Phase 1 of kitchen

Today is the day of the kitchen work - phase 1! We are changing the countertop, moving cabinets, fixing the outlets, and adding a dishwasher. It is so very exciting!!!! We found a contractor who we trust (he was the group leader for Awana's for Joanna's age) so I'm very optimistic that it will be done well. By Friday (if all goes well) we will be done! YEAH!!
We had decided to work on the kitchen (which really could use a total makeover) one wall/section at a time. I'm going to try my hand at tiling the backsplash and if that goes well then I'm going to try to tile a small countertop area next to our stove. Phase 2 will hopefully be the pantry wall shelving and a rack to hang our cast iron pans from (and a shelf above for cookbooks). And then Phase 3 will be removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area. That will be a big one because we will be moving the chimney run, adding supports to the ceiling and fixing the ceiling in both rooms (they have those 12" ceiling tiles). We will make a pennisula/eating bar there. Husband kind of likes the idea of doing that but doesn't want to tackle the work. We may have to hire out some of that project.

I took a picture of the before of the area. So hopefully I can figure out how to load pictures and send a before and after.

The Estate

It has been nearly a year since my mom passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. The saying "the long goodbye" is true. Watching her decline was one of the hardest things I have had to work through in my life. I'm so very thankful for good care that was found in an "Alzheimer Care Facility". While it was hard to see her there....they took very good care of her right to the end. They were like extended family in some ways.

Just this last week her estate finally settled. I hadn't been expecting much (due to the amount and length of care she needed) but when I got the check it was a surprise. About 3 times what I had been expecting. So....now it is time to consider how to handle it well and not spend it all!!! I had been reading Dave Ramsey's book "7 steps to Financial Freedom" (or something like that). His advice is to stop getting in debt (duh!!), build a 3-6 month emergency fund, pay off ALL consumer debt (other than the house), and then start working on a retirement fund (there are some more steps after that). With this blessing from mom we are able to put the emergency fund into place. We had already dealt with all consumer debt so now it's time to plug something into retirement. It is a place I never thought we would get to.

I am amazed how it feels to come over this hump. We have lived paycheck to paycheck almost our whole married life. And now that we are here I can see how God has spent these many years breaking away my need for STUFF. If this event had happened earlier in life I think that I would have not done well with it. But now....the stuff is just not important! Last Sunday I was able for plug some $$ into our churches Good Samaritan Fund and that felt really good. We are now looking at doing a family mission's trip next summer (hopefully). The kids will have to do some "investment time" for this to happen. Perhaps it will be to earn some $$ or collecting something that we can give to the mission work.

It is good not to be servant to our debt anymore (other than the house) and instead be able to serve wholeheartedly to the Lord and his work through our local body of believers!

The Beauty of the Lord

There is a benefit to sleeping on the couch. Last night (like many other nights recently) I was having trouble sleeping. This gets compounded by husband's snoring. Most nights he is willing to move to the couch to sleep but last night I went out there to the family room. It took some time to get comfortable and relax but then sleep was good. As morning arrived, I was pleasantly awakened by the birds singing! This is the benefit to me. It was such a happy sound! Thank you Lord for the beautiful sounds of birds (crows are a different issue....but I won't go there!)!

Take time to seek the beauty of the Lord today! It is everywhere!

Birthday Day

It is a birthday day around here. It has been an amazing journey these last 11 years with Abigail. With her debut at 4:45 am logging in at an amazing 10 pounds and 6 ounces(!!!) through her collective journey of health concerns. It certainly was a path I would have not necessarily chosen (and then again, how many things in life do we truly choose?) but it is a path that has made me a better person and christian believer. Truly, when faith gets challenged in the fire....it is when the dross falls away and you are left with something more pure.

So here is to FAITH and to GOD for choosing (or allowing) difficulties and blessings to challenge my path. Lord....keep on lighting my way!

Sticky Notes

http://vimeo.com/1700732

You all need to visit this link to see a cool video about sticky notes!! Too fun!

Where are the Youth?!

Where are the young people? Went on a trip yesterday with my son to Eastern Illinois (almost to Indiana). It was about a 6 hour drive one way. We decided to just do the whole thing in a day (Yeah....I'm still crazy after all these years!!!). It was a good bonding thing to do with my teenager and he got to practice his driving skills (which also increases the amount of white hair on my head!!). Anyway, we were to drop off some computers to a staff member at the national level of our denomination. Those will be going to a missions work in Belize. We attended church there (a small town of about 1000). There was about 50 in attendance. I think that I saw one other teenage person and about a handful of elementary kids there. We have also had the opportunity to visit some churches over the last couple of years (now that husband is not pastoring) and I find it very alarming the lack of youth in many of those churches.

What is happening?! I had heard a sermon the previous week (again at a church with only 2 other children in attendance!) and the preacher was speaking on passing down the blessings from the older generations to the younger generations. Afterwards they had a potluck meal and I noticed that no one was sitting with the youth (and the couple of college age kids) and interacting with them! The older people all just like to congregate to their comfort zone. That has really been on my heart. I'm just not seeing the older generation stepping up to the plate and getting involved in the younger generation. At our church, it is pretty much the parents who do the work with the children and youth. Most of the next generation (50 and older) just like to be together and not involved in a large way with the passing down of the faith to the youth. Some will kind of help with special events but even then....it is not much.

I really feel stuck in between. I really need those in the next generation up to get involved with my kids. And I'm just not quite available enough to start sowing into the next generation! This is tough. How does a person start a "rally cry" to the body? I need to pray and TRUST God!