us for breakfast. We took a quick u-turn and headed back to the house at a pace neither of us has attempted for a few years. Maybe the swiftness of our walk will make up for the shortness of it. We are going to try again, but, next time we will spray ourselves with repellent before we leave the house.

As I thought about that itchy experience I began to consider how similar this life is to my mosquito filled walk this morning. My desire to be above reproach, a woman of integrity, untouched by the sin in this world is nearly an impossible task. I get bitten, I am affected by the"Mosquitoes" that nip at me and that is discouraging. Some days it feels as if I couldn't possibly get through the day without numerous big, red, itchy spots all over me. I need repellent so I will not be eaten! I need the Word. Somehow (and I am so thankful) the Word of God meets me right where I am. It protects my heart. It soothes my soul. It heals my hurts. It invigorates me.

Thank you Lord for your Word that is Perfect for me in my mosquito filled world.

A Rough Week

Psalm 25:16 -22 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Psalm 31:19-24 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from the strife of tongues. Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful... Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.