Month: April 2016

digging in dirt

the week in review and digging in dirt

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This week started If you’re happy and you know it, don’t ignore it. This was all about enjoying your life even if you’re the only one.

God leads

On Tuesday I wrote This is the coolest bathroom ever! I hope you saw it.

unique bathroom

Friday I asked for your help with all those toilet paper rolls.

toilet paper roll

It wasn’t a big posting week. Not because I didn’t have a lot to say, but because I’ve been concentrating on next weeks posts. Plus, I haven’t been feeling so good.

Our weather here on the west side of Michigan has been dark and dreary. The sun is finally peeking out today and it’s supposed to be a wonderful weekend. I’m looking forward to working in my garden all day.

It’s so therapeutic for me. To dig in the earth is, for me, like getting connected with God.

Dirt hasn’t changed. 

dirt

It’s the same now as it was thousands of years ago. Somehow I find that comforting. Very comforting. Kind of feel more “rooted” when I’m digging in the dirt.

Years ago I wrote all the music for a Daily Vacation Bible School program. This is one of the sort little choruses.

I’m gonna’ dig in,

I’m gonna’ plant my feet,

I’m gonna’ dig in, 

I refuse to know defeat.

I’m gonna’ dig in 

And keep on diggin’

Diggin’ till I reach the Promised Land.

It was complete with hand gestures as you can easily picture. 🙂

For my own reasons, tomorrow is going to be one of those “diggin’-in-and-planting-my-feet-in-the-dirt-that’s-as-old-as-this-earth” kind of day.

digging in dirt

God bless and I hope you have a wonderful week-end.

 

toilet paper roll

I need your creative help with this, please.

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OK, I have a LOT of these commercial-sized toilet paper rolls. Like the really big sized trash bags full.img_6255-1

I ‘ve previously shared the story of how I came up with so many. It’s kind of funny.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

  • Stack them on top of each other. Glue and wrap in paper or paint and use for a container for artificial flowers
  • Using them as “feet” for various containers
  • As holders for wrapping paper.

That’s it. That’s all I can think of.  My creativity is at its limit.

I have a board on Pinterest devoted to toilet paper roll projects.

One used these heavier rolls but I don’t want to do this project. Too putsy.

Then there is the ole’ organizing route I could go. But hey, that’s not the least bit creative.

toilet paper organizer

Many of the pins on my “Crafts-toilet paper rolls” board just won’t work with these shorter, wider rolls, like this toilet paper roll tree. (You can check out my board to see what I’ve already pinned.)

toilet paper roll tree

I’ve had these for two years. Getting ready to throw them away.

Here’s why I’m hesitating”

  • I’m going to feel so defeated if I can’t come up with something.
  • Plus, they’re free.
  • Plus, the man at the rest stop was so nice about saving them for me for months, I’m going to feel like I’ve “trashed” his kindness.

So thanks in advance ffor your help.

God bless and I hope you have a good day.

 

unique bathroom

This is the coolest bathroom ever!

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I was at my son’s surprise party this last week-end.

He came over to me in the course of the night and said, “Hey, mom, have you checked out the bathroom? You’ve got to see it. You, of all people, will love it.”

So I followed him to the bathroom.

First of all, the party was in a garage. They were friends of my son’s and owned a huge farm in a little town. The fields and surroundings were just lovely. Here’s a picture of my six-year-old grandson in the fields.

img_6245

(Yes, he has hands. His sleeves are little long. 🙂 )

Anyway, here’s the bathroom. This is the sink. The bathroom has no windows so it was hard to get good pictures.img_6236-1

unique bathroom

This is the “urinal”. Yep, this is an old metal milk container. I guess he has some work to do because the men were having a “problem” with some splattering.

winky face

The top of the wall is rough-hewn boards from an old barn. The bottom half is tin sheets.

img_6237-2

Pretty darn cool, huh?

My mom said it looked too much like what she grew up with! She wasn’t a fan.

I told my husband I’d like something like this as at the cabin.

trying to keep our heads above water

If you’re happy and you know it, don’t ignore it.

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I would love to gift-wrap happiness. Wouldn’t you?

I mean don’t we all have people in our lives that just aren’t happy? It hurts to see them in pain.

But I’m learning that I can only “gift” happiness to myself.  While other people and adverse circumstances can negatively impact our lives (sometimes dramatically and sometimes for a long time as in the case of grieving), in the final analysis, we determine our own level of contentedness.

Believe me, I don’t always get this right either but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Inside, we all know it’s true. But we prefer to find some outside sources to blame.

Ultimately we are the ones responsible for our own sense of well-being.  It isn’t easy finding equilibrium when someone we love is miserable. For me, it hurts more than just about anything else I can think of because I have an insatiable need to make everyone happy. But we can’t, no matter how hard we try, make anyone else happy.

Everyone has to mine their own gold.

we all have to

mining for gold

With that being said, let me encourage you to live your days to the fullest. When they’re so full of joy, praise God, and love every minute. It’s not going to stay that way. That’s not to put a damper on anyone’s day. It’s just reality and we’ve all experienced the ups and downs enough in life to know the sun may not shine as brightly tomorrow.

But if you’re the one whose having a “unhappy” day, then get moving. Bring it to God; leave it there; and find something to do. Eventually your mood will improve.

“Putter” as much as you need to ’till your “sputtering” dies down.

Talk with a friend if you need to but then let it go. Constant rehashing  makes it worse.

Rumination (going over the same issue, ad infinitum) is a symptom of depression and  can also trigger depression.

Avoid rumination at all costs. It never helps.

So what do we do when those closest to us are miserable?

For me, I do my best to keep own head above water knowing that someone has to stay afloat. I keep treading water until the situation improves while guarding my heart against further damage.

trying to keep our heads above water

 “Gift”  yourself some peace and contentment today.  It’s not insensitive. It’s the kindest thing you can do for them and for you.

God  bless and I hope you have a good day.

flowers

The week in review and what’s up with Goodwill?

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So….. this week was much better than last week.

Monday I posted about how much I love curbside junk. In fact one piece I found last year is now up at the bunk house getting a re-do. I’ll show you the pics when I’m done.

junk on the curbside

Tuesday I offered some encouragement for those who were feeling “down”. I hope someone was helped.

Wednesday I continued to offer hope by writing a post about what to do when bad news overwhelms us. The point here was to make it a point to remember how God has blessed us in the past.

God is love

Thursday was an updated re-post about one of my pet peeves as far what I hear Christians spout way too quickly. And that is the assuming that every open door has been opened by God and every closed door has been closed by God. While God does open and close doors, it’s rare and usually only after prayer and reflection on our part.

open door

When I hear people say that I would love to know how they’ve come to that conclusion. We ourselves very often are the ones that open and shut those doors. And I’m not pointing fingers. I’ve done it myself but I’ve learned some hard lessons when I’ve been too quick to walk through an “open” door and too quick to assume it’s been “closed”.

Friday I posted about a funny piece about my not-so-good previous day. Hope you enjoyed it.

flowers

And finally, what’s up with Goodwill. I stopped by one today and almost croaked at some of the prices. I almost went to one of the clerks and asked them, “Who did your pricing? These prices are ridiculous.” I didn’t but I was close.

Seriously there was a bunch of ratty looking branches of something. Guess how much?Fifteen dollars!!!! That was retail pricing.

Then there was this picture, big but not huge, just a print–thirty dollars!  Come on now, Goodwill. Get with the program.

I sure am glad garage sales are starting.

So that’s enough of my rant. 🙂

God bless and hit some garage sales this week-end. K? (And be sure to let me know what you find.)

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