Addicted to Renovations

There is not much left to renovate on my home,

so this week 

I am working at church again.

Our prophet's chamber has not had a face lift in a number of years.

Our many guests are very gracious and are simply glad for a place to sleep and clean up,

but I fondly call the bathrooms ... the pit!

So ...

this week we are working on the women's room (also the home of the shower).

Sanding the wood stalls,

coating with a peel stop primer,

painting with high gloss paint.

Painting the walls.

Painting the molding.

Laying new tiles.

Possibly painting the vanities.

Replacing some broken toilets.

Will keep me busy this week ...

  

Then ...

the men's room.

Just a Small Tweak!

We are big time avocado lovers.

Avocado with breakfast eggs,

avocado on salad,

avocado on chili,

avocado on BLT's.

We LOVE avocados.

Typically we will just mash it with some garlic salt and lime juice for a quick guacamole.

YUMMY!

Recently we found a way to turn that guac into a meal.

It is a bean spread that works well on a sandwich or with crackers or on flat bread.

It is really simple.

Everyday Bean Spread

1-2 cups cooked beans (any type works)

1 avocado

lime juice

garlic salt

cilantro

Mash with a fork or blend in food processor,

Delicious!

More Than a Picture on a Fridge

Today, I am thankful for sweet nieces and nephews.

We don't get to see them as often as we would like.

They grow so fast.

It would be easy for us to be as strangers - to be merely the picture on the wall or fridge.

We recently visited with 8 of the bunch.

I am thankful that they each warmly welcomed us.

I am thankful that some are ready to come for a visit (on their own).

I am thankful for some who call or email for advice or information.

I am thankful for thankful for the stories that keep us "alive" in their hearts and minds.

I am thankful for their friends who adopt us as well.

The Public and the Private

I have a pet peeve.

I hate when a person belittles marriage, their spouse, or their in laws.

I hate when people devalue marriage in "jokes."

I hate when partners correct their spouse in a very public setting.

I want the words that people hear from me to be those that build up marriage,

to be those that hold marriage in high regard,

to be those that praise and honor my husband,

to honor my parents as well as my in laws.

Are there things to be addressed in marriage?

Of course.

Do I have weaknesses and failings?

Of course.

Does hubby?

Yes.

These should be taken care of at home.

We should be a team.

I should be able to trust that hubby will not speak ill of me

and he should be able to trust me too.

Home Again!

It is good to be home again.

We took a week and made the trek to NY to see family.

The drive was beautiful through WV, VA, PA, and NY.

We were able to visit with my parents, my grandparents, and one sibling (and family).

It was a pleasant trip and we were able to stay healthy through it all.

We missed the snow by only 4 days!

On our way home,

we did stop in Asheboro to go to the zoo.

The otters were being a little ornery.

We passed them at 10:30 ... sleeping.

We passed them at 1:30 ... sleeping.

On our last try ... we found one awake and in time the other joined in the fun.

They were such a delight.

We enjoyed the time away,

the change of pace,

a little extra rest,

the time with family ...

Goin' to the Zoo

Today, I am thankful for a trip to the zoo.

It is an Anniversary Trip from my hubby.

The weather is too hot in August to enjoy an outdoor adventure,

so we will enjoy this fall day.

Hoping for a glimpse of this little guy.

Gotta love those playful little otters.

Our Daily Bread

Today, I am thankful for our literal bread.

If you have met the needs of a gluten-free friend or family member,

you may know that a staple, like bread, is a major investment - $3-5 a loaf.

I am thankful that God led me to 5 loaves of bread in the past 2 weeks.

Each loaf ... $1.

I am thankful for His daily provision and encouragement.

Daily Tending

They say a woman's work is never done.
I believe that that may be true.

Today, I am cleaning up the garden,

picking up from the storms we had last weekend,

pulling and/or spraying weeds.

Many of these tasks seem to come back far too often.

Meals are cooked daily, laundry regularly, sweeping, ironing ...

But ...

I like a trim and tidy yard.

I like a clean home.

I like the results of the work.

The same applies to my marriage.

How have you tended your marriage today?

Have you worked to strengthen it?

Or are you tearing it down?

More Transformation

I veer toward cause #1.

I like to speak or act before I think,

before I pray,

before I get all the facts.

#2 catches me sometimes too.

Not because I have ideas that I won't follow through on,

but because I dwell on things without addressing them properly

(think swelling bitterness).

Can you solve some problems today?

... by slowing down?

... or by taking care of things now?