Urbex in East Toledo

Can you find this truly fabulous tree??! 

Spiral Hope Quilt is Finished!!

I can't believe I finally finished this quilt! I started it several years ago for someone special to me and I had a whole plan for it's creation. Something happened, as things just seem to, so I shelved it. Last year I took it back out with a new plan. Now countless hours, tears and prayers later, it is finished.

Next stop? 

The county Fair to see if I can win a ribbon . . 

Couponless Haul at Kroger!

I just bought all of this for $44+ change!! Seriously .. 

Bread $0.84 each 

Salami 4/$1 

Oikos 10/$10 

Lala $3.99

Bagged produce was from discount shelf $0.99/bag 

Flavored seltzer water $0.19 each 

Welch's juice $1.99 each 

Seasoned chicken $0.99/lb ($3.61 total) 

Braunschweiger $2.50 

There are definitely some deals to be had if you know where to look!! 

Down My Rabbit Hole . .

Sometimes I want to hide in my rabbit hole . . like burry my head in the snow. . you know, out in that hole that goes to the cavern under the parking lot . . you know, the cavern we're all pretending isn't there . . 

But, let me tell you, although camping out deep in a cavern can be a nice break for a while, eventually we all have to resurface and engage in some human contact. 

So, I've been thinking about my lists . . even created a new way to do my lists ..  too exciting! 

But .. 

This morning, as my client snoozed, it dawned on me that I had four (4) solid lists for hard items [ministry, finances, housing, homesteading] but I was totally missing a soft list!! 🙄 

There was no list of comfy happy fun things ..  

That's not good . . so I need to rethink things. .  Yes, some items in my other lists fall under the soft list, 

But . . 

I really do feel that the soft list should create the other lists. 

The things I love and long for should dictate where I live and how I make enough money to survive. 

So, I will do a bit of a rewrite . . 

Then I'll share .. . 

First on Patreon then here .. . 

Stay tuned!!! 

🙏📖👵🏖️🍝🐈🐇🐔🏕️⛵

1000 Marble Challenge~ weeks 951-955

~ house hunting

~ bunny fun 

~ long talks about grades 

~ shopping for hoodies 

~ sleepovers 

~ hiking Oak Openings Preserve 

~ hiking Cullen Park 

~ new-to-him bike 

~ long bike rides with a friend 

~ catching up schoolwork 

When You Can't Get a Doctor Appointment . . .

You're sick, really sick this time ..  and your doctor's office has no available appointments . . 

Or your doctor won't listen . . won't acknowledge the symptoms you're describing . . 

Inevitably the ER becomes the only option. 

But, does it have to? 

Isn't it possible for us to keep a stocked medicine cabinet and first aid kit to handle all but major surgery? 

I, myself, would like to have a better first aid kit. We have several we put together while Matt was in scouts. I'd like to see these sorted and recombined/consolidated. . . 

I'd also like to have a way way more extensive set of first aid skills. It seems like I've been taking some sort of classes in this forever . . babysitting class in 1976 . . Girl Scouts . . Then, years and years later, I began prepping and needed to brush up on skills . . Matt joined Cub Scouts then Boy Scouts and I sat through multiple first aid lessons . . Zoom ahead again to my current job with Visiting Angels and so so many classes including first aid, nutrition, etcetera . . 
And I seriously crave more .  . . 
Okay, so I have to admit I LOVE learning .   . . Can't deny that . .  
Don't want to become a nurse . . I don't think so anyways . . Not right now . . Too many hours away from home . . Yeah, okay, maybe I'll just check into that a bit more . .  
But meanwhile . . 
IMHO, we each need to be able to be responsible for the majority of our own healthcare needs. Yes, there will always be some things we'll absolutely have to rely on a doctor for . . 
But . . 
Times are changing. 
This is not the world we grew up in or our parents grew up in. 
🌀Remember Katrina?!?! 🌊 
Remember how badly our government failed us? And what about the most recent failure after Maria hit Puerto Rico?!?! 
As we sit here and now we should not by any means be relying on others for our own survival. 
We need to look back at how self-reliant pioneers were. Take a couple first aid and CPR classes. Restock our first aid kits. Learn some herbal medicine then plant a nice herb garden. 
One step at time . . 
Learn a skill and put it to use . . 
Then learn another. 
Be prepared to be self-sufficient!! 

In a disaster there may not be a doctor nearby for months. 

Spiral Hope Quilt Top

Hi and welcome back!! 😊

The embroidery is done and I've found a nice piece of material for the backing/binding in my stash. 

The back is all tied on and the binding is pinned (at least partially). 

68% Savings at Menards!!

This morning before work I went on a tiny shopping trip at Menards on Alexis Rd. I wasn't desperately in need of anything, although we were down to one (1) backup roll of TP . . but my rebate check was calling me . . so I ventured out, grabbing my trusty coupon binder!

My goal was to buy TP that was on sale and attached to some amazing new rebate offer then apply a manufacturer's coupon and pay in full with my current rebate check . . 

Then reality checked in . . 

TP was not on sale and there weren't even any ordinary rebates attached. 

But .. 

I was able to still do well . . 

*12 rolls Northern ultra plush TP    $7.49 

*Menards rebate check                    -$4.88

*Manufacturer's coupon                  -$0.50

                                                             ______

*Total                                                    $2.30

Spiral Hope Quilt Top

I'm hurrying to finish so I can tie on the back and begin adding the binding!! 

Should we fit in a Mold, Force Others in Too?

For so many years I tried so hard to be who I was told to be . . Walk, sit, dress, pray, praise as I was told . . Each movement carefully choreographed trying to ensure I wouldn't get in trouble for doing it wrong.
In public I was one person ..  on display . . Stiff . . Scared . . Watching my back and watching every move I made to make sure I was perfect.
The problem is, I'm not perfect. . . I'm not you . . I am the way God made me. He made me this way so that I can reach certain people for Him.
He did not make me to be a clone of any person or group.
He gave me my own style and personality.
He loves me this way.
I love to wear skirts . . Flouncy, fun, flirty . . Oh, yeah!!
But sometimes I want to wear jeans too . .
I love long hair .  It's me!!
I am clumsy . . more so when I am nervous around you . .
I praise best with my shoes off . . so I stay at the back of the church so you won't see . . coming before the Lord humbled without shoes longing for Him above all  .. 
And He uses me in all my imperfections and brokenness. . . He's given me, humble, insignificant me, an amazing outreach to the homeless. He's handed me an opportunity and a responsibility to reach those society would rather not see. To love them, pray for them and provide basic necessities.
All this He's entrusted to me even as messed up as my life can be.
Maybe He's entrusted this to me because I know what it is to be forgotten, judged harshly by those who don't know me and to be waiting for someone to notice me . .
I am honored that He would trust me to love them for Him.

💞 I will Always Pray for You ❣️

You are my heart as we walk this path. 

You may not be sitting beside me yet, but I know someday you will. 

Until you ask for me I pray for you. 

Once you are beside me I'll pray for you. 

When we are married I'll pray for you. 

As we grow old together I will pray for you. 

You and I are two who will serve the Lord together in a mighty way. 

I pray He blesses each step of our path to be fruitful to Him. 

💞 I pray for you❣️

1000 Marble Challenge ~ weeks 939-942

*Church 
*ER visits 
*New bunny 
*Learning about relationships 
*Fun hairstyles 
*Cleaning together 

👍Thumbs Up

Have you seen the movie "Eat, Pray, Love"?
Remember the scene where Elizabeth and her friend are drinking a Thumbs Up?
I actually found this beverage by accident!!
I was on my way to a client's house and really really needed a Coke (I allow myself fun periodically). I was sitting in the parking lot by Reddy Food and Spices playing Pokemon go so figured I'd see if they carried Cokes. Well, they don't actually have American Coke, but they have the Indian (as in from India) version Thumbs Up!! It is so yummy!! 😋

Are you a Coca Cola drinker? Have you tried Thumbs Up or the Cokes made in Mexico?
My comparison~
*American Coke~ tastes "chemically"
*Mexican Coke~ tastes natural
*Indian Coke~ tastes natural

Hard to drink the Mexican and Indian Cokes slowly . . I can't explain why. Maybe because both are so refreshing.
They each have a distinct taste/flavor and both are delicious. If I was throwing a party I would prefer to serve these vs American Coke.
~ side note~ I think the Indian Cokes may have more caffeine than the Mexican 

If you're a Coca Cola drinker I'd seriously recommend trying any Cokes made outside the US. The differences are Amazing!!!

Praying for You . . for Us

I can't count how many days I have prayed all day . . for you ..  for us . . 
It doesn't matter how bad you think your current situation is . . or how we've miscommunicated in the past . .
                      Just Come Home

💞Joy Dare 🎶 December 24-30, 2018📝

24th~ 3 gifts humble . .
    😊 Kindness received
     🚐 Quiet evening with Matt
       🦃 Our Christmas dinner preps
°|°

25th~ 3 gifts in Luke 2 . .
      👶 Precious gift from heaven
        🕊️ Peace
         💑 Drawing nation's together
*°*

26th~ 3 gifts in Christ .. 
    🤗 Loving the least of these
     😏 His patience with us
      🔥Holy Spirit
+:+

27th~ a gifts found, shared, saved . .
      💇 Options
       😜 Giggles
         💝 Our hearts for Him
$.$

28th~ 3 gifts lingering . .
      💞 Fun with a friend
        👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Prayers for restoration
          😄 Joy in the Lord!! 🙌
°0°

29th~ 3 gifts of hope . .
       ⏳ Time spent well
         👵 Love
           👵 Respect
•{}•

30th~ 3 gifts remembered . .
          📖His reasons
            📝 God's plan
              👨 We all deserve grace

Manicotti's December

These people are exhausting! Let me tell you . . I went outside just to hang out and keep an eye on the little birdies. I was wandering around minding my own business when my Dad came out, scooped me up and brought me back inside . .  . . they had smelly stuff to spray, a long green handle with pokey things they kept rubbing on the floor and a weird thing that made noise and blew steam!! These two (2) can be so weird to live with. Humph.
But, they did give me a nice new mousie toy for Christmas and even filled it with the most delightful catnip. 🐭
Now I've passed out on her quilting. .  I love to lay on her scissors so she has to pet me instead. . .

Holbien Stitch

Okay, so this puts me at about three (3) hours invested . . I am having so much fun with this new quilt!!
Stay tuned as I will be working on/finishing the other quilts also . .

Rambling on Thanksgiving ..

Hello, loves .  hoping your day is full of family and all that that brings ..
🐕 *please, whatever else, don't lock Aunt Mildred in the basement for feeding the turkey to the neighbor's dog* 🦃
As Matt and I sit comfortably munching round 1 of today's meal I can't help but thinking about those living on the streets . . today, though, is one of the days each year when they are spoiled by citizens with a guilty conscience . . it is so much easier to show up on a holiday with a flourish then to be there daily with a hug and a prayer . . or a cup of hot coffee and a simple listening ear IMHO (in my humble opinion)  .   .
Not everything or everyone is as they appear . . this simple fact escapes many people . . escapes them in that they believe others will fall for their charade . . and in that many only see what is on the surface or how they perceive things.
And us?
We cleaned the apartment and prepped supper till approx 4:30am . . then Matt scuttled off to bed . . I, on the other hand, was awake well past 6:30am . . Definitely not voluntarily . . fortunately we were able to sleep in today . . And Did ..  till approx 11am!! 💤 It was so nice to wake leisurely . . Ahh  .   . . 
This week I was blessed to have the opportunity to give out two (2) homeless survival bags  . . one very quickly as I sat in traffic at a red light, but knowing his heart was touched for Jesus! And one to a man I've spoken with twice before (this was actually the third bag he's received). . both encounters blessed my life in ways I can't express . .
You could easily make your own bags to share:
*Toothbrush and toothpaste
*Comb
*Tarp
* Socks
*Chapstick
*Deodorant
*Wipes (baby or sanitizing)
*Healthy snacks
There are obviously a multitude of options you could easily include . .
Even just keeping usable coats and hoodies your family has outgrown can be an amazing blessing!!
One day Matt and I washed his previous year's winter coat. We'd just left the laundromat and it was still toasty from the hot dryer. As we drove down Collins St in Joliet, IL we spotted a young man (+/-20yrs old) huddled in a shop doorway with his dog. He was shivering and poorly dressed for even walking on a cold day much less sleeping raw. I stopped the car and had Matt take him the jacket and a blanket both if which Matt draped around them.
He was blessed to be warmer.
I was blessed to see how this impacted my son.
At the time we were living in an old 1991 camper in a junkyard because the bank was about to repossess our home.
But .. 
We had a warm place to sleep.
We had doors we could lock while we slept.
We had more than ample fresh food.
Maybe our world was collapsing . .
  Or maybe God was providing opportunities and perspective to move forward for Him!!!

Could you/would you join me in outreach?
Give them the love of Jesus . .
Wouldn't Jesus stop to hug them?
Offer a cup of coffee and a chat?
Pray with them?
What if no one had listened to or prayed with you??!

Yes, I've been quiet lately . .

Yes, I've been quiet lately . . honestly, I was down with a weird sinus thing (I think it was trying to melt my brain!!) . . then something happened . . sometimes God puts certain events in our lives to teach us and this event did just that! It taught me to sit back . . be very quiet publicly . . pray fervently . . I have kept to myself . . but have kept closer to God. I have prayed . . not more  . . but more profitably. I have laid out my heart before the Lord but have included almost no one else in hearing my pleas.  . .
Because of these changes my days have been so much more peaceful . . and I've found a new contentment in where I am as well as a closeness to the Holy Spirit as never before.  . . that long deep sad feeling of loneliness and longing for a close girlfriend has completely disappeared! I am so thankful for that!! 🙌
Slowly He is revealing things to me and shoring up my battered heart with renewed hope. He is loving me as I am . . encouraging me to be me .  .  building my future on my strengths . . working with me on my weaknesses.
Yes, I've been quiet these last two (2) weeks . . I've also been ultra-blessed!!

☕🐇 Rambling from the Homestead . . 💻📚

Hey, sorry I haven't been around much lately . . just posting daily prompts . . and I'm not even participating in my own!! I must say that I am still slowly recovering from that weird sinus thing that hit me (a week ago??) so am going overly slow with everything . . 
And then . . Yes, and then . . a new series from a pastor I follow started  . .  How to Fight Your Own Battles  . . how to run to God with all your battles . . not run to man (people). . not post online . . it has changed my life.
Now, I follow several pastor's on YouTube, but Evans Francis really touches my life in ways that can only be from the heart of God. Every day that I watch another of his videos my day is changed . . I am way way more focused on what He wants from my life . . quieter . . introspective . . and looking around more at what I can do for Him to help those with less than me, who struggle even more than I do day to day . .

So, I've been thinking, plotting my takeover of the world 😉
I need to get back on my prayer jug project. . I have been quietly accumulating plastic jugs of various sizes for this project . .
So here's my plan so far:
Set aside clear plastic jugs designated for specific people/situations.
Label each jug . . some with a specific name .. others with a simple colored ribbon . . but each labeled so I can keep them straight 😊
So far I want one for:
~ each of my children
~ daughter's husband
~ 4 grandchildren
~ Mom
~ husband
~ Toledo Restoration Church
~ Akron Restoration Home

. . .and my mind rambles along ticking off ideas of more jugs/people/situations to pray for . .

🐔 I am longing for a tiny homestead . . a few chickens 🐔 ducks 🦆 rabbits 🐇 .. . a nice garden . . veggies everywhere . . need to pray about it . . I know full well I can give God my all and still have all this too . . as I sit in a very very restrictive apartment setting I long for a place to plant some herbs, peppers, etc . . 🍓🥕🌶️🍅 really strongly feeling led to find a place to live where I can have it all . .

Okay, then there is college . . like a BIG dummy I quit college in 1984 after 3 1/2 years of studies so I could get married. . . in all actuality, although my first husband and I were good friends, we were not in love . . I don't recall love being much a part of it all or those words spoken between us . . how sad is that??! "But, I digrees . "
So I was initially an Architectural Engineering major at Fairmont State College in 1981. . didn't know that college was not accredited in my field of study . . smh . . when we moved to Toledo and I tried to transfer my credits to the University of Toledo I was informed all credits in my major could not be applied as core classes and would have to be repeated. My father refused to allow me to retake those classes and demanded that I change my major . . I LOVE to write so I chose Communications/Print Media (journalism). I did okay, well, I survived it ..  even wrote for the Collegian, as the college newspaper was called at that time.
But my heart wasn't in it . .
So I got married so I'd be allowed to quit school and move out.
smh
Wish I'd known I could seek assistance at the school advisor's office!!
And, I digress yet again . . 😉
I've been toying with the idea of returning to school for years and years but it always seemed just out of my grasp . . until now!!
I did talk to both U.T. and University of Phoenix advisor's and realized I needed to first sit down and thoroughly go through the lists of majors available to firmly decide for myself what I want. Yes, first priority is to simply finish college, aka have a degree, aka not be a quitter . .
"Quitters never win, winners never quit." "Joyce's  are not quitters."
Thanks Mom for all the years you repeated those phrases ad infinitum!!
Well, I looked at class listings for both universities and kept coming back to Communication!! LOL . .
At this point I found my schedule had changed and wouldn't accommodate me being in class on campus 12-16 hours/week much less the 24-32 hours of study time needed additionally ..  just wasn't going to happen. This clinched it~> University of Phoenix was the obvious answer.  . . there students take one class at a time and all online!!
So I looked through the majors under Communications . . one was for ex-military. . one was for those wanting to work more in, what looked like to me from the description, a downtown office . . Nope, well, probably not anyway.
But  . .
Communications/English . . Oooooo! The core classes (pretty much all I still need to take) looked like too too much fun!!!! 🤣 And, should I choose to add the necessary classes, I could get a teaching certificate for primary/secondary schools . . and maybe add a couple classes in special education teachering as communication can be such a huge hurdle there (first hand knowledge having raised an autistic son).
My first step is to see if my current laptop, a Toshiba Air is able to be updated to Microsoft 10 (and one other update) . . Then I need to apply to University of Phoenix and get my FAFSA done . .
Sooooo exciting!!