Sunday Meanderings

Thank you, Microsoft Clipart


FOOD FOR THOUGHT - A DEVOTIONAL

Where to Take Your Troubles

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.

~~ Philippians 4:6 ~~

Sometimes, the world seems to shift beneath our feet. From time to time, all of us face adversity, discouragement, or disappointment. And, throughout life, we must all endure life-changing personal losses that leave us anxiously struggling for breath. When we do, God stands ready to protect us.

The Bible instructs us to, "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you" (1 Chronicles 28:20). When we are troubled, we must call upon God, and in time He will heal us.

Are you anxious? Take those anxieties to God. Are you troubled? Take your troubles to Him. Does your future seem uncertain? Place your trust in the One who is forever faithful.

A Woman of Prayer, 365 Daily Devotions, Freeman-Smith LLC, Publisher


SPRING CLEANING? WHAT SPRING CLEANING? I'M DONE!

After working my way through my house for the past five weeks, which is when I quit smoking, it's done. My house is clean. It's smoke free. And it's decluttered. I've washed every surface I can reach. Every article of clothing we own has been washed. Every last single one. I've gone through every cupboard, closet and drawer and the pile going to Goodwill is amazing, but I was ruthless and it feels wonderful. And this past week, I finished washing walls and steam cleaning carpet. This house is officially ready for spring.


My living room is clean from this angle....


....and this angle....


....and even this angle.

Laura would be proud of me - I've always used baskets to organize things that have to sit out in the open. Actually, my closets are full of baskets, too. :-)


The last place I decluttered was these book shelves. They're located right in the center of the house and they constantly catch clutter, but the biggest problem was my inability to let go of a book. Take a look. I let them go, almost all of them! I only kept my very favorite collections and all the rest are going to the library or the used book store.

We found out that our local library really appreciates donations of hard bound books and our favorite used book store (Twice Upon a Time) is only accepting paperbacks right now. How perfect is that? So right now the garage looks like our own personal used book store, but tomorrow Rob and I are sorting them out and taking them to their new homes.

I considered doing a big book giveaway, but here's the truth. The postage would kill me, even if I sent all the books media rate. I simply cannot do it, but it does feel good to know that we're going to be making a seriously nice donation to our local library. Our books will reach a lot of people that way.

These shelves are so much nicer now. Cameron and Avery now have their own shelf. The top shelf on the left is Rob's and I cleared a second shelf for him, not that he needs it, but he had to promise me he wouldn't fill it up with ball caps. LOL And I have a couple of shelves strictly for my cookbooks and craft books and most important of all, my Martha Stewart "how to do just about anything" book. :-)


OH, YES I DID!

Laugh if you want to, but I'm now the proud owner of my own "personal sound amplifier." Heck! I'M laughing, but you know what? It works! I can hear the TV now without announcing to the whole neighborhood that I'm a reality TV addict. I was so happy when I found this, I almost shouted, "Bingo!" right there in Bed, Bath and Beyond. LOL


It's very subtle, don't you think? :-)


WRAPPING UP THE WEEK

This was my other great find yesterday. I've needed a good cast iron skillet forever, so I can make cornbread like Diane's - you know, the way you're supposed to make it. I was tickled pink to find a square one.

Cameron worked so hard Friday, helping me wash walls and clean carpet, his mommy and I treated him to a trip to the pet store Friday evening, and we let him pick out quite a few fish to keep in Nana's aquarium.


Here's his new swordtails. It's a boy and a girl, and they're live bearers, so we'll be having some fish babies soon. He'll love that.

Note to self: buy a floating baby tank - otherwise the new babies are going to be dinner for my humongous angel fish and I really don't want to have to explain that to Cameron.


You have to click on this photo to see the other little fish he picked out. I thought they were a little boring, but he loved them so we have eight more brownish-yellowish tetras in the tank now. And two pink catfish but they're busy behind the scenes (code - eating junk off the bottom of the tank) so you can't see them.


ONE LAST THOUGHT

I love this picture. I love it because the moment I saw it, I realized that Cameron is still young enough that he is honestly this enthralled with my carpet shampooer. He is so in awe of it, he laid down on the floor as close as he was brave enough to get to it, and just watched it in action.

Can you imagine? Someday, like all of us, he's going to feel like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. But Friday afternoon, he was this carefree.

I want to be that carefree. Don't you?

Happy new week, everyone. Spring arrives on Friday and I don't know about you, but I'm as happy as I can be about that.