2017 - Hurricane Irma

Hurricanes. They're a part of life if you live anywhere in the Southeastern part of the United States. They can be weak, strong, fast, slow, but one thing's for sure, they always cause a panic. Irma was no exception. She brought tremendous damage, but at the same time she brought some blessings in disguise.

Before I touch on the hurricane, let me give a little back story. We had some coconut palm trees in our backyard. By some I mean 10. Yes, ten coconut palms that were too tall for us to reach the coconuts, so they ended up either drying up and falling all over the place or, every so often, Coconut Guy would come around our neighborhood offering to clean up the palm trees in exchange for the coconuts which he would sell. At first this was a win-win, and I was happy to let him come into the yard and get all the coconuts he wanted. He'd trim the trees, which was great because palm fronds are huge and difficult to dispose of. Since I don't have a truck I couldn't get them out to the dump, so I would have to cut them into pieces so I could put them in our trash can. Problem was, the trash can would get filled up with five palm fronds, meanwhile anywhere from 5-8 would fall down every week. It was hard to keep up with the mess in my yard. Whenever Coconut Guy came, he took care of that for me. Well, the first couple of times he did anyway.

Seems like Coconut Guy got tired of the extra work because the last few times he would get his coconuts and leave a mess of palm fronds all over my yard. I got tired of it and told him if he wanted coconuts he would have to take the trash with him as well. He agreed, took half of the branches, then didn't come back for months. So that was the end of that. Unfortunately, I still had these huge palm trees in my yard that quite frankly gave me cause for concern. Several of them were close to the house, and I feared any of them falling and destroying our roof. Cutting them down wasn't an option, though. It would cost upwards of $5,000 to have just one removed (did I mention we had 10?). So I prayed about it. I asked God to show me a way of getting the coconut palms out of my yard so they wouldn't cause me so much work, concern, and headaches.

Hurricane Irma started off in the Atlantic Ocean and intensified quickly. Between August 31 and September 5 it went from category 2 to category 5 status, hitting winds of over 180 mph. We watched as it decimated the island of Barbuda, then watched intently as it headed our way. Having lived through Hurricane Andrew in 1992 I didn't want to experience another storm of that magnitude, but where would we go? People were leaving the state in droves, roadways were backed up for miles, and we who live here know how unpredictable hurricanes can be. What if we drove out of town only to have it meet us further north and in an unfamiliar area? We decided the best thing we could do was hunker down and pray. A lot.

For days we prepared and watched and listened. Finally, on September 8, we found out we were no longer in the cone. Hallelujah! Except that this was no tiny little storm, and being outside of the cone only meant we weren't getting a direct hit. South Florida got category 3 hurricane force winds, and that means extensive damage.

She reached us on September 10. She was actually below us, blowing through the Keys and then up the Gulf Coast. Inside, we sat in the darkness and listened as the winds howled. Since we had shutters on the windows we couldn't see what was going on outside, but through the sides we would catch a peak of the heavy rain. Then my daughter told me, "Mom, I think a tree fell on my window." You can well imagine the look of horror on my face! I asked what made her think that, and she said she was trying to get a peek through the sides of the shutters but all she could see was branches. We checked to see if there was any water coming into her bedroom, but all was dry. The storm was still coming through so we couldn't do anything else. Then she started looking through all the other windows, and it looked like another tree was down right next to the house. I was pretty sure it hadn't hit the house, otherwise we would have heard it, but it was close to our air conditioning unit. If it took that out, we'd be in big trouble. South Florida is hot, y'all. If the a/c unit was damaged, it would take weeks to get it fixed, and there's no way we could survive the heat. It made the next few hours even more tense.

By the time the storm had passed it was evening, and none of us wanted to go outside to see what was going on. Our neighbors came by to check on us, and they that informed us that we had not one, not two, but three trees come down in our backyard. Since it was late we decided to wait till the next day to go back and see. Our kind neighbors set us up with electricity from their generator so we could power some fans, but we didn't sleep that night. Between the heat and not entirely knowing what awaited us the next day, we probably all got less than three hours of sleep.

I shouldn't have worried. God showed up. He showed up in a big way.

The trees that fell behind the house somehow fell on the diagonal. One just barely missed the house, while the other was leaning on the edge of the roof. Our neighbor was able to cut it down with only a piece of one of the roof tiles having chipped. No other damage was done to the house.

The tree that had always worried me the most because it was closest to the house, fell right in between our house and our other neighbor's house. It missed our air conditioning unit and only took down a small section of the chain link fence. It was a miracle that a tree this size did so little damage.

The trees were ripped out of the ground like they were sticks in the mud. We had major work to do to get all the debris out to the street so the bulk trash could pick it up.

I am so thankful for all the help we received. Everyone was busy getting their own homes cleaned up, so we were especially appreciative of any help that was offered.

This was the end result. The stumps stayed behind because they were too heavy to remove, but 3 less trees in the yard was a wonderful blessing. God took them down and it didn't cost us a dime!

Hurricane Irma taught me that God can answer prayers in the least expected circumstances. Behind the shed there was another tree that almost came down but it got caught in the tree next to it and was stuck there. But that's a story for another day.

Summer 2017

The summer of 2017 was normal for me in some ways,  but that doesn't mean there weren't changes going on, changes that affected my household. I was reminded that my babies are grown up, a fact that brings joy and sorrow at the same time. There's that part of me that wishes they were still little, even though I'm proud of who God has made them into.

My daughter was given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work at a day camp in Israel! She would be away for one month, from the end of June to the end of July.  I was both excited and terrified. She was going with a group of ladies from work, which gave me some peace, but there's always trouble in Israel unfortunately. Still, to be in the Holy Land, to walk the same cities and towns that Jesus walked with His apostles, to minister to the Israeli children, was a dream come true. I wouldn't object to her going, but I was going to be on my knees for a whole month praying for her safety.

At the same time, my oldest son had some exciting news. His best friend's girlfriend had a job offer in Central Florida. They were going to be moving up, and wanted to know if my son R would like to join them as their roommate. R had lived a little over a year in Central Florida when he and his sister were in school, but he'd come back home after she left because it was too lonely for him on his own. He often commented that he wanted to go back to live there one day. He liked it much more than South Florida. Now he had the opportunity, and he was going to take it. That was a bittersweet moment for me. I knew this was what he wanted and he'd probably have more chances of growth at his job in Central Florida. Oh, but to not have my baby close by everyday was breaking my heart! Of course, I was quickly reminded that he wasn't leaving the country or even the state. We could still visit him, and I felt that this was going to be a change for the better. 

I was off work for a week in mid June, then the following week R was in Central Florida looking for a place to live and interviewing so he could transfer from his job. He and his roommates made great progress in the two days they went up. Two days after they got back, A left for Israel. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried my eyes out even though I was happy for her. That week was an emotional roller coaster ride.

The next three weeks were filled with packing and decluttering. They didn't have much to take with them; they'd all been living with their parents, so they had no household items to speak of and very little furniture. I decided to give them my recliners. We had bought a set of recliners along with a reclining couch some 12 years earlier, and they were still in great condition. They needed furniture, and I needed a change. Since J had moved out I had replaced some of the furnishings in the home, not out of necessity but because of the sad memories attached to them. I wanted to be able to enter my home and not be reminded of all the pain I felt daily. My son jumped at the chance of having these super comfy recliners and I was glad to contribute to his move.

R and his friends left on July 13, and A didn't get back from Israel till the 23rd. It was me and my youngest son E on our own again for those 10 days. Just 5 years earlier my older kids had moved back home after a year in school, and now my son was moving out for good and my daughter had caught the travel bug. They were all grown up, and things were changing, but little prepared us for what the fall was going to blow in (literally!).

Spring 2017 - Virginia Here We Come!

Life continued in our house. I was working, had been working for the past two years at a tutoring center, while homeschooling my youngest son E. My daughter was still teaching but she'd decided she wanted to go back to school and receive her masters in pastoral counseling. It was a grueling schedule for her, but I'm proud to say she finished and received her degree. It was a huge accomplishment, one that we wanted to commemorate by attending her graduation ceremony at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

I'd never been to Virginia. My son hadn't been on an airplane since he was two years old, so he didn't remember it. This made the trip an exciting new experience for both of us. We flew into Raleigh, North Carolina and drove the two hours to Lynchburg. As we went through the beautiful countryside I realized how much I missed seeing mountains. I love Florida, don't get me wrong, but it's as flat as a pancake. There's beaches, trees, parks, waterways, canals, but no mountains. Heck, there aren't even hills in most of the state. Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains are absolutely stunning! The air was clean and crisp, the roads easy with very little traffic so the scenery could be better appreciated. How we loved both North Carolina's and Virginia's landscape!

Pictures don't do it justice. It's gorgeous!

Another thing I loved about Virginia was the people, the Southern hospitality, and oh yes, the food! We went to several restaurants and enjoyed some of the classics, like sausage gravy and biscuits:

But if I had to pick a favorite eatery, it was {RA} Bistro. The chipotle burger was crazy delicious! I seriously recommend it if you're ever in the area.

I was especially thrilled to visit Monticello, the home of President Thomas Jefferson. It was a dream come true to cross that off my bucket list.

Unfortunately it was raining that day and we weren't able to appreciate the grounds, though we were able to see the vegetable garden.

Of course, I can't forget the main reason we went to Virginia: graduation day! It was made especially memorable by the guest speaker - none other than President Donald Trump! Whether you like him or not (and I realize that's a touchy subject for many), it is still thrilling to have the current President of the United States speaking at your graduation. It was a very lovely speech, focused on the students and not on himself which I greatly appreciated.

I am one proud mama!

If I had to point to a highlight of that year, this trip would be it. I loved every minute of it, even the rain and the low temperatures (because 49 degrees is freezing for this Floridian). Of course 2017 would be memorable for more reasons than this. There's plenty more to come, so stay tuned!

2017, The Year of Rest...Or Was It?

After a year of turmoil and craziness, my hope was a new year that was quiet.  I needed a break. I was mentally exhausted and emotionally drained. It was time for some rest.

The previous year, in November, I started a project that I'd put on hold due to the holidays, divorce, and time. My dining room set had gotten pretty worn. We'd bought it when we moved to the house in 2000, and after 16 years the color was faded, and it had stains and scratches. I considered buying a new dining room set, but when I saw the prices I almost fell out of my (dining) chair. For the price we'd paid for an entire dining room set (table, 6 chairs and china cabinet) all I could get was a table. I didn't want to spend a ton of money, so I considered buying something second hand that I could fix up. Then I thought, duh, I already have something used. What can I do to fix this up?

I decided to do what everyone else does when getting ready to do a diy project: I went on YouTube.  I found Cass from the YouTube channel Clutterbug, who'd done her entire kitchen using gel stain. It appealed to me because I wouldn't need a lot of special tools, and with gel stain I wouldn't have to do a lot of sanding. Looking at several more videos convinced me it was something I could do. If it worked, great. If it didn't, oh well. I was gonna get rid of it anyway.

The original color was a light maple with a Southwestern detail around the edges. The chairs had brown and black striped cushions which was the first thing I'd changed to a tan and white fabric I found on clearance at Walmart. It's hard to see in pictures but the finish on the table was dull and faded. I know that painting furniture white using chalk paint is popular, but it wasn't what I wanted. I like a classic elegant look with a little bit of a rustic touch, not the chippy white shabby chic that seems to be in everyone's house these days. It isn't a bad look, it just isn't my style. I decided instead to go with General Finishes gel stain in java, the same color Cass had used in her kitchen.

I lightly sanded the top of the table, put on the first coat, and thought, "Oh no, I ruined the table!" It looked pretty awful; so bad I didn't take a picture. It was streaky and didn't cover the original color very well. I was more heartbroken than I thought I'd be. I was really looking forward to keeping my dining room set, and it looked like it wasn't going to be.

Thankfully I went on General Finishes' YouTube channel to see if there was any way to fix my "botched" stain job. What I found out is that the first coat always looks pretty bad. As I looked at more videos and websites, I realized I was freaking out unnecessarily and I just needed to keep going. Boy, am I glad I did! The results were better than I dreamed!

The color is dark, rich, and elegant. The cushions pop against the espresso tone. It was just perfect.

I finished staining the table and chairs just before Thanksgiving. Not wanting to have the mess in my house during the holidays, I decided to leave the china cabinet alone. I picked up the project in January after putting away all the Christmas decor.

This was after a couple of coats of stain. It gives you an idea how one coat would look. The color as seen here is pretty but it didn't have the richness I was looking for. To get the espresso color took 4 coats of gel stain, and afterwards I added 3 coats of poly to protect the stain and give it that lovely sheen.

I stained the outside only, and left the inside the original maple color. I also replaced the handles. The original knobs were tiny and black, which wasn't going to show against the java. I found some really cute knobs in an antique gold on Amazon that were about $1.00 each and were absolute perfection.

Doing this project myself gave me a sense of accomplishment. The best part: the entire project (including all the materials to reupholster the chairs, gel stain, paint brushes, etc) cost a total of $250! I loved it so much I gel stained the top of my coffee table and two nightstands! Keeping myself busy also helped my mental state, which was much needed. The year was off to a good start.

Of course, life isn't perfect and my year of rest wasn't going to be either. But that's another blog post. Stay tuned!

Where To Start...

It's been just over 4 1/2 years since I last posted on this blog. On the one hand it doesn't feel like it's been that long; on the other hand, it feels like a lifetime ago. There have been many times when I thought about getting back on. Many times when I looked back on my blogging and thought, I sure do miss putting my thoughts down here. Many, many times...

Part of the reason was trouble with my login. But that, I knew, was easy enough to fix. The main reason was, I couldn't find the words. I felt like I was stuck in a whirlwind and couldn't get out. All I wanted to do was scream. I had moments when I didn't want to talk, didn't want to journal, didn't even want to think. It was a difficult time, but you know what? God saw me through it. I've come out stronger and more sure of my faith. Life isn't perfect; I don't expect it to be. I'm okay with that.

So I've decided to start blogging again. And the first question I asked myself was, "Where do I start?" I think Julie Andrews answered that best. Start at the beginning. It's a very fine place to start.

Our beloved Molly died in September of 2015. I tried blogging the following October but I was still grieving. Little did I know what was about to come next. In January 2016 my husband (whom I was separated from) came to my house and told me he was purchasing a house for himself. Not only that, he wanted me to help him finance it. Yes, he wanted me to help him purchase a house that he would be sharing with his girlfriend. I said no, absolutely not. If he wanted to buy a house he was welcome to do it after he was divorced from me, but I certainly was not going to help him. Well, after 4 years of separation he agreed to a divorce. Or so I thought.

I called my lawyer and began divorce proceedings. At the same time, the church I'd been attending for 8 years was in a whirlwind storm of its own, and it was splitting. I'd never experienced a church split, and I never want to again. It was so ugly, so un-Christlike. The church was as divided as the Senate. There was mishandling of church funds, accusations flowing left and right, and people leaving the church faster than you can say Help me Jesus. Folks I'd considered my friends suddenly stopped talking to me or kept their conversations to a superficial minimum. At a time when I needed my friends the most, they were disappearing. Talk about the worst timing ever.

My daughter had some friends at a local church and she told me I should try it. This church had gone through its own problems some 9 years prior, but through prayer and dedication it was growing and healthy. I started the transition in February, the same time the divorce papers were filed. Well, wouldn't you know it, as soon as my husband J got the paperwork he refused to sign. He called me to chew me out, saying there was no way he was going to sign anything. I didn't listen to most of what he said, until he told me I was ungrateful. It was as if he'd slapped me in the face. I don't think he expected what came next; even I didn't expect what came next. I told him off so bad. Everything I'd bottled up inside for the past 4 years came pouring out. I made it clear that this divorce was going to go through because I was not going to continue putting up with the humiliation of being married to a man that was living with another woman, and I meant it. It took 11 months from the day the petition was first put in, but in December of 2016 my divorce became final. I'm not going to go into all the details of everything that went on during that time. Suffice it to say, it was a difficult year.

In the meantime, I began to attend our new church. I'd attended a couple of churches before, but I have to say, I'd never experienced so much love in such a small building. Genuine love, that extended beyond the walls of the church building. I'm convinced God brought me to the place I needed to be at the time I needed to be there. It was slow for me; after everything I was going through, I didn't think I could ever trust anyone. It was like I'd built a wall around my heart, and I was gonna make sure no one penetrated it. Right. As if God wasn't powerful enough to take it down.

2016 was a hard, painful year. I don't like looking back at it too much. But one thing I learned, Romans 8:28 is true: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." God taught me so much during that year, and I grew, spiritually and emotionally.

I think I'm going to stop there. I can't fit 4 1/2 years into one blogpost. Just looking at 2016 has been draining and comforting at the same time. That's a lot of emotions for one day! Maybe a post per week, maybe more. We'll see. In the meantime, thanks for spending some time here. God bless.