Spared Again

Praise God, Isaias went from category 1 hurricane to tropical storm, then missed South Florida completely! Hallelujah!! It came close enough to give us some showers but nothing out of the ordinary. There were also a few gusts of wind occasionally, but again nothing for concern. I'd brought in my patio furniture on Saturday in case the storm got closer; Sunday morning it was back outside. 

We are still praying for this storm to either dissipate or head out into the ocean. It can still become a hurricane again, since the waters are warm this time of year. The Carolinas seem to be the possible target, but we know that the weatherman doesn't direct the storm. We are so thankful this morning for our faithful God, and we trust Him that He will take care of our friends in Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and anywhere else this storm may be headed.

 Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. - Psalm 89:8-9

Not Another One...

We interrupt this house tour to bring a special announcement: Hurricane Isaias is the first hurricane of the season to threaten Florida. This is significant for two reasons: one, the height of hurricane season is September - October, yet here we have a hurricane headed our way that should reach us by August 1. Two, it's July and we're already on letter I of the alphabet. That means there's already been eight storms in the Atlantic and we haven't hit peak season. 

Forecasters predict that hurricane Isaias will brush along the eastern border of Florida, but that's just a prediction. Hurricanes rarely do what the weatherman says they're going to do. While it's only a category 1 at this time (late afternoon July 31) it can potentially strengthen to a category 2 or weaken back down to a tropical storm. Either way I've decided it's best to be prepared. I've brought in my small plants to allow them to acclimate to the indoors, and tomorrow I'll bring in my patio furniture. Thankfully it isn't much. We're blessed to have hurricane shutters on most of the windows, though I doubt I will have to use them since it's a weak storm. Still, we haven't been through a hurricane in this new house, so we don't know what to expect. Will the power go out? Will it take long for it to be restored? We're experiencing a heat wave right now, with temps in the 90's but "feels like" temperatures above 100 degrees. The thought of no a/c is frightening. The water levels in the canal behind us have been lowered in anticipation of heavy rainfall, but will there be extensive flooding? It's too soon to know anything, but I'll try to update regularly.

We are praying for this storm to go out into the ocean and stay there, where it won't affect anyone. If you're reading this, I hope you will pray with me. "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16b). Thanks. God bless you.   

Let's Take A Tour - The Balcony

Before I get started, let me address the new look on my blog. I did like the old background and colors, but I was ready for a change. It's been five years, after all. I fell in love with this rustic look and the sunflowers. It reminds me of spring and summer, of warm days and showers and new growth on the trees and flowers blooming. It's change, but in a good way.

One of the things that immediately caught our eyes whenever we first walked into this home was the views. There are plenty of windows, but there are also two glass doors from where everything beyond is green. My heart skipped a beat. 

The balcony sits between the living room and dining room and has two sets of sliding glass doors. This allows lots of sunlight to stream in during the day, and in the winter we have lovely cross breezes that keep the house cool and refreshed. It's also completely screened in to keep bugs out, though we've noticed there's a little lizard that has found some crevice to sneak in through. 

I love the fact that the floors are tiled and not just plain dull cement. It makes it easier to keep clean, though now in the summer we've been getting rain almost daily and that helps wash away most of the dust. 

I desperately wanted to get a small patio set for the balcony but since it was October the stores were preparing for Christmas, not outdoor activity. I looked on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace but I couldn't find anything that caught my eye, not to mention it would have to be close by since I don't have a vehicle that would fit a bunch of outdoor seating. So I went to my trusty Amazon to see what was available. There were plenty of patio sets; finding one that would fit was the challenge. This balcony is not very big. The patio set I'd had at the house wouldn't fit here. I wanted something with a couple of chairs that was comfortable but didn't take up a lot of space. This set on Amazon was just what I was looking for.  It's two rockers and a side table, black metal with taupe cushions that clean easily. It took about half an hour to put together. The small shelves had been in our old garage but it was too small for what I needed in our garage now, so instead I put it here and added some fall greenery and a white pumpkin over a hay bale. The barometer on the wall was left by the previous owner so I didn't have to put anything there. I just added the lantern that I got on clearance from Target for $4.50 and the look was complete. I kept it simple because the star of this show is the view:

My realtor and best friend's words to me were, "The view alone sells this house." And she's right. There's a canal running along the back of our house, where we've seen all sorts of wildlife - cranes, ducks, turtles, fish (thankfully no gators, at least not yet), and this beauty which I was able to get a picture of:

It's kind of hidden, well blended into the tree, but what a majestic hawk! My son first noticed it, and it took our breath away. We've seen so many different birds - finches, blue jays, some we've never seen before and don't know what they are. It's a nice quiet neighborhood, so sitting outside and watching all the different animals gives us so much enjoyment. 

I've only done a little decorating since we moved in. We got plenty of use of the balcony in the fall and winter months, but now in the summer it's so hot and humid we don't sit out here. Still, I've made a few small changes that make it a bit more homey.

 

I added a couple of plants that I bought in the spring from Costco for $8. They came with the terracotta planters which is a plus, since they are my favorite types of planters. At the old house I had plants on my window sill, but they didn't fit in my kitchen in this house, so both my cactus and my orchid ended up out here. They are both thriving, so I don't mind the change.

Another great thing about this balcony is the ceiling fan. It came with the house and has been convenient whenever we sit outside. The hanging plant is artificial; I want to get one or two real plants but I'm waiting for summer to be over so I can get some from Home Depot cheap. And there's that view again...

I no longer have a big yard. No more mowing, no more trimming, no more weeding, no more sweating. Yet I still can enjoy the outdoors. I love looking out from my balcony to the water, the trees, the grass,  and the wildlife. It's so peaceful. Even on stormy days, when the sky goes from blue to grey and the clouds are no longer puffy white; when it seems ominous, and the wind blows, and we hear the thunder rolling in the distance, it's still beautiful and awe inspiring. God has made all these different scenes, these backdrops that are a work of art. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1). 

I hate to leave this tranquil spot, but it's on to the heart of the home. The kitchen is next, so 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.

Week in Review - It's Been A Difficult Week

I've wanted to post a few times this week, but time kept getting away from me.  How I would love a day when I can do absolutely nothing.  Just sit around watching TV, which I haven't done in awhile.  Some days I miss that.

Molly is scheduled for her surgery tomorrow.  She has been getting steadily worse this week, though you wouldn't know it from her demeanor.  She is still as loving and affectionate as ever, even if she doesn't have the same amount of energy or spunk.

The surgery can't come soon enough.  The tumor on her belly appears infected, and I mean badly infected.  It oozes, and has turned dark, almost green, and it smells awful.  I discussed with my daughter today that I'm concerned it might become gangrenous, which would be devastating.  Even if she comes out of the surgery well, which of course is our hope, there is no guarantee we will have her with us for very long.  We are both convinced this is a cancerous tumor, and more than likely it has spread, though we don't know to what extent.  We have to wait for the surgery, then make a decision as to her future.  It's not something any of us is looking forward to.

My son E had a very busy school week.  He had an English paper and presentation to finish and send in.  He started quadratic formulas in algebra which were complicated to learn.  There was a science quiz and a review portfolio which he just finished today.  Music history is usually just reading, but this week he had a review and critical thinking paper, class discussion, and lab to complete.  Usually he doesn't have to work on the weekends, but this time he worked both yesterday and today, with a Hope assignment still not completed - it should be done by tomorrow.  There's about 8 weeks of school left so of course it gets hectic as we approach the final stretch.

Work was also really busy this week.  Many of the students we tutor took their ACT exams this weekend, so they're done with tutoring.  New students that have been on a waiting list are now starting this week, which meant lots of paperwork had to be completed.  As busy as we were, I had to help with tutoring a few kids.  Two of our teachers were sick - one had kidney surgery and the other had a kidney infection, so both were in the hospital at the same time.  MM arranged their students as best she could, but there simply weren't enough teachers to go around, so I was assigned homework help students.  Since they were all elementary school age it wasn't a problem, but I felt like I would never get my work done.  Thankfully everything fell into place and I think we're back on track, but I have to say it was pretty stressful.

Then Friday, my "day off", started off at 6:00am.  I went to bible study where we finished studying the book Daniel by Beth Moore.  It was such a great study that I'm actually sorry it's over!  Afterwards I came home to do schoolwork with my son, make lunch, then take him to the doctor.  He has a rash on his left hand, a very itchy rash.  When it first appeared I thought it was ant bites.  As more bumps appeared in clusters, I thought it was similar to what he'd had on his eye, so I had him put on the cream they'd given him for his hand.  It did nothing.  It kind of looked like eczema, which he's had before, so I got him eczema cream.  It got worse.  The skin around his thumb was cracking, and it was very painful.  So I took him to his regular doctor, who believes this is a fungus based on the fact that it's only on his hand and the hydrocortisone made it worse.  He prescribed a cream, and antibiotics because of the cracked skin.  I'm keeping an eye on it; it seems better, but if I don't see enough improvement by Tuesday I'm gonna have to take him to see a dermatologist.

As exhausting as my week had been, I was looking forward to cleaning my home on Saturday and then relaxing.  That wasn't meant to be.  My kid's father showed up after two weeks of not seeing or calling any of his children.  He put on a show of concern for E's hand, and suggested yet again that we get rid of Molly because he blames her for E's allergies and anything else that happens to him.  He actually asked if any of us could catch what Molly has.  Since when is cancer contagious?  He finally left without E, because he didn't think E should go out with his hand looking the way it did.  Meanwhile, once again, I was left feeling angry and resentful and bitter, which I absolutely hate feeling, but he brings out the worst in me.  It is so frustrating that he acts like he's so concerned about his kids, then he disappears for a week or two.  It took several hours before I was able to calm down - that, and a trip to Target ;-).  I looked through the tops for clearance items, and found 3 tank tops and a v-neck, each under $10.  I don't usually recommend retail therapy, but I needed to get out of my house and focus on something else.

This week our Sunday school class was challenged to learn Psalm 23 by hard.  And let me tell you, it was hard!  I know bits and pieces of it, but I've never learned it straight through.  For some crazy reason, I thought I'd learn it in the King James Version.  It sounds so beautiful with all the thee's and thou's, but honestly, what was I thinking?!  I actually made it harder on myself.  I was relieved to find out everyone else had a hard time learning it as well ;-).  We are gonna continue working on it this week.  I printed it and put it up on my fridge to help me remember it.

That's my recap for the week.  It has been rough, and I don't think the coming week will be much easier, especially with Molly recovering from surgery.  If you think of her during the day, please say a prayer for our puppy.  We love her dearly, and just want to see her get better.  Thanks y'all.  Goodnight, and God bless.