Listening and Waiting...

What a jam packed week we've had. We started in Alabama, went to Florida, then to Georgia, now we're back home in Alabama. We spent 3 days in Florida looking at rental homes, since we can't buy anything until our home sells. It seems we brought the rainy, dreary weather with us from Alabama, but at least the temps were warmer! We still haven't made a decision, as Gary says, "after a while, all the homes start to look alike!" but we have several options and we are just trusting the Lord for His guidance.

It's so easy to start what I like to call the "Panic Spiral of Doom" when we start thinking about everything that needs to get done in the next few weeks and all the decisions that have to be made. Gary and I are trying to avoid the "what if's" and just focus on taking the next step. Each day brings new challenges, but we have to take them as they come and just do that day what we can do--remember, we are not promised tomorrow, so why worry about it, right?!

If you're struggling with some decisions that need to be made, I challenge you to just be still and listen for the Lord's direction. He's waiting patiently for you to seek Him and He has promised to give you a firm place to stand! (Psalm 40)

Season of Change...



Yes, friends, don't stroke, I have decided to blog again! I had to laugh when I stared at my blog for about 5 minutes trying to figure out where and how to do a new post. That's a sure sign you've been gone from the blog world too long!

I chose to title this post "Season of Change" because that's exactly what I've been experiencing the past few months and am looking forward to in the days and months ahead. I am emerging from a season of quiet. A time, where I felt I needed to be still and listen for the voice of God. Despair and negativity were consuming me as I was pleading to the Lord to rescue me. When I felt He wasn't hearing me, I cried louder. But it was in the midst of my pleas that His still, small voice commanded me to be still, to be quiet, to be faithful and serve Him for such a time as this--regardless of the circumstances.

And so I hushed. I quit focusing on my "checklist" of the Lord meeting my needs and started learning a new habit of thankfulness and contentment in all things. It was a daily struggle, and one in which I didn't always win, but the Lord has consistently been chipping away at this self-centered, control-freak of a shell that I am and has reshaped and molded me and shown me that if I just get out of HIS way, then He will reveal to me the life and blessings He so longs to bestow upon me.

And like the first, new blooms in Spring, I am emerging with new life out of a cold, silent "winter", eager to see what the Lord has in store for me, for us, in this new season of our lives.

I'm back, but busy!!!

Hey friends! I'm back from two weeks at the beach (which was total heaven by the way), but I've hit the ground running! I started back to work at the school the day after I returned and now I'm waiting on my son, Zack, to get here from college (UCF in Orlando). He'll be here until Wednesday, then he heads back to school.

Hopefully, I'll be able to upload my vacation photos and blog by the end of the week! Hang in there with me---I really am gonna do better on blogging, just catching up and getting back into the swing of things right now!

Have a great week!

Gone to the beach...


...see you in two weeks!

And here I sit...


I'm leaving early in the morning -- heading down to West Palm Beach for two weeks before reality sets in August 5th and I'm back to work. In preparation for my trip, I've been making a list of things to do. I'm a list maker. Making lists. Yep! That's one of my specialties. Making lists. Checking things off! But the problem is, I'm NOT checking things off!

You know how sometimes when you have so much to do, it's overwhelming and you sit not knowing where to start? That's me -- sitting here -- blogging, twittering, facebooking, and 'oh yeah, I wanted to look that up real quick' or 'shoot! I forgot to read that yesterday! let me catch up on her posts now!' or 'oops! There goes the dryer! I'll just turn it back on for about 15 more minutes to let the clothes fluff before I put them away!'

Sound familiar?

And then before I realize it, hours have slipped by and I've accomplished nothing! So, I'm off to finish the laundry, pack, run errands, and head to the chiropractor. But if in a little while you see me on facebook or twittering, or if I stop by and comment on your blog, shhhhhh! Pretend you didn't see me... and it will just be our little secret!

Busy Weekend...Busier week ahead!

This weekend Gary's daughter, Blaire, came in town with her husband, Jon, and 8 month old son, Carter. Yes, that makes Gary a "Paw-Paw" and me, well, I'm a "MeMe"...cause you know I'm too young to be a granny!!! We had a wonderful weekend just loving on that baby and watching every little expression on his face and oooooing and ahhhhhing over every little jibber-jabber he made with his voice! So precious! They actually live in Georgia about 10 minutes from my mom, but we don't get to see them often enough. So, we were thrilled when they agreed to pack up half their house and head south!

Click this link for photos...

These next few days are crazy busy for me. I have several Dr.'s appts (just check-ups/chiropractor, etc.), laundry to do, groceries to purchase, packing, driving... ahhhh! I'm tired already! I'll be headed to West Palm Beach on Wednesday for my last two weeks of summer before I have to report to school on the 5th of August.

Where did the summer go?! Not gonna think about that now...just holding on to the notion of an endless summer! Wouldn't that be nice?!

How 'bout you? Can you stand the heat or do you prefer the winter?

GROUT: Ghastly to Great!!!

Some of you that are my friends on Facebook or Twitter have been following my kitchen grout dilema! Hubby and I decided to tile the kitchen about 6 years ago--neither one of us having ever tiled anything before, were like the blind leading the blind in Home Depot. For some unknown reason I chose a light sand colored grout (like the sand in the Gulf). Over the years, it has become dingy and stained and no amount of products, by themselves, or mixed by my experimentation in my homemade chemistry lab (also known as the kitchen), would work!

But Wednesday evening, the Twitter gods shined down on me and my Grout Angel, also known as Antique Mommy, sent me a message about a product called "Grout Renew" an All-in one colorant and sealer. So yesterday I ran right out, well, actually drove, cause here in South Alabama it was about 97 degrees with what felt like a heat index of 110, and I wouldn't have made it further than the end of my street before passing out, ummm...where was I? Oh yeah, I drove over to Home Depot and picked me up some magic in a bottle!

I chose a color called "Sandstone"...uh-oh! Not the sand color again! No, this one is a darker taupe color, like the sand on the east coast of Florida. Also picked up some little spongey things on a stick to paint with (also recommended by Antique Mommy), came home and got to work!

Four hours later I was finished and looking over my kitchen floor with the smugness of a Grout Colorant Expert! Ok, well, that's a little bit of a stretch. But I was really pleased with the results! It probably wouldn't have taken that long except I went back over a few places once I got the hang of it! ('Before' and 'After' pictures below for your viewing enjoyment!)

It just goes to show, out there in Cyberland, not only are there great friends to be made, but a wealth of information waiting to be discovered!

A sampling of products I used in my desperation...
The floors "before"...you might think they don't look so bad, but...
closer up this is the nasty grout!
Drove over to my local Home Depot...
Excited about getting started with the "Grout Renew"!
After...
After...
After...
 
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