One of those.

I'm loving this book. Our Saturday study is working through it at the pace of 5 days per week.

Today, snugged under my quilt on my love seat, with the window open a crack just to hear the birds, and the sunlight streaming in the windows, I am working on Day 37 and 38. (I'm a bit behind and I have the luxury of a few hours with Him.)

Beth references what has become my life verse: John 10:10 "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." I am one of those people who want to squeeze everything out of every moment. I want it all. Read what Beth writes:

Do you realize that Christ wants you to have a great life? Don't confuse great with no challenges, hardships, or even suffering. In fact, the greatest parts of my life experience have been overcoming the overwhelming in the power of the Holy Spirit. [ emphasis mine] When we lay down these lives of ours, God wants us to be able to say we lived them fully. We didn't miss a thing He had for us. We had a blast with God. Just like John.

Jesus offered a lot of life; John took Him up on it. Jesus shed a lot of light; John chose to walk in it. Jesus revealed a lot of glory; John chose to behold it. Jesus delivered a lot of truth; John believed it. Jesus shed a lot of blood; John felt covered by it. Jesus lavished a lot of love; John received it. Jesus is full of everything we could ever need or desire. Thankfully, many receive, but others receive more abundantly. John was one of those.

Amen, amen, amen and amen. I want to be one of those. I'm not going to apologize for it ever again - I want the abundance. I long to get so close with Jesus that I can refer to myself as the disciple Jesus loved. Yup, I want to be one of those.

I've come to recognize that my God given exuberance can be taxing on some human relationships. God has had to teach me that not everyone lives at my pace and my energy level. But you know what is super cool? I'm never too much for God. I just love that. I can push the envelope with Him, and He is right there urging me on.

I am one of those.

The Secluded Place

Mark 6:30-32 (NASB95)30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

I am seated in my secluded place: the love seat at the foot of our bed. I spent a bit of time here with Him earlier, but wanted to make a hot breakfast for the kids, knowing that He and I could tarry late morning. And here we are.

This is my sanity. He is my counselor.

What struck me in the passage above is the balance. They had been so busy with people that they didn't have time to eat. (that never seems to be my problem...) Jesus did not reprimand that - He simply called for them to compensate for it. They were spending themselves on the kingdom...and Jesus knew they needed time alone with Him to refuel.

We do too. Every single one of us. How is your balance today? Are you spending your energy fulfilling His call on your life? Are you taking time in a secluded place for your heart time with Him?

Just checking.

The Garden of Grace

This week before class I went to the bookstore at Elmbrook Church, and this book caught my eye and ended up mine. I will admit: I like the title.

What a little gem. Evidently it is the third in a series, so I'll need to look for the others. Simply about quiet times with God, she tells of the rich sweet irreplaceable times available daily with our Savior. Delightful light read with plenty to ponder. Jill Briscoe has a lovely way of writing.

A few quotes that I underlined so far:

When I began, the little red book in my hand was just a little red book. But when I'd finished, the course of my life was set. The secret was mine. The words had become "God's Gold" to me. All that now remained was a lifetime of sitting on the Steps with Him and learning the art of true devotion. p. 12

These were all on one page: page 30:

Jesus didn't do ministry from a distance. He didn't send an angel to redeem the race. He came - IMMANUEL - God with us.

"Our God contracted in a span - incomprehensibly made man." -Charles Wesley.

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ." 2 Cor 5:19

"I just had to come," He said. And He came. Our ministry has to be the same. A ministry of presence.

Sunday

I'm relaxed for the first time in about a month. The two youngest and I watched Roman Holiday tonight, and I finally sat through a movie from start to finish. I even cut out quilt squares while we watched, though I have not sewn a stitch. Perhaps tomorrow. It's a simple table runner made out of decorator fabrics. When our Interior Designer at work gets new samples I get the old ones. I have enough for at least 100 table runners...so far.

Tomorrow I am home YET AGAIN, and it is such a treat. I used to always have four day week ends, until about a year and a half ago, and wow...this has made me miss them! But I will be satisfied with one thrown in every month or so.

The winter decor is all in the basement, although not stored away yet. The birdhouses appeared, and everything is dusted and rearranged and vacuumed - it felt so good to be nesting. No matter how much I love my job, I'd still rather be home. Rearranging decor and some furniture is an absolute delight to me - to make a room new. I keep wandering into the family room because I moved a few things and hung some photos - it is delightful. There is truly no place like home.

Nothing much to report. Just wanted to get the new spring blog look done, and say hello. I am enjoying Sabbath rest...

Good night!

Spring

There. A new look for spring. And as I look out the window...it's snowing again. But no more snow on my blog...we're thinking spring.

The zinnia is from my garden last summer. I just LOVE how zinnias' petals start small and grow outward instead of unfurling. There is something so amazing about that to me. They stretch to the sun.

Think Spring!

Maranatha

Finished First Corinthians, which I see to be primarily a plea for unity among believers. Of course I found many sweet nuggets, and added a lot of index cards to my pile to ponder.

1 Corinthians 16:22 contains the word Maranatha, the only time this English version of this Greek word appears in the Bible. In the footnotes to my Bible (which carries no commentary, just useful translation helps) it says "O our Lord come!" What a great response to pretty much any troubling situation. We need the Lord to return in victory, or we need the Lord to show Himself in that particular moment in that particular situation. I love it! Let's all cry MARANATHA!

While seated there pondering Maranatha, this is what tumbled off my pen:

Maranatha is the answer
for every single question
Maranatha is the outcome I desire.
Maranatha - come Lord Jesus
whether to deliver
or to carry me across this current fire.

Maranatha please come quickly
Maranatha is my plea
I know You're here beside me
Make Your presence known to me.

Maranatha Lord my Savior
Deliver me from life or death
Whether coming as Earth's conqueror
or to guide me through this test.

Maranatha is the answer
to every fear I feel
Maranatha my dear Savior
to Your knowing Love I kneel.

Week End!

Hallelujah...it's the week end. And I'm taking a long one - four days...almost. The almost is because I do have to do some work from home today, but I'm HOME. woo hoo!

Last night's class was so amazing, once again, and so I do plan to write up a couple reflections on a couple of different issues. One thing I love is that our professor, a PhD from Marquette University and a Pastor at Elmbrook Church, is SO in tuned to what is important. What is important to him is that this study of God's Word is life changing. His prayers at the beginning and end of each class are so humble and he continually stresses that drawing closer to God is the goal of the class - we are to be changed. It's not about "academics," although the class is academic and intense. I am just so pleasantly surprised by this tone, for the Bible says that knowledge puffs up. I just want to know God better. The yearning is growing.

I am so drawn to the Word right now - it IS changing my whole perspective - a true longing to dig deeper. And the small stuff of life is indeed less important most days.

We got our midterms back - I did well, although there's still room for improvement. Because I am me I want an A, but that may not be possible without quitting my job or my family, neither of which are feasible or preferred. : ) I'm teetering somewhere in the A- range at the moment, which is fabulous and he stated plainly that he is stingy with A's. He expects only a couple in our class of 50. Today's homework is to read 1 and 2 Corinthians (I STILL haven't read them) and somehow I'm not so enthused...so hopefully I'll get an attitude adjustment. I'm all excited about the shorter epistles...but...I will make myself go in order. :)

So, my coffee is brewed, my hot cream is frothed (those tiny hand held $2 gadgets are amazing) and the couch is calling. So is the house - which needs to welcome SPRING in decor and in cleaning. A long walk on this 50 degree day is in order, and I think it's time for a spring trip to Goodwill as well - to get rid of, not to add to, my stuff. There's something about spring that calls for clean surfaces and less clutter. WHEW. Hope my energy holds out. I will cook dinner for my family for the first time in a week too - unless you count Shake n Bake pork chops made at 10 pm for reheating... And the grocery - the cupboards are bare. Yes, I've been on overload - but now a four day week end at HOME. Woo hoo.

Enjoy your Friday. I'll be posting this week end, and hopefully changing the look of my blog. Time to welcome SPRING.

Taking Care

Hello from Algona Iowa! The AmericInn has wireless, so we're in business.

This blog is all about God's amazing care. I sometimes fear writing like this because I so do not want to sound super spiritual. But I am growing in Him, and it is quite something to watch from my perspective.

Yesterday I did not want to leave for Iowa until after church. Truly. Everything in me knew I needed to be there to just soak in the Word, give and receive a few hugs, and sing to my Lord (just as a part of the congregation.) Interesting to think on. A lot of people in my slippers would have thought they needed a morning home. I needed my church family. That's a part of me now - recognizing the necessity of the body of Christ.

My brother Sam is snowed in in Birmingham Alabama. Amazing since it so rarely snows there. And so since he could not fly to Milwaukee, I drove the seven hours alone again. By Sunday, that was sort of an appealing thought. On Friday I would have, and did, say NO WAY to the drive, but by Sunday I was okay with it. In fact, I have learned to relish these long drives alone.

On the way home from church I picked up two Starbucks lattes. One for the drive and one for Monday morning. We four had a nice lunch at a quick Chinese place, and I quickly packed. My assignment for class is to read Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians, so the first 2 hours of my drive were spent listening to the book of Romans on CD. I replayed parts here and there, and do prefer reading with a pencil in my hand, but this was a great overview.

Stopped in Wisconsin Dells at the Coach outlet. Pearl, my car, pretty much veers there all on her own since I stop there whenever we pass through. A gas station is located nearby, and there is a nice (really nice) restroom in the outlet mall, and well...I do like those Coach purses and accessories. Creature comforts. I have a couple basic favorite purses now, so usually I shop for bargain (which is a very relative term in a Coach outlet) accessories. Anyhow, I enjoyed 30 minutes of walking and browsing. Grace refreshment.

Next I put on Joyce Meyers. Joyce preached at me for about 4 hours over four different CD's. The first two were on "Walking in Love," and the second two on "God Uses Cracked Pots." What an absolute delight. I'm not sure that I agree on every detail of theology with Joyce, but she herself admits to not being theological. Her calling is to teach the gospel in a practical way. And she does. I have the feeling she and I might be best friends. Or, we might drive each other right up a tree...we're both rather strong and opinionated, but we both adore Jesus and are simply attempting to allow Him to use our strength in a positive way. She inspires me because she is so real and honest about herself and her own weaknesses. I can relate.

[aside: When I grow up I want to be a combination of Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer. More than anything I would love to do what they do: travel and teach women the Word. And write. And study. Whew. Sign me up.

And do you know the amazing thing? Each of these three women have amazing testimonies of pain in their past. Kay of promiscuity and a failed and painful marriage, Beth and Joyce of childhood trauma and abuse. And how God is using them now! Gives me hope. The pain of my past and my present will be redeemed - it is molding me into a person He can use.]

Back to the trip... stopped again in Austin, Minnesota at WalMart. Bought index cards and a very fine tipped scrapbooking pen. Found the most delightful small photo albums, too. Also bought the Joyce Meyer Study Bible. She uses the Amplified Version, and I'm thinking this might be a great addition to my reading. The key words are amplified...about 4 or 5 synonyms are there in the text...the different options of what the Greek or Hebrew might mean. Anyhow, I saw it in hardcover at a discount and thought I'd give it a try. And Grape Propel, my beverage of choice. Have I ever blogged that before? I LOVE Grape Propel.

Another two hours and I was at my aunt's home. It was full to overflowing with their five combined sons, along with their wives and children. The viewing was over and they were eating and reminiscing. LOTS of hugs. LOTS. All are appreciative of my traveling there twice in two weeks, and of my singing. Family. Sigh. I rarely think of all this family I have out here in Iowa - cousins and the such. Blessed.

My uncle's second to last day was a good one. When his youngest son, Mark, had remarked that Herb was doing well, Herb's remark had been, (in his huge bass voice) "I am...I'm one day closer to Jesus." And when Mark said goodbye and he'd see him soon, Herb's last words to his youngest son were: "If not this week end, then on the other side." WOO HOO. THAT'S how to die in Christ. On Thursday, the day before he died, he was in deep pain, and heavily medicated. All they could hear was a murmer of "Thank you Jesus," and Herb singing hymns and reciting Scripture. He was not conscious at all that day, but they could hear whispers of his groanings.

Oh Lord may I die so bravely and in Your arms. Whew.

I snuck away from the reunion fairly quickly, anxious to get to the hotel. I upgraded my room to one with a whirlpool, figuring this small indulgence ($25) had been well earned this week. I set out all my books, and quickly filled the tub. What an absolute delight. Pictures show the waterfall like cascade of water from the faucet. The whole hotel is brand new - has that drywall and paint smell. The whirlpool is right in the bedroom, with a great overhead heat fan for white noise, and a dimmer light. I had brought a tiny scented candle. I sunk in, turned on the jets and finally just relaxed. God is so very good to me.

However...I wanted to read the Word, explore my new Bible and write out verse cards for Juniece, so my bath was just 30 minutes or so. Not so good at fully relaxing it seems.

Over the last months I have sent June many cards, and into them I put an index card with a handwritten Bible verse on it. (this is something I do all the time, and have zillions of verse cards of my own too...although I often give them away...) When I was in her home a couple weeks ago I saw them, only them, on her fridge. She and I had had one Bible discussion on prayer, and I had written more verse cards for her then. She was so appreciative, and gave me such sincere encouragement: She said to me, "You make it [the Word] come alive." Pure joy fills me at that thought.

And so the photos show her little album, into which I am putting verses of comfort and hope. The cover simply says "hope." The intent is that she can keep it with her in the painful days ahead and find comfort in His Word. Her best friend, her sister, died in November. Her second son of three died in January. And now her husband of 33 years (second marriage - both previously widowed) is in heaven. June has a lot of grieving ahead of her this spring.




And here I am. Unfortunately I awoke at 5:45 (sigh) but that allowed me some guitar time (very quietly!) and a long soak in that heavenly tub. As I sat in the whirling hot water this morning, sipping a hot (reheated) Starbucks latte by candlelight, I was overcome with the blessings that God has poured out in this difficult time.

I am weary, my head has a bit of post cold heaviness (hopefully not the start of another) and the day will once again be emotionally draining. But in the middle of this intense couple of weeks I've had 15 hours of pure rest and refreshment.

Joyce and 1 & 2 Corinthians will accompany me home this afternoon, so the seven hours ahead will be blessed.

He is sustaining me. I appreciate your prayers. God gives us all the strength we need to do exactly what He has planned for us. He cares for us so tenderly. Amen.

Rough Week

It's been a rough week.

Huge project due last Monday, but I wanted Monday off to study, so I worked on Sunday afternoon.
My husband went out of town for work for the week.

Monday was good - cookie baking and studying. Relaxed yet productive day.

Tuesday we had a management meeting at work - the three owners and me - and the decision was made to downsize. I had to help decide which 7 employees were going to be let go out of our firm of 30. Agony.
I didn't sleep well.

Wednesday I got all the termination papers ready. Since I was at work, I interacted with everyone all day, knowing that on Friday 7 would be gone. It was simply overwhelmingly sad. Began some projects due on Monday the 2nd.
I didn't sleep well.

Thursday I stayed home to study again. My exam covered an unbelievable amount of material - which makes sense at the graduate level. The material is so fabulous, and I know that God had my exam scheduled for the same week as the lay off so that I would be immersed in His Word.
The exam went well. I was so incredibly worked up though. The emotional heaviness mixed with the pressure of studying was very intense.
I didn't sleep well.

Friday was horrid. A group of three. Tears. Disbelief. One person, one-on-one. More tears. (theirs, not mine - I was determined to stay professionally apart) And then another in the afternoon. (He had been out all morning) An all staff meeting to settle everyone's nerves. Stunned disbelief. Our office is like a family.
The pressure began to mount for the two projects due Monday, but my mind was mush. Then the phone rang at work - my dad - his brother, my dear uncle Herb, had died. More tears. My dad's.

I drove home in silence. No one was home. 45 minutes later I was still on the couch, still in my coat, petting the dog and crying in the dark. The whole week of pressure poured out.

My husband got home about 7:30. We went for pizza, debriefed a bit, and I went to bed. I still didn't sleep well.

Today, amazingly, I awoke refreshed. Bible Study this morning, followed by worship music - practicing to lead worship with my guitar next week. Then to work. Worked 5hours in order to get Monday's projects done - so I can head back to Iowa for the funeral.

My brother is flying in from Alabama, and we'll drive together tomorrow, just the two of us. My brother from Minneapolis will meet us there, where he and I will sing at the funeral. My aunt has lost her son, her sister and her husband in the period of 3 months. Unbelievable.

And so...the blog is a bit quiet. I'll be back. But for now I am processing.

God is on His Throne. He is in control. I rest in Him.

We interrupt this study of Gnoticism...

One can only study for so many hours straight. I've enjoyed my day home, puttering around the house a bit, yet mostly curled up with some good books and a mid-term study guide graciously provided by our professor. It is one page delineating what we should know, and it is quite capable of bringing on heart palpitations. [baby steps, Grace, memorize one thing at a time...]

Around 2 I decided to make tonight's casserole, taking a break from memorizing terms about the first century Roman empire. Once those dishes were done I thought that since I seem to so rarely be home a whole day maybe I should spoil the kids with some home made cookies. (this tender motherly thought just barely covers the blatent procastination involved, eh?) Recently I had seen a recipe here at a blog I've enjoyed entitled "A Work of Heart."

I made those cookies, using the exact recipe except: I had minced pecans so I used those rather than chopped; I ran out of oatmeal, so finished the 2.5 cups with about half steel cut oats (thereby doubling the cost of each cookie); and I had leftover Christmas M&M's, so I subbed those for the chocolate chips. When the recipe called for a two inch ice cream scoop, I will admit, I doubted. In fact I took the first batch out of the oven half way through and squashed them, but that was not necessary...I'm now a believer.

These are some of the best cookies I have ever had. Really. And it is great to make four cookies in one scoop - a lot less puttering.

For the photo below I put a regular sandwich cookie on the rack for comparison sake. Yes, these cookies are large. One just fits in a ziploc sandwich bag - perfect lunch treat. (or, perfect lunch)



Jake's first reaction when he walked in the kitchen?

"WHOA!"
That's all I needed - my mother's heart is full.
Now, back to Gnosticism...

Blessed

Well, just when I was going to find a photo of a crocus or something, we've got a big snowstorm, and the photo on my blog is just what I see out my kithen window. So...the photo stays.

I'm holed up studying. Until next Thursday. Well...I might take a few breathers for important stuff like sleep, church and work. But that's about it.

And just now, as I was reading about "John's Contribution according to Carson and Moo," (the gospel of John and what it contributes as compared to the three other gospels, according to two theologians who wrote the text book) it just swept over me how blessed I am.

I'm very much under pressure (self pressure) to study A LOT between now and my midterm...don't get me wrong. This is intense. But I LOVE the subject matter. It is hard to explain how I love HAVING to study Scripture and about Scripture. I had considered getting an MBA, since Business Administration is indeed what I do, but there would be no passion in that. I am passionate about God's Word. And I am simply a bit overwhelmed with the privilege of digging in this deep.

Later today I will take a study break and write what our professor shared about John 15 this past Thursday night. It's amazing. Check back HERE and I will link the post when it's done.

Still battling a cold. Ventured to the grocery, and now I'm "in" until church tomorrow. I'm guessing we have 5 inches of snow so far, and it's still a blowin' and snowin'. It's a good day to brew a pot of decaf, snuggle up in a quilt and read theology textbooks. I know, I'm a Bible Geek. (Kathi named me that I think...) But honestly, I am so thankful that this is how I spend my hours. It is such a blessing.

Still Kickin'

I'm too tired to write.
But
I am alive.

Two trips in two week ends - about did me in. Michigan was all work. Iowa was part work and part farewell to a dear old uncle. Emotionally draining but wonderful.

A bad cold is lingering. My head is under water.

Class tonight was inspiring. Our midterm is next week...yipes.

Work is crazy busy. Intensely writing proposals all day...my eyes have computer strain. (is that a real disease yet?) Perhaps that is why I'm not inspired to write here...wrote all day and took notes all evening.

Not complaining...just telling...that...I'm pooped.

So...goodnight!

PS On all those driving miles I've been listening to Joyce Meyer CD's and she is AWESOME and speaking right to me. Whew.

Iowa bound

After I sing at a wedding vow renewal in the early afternoon, I am off to Iowa. The trip is spur of the moment due to my dear uncle's failing health. This week end is the only one in the foreseeable future that could work...so off I go. Thankfully I was able to schedule a work appointment with a potential client in Dubuque, so Monday's trip home won't require vacation or unpaid hours. And after Dubuque I will stop in Madison to see our oldest and take the poor starving boy out for dinner.

I'm singing in the nursing home tomorrow afternoon at their church service. Interesting ways in which I am asked to minister - from still blooming love to easing last days.

I'm looking forward to getting caught up on my podcasts on the 14 hours in the car. And I'll be listening to Luke and John - the gospels. I'm way behind on my reading. Skimming scripture is a very tough assignment for me.

Happy Valentine's Day. My hope is that each of you knows you are loved.

Happy Valentine's Day

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.

-- Victor Hugo

Learning

As you might know, I am taking a 4 credit Introduction to New Testament class this spring semester. It's the first 4 credits of 40 plus needed for my Masters Degree.

We are assigned a boatload of homework which we type up and email to the professor.

Since some of my homework assignments are so incredibly rich, I thought some of you might like to read some of them...and yet it's a bit too "heavy" to add them all here - that's not the point of this blog.

So... I have a new blog - just for homework assignments. When they make sense on their own I'll copy and paste my homework questions and answers to www.gracestudies.blogspot.com

The first one is The Passion.

So, feel free to read and grow right alongside me.

My quiet time reflections and photos and life stuff will still be here on gracenotes.

Good night!

I want to...

Emily Update

Although my upcoming adventures are fun to anticipate, they are not quite as exciting as our Emily's plans. This email was so breathless I just had to share part of it.

Hola! I had such an amazing weekend in Granada! We toured the Alhambra (one of the 7 wonders of the world, an Arabic palace..SO cool!) Then on Saturday we took the bus up to the Sierra Nevada mountains! It was so beautiful, and it was snowing, which was fun...it reminded me of home

I’m pretty sure that over Semana Santa (spring break) I’m going to MOROCCO! There is a trip through a travel agency for students (that my school recommends), and it sounds so awesome. We take a ferry over to Africa, spend a day on the coast (beach), then go to the jungle for a day (monkeys!) , then a day in the mountains, and then we’re going camping in the Sahara desert at a campsite that is only reachable by camel! So I get to ride a camel and then watch the sunrise over the Sahara desert!

Isn't that just simply amazing?

Colorado! Florida!

Pocket of Joy ONE! Today a coworker and I made our plane reservations to head to Colorado Springs at the end of May. There's a conference that he is presenting at, and I am the queen of networking so I get to go along. Woo hoo. And we're staying at The Broadmoor which is a FIVE star hotel. Double Woo Hoo.

Our industry is a bit depressed right now (architecture) so my job is VERY busy and relatively stressful. (I'm the one who LOOKS for work...) So what FUN to look forward to a perk like this. We're even going to stay an extra day to explore around the mountains.

Pocket of Joy TWO! My husband is going to Tampa Bay to work during my birthday week, and he's going to buy my ticket as my birthday gift. I'll stay in the hotel and bum around on my own all day, and we'll eat and play in the evenings. (though he usually works late when out of town.) Then we'll stay until Sunday and enjoy an extra lazy pool day on Saturday. What this translates to, as I'm sure you moms have already figured out, is 7 (count them:7) days with no cooking, cleaning, juggling... and most of the hours of those days ALL ALONE with an ocean. WOO HOO. I might need to pay the extra bag charge just for books.

So this evening I am QUITE excited about two trips in the next three months.

It makes the 5 degree temperature just slightly more bearable.

Concrete Thoughts

Just ventured downstairs to take a peek - the men are on lunch break. They've dug a trench at the base of the south wall - step one in seepage repair.
In case you think we have an AWFULLY narrow basement, that wall on the right is the foundation of the two sided free standing fireplace above...



This is what used to be in our basement...


Our 1900 sf ranch home is long and narrow, and the 1900 sf basement is divided in half lengthwise. Thankfully the unfinished side is the side with seepage. The finished side is dry... Guess I should be counting my blessings!

Mental [Health] Monday

Generally I am able to take off on Mondays, and I call them Mental Health Monday MHM. There is something in me that needs to be home ALONE and get sane. I'm nicer on the week end if I can look forward to MHM.

The kids were home from college for 5 Mondays. I can live with that.
Then when Joey (finally) went back to school, Anna had the following Monday off school due to finals week.

So...today...whew. Finally. Except for one small detail...

The basement contractors arrived to solve our seepage issue. Solving the issue involves jack hammers, and large hunks of concrete continuously carried up the stairs to the awaiting dump truck.

This is SO not MHM.

I did go and get a haircut, bought new product (no, the drugstore variety is NOT the same as salon product. If you saw me in the last week, I was LIVING proof!) So, Monday will hold that accomplishment. The laundry is humming. I grocery shopped on Saturday, so cooking is on the agenda this afternoon. This morning I had slotted to study. Which is kinda tough with jack hammers.

It will [eventually] be nice to have the water draining properly through the drain tiles. It is an exceptionally boring way to spend thousands of dollars, though.

We refinanced our house - signed the papers on Saturday - thus reducing our mortgage by 3 years to 15 years, and our interest rate to 4.8something. We both braced ourselves to hear the new (post economic collapse) appraised value, but HALLELUJAH, the appraised value is 20,000 more than we paid just 1.5 years ago. WOO HOO. Location, location, location. The mortgage officer told us ours was the only property she had seen hold its value. So many people paid inflated amounts over the last 5 years...

Back to today...I could go to Barnes & Noble, but I'm afraid Boomer would experience heart failure if I left him alone to deal with these four strange men and that sound.

And so...it's Mental Monday. No *health* involved. Time for a pot of tea, some ear plugs AND the noise machine.(the sound of rain that I put on to mask family noises when I'm sleeping early or late.) And it's 25 degrees which means a walk outdoors with my beloved pup is in order.

Happy Monday everyone. Enjoy some silence on my behalf.