Quiet time

Good Morning, I am sitting here this morning at the office.  Bright and early, ( I like to come in around 6:30 so that I have my quiet time and coffee with NO distractions.  It just might be my favorite time of the day.  Who am I kidding, IT IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY.   I love reading God's word and by HIS grace I try to live out his word in my day to day life.  It's never easy because life is full of "messes".  I often ponder where I would be today with God's grace and love for me.  Such a scary thought. 

One thing that I am really excited about is the screened in porch at the new(old) house.  I can see my mornings sipping my coffee  with my bible and notebook, looking our over the fields in the back of the house during the summer months, and cuddled up cozy by the fireplace during the winter months. 

 

These photos are from the realtor's site. 

 

How do you do your quiet time? 

 

2 Timothy Chapter 3

¹⁶ All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hugs and blessings,

Cindy

Phase 1 - Thinking about the move

Wow, where has the time gone?  Can't believe that I  was away so long, but so much is going on and at rapid speed it seems. 

Since my last post I have been busy.  Lots of things on my mind and my plate.  We just returned from Florida  where we went down and visited with my step-daughter and our new grandson.  Oh how precious he is.  We enjoyed our time greatly and relished in the "down time and sun".  We had the opportunity to eat some great seafood which is always a good thing for me. But as much as I love to go and visit, it is nice to come back home and get back into my routine.  Even though September will be a hectic month for me.   

Spending some time trying to decide how to start packing up our little duplex (rental) and getting ready for the big move.  We will be closing on our house on the 9th of September, but not sure yet of the exact time of move in.  One of my goals with this move, is to go  thoroughly through all of our things and eventually have a massive yard sale at some point. Believe me when I say we are well past the time that this should have already been done.  

 

 

 A while back I started myself a little journal where I have been jotting ideas down on paper for my new home and have been spending time browsing and dreaming and writing things down to incorporate in my house.   I can not tell you how happy I am that soon I will be able to put some of these plans into motion.  I've realized over the years just how much my decorating style has changed and I want to breathe some new life into some old things. Do things a bit different that I have in the past. 

I am still thinking about starting a new blog with a more appropriate name.....hoping something will hit me soon, as I want to share this journey with you from the beginning.

Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Blessings,

Cindy

Lazy Weekend

 

 

 

Happy Monday.  I sure hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I had a very leisure one.  Friday night I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with my folks and it was wonderful to just sit and catch up with them.  That is one thing that I have missed all those years of living away from home.  Just having the time to stop in for impromptu visits and grab dinner out.  Life really is about all the small things isn't it?

Saturday my folks were having some trees taken down on their property so I decided to run over there that morning to watch all the activity.  I had never seen one taken down and I was simply fascinated watching the guy in the bucket truck take down the trees.  After he finished, hubby decided to gather up some of the wood for our fireplace.  The fireplace in our home is gas, however we can use wood too.  Plus hubby is planning to build me a firepit in the backyard, so we will need wood so this is a good time to get it.

 

This is the back of the house, and eventually we will add a deck.

 

 

The back yard as it is now.  We are so excited that we will have room for a garden.  They have a small one (in the above pic).  We also will be adding a fence so that we can give our Yorkies, Barclay and Bella a place to play.

Saturday evening we went out and met up with some friends at the cutest and coolest little Ice cream shoppe. FB page here They have wonderful food and scrumptious desserts.  Had the best time.  This is a group of friends that travel together.  For those that don't know, after my dad retired from driving a truck, he started driving a tour bus and he loves it.  This is a group of couples that go on a lot of his trips with him.  Wonderful bunch of people.  Anyway, we meet every three months or so someplace and have dinner, go shopping of something. 

Sunday was a very rainy and gloomy day here, but we got some much needed rain.  So we were thankful.  Hubby actually came into work for awhile and I stayed home and worked on my bible study and  had my quiet time. I cherish  that time of the day when I can sit alone with God's word and spend time in prayer.  I've actually started coming into work early @ 7AM so that I can do my devotions and reading in the quiet of the office.  It always gets me off to the best start. 

I spent the afternoon in the kitchen baking some banana nut bread as my bananas were getting overly ripe.   Slicing squash to put in the freezer. And just puttering.  I really do enjoy being the kitchen.  As I was preparing my bread, I started thinking about all the goodies I want to make this Christmas.  I hate to admit how excited I am getting about the upcoming holidays.

 

We also got the results from house inspection.  Several things on the list that need to be taken care of by the now owners, but shouldn't be anything to major.  Hoping all goes well with the appraisal this week and then we will get our closing date.  Getting excited about that too. 

 

So that is a brief recap of my weekend, nothing fancy but fun and relaxing.  What did you do for the weekend?

Blessings,

Cindy

Decisions Decisions

 

 



 

Hey y'all....I've been contemplating changing my blog again.  Thinking I would like to come up with a new name and look.  I would like something that would be a better reflection of me in this new chapter of my life.  Since I hope to be sharing more about my home (now that I will have one) and projects and homemaking etc...I want a different vibe.  However I still love the look and feel of my blog now, since I am not in my dream farmhouse I feel it is a bit misleading.  Maybe someday I will have that farmhouse...but if not I want to be content and happy right where God has me.    So my question is this.  Should I change it?  If so, what would you do? Suggestions are greatly appreciated.  What kind of things would you like to read about? 

Yesterday we had the inspection on the house and we are waiting on the results of that.  The bank has ordered our appraisal and once it is done, and if all comes back fine we will be ready to close.  Hoping for the first week in Sept..  We would really like to get moved in before things get really crazy here at work.  October is a busy time for us as we are in the insurance industry and we will start with all the open enrollments for healthcare.   Wow has this job opened my eyes to the needs everyone is faced with with affordable healthcare care. 

I must say that I am grateful and blessed to be working along side my hubby and have the freedom to come and go here.  I never dreamed we would be able to work together, but God has blessed this from the first day.  Can't tell you how happy that makes me and I love my job.  For the first time ever really.  God is so amazing in how he works things out.

My cup runneth over! 

K...now y'all put your thinking caps on and help me out here....

Blessings,

Cindy



Prayers do get answered!

Hello friends, I have been blogging for years, sharing parts of my life.  Things I love like my home and faith and family and such.  Although for the last several years my life has been in a holding pattern. (therefore no desire to blog) Since 2010 when I sold my home it seems like my creativity just stopped.  Even before selling my home, the creativity had stopped.  We spent 18 months prior to selling, remodeling the house for sale.  Since then I have been in a holding pattern.  One of my true loves is my home and all that that implies.  But since then, I have been living in rented places where my creativity has been staunched.  And I have HATED every minute of it.  Call me weird but when I can "play" in my house, I feel alive and so much more productive. Am I crazy?

Over the years I have been keeping  notebooks and pinterest ideas for just the right time. And guess what.  The time is finally come that the creative juices are starting to flow.  :)

 

I have gone from a divorced single mother of 3, to a married wife of 6 adult children and a grandmother to 4 adorable (1 in heaven) grandsons, and 2 precious granddaughters and another grandchild on the way, due in October, and also became a partner with my hubby in business.  So life has really took lots of twist and turns for me. Not to mention I relocated back to my home state of Kentucky to be closer to family (parents).  But through it all God has been faithful and provided for us not in our time but his. 

 

You may be asking yourself why all this information.  Well hubby and I finally bought our first home together.  (It's not our forever home) but one that we can "play" in with some home projects.  And we are beyond thrilled. So all this to say that I hope to be back to blogging in a more consistent manner.

 

We haven't closed yet on the house, but will soon and move in sometime in Sept..  I hope you will join me.

 

 

Blessings,

Cindy

Time for action



Some days I feel so torn....not sure where I am going or what I should be doing.  Do you have days like this?  My heart and mind just rush around with endless thoughts and worry.  And at the end of the day I find myself right where I was and not much to show for the day. Such a waste.  Needless to say, I don't like days like that or the feelings that follow.

Time to redirect my focus....get it off self and onto others and something productive.  Believe me, at times it is easier to tell yourself this than to actually do it, but I have faith that "this too shall pass".

After several weeks of confusion, I have made it my focus today to do certain things to get me back to a better and balanced place:

• Daily quiet time with my bible
• Prayer time (my prayer request list is long)
• List making and goal setting
• Spend time on something that makes me happy.
• Learn something new, ie how to use a new software, how to use a new application for my phone or computer, or a new craft.

Most times I find that I have these types of feelings when I am thrown out of my routine or off my daily schedule. I'm a creature of habit. ( And if you have read my last post, you know that I just experienced my daughters wedding.) Hence these feelings of confusion, mixed in with lots of "negative self talk".  Please tell me that I am not the only one that has "negative self talk" from time to time.

I found a article that I archived for reading (over and over if needed) and it was needed today.  Here is the post title and date of the post.  Coincidence I don't think so.  God's timing is always perfect.

How to Stop Negative Internal Chatter

June 25, 2013 by Rachel Wojnarowski

 

Rachel gives us some great and helpful tips on how to combat this negative internal chatter. Rachel says:

 

Just in case you need the points I need to stop the negative internal chatter, I decided to share them with you. Here we go:
1. Starve the stomach of self-pity.
If you don’t feed it, it will not grow.  Circumstances are not ours to control and they may not even be ours to change, but they are ours to conquer.

2. Give thanks in everything.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thess. 5:18

I’m thankful that this verse uses the word “in.”  Because there are things for which I struggle to be thankful. But I can be thankful in the circumstance because there is always something to be thankful for- for who God is if nothing else.

3. Pull those weeds out before they take root.
When I saturate my mind in Scripture, I find that the weeds aren’t even given a chance to take root. Then they dry up and wither.

4. Water the blooms.
Last Thursday night we had prayer meeting. Water.
Each day I’m doing my best to keep up with the Bible Reading Challenge (just caught up!!) The Word is water.
Sunday morning I heard God’s Word preached in church. Water.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Jn. 7:38

Great tips Rachel. You can see her whole post on the topic here.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me share a bit of my struggle with you.  Feel free to share any tips on how you combat confusion and negative self talk.

 

 

Blessings,

 

Cindy

From Miss to Mrs..

The big day has come and gone...

Such busyness the last several months trying to get everything ready for my daughters big day.  With my daughter living some 800 miles away she did most of the planning herself and she did a fabulous job.  I am quite proud of her ability to pull all this together while keeping her cool. 

There were many emotional days in between over the last several months. Lots of emotions for this momma. Lots of time C.R.Y.I.N.G. …..  Tori's big day was as beautiful as she was a bride.

The days before began with lots of pampering and enjoying the moment.  From hair highlights to nails.  To adding the finishing touches to wedding favors, and centerpieces.  To rehearsal dinner, and family time with lots of laughs.

Her venue was on the picturesque Chesapeake Bay waterfront at the beautiful Anchor Inn.  A perfect location for her as she is a beach bum at heart and has always wanted a wedding on the water.  Her wedding colors Guava and Malibu added the perfect touch for this girls dream wedding. It reminded me of being the tropics.  So Tori!

Here are a few snapshots of us getting ready.....

After make up and hair ( Mom and Daughter)

Sitting and waiting for the limo. She is/was beautiful.

Helping Tori get her necklace on.



Mom and I in the limo heading to the "Anchor Inn"

Important dates

I think hubby and I took around 300+ pictures, but we haven’t had time to edit them.  But this is a sneak preview.  Part 2 to follow shortly. 

Blessings,

Cindy