What happened to January?

I seem to have a trend with my postings lately - lots of lamenting about how quickly time flies. So here we go again!

Hubby helped friends repair their balcony, then they headed here and we were able to repaint the living room. Aaaaahhhhh. Seriously, I cannot properly convey how happy this change makes me. By lightening the color and adding overhead lighting this room just feels so much more welcoming (rather than a depressing cave). We've taken our time reloading the room, and I know I'll be making small tweaks for awhile yet. I figured I should take advantage of the fresh start provided by emptying the room, and seriously evaluate what I have in there and how it works for our family. It feels great to know that I've cleaned out so much over the past year, and am working hard to continue to move forward.

Other happenings: A completed her first book at AWANA, turned 7, and took part in the open house for the Gifted & Talented program (informal presentations about the different cycles they've been studying - she talked about the plant cycle and how we eat different parts of plants). D made a cool solar system diorama for school, has been excitedly helping out with home stuff (use of a power tool = a happy boy); he is also trying to convince us to purchase scaffolding to leave set up in our backyard, as it is so much fun to climb around on. We had some friends over to make some valentines, have been enjoying the beautiful weather and playing outside quite a bit, and just generally staying busy. I also managed to give haircuts to everyone this week (the kids didn't think it was fair that I didn't have mine cut - both offered to trim it up for me. Um, no thanks). Hubby has been incredibly busy at work; the sale of the company did not go through as planned, so now there's even more craziness afoot. Both kids had some sort of bug and were running fevers: D has been hit much harder, and is still laying on the couch quietly. Definitely not normal.

And on a total random note, as I was cooking up tortillas this morning, this one totally made me laugh. Hmmm, maybe I shoulda tried to sell it for big bucks with promises of happiness & prosperity to the owner rather than just stuffing it with egg, cheese & bacon and wolfing it down...

Here we go again!!

Whooeeeee!! A new year, and fresh resolve to be practically perfect... Uh, sure.

But 2012 HAS arrived, and we're kicking it off by saying buh-bye to urine sample walls. I know, I'd said we were holding off for awhile, but some friends have to rent scaffolding for another project, and the opportunity to save money by going halfsies on that meant we decided to go ahead and paint and update lighting fixtures.

The 2 samples at the top were my first 2 picks, but both looked terrible, so I went back to Home Depot & got three more samples in exactly the same color (hubby's reaction when I showed him the color swatches). I'm going to make my final decision tomorrow, but at this moment am leaning toward Sand Fossil. I ordered ceiling fans and a new pendant light from overstock - God seriously had those items waiting for us, as we scored some amazing deals (ever tried to find a light with at least 10 foot of wire that isn't approximately $3G?)

Kids are back in school and I'm thrilled to be returning to a somewhat constant rhythm. I still have a ton I hope to accomplish in the months ahead, and I've realized that I really have to be more disciplined with my time if I'm actually going to see any of those things come to fruition... those people that complain constantly - and when you happen to run into them 2 years later and they're still complaining about the same bloomin' issues - drive me nuts and I don't want to be counted in their ranks.

I need to continue in my quest to pare down and streamline - being surrounded by piles drains me, and our entire family functions better when there is more open space in our home. January will be all about our living room, and in Feb I'm going to attack the craft area (which is also an office of sorts).

I've even decided to be all hip & trendy and have a word of the year:

enough

It's not about stuff, family, food, church, or any of those other things I can chase after - it's about Christ and how He alone satisfies my soul.


Why is everyone hungry for more?
"More, more," they say. "More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together.
Psalm 4:6-8, The Message