Hiking w/ Friends!

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Garbage Everywhere!

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Please help clean up!

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2nd skin~ Poaching Deer?

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Broadway Greenway!

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Potatoes with Onions & Garlic Ready to Mash!!!

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Stuffing!

I took a cheap boxed stuffing and doctored it up by adding the turkey's organs (cut up) and Adobo as well as chopped cilantro and red bell pepper. Then I stuffed the turkey. What's your favorite stuffing recipe?

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Hiking a New Trail!

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Fire as a Sense of Security

As we head into another ferocious winter, I am reminded why I have a wood stove~ to keep truly warm! Yes, I have a furnace... I wander out back and wonder how long my firewood will last... And, I must admit, I wonder what those without a wood stove will do if the gas and electric go out? One good storm/ bad accident/ digging miscalculation would leave most people shivering. so, as Io haul in firewood in the dark, I am so grateful for the firewood and those who provided it. Thank You, Dear Friends!

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Weekend Already?!

Good Morning friends!!! Welcome back to my little world... I have to tell you straight off that I was a bit panicked yesterday morning...I mean, it wasn't like I didn't see it coming... BUT... I didn't see it coming as a Huge Glaring Error! Seriously... when 'they' came out to do lead-abatement on my house 'they' painted it white in some areas (because it would liiok normal and consistent if it was all one color!)... so... as i pulled out of the drive yesterday morning, after noticing that ALL the leaves from the huge tree out front are now on the drive, my house is no longer invisible!!!  All summer I was hidden behind vegitation... my tree, rose bushes, asparagus, hibiscus... now I must re-evaluate my situation... how to be invisible in winter?
I am at http://lewrockwell.com/orig12/akers-j1.1.1.html reading their article, "Occupy a Garden". Makes me think about where I was going with my property and what I simply haven't gotten done... amazing that the more I get done, the more I see that I've missed... sometimes it seems like the simplest fixes are the ones not getting done~ LOL...
why aren't fence posts up to expand the chicken run?
why isn't screening stapled around front fence?
why isn't the whole front 'yard' mulched with 'paver' paths between plantings? why hasn't the bench we bought on clearance summer before last been put together?
why isn't the chicken coop insulated when the insulation is sitting at the house?
why didn't all the (evil) poison ivy get burried under tarps and lots of straw?
well, it's Saturday... and I am at work... until 4:30pm... first thing every morning I disinfect my desk... many hours are spent here every (almost0 day and I can't afford any extra germs... LOL!!! then a quick disinfectant wipe to the bathroom... and on to actual work... set up laptop (so I can listen to 104.7 WBGL)... and begin to balance rent books...
today Matt has emptied the back seat of the Jeep for me... I am of the opinion, at least for today, that my Jeep should NOT look like a landfill is in the back seat!!! Yes, I know I am disoriented, but I still hold out hope...
After listening to the furnace kick on/ off last night, like a freight train rumbling through my house,  I realized I have forgotten all the simple things I did last winter to prevent that... the wood stove is great, but I have to tend it off and on all night... SO... tonight I am going to get my food dehydrator up and running again... I have a fresh pineapple in the fridge (a gift from a friend)... I can cut it up for a snack tonight and put more than half in the dehydrator... it'll make a nice snack for the snack box in the Jeep!  and the dehydrator running all night and part of tomorrow at about 115*F will provide gentle warmth for us... not enough to make us want to run wild in shorts, but enough to take the nip out of the air...
then there is the simple idea of baking... hmmm... I could bake in the oven... but... I would really Love to learn to bake on/ under my wood stove... I started to experiment with different ideas I read about last winter... then spring hit and practice was postponed... but who can complain about spring?!?! SO... I really need to practice more... just Absolutely Hate hearing the furnace kick on... not just because it is so loud... but because every time it kicks on it is Needlessly Sucking Up MY Money $$$!!!

 

Beautiful Eyes of Aspergers

http://youtu.be/PqGhDPhaRrc

Today... I am not Awake... Am I?

Morning! Welcome back!!!

I must warn you in advance of my current mental state... half asleep, but with a lot to say... LOL... and warn you of the format~ stream of conscience.... this is by far the best way to write as thoughts flow uninterrupted by mundane things like grammar and punctuation... :)

So much going on... at work... need to go through rent books, but, first, Steven has got to have change to work with as he collects rent... ... now he's set and I don't have to climb over people to give him change  :)

Quote I saved from an article... I almost threw this away!

"My advice: Do not give up, and stand up for what you believe in. Only the weak throw in the towel. Once they find you are weak, you're done."

Wish I knew where I got that! Looks like I tore it out of a magazine... it was tucked into the outside pocket of my computer bag... it's ripped... I will trim it neatly and put a nice colorful back on it... maybe frame it (if I can find a free frame that small) or cover it with clear contact paper...

Ok... so this quote is so much my thought process today... funny how things work that way... fits in with things that are going on that I am struggling with... isn't it funny how the struggles come more from interactions than dealing with personal goals and following God's will?!

For me, personally, my living situation is awesome... Matt and I are in our own house... yes, it is very small... only 1200 sq ft... and heated primarily with a wood stove... simple eclectic furnishings...  cozy... homey.... safe... loving... nothing pretentious here... I used to try to have everything neat, clean and organized all the time... then I was married to a jerk who beat me every night because the house was never clean enough... my health suffered... my self-esteem was in the tank... after three long years I was able to convince him, with the help of a great Toledo Police Officer, that he would go to jail if he hit me again... that changed our relationship... the marriage changed to more of a friendship... and I began to find myself again... now I get as much done each day as I can... then I take time for myself~ to knit take a long bath, play on the Internet, write...

ok... so I am still rambling... yup! All over the place with my thoughts today... let's just say it's a sign of brilliance! LOL... but, seriously, I have so many ideas to get on paper/ started... been thinking about self-sufficiency issues... yes, I have a job... full time~ Mon-Sat, 8:30am- 4:30pm... very full time... plus I've been selling Avon... it's adding a bit of extra income~ proportionate to my effort~ LOL... Sell a few extra eggs... sometimes Farmer Fred's harem gives a bountiful supply and we have enough to sell... $.25/each... $3.00/dozen... this little bit of extra money pays for their feed... so... they are self-supporting... most of the time... if they are happy  :)    am going to go back to selling the hats I knit... I donated them to the homeless for about two years... the only way a 'homed' person could get one was to buy it/ trade for new yarn... I am no longer donating... the donating was a request from God... what a fulfilling request... I grew so much from that one!!! Now I am going to accumulate hats to sell... not going to take orders for hats... I just don't enjoy the knitting 'under the gun'... but I'll have a bag of all sorts of pretty hats to sell... I'm thinking $20/each... that'll cover the yarn and some of my time... each hat takes at least eight hours to knit... plus $6 in yarn... $20-6= 14... 14/8=  $1.75/hr for my time... but I would be knitting regardless as it is very relaxing... So... I am getting a stipend for each hat... LOL...

I have been reading a lot about not spending for a month... it has really peaked my imagination... I am seriously considering posting my income vs bills as well as my spending on my blog... too much personal info... maybe... unless you assume that not everyone realizes you pay Com Ed, Nicor, mortgage... seriously! we all pay bills... and we all buy some groceries... all hit fast food places periodically... making myself post it will help me to see better where the money goes... (mostly to bills)... and will help me to realize the little things I buy that could be bought more cautiously... for instance~ I bought a gallon of milk at the little Mexican store by my house the other day and put it on my debit card... then realized I had paid $6.49 for a gallon of milk! that was wasteful and made me realize that I need to weigh out driving across town to Aldi's vs the extra cost of the neighborhood store... Crazy!!!

on to new thoughts... planning Thanksgiving dinner... just need to buy a gallon of milk, bags of potatoes and onions and a couple blocks of Monterrey Jack cheese... getting hungry thinking about it! LOL ... 

I am off to think through our Thanksgiving plans... food... hiking and love...

Happy Tuesday all...

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!

10 Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew

http://youtu.be/AbeyIG7Fz8s

Hiking with a Friend....

Do you remember your last hike with a good friend? The simple act of exploring a new trail and all it holds is so much more when done with a close friend! This was taken on the Hadley Valley trail off Bruce Road. Matt, Brandon and I stopped so the boys could explore the crick. If you've ever spent a lazy afternoon playing in a crick, you know what I mean. Words cannot describe the utter joy of building a dam then catching crayfish and fish and placing them in the new reservoir!

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Stepping Out in Faith

This last week I took a mini unofficial survey/ poll on what each person would say I should do far as stepping out in faith or taking a giant leap of faith... the answers were interesting and revealing of how each person views me, my circumstances and, above all, God!

I do have to say, though, that, as soon as I began to ask for ideas, the holy Spirit revealed to me what I should do... that's where I really needed the answer from after all!

But, I continued asking as the answers were showing me who people are:

1. Turn in the keys/ quit your job w/out notice

2. Move back to Toledo~ relocating long distance is always your leap

3. Get your house ready to sell

4. Two said to "follow your heart and ignore opposition"

5. Have Faith in God

I now know way more about those around me than before and that info is useful. It was also not what I thought it would be as some who I am quite distant from were very kind and positive in their replies! And one I was close to gave an answer that revealed that I should advance with much caution in her presence...

So... as I move toward my calling, I am focused on where He is sending me... getting my physical and spiritual houses in order... it really is an ongoing process... re cleaning one room at a time at home and piling everything that needs to be sorted through in the family room, then scheduling a few evenings to watch DVDs and just sort it with the mindset of~ have I used it in the last year/ do I need it for records/ will I use it in the next year/ would I take it with if I had to bug-out? ...keeping up (or trying to) with Sunday school Bible study, allowing my self to grow though Sunday sermons and both connect groups, and lots of prayer with occasional fasting as the Spirit moves me...

What is my giant leap of faith? In a nutshell it is living my life as if what is promised has already happened/ is about to happen within days!  I know He will provide what He has promised, but I must follow through in faith... "He honors what we do..." ... in other words, He sees my response to His answers to my prayers and He fullfills promises as I act in faith...

God is Always Good!!!

Prepping vs Surviving...

Blowing my nose for, what seems like, the 400th time, I wonder if anyone else looks at their used tissues as a resource? Okay, maybe it sounds a bit odd at first... but... stuff those tissues into discarded toilet paper rolls and you have the ultimate fire starter.. surpassed only by the same rolls stuffed with dryer lint... ahhh... inventions born out of necessity!

as I sit here blowing my nose I am grateful for my coffee, the bottle of tea waiting in the fridge, my bottle of Tylenol (2 every 4 hours kills most colds) and my chili covered sucker from La Loma's Supermercardo...

In looking at my favorite blogs on survival I am painfully aware of how long it has been since I've checked in with each... funny, though, that I don't feel to incredibly behind on my prepping... nice... I have done some different preps than they did... or did a similar prep in a different way... but, overall, I still feel pretty good about where I am compared to where I was at the beginning of this last summer... it's all about perspective, I guess...

my one failing has been in stocking firewood and securing a solid second income that does not interfere with any of my other responsibilities... Avon sales were supposed to be that 2nd income, but I haven't followed through the way I should... some campaigns I get out dozens of catalogs... some campaigns I follow up with people I have given catalogs to... it's not that I don't want the orders... more that I get overextended on my personal obligations... the campaigns where I actually follow up I do quite well! If you'd like to see the diverse items Avon offers now, go to www.youravon.com/karenjoyce ...

It seems to me that having quite a few small venues of income is far better than one large, supposedly solid venue... I used to think my job would be sufficient... then I stepped back and took a long hard look at the situation... I am just one vicious rumor away from being unemployed... so it is far better to have several sources of income... Avon, fresh produce and eggs (when I have extra)... maybe even a bit of overnight childcare once the rehab is more complete on my house?

Things I really need to do yet... finish re-arranging/ deep cleaning house, brush back up on baking from scratch (why did I stop doing that?), redo my budget using the new household budget calculator I bought on clearance at the Office Max on Plainfield Road with my max perks dollars, stack firewood inside (once the rack inside is full there will little wood stacked outside), get firewood stocked up for this winter (it's late in the game for this, but it is Critical for our survival), stock up on any meat on sale then dehydrate/ can it, set up front porch for winter (lawn chairs in shed, bag of salt out), check and fill oil lamps, buy good sewing scissors, stock up ammo, bring home that old rusty roll of barbed wire...

I found an adage that really rang true... "two equals one and one equals none"... this rings true to me... if I have only one of something, I might as well not have it at all as when it runs out/ breaks, I'm done!

Maybe that explains that pile of blankets in my living room? Actually, my goal with the blankets is to have twice as many as I need for each bed, allow for that extra person's blankets and still have enough to hang as 'wall coverings' on the inside of all outside walls when/if we drop into a mini-ice age... if nothing else, last winter's Snowpocalypse should have proven to all of us that we can not count on the weather to do anything we expect! Be prepared to not freeze to death!!!

As Matt and I were headed to work this morning, we passed a young man folding his blanket as he left a park... knowing that someone is sleeping out in the open in this cold (32*F last night), sure makes me appreciate my humble little homestead and my wood stove... it could be way worse!

This also spurred a conversation about how blessed we are and that we need to think about what we can do for the homeless this winter... it will be interesting to hear Matt's thoughts!

As I continue to read through the better prep blogs I am more and more aware of where I really stand... or don't stand... I don't have a level of panic... too far into prepping for that... just a new realization of where I stand and what I need to do...

Happy Prepping!!!

Cooking for Grandma...

My grandson, Aiden, comes to my office and cooks me elaborate meals regularly and with great love. I am always so excited when he comes running in as any visit could, and usually does, mean I will have a very handsome young man cooking for me! As he runs in I wait on the edge of my seat~ will Aiden stay and cook? Yes! He grabs the cup and spoon and sets these on the floor! I will get a royal feast today. Then he sets all the needed spice jars on the floor around him. The mixing may now begin! Aiden carefully chooses spices one by one and shakes the (unopened) bottles into the cup. After stirring rigorously I am offered a taste! It is always a yummy feast! I am so blessed to have a grandson like my Aiden who cooks for me!!!

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Looking Back/ Looking Forward....

Good Morning! Happy Wednesday! In sorting through old papers, I came across my prom photo from 1981. I went to prom with Bobby Stankawitz (sp?). At the time I was a Junior at Fairmont SeniorHigh in Fairmont, WV. On the way to prom he hit a doe. He was so upset he put it in the back of the car to prove it to his parents! When we got to prom we danced a few dances then he went home leaving me to ride home with a friend. (It was okay as he was not my boyfriend.) In finding this old photo I am reminded of the days when I had a favorite pair of bright red size 3 Gloria Vanderbilt jeans! In those days I walked everywhere and it was super easy to keep the weight off! Although I was already doing really well at losing weight and toning up, finding this photo has revved-up my pace! I have it hung at my desk at work and have even made it my phone's screen saver! I've lost 30 lbs since 11/2010 and intend to lose the rest!

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Hiking Hadley Valley

Good morning! Isn't it such a beautiful day? We are having such glorious Fall weather this year, although I do admit a vote has been taken to have Fall, 2 days of snow at Christmas then straight into Spring. Yesterday Brandon, Matthew and I took a hike at Hadley Valley. It was a boy-paced hike of catching bugs, looking for ellusive arrowheads and playing in a crick I played and fished in as a child. Brandon caught about six (6) grasshoppers and three (3) very furry catterpillars, having a blast! No arrowheads were found; maybe because grass has grown in along the trail between the bridge and tunnel. With or without arrowheads, we all had a good time and took so long on this short hike, we voted to skip the hike at Messenger Woods! Come hike with us next time!!!

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Praise Worship at Box City of Hope!

Wow! To our great surprise and excitement there was praise and worship at Box City of Hope! After scavenging for our dinner there was an amazing praise and worship session followed by testimonies from clients. For myself and Matt I can say this was an eye-opening experience. Although we've (meaning mostly Matt) do many projects to benefit MorningStar, I don't either of us truly realized the implications of being homeless. After laying outside in the chilly night air watching a movie, we all curled up in our boxes. Chilly, damp and cramped up was the story of our night. Thanking God all the blessings we each have was our morning!

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A Field of Boxes?

A field of boxes! Wouldn't you think sleeping in a box would be like sleeping in a tent? Amazing how I felt so much more vulnerable. I can't wait until next year's MorningStar Mission Box City of Hope! What an amazing and eye-opening experience it was!!!

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Bumper Cars at the Fair

What is it about the bumper cars that attracts Matthew? Every time we visit the county fair Matt has to go on these. It's almost like he's on a mission! This photo was taken at the fair in Peotone, IL. We had so much fun :)

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Matt at Pack 61 Coaster Car Races

Matt at Coaster Car races.

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Our home for tonight at MorningStar Mission's Box City of Hope! Wish you were here!!!

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Bible Study

Good Morning! Happy Friday! What a beautiful day it is... And what a surprise to see a lovely water lilly blossom in my pond! God is truly good... Every day. I want to share a Bible study I was doing with a girlfriend (isn't it funny how that term has become so convoluted?) last night over the phone. We were talking about differences in church doctrines and decided to see if we could find verses one way or the other in the New Testament. So many say "you are saved by grace and don't need to worry about the rules God has given" and this statement just seems so wrong. Well, we found the verses we were looking for: 1 Corinthians 11: 4- 15. And, my study Bible says women are to cover their heads in church as angels are present! However my Bible says nothing about women not being permitted to trim their hair and does say that long hair may be the covering Paul referred to in this Epistle.

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Cleaning

Good evening! Nice to see you again. It's always nice when a friend stops by! I've been pretty busy lately working on getting my home ready for bank appraisal. This process has been amazingly cathartic. When we bought the house three years ago, we had been accumulating furniture for twelve years in preparation for buying a house, not knowing specifically what we would need. I had noticed, recently, that much of the furniture was bizarrely ugly and quite repulsive so I relocated it to the curb. Also, we had thirteen plus years of accumulated boxes of 'stuff', so I have had a lot to do. My current game plan is to haul misplaced contents of each other room into the family room, then sort it there. This is working quite well. The living room is emptied, vacuumed and walls washed. And, I've almost finished cleaning out my room. It feels so good to walk into each room and see the transformation! I can now easily envision what my home will look like when finished.

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What a beautiful day!

Good Morning! What a beautiful day! Yes, I do see the sky getting gray~ still an amazing day! ever notice how things are only as bad as your perspective? As I sit at my desk doing my least favorite part of my job, I am so grateful to be alive and for my salvation. I am grateful that the issues with Matt's bus seem to be worked out. Grateful that it's always possible to just start over. Sunday was a sunny day to hike and take a pic of pretty blooms, but today is the day God has designated for watering those same blooms! Have a blessed day and appreciate every minute!!!

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Inconsiderateness

I came home from work tonight intending to clear weeds out of the alley and plant Yuccas, only to find branches trimmed from the neighbor's trees had been dumped in my section of the alley up against my fence!
Honestly, right now I don't know if I'm angry or grateful for the free kindling. I think maybe both. Although I desperately need more firewood to get through the winter, the rudeness of the tree service dumping it on my property bothers me.
But...
Guess I'll haul it all inside the gate later and break it up when I have time!
Here's to free firewood, even if it arrives in a backhanded sort of way!!!

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Resident Camp Honor

Matthew received this award at Rainbow Council Reservation Cub Scout Resident Camp this summer! 
After only two weeks of intermittent swimming lessons at the Joliet Warden Buck Boys and Girls Club, Matthew was able to successfully pass the BSA Swim Test!!! 
Way to go Matthew!!!
You Rock, Dude!!!

Painting the Pencil Box Red!

Of course Matt is painting it red~ that's his favorite color!!!

And he's doing such a neat job!!!

Home Depot Free Kids Workshop!

Matthew and I attended today's workshop. Matthew is making a pencil box for school!

Foil Packet Dinner!

Dinner is cooking!

Soon there will be full tummies. 

Campfire Dinners

Matt and I made our dinners. Two sheets of foil are layered and filled with beef pellets, cubed potatoes, carrots and onions plus gravy, butter and seasonings. The packets are rolled up tight and labeled with each scout's name. Once we reach the location of our Arrow of Light overnight the meal packets will be placed in the fire until done!
Although this meal sounds interesting, it is one of the best I've ever eaten!!!

Beautiful butterflies everywhere at RSR!

Here at Rainbow Council even the butterflies are ultra-friendly! They even land on you.
We've had an amazing visit at Resident Camp.
We both passed the BSA Swim Test and tried out the new water chute!

Matt's First Fish Today!!!

Loving Resident Camp at Rainbow Council!!!

Saving Water in the Bathroom

Welcome back!!! Come on and see what I've been working on to save water/ money in the bathroom.
What I am doing is running the waste water from the sink into the toilet tank. Then I will turn off the water to the toilet. This should cause a dramatic reduction in my water bill!
Got it together, but it still leaks where the white and black pipes meet... :(
It will work beautifully once that is resolved!!!
In a home where I wash an average of 50 loads of laundry a week, every drop of clean water saved counts!!!!

Poison Ivy Control

Good Morning! Such a beautiful day in Joliet, IL!
Come on around back~ I wanted to show you what I am doing about the poison ivy growing from my neighbor's yard onto my property. I have decided that I am fed up having my property involuntarily covered with noxious  plants! 
I unrolled black plastic along my steep little hill, then I weighted it down with rocks. I don't want it to blow away as the wind by the old Silver Cross Hospital can really be strong sometimes. 
I seem to have run out of plastic, and just at the edge of the poison ivy! And, as I realized I was out, I looked up and also realized I was standing in the middle of the poison ivy! So, a quick shower break was had to remove all the plant oil from my legs. Then back to the project at hand! 
I am so glad thatI do have some old tarps that I can fold the correct width and continue spreading the balance of the length of my lot line. Once the poison ivy has a nice 'comfy' plastic blanket, I will purchase hay and spread it to cover the plastic, giving a neat country appearance to my steep little hill. 
All in all a very satisfying project~ even with the bit of poison ivy I have acquired on my hand!

Yup! More laundry! Does it ever really end? Nope! But I enjoy laundry, most days, so it's no big deal. 
These are the old towels and afghans I use to block the coop vents in the winter. I just realized I had not opened the vents and now have all this to launder! 
No biggie! All will be washed and run through the dryer to remove dust and dander, then I'm going to store all in a zippered comforter bag until snow sets in again! 
Doing this small simple chore reminds me how much my chickens mean to me and how much little things I can do for others can impact their lives in a huge way. 

Am I Busy?

The other day a friend mentioned to me in passing that only one of her friends was truly busy.

Although the comment was not meant to be hurtful it was meant to remind me that, although I run a homestead alone, am raising a handicapped child alone and work 6 days/ week, I simply 'should' be taking on more responsibility.

Funny, I think the same way some times, many times. And I am slowly learning to say, 'No. No I can't take on that project.'

 As time goes by this gets easier. So many of the projects weren't of any real benefit to my family and were probably to just impress others, get on their good sire or 'feel' like I was part of a group. 

 Now I am learning to only take on projects when led to do so by the Holy Spirit.  I'm back to thinking about where God is leading me. What is the next step toward my calling? 

It's amazing how something as simple as this has opened up so much more free time for family activities and how much it has reduced my stress level! The act of doing something for someone who will never think well of you is a self-defeating act. I was deliberately spinning my wheels doing projects that, by their nature and origin, would never be 'good enough' for for those in charge. 

Now I spend those precious hours enjoying a good little boy and giving him the patient love and discipline he desperately needs and deserves. It is a blessing on my life to teach him to make jam and encourage him as he sorts all the guy stuff on his bedroom floor. 

And, now that God is back at the helm of my life, everything runs smoother and I fell the calm of knowing it's all in His hands!