GARAGE SALE IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!

Here are some photos of some of the things on the garage sale tomorrow!! Please come!! 8-6!!

This is part of mine


My main corner


GE Fabric Care 4 setting dryer-2 1/2 years old


Computer Desk

LCD projector-blueray compatible, high definition
7.1Ch amplifier
Surround sound speaker system.
72" (?) screen


Hand crafted Bird feeders


John Deere JS63 6.6 HP lawn mower


A friend's corner


Her BIG stuff


The last of hers

Kenmore Stylite Hepa Filtration vacuum. New in November-we just don't' need two anymore!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIAH!!!!

Well, as per all the other kids thus far this year, I am a day late in getting the birthday greeting and photos up. Oh well. We DID celebrate yesterday by going to Applebees for appetizers and dessert. She pulled a "Hailey" and didn't want to eat too much 'cuz she didn't want to get full for her ice cream! :-)

She is now 12 years old! My how the time flies! She has a sweet tender spirit and is so gentle with kids (well, not our own of course). In nursery she jumps up to take the criers. In all the letters we got from the kids in Zambia, they mentioned how they missed Mariah. She was often with them taking care of one or the other.

Memory and Memory

Mariah at age 5

This was age 7

Age 9, all gussied up for pictures for a Father's Day present

Shortly after her 10th birthday

Mariah-yesterday!

Such crazyness-feelings-tensions-acting out

Moving is excited in one way; really NOT.SO.MUCH. in others. There is acting out-by all the kids (and yes, by mom and dad too). One is lying more than usual, many are doing what they want instead of what told (‘cause I am not always around or too busy to correct every infraction), one is wetting the bed (again; the usual reaction for that one), some are whiny, some just want the negative attention of getting in trouble so they will do WHATEVER it takes to get it…all this leads to ME being C.R.A.B.B.Y. (any idea why we emphasize words that way online??)
Just because I know it is happening and why, doesn’t make it any easier. Unfortunately, it isn’t making my reactions any better. I am just getting more annoyed, more tired, and LOUDER. And we aren’t even to the actual crazy-physical-moving time. Right now it’s just more that mental list. I want to be somewhere doing something most often other than what I am doing, but which I couldn’t probably do on my own anyway...and then you throw in doing school, church stuff, small group planning, husband time, kid time…well, you all get the picture.
And some of the kids just get my goat WAY faster than others. And there are different reasons for each kid. Talking back and eye rolling are big no-nos, especially for the older ones. And they, like me, seem to have problems changing attitudes in a timely fashion. With the little ones they can be easily distracted with a different activity. Some are just LOUD-they talk loud, they sing loud, they play loud. Usually not a problem, but when my mind is already reeling, thanks-don’t need the noise right now.
I have HUGE expectations for my kids, like really huge, and in all likelihood unattainable. If I tell you something one day, it applies the rest of the day, week,etc-they should know all that by now. Especially when it is a daily schedule thing! Simply things, really, right?? I expect them to read my mind, I expect them to always play together nice, I expect them to listen, I expect, I expect, I expect. I do this with Brian too.
So, as good as recognizing it is, it’s not enough. It’s hard to change, hard to adjust, hard to fit everyone’s schedules, wants, desires and needs. I know I can’t do it all on my own-but I still seem to like to try.

Here is a photo further away, without the flash. So the black is not black-black; it's black with a smoky look-or something like that. The green looks maybe a little darker here than it appears in the other photos. Does it change your opinion?

colors

I am SOOOO not good at picking colors, but have to...so you can help!

I know it is hard to really see the colors because of the photo and the flash and all that...but do tell me what you think!

I LOVE this! Black counter with the reddish stained cabinets. This doesn't change.


LOVE this green with the black counter. This is the tricky one, because it is actually a little darker than it looks on this cardboard piece. Pay more attention to the bottom half as there is less glare. Actually, if you scroll down and then come back up, it is a little easier to see.


So-will the green go with the cabinets? Lots of flash and glare on this photo on the black counter, so focus on the green and reddish.


Another try, not so much glare?

Here is a BEFORE from a few years ago. The white fridge isn't there, that's where the dishwasher will be.
So, the soffit will be green up top. There would be green behind the dishwasher and down to the entry on the right. To the left of the stove is the hallway. We will be painting that panel, probably the green and the top will be a little whitish/cream color. Behind the fridge that is up close there is wall that could either be green or light.


I suppose the soffit and the space inbetween could be lighter too, but I am digging the contrast and the green and black counter top together.
Oh, and did I mention that this green paint is FREE??

feelin' crazy around here!!!!!!!!!!

...but I am trying not to let it. Ha Ha!
Our renters moved out of our home in Kandi and did an AWESOME job of leaving it clean. I am going around cleaning all the windows, wiping cabinets and some of the walls and cleaning the carpet. I suppose I wouldn't really need to do as much as I am; but the house is empty and it's pretty quick work.
Brian is putting an epoxy on the laundry room floor (done). Next that needs to be done in the garage. The garage will now be more of a room than a garage. He'll make sure it is well insulated and all that and it will be storage/exercise/whatever room.
The kitchen. Ah, the kitchen. We bought a dishwasher that needs to be put in. So that means we need new counter top, which that means why not new cabinets, which... Let's just say we didn't realize it would take 3-4 weeks to get in the cabinets we want. We can go with a different brand, but some of the pieces won't quite be what we want, but they will easily work and be a little cheaper...yet not quite what I want. Really, I don't know what I was thinking. I guess we are so used to just going to the store to get what we want that we figured they would be there too. Yeah-not so much.
So, of course because we want to do that first, we aren't just jumping on over and moving in yet. But if it is going to take that long, we may need to. I don't know. I am sure Brian could get the cabinets in over a weekend as there aren't that many, I just don't like living in a half finished area if I don't have to. Been there, done that, got the t shirt, preferably don't want another. We don't have a date we have to be out of here by, so we could stay here until then. But you know-once you start thinking about moving, and then get slowly started in the process...then all you want to do is MOVE!
So I am trying not to push myself and make things crazy. The kids will feel it and I'll feel it from them and so the cycle goes. There is school and work and kids activities and our small group will be starting and I'll be doing a garage sale (or two)...
It will all get done when it needs to get done and we'll be fine. I just hate that anxious feeling though.

Let's see what else--Cybil is going on her first hunt tonight with a group from a local church. She is soooo excited she doesn't even know how to get dressed.
The four younger kids (not Henry) started Wednesday night activities at a local church and JUST. LOVED. IT. I am so glad they are excited.
Garage sale is planned for October 1st. 5 or 6 families, 2 of us are moving. WILL BE HUGE. Depending on how the moving goes and if I am done getting stuff gone through, I will probably do another one the next weekend, Saturday this time. We have lots of big items to sell (leather recliner, flat screen TVs, a nissan pickup, large kitchen table) and are hoping the sale will pay for the kitchen cabinets.

Writing may be a little sporadic the next few weeks. Few things are written, but need to be edited and not much time to think long and hard so we can write some more! Our small group is going to be looking at "church"-what it is, what it was, what Scripture says and whatever comes along with that. I am sure we will have plenty of things to think about then!

“God is not better to princes than other people. He is not better to rich people than poor people. This is because he made them all with his own hands.”
Job 34:19

This was the verse for the kids’ devotions yesterday for school. We are using “Growing with Jesus” by Andy Holmes to start our day. It’s basic enough for the younger kids, yet he makes some great points for ALL of us to remember. I read it and knew that there were some people out there that needed a little reminder-for themselves and for others, and we need to let others know too!

THOUGHTS TO GROW ON:
Are you the fastest runner in your school? No? That’s okay. God loves you just the same. Are you the smartest kid in your school? NO? That’s okay, too. God loves you just as much as he loves anyone else.
You don’t have to be the brightest, the funniest, the tallest, the strongest, the bravest, or the most talented before God will love. And if you happen to be brightest, funniest, strongest, bravest, or most talented person in the world, it won’t make God love you more.
God loves everyone the same. He has no favorites. There is no competition for God’s love-there’s plenty for everyone!
TODAY:
Enjoy God’s love for you.

Actually, I do know some people who think they are God’s favorite; they think I am His favorite too. And as a believer in Jesus Christ- so are you! We are all His favorites! And He is desiring to LAVISH His love on you. Will you let Him?