Wednesday's news

A busy day yesterday but all of it good. Took two of the boys for eye exams, and one son (who's 15) turned out to have perfect vision (certainly takes after his dad at that age), and our youngest son (who's 13) had to get glasses. He'd been having headaches for awhile, but just lately told us about things in a distance looking blurry. He's just full of himself now! He definitely needed some help. So thankful we had the money to do this, because doctor stuff is always expensive. I was grateful for the boys' manners too. The eyeglasses tech. said she didn't see children as polite as ours much anymore, and as for hearing yes ma'am and no ma'am, she said hardly any kids said that anymore. A shame. In the South, that used to be the rule and not the exception. Praise for my children transfers as praise to me, and we all need that boost from time to time. Must remember that.

Also shopped for another son, who's turning 18 today. We don't have to go anywhere , so we can bake a homemade scratch carrot cake (husband fixed oven on Monday), and chicken enchiladas. We'd been suffering (unsatisfied yearnings) due to not having the oven working, so are thrilled to be baking again. :)

As to the neighbor issue---I've put distance between us, not answering her calls unless she leaves a voice message. Interesting how much calmer I feel without her stress piled on top of mine. It was making me a different person...so odd.

The rest of the week looks busy too, but it's all good. My husband has a couple of bids out for work---folks are calling and he's content because things are moving along. A quiet shop is disturbing for him, but folks are still out there spending money. Regardless of what the papers say, God is still in control and looking out for His people. I take great comfort in that.

This and that

Drinking the last sips of my Darjeeling. Fans spinning, since we're not anxious to turn on the air conditioning just yet. Paid the bills for now...yes! Planning on taking it a bit easier today. After I call the insurance company when they open this morning, oldest daughter will go to the grocery for a few things and then we'll head out to the library. On the way, will pick up the part for my stove. My baker son has been in withdrawal mode with the oven not working.

That's pretty much it for me today. No big stresses, just a bit curious about what the insurance company might say. No matter, we'll have the bathroom torn into on Saturday, with the boys and Gary being instructed on what to do by the friend of a neighbor. He knows what's up.

Oldest daughter looked at me in all sincerity last night and asked if I could PLEASE take some time off. She said it's good for them (the kids) to see me taking care of myself. Honestly, I'm not aware of what a homestyle work-a-holic I've become. Must amend that behavior, but realize it will take some time and personal adjustment to turn away from busyness.

Off to stir up children. Take care.

Btw, still crocheting. Must put up photos. :)

Update on rant

For your prayers and encouragement, thanks. Now let me tell you about God's sense of humor. I'd gotten up early-early this morning, and went back to bed when the rest of the house began moving about---at around 8:30am. I turned off my cell phone and nodded off. When I woke up later on, turned it back on and there was a voice message from my neighbor. Turns out she lost the paperwork regarding her doctor's visit for tomorrow and said I'd not have to babysit.

I just laughed. Like last week, when I hesitated about helping her, she went ahead and made different plans, and God provided a day out for the kids and me---kite flying. Tomorrow we'll go to the library.

He loves me, but I don't always get how much, nor do I understand the gentleness He wants to show me. This sort of circumstance is bringing that home. Must be I need to learn this.

Again, thanks.

Rant

Wanting to get a grip on my life this week. The pastor talked about worry and control last night, and one quote went something like this: "Worry is a fear of not having control." Bingo. Seems one plays off the other.

My husband told me yesterday that I was wound up tighter than Dick's hatband, and he's right. I'm so uptight and frazzled, I'm not even aware of it. It's become a way of life. I remember that my needy neighbor asked me to babysit tomorrow morning while she goes to the doctor for some tests and I want to call her up and cancel, but of course I won't. I agreed a couple of weeks ago, but really need (for my own sanity) to get a grip on her requests and my ability to solve them. There was a bit of a reprieve last week (and the prayers and advice from a couple of friends was priceless), but every darn time she rings my cell phone, there's a want/need/question. She's not going away! Obviously I'm not dealing with it very well. Partly it's the thread of exaggeration in her behavior. She called last week about a rash her baby had, and her own mom (who is also prone to making mountains out of molehills) thought it was ringw*rm or impet*go. I got online to see what impet*go looked like, so I'd be prepared before I walked over there. (drumroll, please) It was a heatrash. Just that. And this happens all the time. Hear me? All the time. Everything is a big deal with this chick.

There's the issue of wanting to be a good witness, but there's way too much taking on her part and the playing field isn't very level. A WWJD moment for sure. But if my memory serves me right, even the Lord grew weary of folks....'course He didn't follow through on the sinful thoughts concerning said individuals, but still...the takers of the world sure can drain a person.

But today is good, so far. And while I rarely get enough sleep, it's amazing how a person can function with as little as I get. Still, the mood falters and depression peeks its ugly head at me from time to time. Will try to boost up myself today. Have to call the insurance company tomorrow to see if they'll pay for our bathroom floor repair. Don't have a clue, but we figure it's worth a try. My mom's optimistic about it for us. And I want some time to get my thoughts together about that neighbor. I know that their house needs the Lord, yet just struggle with how much I'm necessary to them. But honestly, if it's not me, someone else will come along and fill the void. I'm physically drained from the situation, and have some work to do before I'll be settled about it. Sort of weird how it's obsessing me so much. I do think too much, hence the hatband comment. Just makes me wonder how my zingy-ness shows up in my personality. Must go chill, don't you think? Oldest daughter bought donuts yesterday for our morning breakfast today. Time for one. :) This'll work out. I just need to let go of it, and not try to fix it. The letting go is the hard part, though. Always.

Fussing

Have felt a bit zingy today. A bit stirred up because we're going to have to have our bathroom worked on---meaning the floor will need to be torn out completely, reworked from under the house (we have a crawlspace), and then re-tiled. It's gotten to the place where the floor is beginning to list to the west, like if you played a game of marbles in there (keeping in mind that it's really tiny), that the balls would end up against the wall. Not good. Gary recommends that the kids not hop in the bathroom, plus I get a bit worried when anyone takes a bath. He says it's not that bad, but still.

Can't stand having to use money for repairs that you can't see. Makes me all upset to have the house torn up, even for a day (a friend says he, Gary and the boys can get it done in one LONG day). Ugh.

Would rather eat nails.

I like life to be all nice and quiet. Don't stir me up and let's just do the regular stuff. Maybe I get rankled because my dad was a home remodeler, and I remember lots of times when he'd be doing stuff in the house. The end results were always peachy, but the process was noisy and messy. Not that I'm a neat-freak, anything but...yet I do like my routines. And, yes, I realize I'll be glad to have the floor all safe, but can't help but be a bit wired about it.

Must go find that bag of nails.

Late Thursday afternoon

Getting the house in order. About to dust, then vacuum up dog hair---the tumbleweeds the big dogs make are amazing, rolling in corners, under furniture, annoying as all get-out! Then will run around and put away stray things, get the sheets off the line (where they've been hanging out in 80 degree heat...lovely), hurriedly make the bed back up (we only have single sets of sheets on each bed) look in a mirror and make personal adjustments to as to not scare my husband when he comes some, then to mix up a batch of flour tortillas, a first since we usually buy them at the grocery. Also to put together the black beans and rice that's for dinner too.

Then to rest after dinner. I think I can do that. :)