Thursday, July 30, 2009

Sweltering ....



We are just ROASTING in Portland!!! I'm so thankful that today was only in the 90's! Can you believe we've been moving in this heat - in the most INefficient manner possible - ever since we signed papers last Friday? We couldn't get movers until next Tuesday AND had trouble getting boxes, so we've been packing random boxes, driving them the 10 miles to our new place, unpacking/emptying out those boxes to re-use.

I'm praising God for lots of things in this move, but ESPECIALLY the fact that our new domicile has air conditioning! YEAH!! A/C is rarely needed in Oregon but it is SUCH a treat this week.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Too Much Fun?


I have somehow managed to get myself caught up in too many fun activities. Do you ever do that? I enjoy so many things in life that I can find balance difficult to achieve, especially when LIFE HAPPENS. All it took was an illness, family problems and an unexpected tragedy to throw me off course. See what I'm talking about:

MOVING: The big, top-priority is moving households over the next few weeks! I don't have ONE BOX packed and am mired down in the sorting of clutter. Why oh why didn't I stay on track with FlyLady's decluttering system?!? So, my scatter-brainedness is catching up with me. sigh We got a lot done in the well house yesterday but I have a lot more to complete.

Hostess of the Lucy Apron Swap: This is the sixth Flirty Apron Swap that I've hosted online. I just LOVE this theme and cannot believe that the mailing window begins next week! I still have have several giveaways to offer my gals and hope I can pull myself together to really enjoy my Flirty Apron Swap. PLUS, I need to make my own creation!

OASIS Crochet Class Instructor: Our church offers a time of relaxation and learning for the ladies of our church and their non-churched friends; this is my fifth year as an instructor. This summer, it's a four-week series and I'm teaching crochet. I've felt behind the whole session, and have two weeks left. My class has seven people enrolled and only one gal made it last week. I'll call everyone tomorrow and decide what the last two classes will look like.

Weight Loss Bible Study Team Leader: SparkPeople.com is the website that's helping me in my weight loss journey, and First Place 4 Health has a six-week bible study that I love. So, I started a SparkTeam and have almost 20 gals who are participating in a six-week challenge to help us meet our spiritual and physical goals while going through the Healthy Summer Living bible study book. Again, I'm behind and haven't been the leader I need to be as we're heading in to Week 3. Perhaps my timing on this one was bad??

HP Swap: I enjoy Harry Potter and crafting, so when I found a swap for a Harry Potter Summer Camp yarn swap, I joined in. Again, the fun attracted me without completly weighing the time commitment. This swap requires that I blog weekly, contact my partner weekly, they offer fun games to earn "house points" (so I let down my team if I don't participate). I'm struggling to keep up here and am not enjoying it like I could have had I been able to focus.

Nursery Community Builder: Every other month, I assist in the church nursery coordinating/hostessing the classroom leaders. Such an easy and fun volunteer position, but I don't feel as connected as in years past. July is my "month on" and it's been hectic with lots of vacations to work around.

Overdue Commitments: I have a handful of items that I need to send off to people -- I haven't forgotten but they're not out the door either! If you're waiting for something from me, IT'S COMING!

Family Needs: In the midst of the fun/chaos I've caused, my family needs me. My youngest is struggling with losing her puppy. We really miss having a pet to cuddle and love on. My next daughter will be home soon from a California trip and I can't wait to have some time with her. My oldest daughter got back from Africa and had some sort of reaction to meds or bug bites or something, and has been in a bit of a crisis so we've been spending extra time together. My son has a birthday tomorrow(!) and I can't wait to celebrate. My dear hubby is also in the middle of a weight loss program, and doing just great. His birthday is in a few weeks. Lastly, our 24th anniversary is also in a few weeks and deserving a celebration, too.

So, what's my plan? Well, SIMPLICITY is the key. To get me through the rest of July, I will start my days in prayer, 10 minutes of bible study and then half-hour exercise. After giving my day to God and taking care of his temple, it's all focus-focus-focus to get my family moved. I will set aside one hour for my outside commitments and just make it work. I also promise to not sign up for any more fun swaps or groups.

My August is going to be all about wrapping up prior commitments and setting a clean slate for the fall. Lots of prayer will go into what my new schedule will look like. I can't give away too much of myself or my family suffers, no matter how good something sounds. I am excited for a new town, new routine and new possibilities.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Goodbye Molly - Hello Suburbs

Molly
September 4, 2008 - July 11, 2009

My youngest daughter only wanted one thing for Christmas last year - a puppy. She actually had a long list, but everything was puppy related -- a leash, dog bed, "spaiyed", dog food. She got her wish and a sweet cocker spaniel-beagle mix came into our family. After much thought and deliberation, we named her Molly. She has been a wonderful companion, so cuddly, playful and just a joy. This last weekend, she escaped down our driveway when our oldest daughter came home to visit, ran onto the 45-mph "frogger" country road and was killed.

My sweet littlest daughter is having good and bad days. She immediately called her friends that knew Molly, crying and sharing her pain. We didn't want Molly to just be in a bag/box so she took her special pillowcase off her bed to wrap Molly in her scent. Molly's favorite toy was a moose that was pretty mangled, and we put that in the pillowcase, too. T added her special reindeer "Brownie" because she says Molly always tried to play with it and she should have it. She took Molly's pictures to church and let her friends minister to her, and our marvelous Children's Pastor Jeff prayed for T and Molly. She didn't want to bury Molly and leave her on our rental property so asked to have her cremated.

We found a great local company, Dignified Pet Services, and they gave T some final time with Molly before the final "goodbye". We will pick up her ashes in 72 hours (T is counting the time), and are in the process of finding the perfect urn.


I have had it with country life. We have been in a house that is beyond "drafty," freezing in the winter even with the furnace blasting and electric bills up to $500/mo; no garage so we've been paying for storage while our few belongings in the outbuildings have been ruined by leaky roofs and bird droppings. I, the gal who hates all things outdoors, have had to learn to make a fire (just to stay warm, not for ambience!) and stacked more wood than I care to remember. I am SICK of disposing of dead critters that my cat saves us from -- mice, moles, voles, snakes, birds -- some that have been brought into the house. Dust everywhere, no cell service (!!!!), coyotes, deer, and now my sweet puppy being killed on my "neighborhood street" that people drive 60 mph on .... I'm sorry, but the country life has turned out to be a bit much for this city girl. We're moving back to the suburbs in a few weeks, and I can't wait.

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