A Gift Worn, Given Away and Shared

Gifts come in many sizes, shapes and colors. They can from many places or people. Gifts can be received or better yet given away and shared. Today’s challenge is a gift worn, given away and shared. My favorites!!  

At our house there is a tradition of Santa Claus gifts. Now, I’m not talking about Santa filling a stocking. While he does that as well, there are times when he will leave gifts under the tree for the adults. Usually, these “Santa” gifts are a joke in response to something silly that happened throughout the year. Like the year my sweet sister-in-law received a tube of Fix-A-Flat after running over a boat anchor earlier in the year. Yeah, THOSE kinds of gifts. So when I saw a Santa gift under the tree this year for ME, I started thinking back over the year to see if I could remember some knucklehead move I made.  Not clearly remembering one, I opened the gift with trepidation, shocked to find the most beautiful, soft, homemade knitted scarf in a beautiful oatmeal color. This wasn’t a gag gift after all, but a thoughtful gift from someone who cared enough to make me something so wonderful.  I was so completely surprised and moved by this treasured gift. Wearing it wrapped cozily around my neck, reminds me that someone cares enough to have made it for me.

A gift given away was a pair of mittens I made this past December. I worked hard on them, ripping out stitches many times to make sure they were perfect.  They were a beautiful dusty blue and had cables on the backs. Every night I worked on them, chatting with my roommate and watching tv.  Watching my roommate’s eyes when I handed them to her was a beautiful priceless gift! I just love surprising my loved ones.

So for a gift share, it’s time for sappy, sentimental, gaggy, romantic  – Anna plug your ears!!!  The first night I went out to eat with Joe, the wonderful guy I am seeing, we shared a burger. What a night!  It was silly and romantic, sweet and easy. How is that a gift? It is so different from what I have experienced lately.  It has been a long time since I have felt this way and sharing that burger represents all the things we hope to share in the future. 

3 Startling Graces of God

Good morning Beautiful Friends. Today is an emotional day in my world. Seven years ago today I lost my beloved Mama and eight years ago today, my beautiful Grandmother.  We also lost an uncle a few years before that on this day and a young boy in the community committed suicide just a year ago today. This day represents a day of loss and pain and heartache in my world. It is a day of unanswered questions and grief. To look for the startling graces of God today is asking a lot and will take some deep digging.

The first Grace of God that comes to mind is how He eases pain over time. This goes hand in hand with the tremendous loss I am feeling today. I have noticed that as the years go by, the pain becomes easier to bear. While I will never forget my Mama or my Grandma, the pain is much less than it was immediately after their deaths. Talk about startling Grace!!! Those first few days, weeks and months after their deaths were a blur of life, pain, and tears. I wasn’t sure I could go on, especially after my Mama passed. But God kept the light of their spirit very much alive in my heart and soul while slowly easing the pain of their loss. If that isn’t God’s beautiful, startling Grace, I don’t know what is.

Another Startling Grace that comes to mind is the word “Enough”.  Throughout the last year there have been many times I felt I was at the end of my rope, that I didn’t have anything to carry me through or help me go on.  So many times I didn’t have enough money for things or had to make a difficult choice between 2 necessities. It was in those times that someone would appear out of nowhere to offer help, a rebate check would come in the mail, or a better option came along.  God provided exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it, never too little nor too much, always just ENOUGH.  What a true blessing!

The third (but nowhere near final) Starling Grace I have discovered today is the peace I feel in my heart with life in general. For years I suffered with anxiety and depression. While there is still some of that lurking in the dark recesses of my heart and mind, my Faith and His Grace have brought a peace to my heart that I have never known.  I worry less about little things, allowing me to focus on and enjoy the important things. I still stress over money, being alone, the house, etc., but I don’t lose sleep over it and I can enjoy those moments that bring me such joy. 

Wow, who would have thought that on a day full of nostalgia and reflection, God’s Beautiful, Startling Grace would be so clear and obvious. I am so grateful for my loving God and Savior, for His love for me and for His grace. I know that even though my Mama and Grandma are not with me physically, they are here in spirit. And the best thing yet is I know I will see them again one day and there will be much rejoicing in Heaven.

God Bless you my Dear Sweet Friends…  Look for God’s Startling Grace in YOUR life and hop over to Miss Anna’s Blog at A Messy Indulgence and see how she is doing counting her blessings.

Love to all… Sheila

Three Things About Yourself You are Grateful For....

Wow… talk about a tough challenge!! We’re talking about me here!  You know, the one who for most of her life has thought she wasn’t good enough for anyone. Me, with the naturally curly hair we only half-jokingly call “The Beast”, my nemesis since it grew out this way at around age 12. Me, with the baby belly I can’t get rid of.  Me, with the corny laugh and weird smile, suffering from anxiety and procrastination issues.  Me, the vertically challenged, self-conscious one who battles a severe inferiority complex every single day …. You expect ME to find three things I am grateful for about myself??? Really?? Could this challenge be any tougher??? Well, I guess since I agreed to this (Miss Anna), I have to follow through.

First, I guess I do like that I seem to attract kids (and sometimes adults) for no apparent reason. I have many kids that I have “adopted” over the years and they keep coming back. One has even invited me to her wedding!!  I love these kids as my own and they have brought me so much joy. From Mexican Movie nights to trips to the Mall, I am so very grateful they are a part of my life and I am glad that for whatever reason they have adopted me as well.

Another thing about myself that I am grateful for is my ability to learn quickly and teach myself new things. Throughout my life I have taught myself many new skills and hobbies. Photography, knitting, quilting and cross-stitch all have been a part of my life at some point, enhancing and enriching my life and those of others.

The last aspect of myself that I am grateful for is my ability to empathize with others. Being able to put myself in another’s shoes and understand where they are coming from has brought me great joy and to others. I like being able to understand and help others going through tough times.

So I guess there is more to like about myself than I thought. Maybe this challenge will be a good thing. What do you think… can you come up with 3 things you are grateful for about yourself???  

Something Above, Below, Beside

Good Morning Sweet Friends… I hope today finds you all healthy and happy. Thanks so much for joining me on my journey of Gratitude. Today’s challenge is something above, below, and beside.  So many gifts can fall into these broad and general categories.

The roof above my head is one of the greatest gift to me. I get to live in my childhood home where so many memories have been made.  The rafters ring with the echo of laughter of my friends and I from sleepovers long ago. The roof helps hold in all the warmth and love my family have left here over the years.  This house, and the roof over it, is treasured beyond belief.

I am having a bit of trouble with the Below part of this challenge. I think I am going to have to go with the fresh turned dirt of my garden in the spring. The hope this brings to my heart is immense. The earth coming alive, seeds bursting forth, all provide a boost to the spirit.

And my favorite gift of all, the family and friends that walk beside me. The love, support, and encouragement they give me are priceless. They have helped me when I’m down and cheered me on when I was struggling. They walk beside me and provide comfort and love and I do not know what I would do without them. 

Three more beautiful gifts, adding to my Attitude of Gratitude. I hope you are searching for and recognizing your own wonderful gifts. Join me tomorrow for Day 3 of counting my blessings. 

3 Yellow Gifts of Fresh Mercy…

So my Sweet Cousin Anna threw this blogging challenge at me, and I am so grateful she did. I have wanted to get back to blogging, but my life has been in complete chaos for nearly a year and writing was the last thing on my mind. Now that life is stabilizing a bit, I decided it’s a good time to get back into it and Miss Anna came up with the idea of blogging our gifts, those little things that bring us joy when we see them. What a great idea!!!

Ann VosKamp is one of my very favorite authors of all time.  She wrote the book “1000 Gifts” and along with it she created the Joy Dare challenge. That is what Anna and I have decided to follow. Ann’s style and content capture my heart and make my soul scream “YES!!!” She believes in an Attitude of Gratitude and that is how I strive to live my life. The last year has made that incredibly difficult. My partner of 10 years moved out, leaving me with the entire responsibility of the house and yard, along with the heartache of the ending relationship. Our parting is for the best, for both of us, and I don’t mind being alone, caring for the house and the yard. The adjustment period has lasted much longer than I anticipated both emotionally and financially, and many times I have been overwhelmed, nearly ready to give up.

Finally though, I am getting back to where I want to be, so when Miss Anna sent me the message last night about counting our blessings together, my heart and mind leapt at the chance.  So, welcome to my new and revised blog, counting out the gifts God has given me….

We missed the first 10 days of the challenge and thought that going back and trying to catch up would be too much to start with, so we will start with the 11th and go forward from there…

So Today is January 11, 2016, and today’s challenge is 3 Yellow Gifts of Fresh Mercy.

The first gift of yellow I can think of is my Mama’s yellow finches. For so many years, my Sweet Mama fed these finches outside her kitchen window. They brought her so much joy.  In the winter, the finches lose their yellow coloring and turn a dull gray/brown. But in the early spring, when the snow starts to melt and the earth starts to warm, the finches start to change back to yellow.  Slowly she would see the signs of new, bright yellow feathers emerging from beneath those dull colored ones. And when she did, she would pull a stool over and lift up her beloved grandbabies to show them. “Look”, she’d say, “when the finches turn yellow, you know that spring is here” and they would look in awe at these beautiful little creatures and watch as they brought the signs of spring. Today, living in her home, I still feed the finches, and we still watch for those yellow feathers to peek out, telling us that warmer weather will soon be here.

The second gift of yellow that I have is the shirt that my roommate was wearing this morning. Seems silly I know, but I saw that shirt and couldn’t help but smile. It was so bright and sunshiny looking on a day I knew would be freezing cold and a Monday to boot. It amazes me how something so little can bring such joy.

The third yellow gift was tougher to find. I am not particularly fond of the color yellow so I don’t surround myself with much of it, but after much thinking and pondering, I figured it out... Minions.. little silly yellow cartoon minions are a phenomenal gift. They make me laugh, and not just little giggles, great big belly laughs and how can there be any greater gift than that.

So there are three of the many wonderful gifts I am grateful for today. Check out my cousin’s blog over at A Messy Indulgence and see what she is grateful for too. And come back tomorrow for the next set of gifts... until then God Bless~

Decluttering

So "THAT" time of year is upon me again. The time when I get the undeniable urge to clean and declutter my entire house. Yes, all of it, right down to the boxes of things we never EVER look at. I go through this cycle every year and never seem to get it done. I want to take care of it this year so I can fully focus on living the simpler life that I have been  yearning for. Having less stuff makes it easier to live in the moment. You don't worry so much about what needs to be done and can focus on what is now, in this very minute.

Living intentionally and simply has been a passion of mine for quite sometime. For years I rented places where all I could do was plant flower beds and maybe few plants in pots. Now that I am purchasing my parents old home on two lots, there is so much more I can and want to do to live frugally and intentionally.

The first step is to declutter the house and get rid of all the junk. We have so many things that we don't use taking up space. Old shoes, an unused dog crate, boxes of papers and handed down items. It's time to clear these out, hold a garage sale and then donate the rest. Time for it all to go. I will feel better without all the chaos. 

So here is my plan of attack and some tips on getting it done.

1. Plan a specific day to start and put it on your calendar.
2. Make a plan on how to move through the house, where to start, which room comes next, etc.
3. Don't expect to finish it all in one day.
4. Take the decluttering in small bites - one room, closet, dresser or drawer at a time.
5. Make rules on what can be kept. Mine include a) is it necessary b) is it useful c) is it sentimental and d) is it beautiful. If an item can't measure up to the rules, it has to go.
6. For clothing, the rules differ slightly - a) does it fit well b) do you wear it c) is it flattering d) is it stained/ripped/does it need repair and can you do the repair?

My start day is today. I am working on my plan and when I get home, I'm attacking my dresser to clean out anything I don't wear or doesn't fit, and fixing anything that needs repair.

I hope this has inspired you to declutter your home (and life) as well. God's blessings my friends.

 

Around the House

Princess Pea and Izzy rocking out at the Confirmation Class Pancake Breakfast

Happy Monday Morning my Friends...

Homework for Pea

It was a quiet weekend here with not a lot going on. We are down to one vehicle right now and not sure how long before we get mine fixed or find Cookie Monster his own car. So things are tight and we haven't been going anywhere.  

Princess Pea had a retreat for her confirmation class last Friday and Saturday. She had a great time and got to me other kids from other churches....which she of course loved. She also has decided to run for one of the local festival courts as the Junior Miss. We will see how that goes. I guess trying out can't hurt...just not sure how I can afford to add this to all her other stuff.

I did get a new job though, hopefully starting next Monday (I haven't heard for sure as they are waiting on my drug test). It will be a huge raise and better benefits, but of course more responsibility. This leads to even more stress and anxiety on my part. But it is needed and I will settle in eventually.


Miss Addie

My Sister-in-Law brought Baby Adelia by on Saturday and I got to play and snuggle her! She really is such a sweetie and so happy!

Honey's new hobby - Wood carving/chipping

Today Princess Pea has her solo and ensemble and then off to dance class. Things will start to pick up now as we head to the later part of the school year!

But for now, here are some pictures from around the house. Hoping I can get back to blogging soon!

Snuggly Sassy Cat

Homemade Chicken Gnocchi Soup

The Sunbeam found me

Repotting Plants

Snuggly Emmie

And Luna too...

Dreaming of Spring with my Homesteading Books







 

Menu Making

Hi Friends...things are slowly returning to normal in my world and I am feeling a bit better yet.

Today I am working on my menus for the upcoming month or 2. I normally try to do them toward the end of the month for the month after, but with being down since Christmas and financially not being able to do a "big" shopping trip, I have just been making do with what we have. Thank goodness for Honey and his imaginative cooking brain!

I had a bit of a surprise influx of money and my tax refund should be here soon, so I'm planning ahead (finally). Do any of you have a menu or meal plan? I like to do a month at a time so I can plan meals around our schedule and I don't have to think about what's for dinner in a hurry.

I start with my calendar and my Meal Planner. I jot down everything we have going on for the week on the appropriate day on the meal planner. This way, I know if I will need a quick meal or can spend more time in the kitchen or maybe a crockpot meal. It really helps!

 After I have added all the weekly events to the meal planner, I decide what kind of meal I will need to make for each day and write it down Then I write down all the ingredients I will be needing on the "Shopping List" on the left hand side.  I may not have to buy each and every ingredient, but I do need to know what I need. How much time I can spend on prep, do we have an activity that evening, will kids be home or will it be just Honey and I?  Everything plays a part in how I decide what to make for the day.

I keep a list of "favorite meals" handy so I don't have to stress too much and they come in handy on those nights where I forget to take out what I need for that night's meal. They are old favorites that my kids love and some of them are easy peasy like Mac and Cheese, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. I make sure to throw a few of these in each week, but I also try to make a few new meals too.

I have a file folder that I keep new recipes in. These are not the tried and true favorites, but ones I've clipped from magazines or printed from the web that I want to try. If I choose one for the week, I staple it to the back of the meal plan so it is handy.

When I am listing the ingredients on the right side of the meal plan, I make sure to list any spices, oils, butter, etc. that the recipe calls for or that I may need for the meal. It ensures that I won't forget to check for it when I compare the meal plan with my pantry.

I also think about what sort of sweet treats or desserts I would like to make for the week and add those to the menu plan as well, along with the ingredients.

Once I have meals assigned to each day, the shopping list complete and the recipes stapled, I do an inventory and compare the shopping list to what I have in my cupboards. I mark off the list or circle what I need. Then I add what I need to the shopping list.

I will talk about actually doing the shopping later (coupons and such you know...). But for now, I have a month of meal ideas and it is all organized and easy to use.

I hope this helps some of you who struggle with meal planning. I know that it helps at our place! :)

Dig Out and Moving Up



Hello Sweet Friends....

 

I am slowly attempting to return to blogging. I am slowing digging out of the depths of darkness and am moving up toward the sunshine. I am looking at the little things in life and appreciating them more and more. I am finding new reasons to smile and find hope. Soon all will be right in my world once again and I will back to being the bubbly bright eyed friend you know and miss... :)

 

In the meantime, here are some images from my world that I am truly cherishing right now...

 

Glowing Candlelight...

Princess Pea hacking my phone and leaving me this beautiful picture

Later sunsets and earlier sunrises...

Sweet little crafts to make...

 



Adorable babies to love on....



Snuggly puppies....
 

and more snuggly puppies
 



Homemade Blueberry Crumble...

Temps late last week....

Temps on Saturday!!

All in all, things are looking up. It's already February 9...meaning soon it will be time to plant tomatoes and peppers inside for transplanting later! Spring will be here before we know it and then moods will definitely improve. In my opinion, spring always brings hope...

 

Take care my beloved friends.

Love...Sheila

Trying Times

Hello Friends -It's been a trying week at our place. Lots of roadblocks and speed bumps to face and overcome. Stress, anxiety, PTSD and depression are constant companions to our family right now and there are times when it hits full force, slowing us down to the point of stopping. Somehow we continue to slog on and make it through but it takes a lot out of us.


I'm lucky to have many family and friends to support me and mine through these times. They come to my defense and to my side when I need them most and I will eternally be grateful. I find grace in God's love and in His Word, along with the uplifting words found in certain places on the internet.

Things will get better, and I will make it through...we all will. It takes time, faith and determination, all of which can hide deep inside, waiting for you to realize they are there, dig them out, dust them off and put them into use. Some days they are more readily available, others not so much. Some days it is easy to get out of bed, others there is no chance. But I am being kind to myself and with others and I look for understanding and grace in all situations.

Please be gentle with me as I face these trying times, and understand that I will be back full force soon, if God wills...

 

Family Roots

4 Generations have graduated from our high school

Holey Family about 1942

The town I live in is full of my family history. We may not be the "big name" in town, or have all the money, or know the right people, but my family has been here for 5 generations (or more). I have relatives buried in nearly every cemetery in the area and you can hardly turn a corner without a family story being told. "So and so lived there..." "Remember when we....".  My children are the fourth generation to graduate from our high school.

Several years before my Mama passed away, she and her sister came to me and asked for computer help to search for a long lost relative. It was when Google was just starting and they weren't sure how to use it. We typed in some information and soon we were going back generations!

Martin and Maria Smeby Family

Now, granted, this particular branch of our family tree is large, prestigious on the East Coast and nobility in Scotland, ensuring there are many records and a proliferation of information. I was able to trace my maternal grandfather's family (on both his mother and father's side) back many generations and found many stories of notable and notorious relatives, including a pirate, noblemen, soldiers, and even a Vice President.


Family Stories

I have relatives who are helping me do the same on my maternal grandmother's side. And my father's side is already done. It is amazing to hear the stories, to see the pictures, to piece together the lives of those that have gone before me. It gives me a sense of belonging, giving me a knowledge of who I am and where I came from!




Family Tree

There is something to be said for appreciating where your family comes from and thankfully I have been dubbed the Family Historian.  Relatives send me pictures, old letters, and stories. I have funeral cards, obituaries and birth notices.  I have copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates, wills, land titles and census records, all tracing my family back through the years.

And now, Princess Pea's social studies teacher has assigned a project creating a family tree. The more generations she can add, the more extra credit she can get. I told her she has an unfair advantage. She laughed and said "I know". She wants to ask her teacher if she can just bring in my books and binders instead of drawing it all out on a piece of tag board. We will figure something out I'm sure.

Princess' Project

In the meantime, we will put it on the tag board and squeeze in as many as we can. And I get the pleasure of teaching my beautiful daughter all about her heritage. I love to see her engaged and excited about this project. I love her asking the questions, her eyes lighting up to hear stories. Praying she will be the next family historian!


My Parents with their Grandchildren

3 Generations, My mom, Princess Pea, and me



Planning the Garden!

Good morning Dear Friends...

It is another brisk morning in the valley! Actually the weatherman said it is the coldest morning temperature (without windchill) that we have had yet this winter. My Jeep registered -14 F on the way to work. So very glad there isn't any wind to go along with that!

- 14 - sure glad there is no wind today!

It's usually about this time of the year that I go into full planning mode. Planning the garden, planning projects for the year, organizing and cleaning and de-cluttering! I pull out the calendar, make lists, take inventory, and rewrite budgets. It's a new year filled with hope and promise!

Burpee's Calendar

Today is focused on the gardens! I found an awesome planning calendar over at Burpee's Website that tells you specifically when to plant or transplant in relation to first and last average frost for a specific growing zone. This is especially helpful for newer gardeners like me and not only includes vegetables but herbs, fruits, and flowers. 

Garden Calendar

So I printed off a copy of the full year (one month per page) and using the calendar noted when to plant each specific item I want in my garden this year. There are a few items missing (most notably potatoes) but for the most part I have covered everything we will need.

I have already ordered seed catalogs and am anxiously waiting for them to come in the mail! I love pouring over the different varieties of each vegetables, oohing and aahing over the beautiful colors of the flowers and wishing I could buy everything all at once instead of spreading it over the years. Someday I will have the gardens, orchards and berry patches that I want and need to support my family.

The next step will to measure the gardens, decide where, if possible, we can expand, and then map where everything will go. We have several gardens around the yard, some raised, some not, that we plant in. There are many projects that need to be done to get everything in that I want, and it may take a few years, but will get there.



More Entries.

We have segregated the berries from the rest of the garden. Last year we didn't have much luck with them. Both the Blueberry bushes we planted failed but both Raspberries took. I would like to add more raspberries to the patch and then we will need to put up netting to keep out the birds. That will require braces and such to hold it.

The trellis currently has clematis on it but I would like to replace that with grape vines. I know my parents used to grow concord grapes and make their own juice and jelly from them. I want to get there again.

The apple tree needs to be pruned. We had a huge harvest last year. Largest one my dad had seen in all the years of owning the property. I would like to get another tree in this year too.



Last Year's Gardening Start!

The strawberries are in a great spot, but only receive sunlight on part of the patch. I used old pallets to create my strawberry patch. I stapled gardening fabric to the back of the pallets, flipped them over and filled with soil. It works great! My plants really took off and we had a lot of berries (if we can keep the squirrels and birds out of them). The pallets need to be moved (there are only 2) so that they all receive the sunlight. I have the perfect place for them, but it requires moving a small wood pile and some other things and then actually moving the pallets. I also want to expand this area by adding about 6 more pallets! Of course we will need to add the netting here too.



Strawberries in a Pallet

The herb garden did well last year, right outside the back door. I will need to add some organic mixture this year and till it in good. I will be adding a few more to the garden this year!

Oh, I can't wait to start my garden! We will be planting our tomatoes and peppers inside so they will be ready to go come summer! I still have some research to do on other things, and we will have to make arrangements for the vegetable garden to be tilled, but all in all it's a great start! I can't WAIT for summer! :)