Be Grateful Challenge~ September 2012

19th~ soft morning noises; the presence in the hallway in the early hours; knowing He cares, hears and sees all; fried egg sandwiches with fresh jam and hot coffee; a real hug from a great son; school bus running late; a call that woke a friend who chatted meaningfully anyways; my bed made; my Avon shipment delivered and waiting to be sorted tonight; reality of relationships revealed and the resolve it brings; offer of help from a friend; unexpected words of support and respect from a friend and the joy these gave me; hope in Him that things will change for the better and knowing that He uses all this  pain and brokenness toward His divine will for my life
20th~ sleeping in; Matt's cooperation; fried egg sandwiches; fresh, hot coffee; Avon sorted easily; pleasant drive to work; cooperation at work; short road trips; knowing He has it all under control; the chuckle I get at the number of people who make my wardrobe their business; preps for MorningStar Mission's Box City of Hope; kissing Aiden; trying a new idea for knitting hats; Matt having a great day at school; Boys and Girls club; munchies and the kind friend who shared; people who assume strange things; books caught up; unexpected customer; Matt's smile; delivering Lori's Avon order and all the sillies shared; Jeep all packed for Box City; firm parenting (even when it hurts to be firm); a new resolve to succeed regardless
21st~ wonderful son; honest conversation; Matt making fried egg sandwiches this morning; fresh, hot coffee; watching Matt eat his breakfast out in the hammock chair; anticipation of a wonderful time at MorningStar Mission's Box City of Hope; early to work; bag of cookies for Jesse; payroll caught up; chatting; text messages from all over; getting the right wording~ finally; banana-vanilla yogurt; heart-felt hugs;  

24th~ waking slowly to a day He has blessed; Matt's cooperation; fried egg sandwiches; fresh, hot coffee; the view of 5 loads of laundry hanging out back; dishes to wash (we had food to eat); Matt's bus driver; emptied Jeep; Jessie meeting me at work and wanting to fill my Jeep with groceries; errands to run for work; texts from a sweet little sis; Matt's S.E.E. Note; understanding from Him and the strength it gives me; knowing alone can be a really good thing; knowing alone is not forever and that I am never truly alone as long as I have Him; sorting out Matt's clothes and finding two tall kitchen bags of clothes to give away so far; seeing how this one project cleaned three rooms in my home; watching as firm , Biblical parenting resolves a problem; being able to let them walk away; peaceful sleep knowing He has taken care of everything
25th~ sleeping in; peanut butter on raisin toast sandwiches; fresh, hot coffee; resolve; laundry brought in; a neat french braid; my hat; hug from Matt; Matt catching the bus as I don't have enough gas money to drive him to school; peaceful ride to work; friendly staff; wanting to do more, but knowing He's doing it for me; Him reminding me what my knees are for; mileage log from work; Speedway gas card and price reduction; my chain saw; cutting firewood; teaching Matt to split wood; homemade vegetable soup for dinner; silky hair; my pillow; a comment on my blog; early to bed; snuggling Matt
26th~ sleeping in; dry bed; happy morning; veggie omelette's; homemade jam; being a bit more organized; hope that quietly following him brings; learning to not 'nudge' things along; payroll
27th~ happy morning; customer service at Waste Management being polite; peaceful day; Matt's report card and the reward for work well done; some firewood sorted and re-stacked; alley trimmed (even poison ivy); some of grass in yard trimmed; Matt's homework done and fairly neat; Matt cooking dinner and making our bedtime snack; snuggled up and watching "Davey Crockett" together
28th~ wet bed at 1:00 am; sweet little boy; sleeping late; fried egg sandwiches; watching news together; Matt's bus; fresh, hot coffee; peaceful neighborhood; a chat with Miss Nancy and wishing I could stay to help her; finally posting a long-overdue blog; a really super-nice phone call from a friend; insight; His forgiveness and the ability to start over; sharing with a friend and being able to encourage him in his walk; sharing groceries with a friend; home; wood stacked on indoor rack; warming dinner; Matt cleaning out Jeep; polishing wood stove; church clothes laid out for tomorrow; Matt doing laundry; some orders for Avon Campaign 21; firm parenting; 10 more bundles of brochures for C-21 ready to distribute; bottle of Life Water; coffee set up for tomorrow; breakfast and lunch prepped for tomorrow; a comment on my blog *embarrassing happy dance*; most of the dishes washed 
29th~ sleeping in; peaceful neighborhood; fresh, hot coffee; laying everything out the night before; waking to hopeful thoughts; firm parenting; His way, not mine; anticipating the church trip to Chicago today; knowing that, while waiting may stink, it is the best thing; craving a good salad; 
30th~ a peaceful morning; fresh, hot coffee; a solid church home; good kids in Sunday school; solid teaching in church; soft, shy looks; after church errands and a drive through Pilcher Park; laundry and dehydrating yogurt; watching "faith like potatoes" again because it shows me...; texts from a sweet girl; another Avon order;                

Joy Dare~ September 2012

17th~ 3 gifts Ugly-Beautiful~ nuts laying in layers of weeds and dirt and leaves; laundry water washing all over the floor; cleaning and the look in his eyes

18th~ a gift fixed, folded, freckled~ two hearts filled with love and trust and hope and plans for the future; piles of sorted laundry; dew on morning grass
19th~ 3 gifts in conversation~ the friend I woke this morning who chatted for hours; the friend who pushed me to not allow it to happen again; the friend who called to encourage me in Christ
20th~ 3 gifts in salvation~ His love, patience and understanding through all things
21st~ 3 gifts in information~ www.preparingtosurvive.com; Bible;WBGL
22nd~ a gift rattling, receding, reclaiming~ my brain in my skull; those unhealthy for me; Him pulling me back to Him
23rd~ 3 gifts quiet~ small voices sharing during Sunday school
24th~ 3 gifts funny~ those who have walked away and made room for me to grow in Him
25th~ 3 gifts finished~ being a doormat; trying to dress to please others; relying on man for my future 
26th~ 3 gifts flourishing~ Matt; new friendships; my prayer life
27th~ a gift unexpected, uneven, unpopular~ being able to drive to Chicago; friendships; wet bed
28th~ 3 gifts shy~ uncertain letter written; smile; young friend   
29th~ 3 gifts shelved~ relationships
30th~ 3 gifts shining~ His love; our Pastor's ability to peach the word with insight; light of hope He gives those who believe

Day 251/ 366

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 251/ 366

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 251/ 366

Sweet sun tea has been started~ alert your taste buds!

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 251/ 366

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

'Making Your Home a Haven', day 4

Home from a wonderful church service and my candle is lit, Whispering in soft flickers, 'Is this home really a haven?'

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 251/ 366

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Church Road Trip

This trip was a huge blessing I cannot even describe!!!

The church is near 95th and Kedzie in Chicago.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Hair Brushing

I flipped my head upside down to brush my hair. When I flipped back up, this is what it looked like. I'm thinking all this thick hair just may be a blessing.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

My Head Covering Journey, pt 3

Hi! Welcome back! Today I dressed up a bit for a church event so I popped on this simple tam. I do like this head covering, but still long for more... ... ...

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 250/ 366

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 249/ 366

Good night, all!

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Making Your Home a Haven~ Day 2

This simple candle has really added a nice homey feel to my living room! 

So glad I joined this challenge~ 

fun to light my candle every night!!!

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

My Head Covering Journey, pt 2

Hi! Well, today's head covering is a simple bandanna folded into a triangle and tied under my hair at the nape of my neck. I chose this head covering today as I have a lot to do and just wanted basic, no-frills coverage. I like bandannas as I can actually feel that they are still there vs doilies that I have to keep checking.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Not Cutting My Hair~ 10 Months Later

Hi! Well, I have"t even trimmed my hair since November 27, 2011 and I must say this has been an interesting journey. My perspective has changed on hair care products and other's views. Actually, most people don't seem to have been traumatized by my decision~ most don't seem to care one way or the other. I have had one or two who were truly excited and supportive of the decision~ both being men. And at least one who spoke out against it, then left it alone.

As far as products go, my hands down favorite is Avon's Advance Techniques 360 nourish Moroccan Argan Oil. My second favorite is African Pride Magical Grow. Both are amazing leave-in conditioners! To order the Moroccan Oil, go to www.youravon.com/karenjoyce

As far as shampoo and conditioner, I am still trying to find the right combination. I will say, though, that I add a generic Paul Mitchell Tea Tree conditioner to any conditioner and get way better results than either one alone.

I must admit that my hair has gotten caught in a fan. I bent over to pick something up and my hair fell into the fan cutting random sections~ awful! I'm super careful around fans now!!! And so, my journey continues. I am truly blessed for my decision to not cut or trim my hair~ blessed in ways I cannot describe.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Day 248/ 366

This hat progresses!

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Make Your Home a Haven Fall Challenge

Week 1~ a nice candle lit in a conspicuous place. I don't happen to have a really nice candle handy (where did it go?), so I improvised with what I have on hand. It's still a nice effect, but I will look for a better dish to set it on.

Sent from my Cricket mobile device

Making Your Home a Haven~ Fall Challenge

I was visiting at http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/ and saw this neat challenge, to "Make Your Home a Haven", that she is continuing from where Courtney at http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ left off. 

I had, actually, been considering doing the first item, so this should be right up my alley! 

Long ago, during my second marriage, my spouse wouldn't always come home. He would sometimes be gone many nights in a row at another woman's home. 

As an attempt to show him he was always welcome at our home, I would place a lit candle in our bedroom window for him to see as he approached. 

Recently, although I am single now, I was thinking that a lit candle on the desk in the living room might be a nice touch. Not really as a signal to someone in particular as much as a welcoming sign to whomever He sends my way. 

So, 

tonight I will clear off the desk, 

then pull out a nice candle, 

place it gently

and light it.

A small guiding light

to find the way home. 

A sign of a 

Safe Haven.

Healing and Wholeness

I sit holding onto possibilities,

And yet knowing

That only He knows what will be. 

Still, 

What had been way back when

And what was recently

Mixed with that which is a long distance away

Make me see more clearly. 

A clarity I could not have foretold.

How could I know

That experiencing what seemed perfect at the time

Would make me appreciate the imperfections of a previous time?

And,

How could I ever fathom 

That it could all hurt so much

And yet bring so much

Healing and Wholeness?

And so, 

I wait. 

Wait for what He says will be.

Wait for another to make the choice.

And pray quietly.