The Joys of Rearranging Furniture

This evening brought great excitment to the B House...we rearranged the living room!  I know, you're probably thinking, "and that's exciting, how?", but for us, it was very exciting.  A few years ago when we had the floors redone, they ran the cable under the carpet to keep it from showing.  That was great until I wanted the tv on the other wall, and then it was just irritating.  I finally called Dish Network the other day, and while I was prepared to pay a fortune for them to give me another option, it was free!!  They made it out Sunday and now I have two connection options, which again was reason to celebrate.  While Bob and the oldest trimmed back the crape mrytles, the little one and I got busy pushing things around.  I have to say that I LOVE IT!!  Bob's already betting that I rearrange it again it in the very near future.  He could be right, but I'm not about to tell him that. :)  I was a military brat, and as a result of that I like to move things around. He lived in the same house his entire childhood and does not like to move things around.  I used to compensate my lack of rearranging furniture with switching long distance or cable providers, much to hubby's displeasure mind you.  That's a thing of the past, but now I can move the living room around as much as my little heart desires!!! 

I'd share a picture, but you don't know what it looked like before so it wouldn't have the impact it's having on me at the moment. 

Word - Filled Wednesday

2 Cor. 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

I saw this on a blog this evening and really liked the idea of  Word -Filled Wednesday's, plus it didn't hurt that I had the perfect scripture for today!  If you read this regularly, you know that my oldest daughter was home for three weeks with a stomach issue and that my husband's mother passed away this past weekend.  As if three weeks of being stressed to the max between trying to get my daughter better, being a wife to a stressed out husband who was dealing with the impending loss of his mother wasn't enough, I still needed to pay attention to our youngest daughter, go to a workplace that I know can't hardly tolerate and make it to all the required volleyball practices and games.  Forget cooking, cleaning and my all important reading time!!  This has been a horrific month to say the least.  In comes my best friend.  I spoke to her briefly Sunday morning in passing when we knew the death was near, but at least my children were feeling better so I could really focus on my husband.  Fast forward to Sunday evening.  The call comes in and then during the night both girls start with two totally different, but concerning coughs.  I dropped my husband off at the airport, came home and gave the oldest a breathing treatment, realized we weren't going anywhere so I made the call to work and then to the schools.  Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to call in for the fourth week in a row to let them know that your daughter won't be there yet again?! Thankfully I got voicemail.  Today while I was at work fielding text messages from a hurting husband and uncomfortable children, my best friend sends me a text with this scripture reminding me that God is comforting me in that while I'm required to be superwoman (temporarily I hope) He can be my supernatural superman.  Tears poured down my face because I haven't talked to her since Sunday morning, yet she knew I need encouragement.  I'm so thankful that God encourages and comforts us so that we can be a comfort to others, while at the same time others around us can be comforting us.  I hope that made sense put in words.   My husband made it through the viewing and will make it through the services tomorrow.  I'm really looking forward to having him home, but am taking comfort in the fact that God's got it all under control!

If this is the first time you've stopped by, I'm not generally this whiny!  I don't mean to sound whiny at all actually, just incredibly grateful that I know the Master Comforter and that He knows me!!  Be sure to stop by the Internet Cafe Devotions blog to enjoy other Word-Filled Wednesday posts. 

Mandy

Saying Goodbye

My husband's mother has been sick for a while.  Six years ago, she went in for routine bloodwork and found out she had a huge tumor in one of her kidneys.  They removed it in it's entirety and she did great for several years.  Maybe two years ago, the other kidney had enough and she reluctantly, grudgingly started dialysis three times a week.  The week of Christmas, she fell on the way to the dialysis van and while she didn't break anything, the news wasn't good.  Her body was riddled with cancer, if there was a spot it could be, it was there.  Two weeks ago, on the weekend of his birthday, my husband flew up to say goodbye.  After making the decision to stop all treatment, Mom passed away this past Sunday in her home surrounded by her family.  We put him back on a plane Monday for one last trip.  It's been hard.  Hard because we had to send him by himself, hard because he knows that this will be his last trip home and hard because he had to say goodbye to his mother.

Mandy

Pickles and Pig Trees



I've read that people hide a pickle ornament in their tree, and then the first child that finds the pickle wins a price.  Not on my tree!  My pickle ornament reminds me of the year that my mother and I were on a pickle kick and separated two 5-gallon buckets of dill pickles into bags for each of us to enjoy over the next couple of months.  My favorite pizza joint, Pizza Italia, used to have the most delicious pickles.  You know, the ones that have the huge seeds in them and are perfectly tart.  We had this brilliant idea this one year to see if they'd sell me the entire 5-gallon bucket, and they did!  When she came in to get the girls that year, we spent an evening in the kitchen chatting and separating pickles.  So, when I found the pickles, I had no idea about any hide-and-seek tradition, just that I remembered our pickle adventure!

Mother and Me..Pickle Adventure June 2003

Pardon the awful wallpaper, shade!  This was back in 2003 (skinny us) and prior to the red taking over the kitchen.  Also pre-digital camera for me, so this was scanned.  I love it though, we had a blast!

Piggy Time!!  Always one to cater to my pig obsession, my mother bought me the cutest little glass pig ornaments one year.  Not sure what to do with them because they were smaller than most of my ornaments, I went in search of a little tree.  I found the perfect one on clearance at Hobby Lobby, and hence the Pig Tree was born!

For years, this has had a special spot in the living room.  The big tree is in my library near the front window.  However, my living room has been invaded by a number of house plants, so I decided to share with my co-workers this year.  One was a little concerned, when I said, "I'll bring my pig tree," when she mentioned we needed a tree.  Once I got it out and lit though, she was hooked.  Another sings, "Oh Piggy Tree, Oh Piggy Tree," every time she passes by.  Add to that my favorite Hippo song and it's bound to be a good day!

Merry Christmas!
Mandy

Christmas Tree and Ornament Memories

I'm a few days behind schedule, but the tree is up and decorated!  I forgot to ask my husband to get it down from the attic before he left to go hunting last weekend.  Not wanting to wait until the weekend, Daughter #2 offered to help me this year and we got it up in record time.  Last night we put it up and tonight we added the lights and ornaments.  I have to say that I'm rather proud of myself this year.  Not for how lovely she looks, but that I relaxed enough to let Daughter #2 help me.  Typically I try to to let the girls help, but I really like it just so and it stresses me out.  This year I had a more laid back approach and I think it came out great!  This is our 13th year with this tree and it's still going strong.  I'd love to get another one that's not so fat, but as Daughter #2 pointed out, "where would we put all our ornaments?"!

A new pig that was added for me this year along with my hippo in honor of  "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" song.  Daughter #2s new sock monkey is peeking out from below.

My only gardening ornament that I absolutely adore given to me by an old friend.

My little girl, we brought these home from when my dad was stationed in Turkey.  Lots of memories come with her and she always gets a spot, front and center. 

I think my favorite part of putting up the tree is finding the perfect place for each of the special memories.  We have old mixed with new in an eclectic combination.  There are the favorites from Bob's childhood that his mother has passed down to him and the homemade ones that the girls have brought home over the years that we handle with care.  Each year, I add new ones for the girls and I'm always on the lookout for new pigs or anything else that catches my attention.  My mother always finds one for the girls that has significance for something they enjoyed that year as well.  This year, Daughter #1 is all about cupcakes and the Texas Longhorns.  Daughter #2 is still loving sock monkeys.  It's too much for one post, so I think over the next couple of weeks I'll share some of our favorite memories with you. 

Merry Christmas!

Mandy

Succulents and River Rock

In my last post, I mentioned the frustration brought on by the neighbors cats choosing our yard as their litter box.  The next day, Bob and I took the day off to celebrate my birthday and our 15th anniversary.  For my birthday, he took me to breakfast and then to three of my favorite plant nurseries.  Shockingly enough, I bought very little!  I found a new collection of Zipper Plants to add to my one lonely Euphorbia anoplia.

I've read where some people have said these are ugly, but I disagree...they're darling little things.  My mother brought me the one when she came in this summer, but Bob saw this and thought all the sizes were really cool. 

He also encouraged me to pick up a cute little Zebra Plant as well.  I've been wanting one of these for the house or my office, but just never found "the one"...this one is quite nice and will be staying home.

We stopped by my office to pick up the arrangement of plants he ordered for me, but that someone forgot to tell me were there...grrr.  Since the succulent kick started, he's stopped sending me roses or anything else that's been cut and is just going to die.  Not that I don't like roses or other blooming flowers, but that's an awful lot of money to spend for something that's going to die...maybe next year I'll suggest a rose bush!
These are pretty, the Rubber Tree will look nice in a larger pot with one I already have...the coloring is different though.  Other than the Crotan, these rest I'm not sure what they are, but that's okay...they're pretty without names too!

So, what did we do in the afternoon with the house to ourselves?  ...lay River Rock of course!  We took out all the mulch, and replaced it with River Rock.  The girls got home from school and pitched in as well and I have to say, I had a great time working side by side with my hubby! 

You can't really tell, but my Rosecreek Abelia's are crazy...they grow out of the middle and look a bit weird.  They've got one more chance this coming spring to get it together or they're coming out and getting replaced!  I put them in last year with a certain look in mind, and they're not cooperating!  The pig planter got a haircut as well!  I keep Bolivian Jew in it, and it grows like a chia pet...the whole planter was covered, so it was time for a trim.  I lost my big lavender this summer, so two little Goodwin Creek Lavenders are getting started in it's place. 



Again, the Rosecreek Abilia's are a little wild, but New Orleans Jasmine is still nice and big and should be blooming again soon! 

This bed had Lantana that had just gone crazy and wasn't getting enough sun to bloom.  Opted for just the rocks for the winter.

No planting in this one yet other that the Esperanza's that were already there other than I added my orange Esperanza to the middle of them.  I'm not sure why I didn't get a picture of that, but they're there.  There wasn't any sense in putting the succulents and other things in the ground when winter is around the corner, so for now the pots will just sit there.

The newest succulent to the collection...a Kalancho 'Desert Surprise'.  I found these Friday night when I went to HEB to pick up some groceries.  I couldn't decide on which one I wanted, so I got both.  The one above has lighter markings than the one below.  I think the one below will eventually make it to my mother's house, but one never knows!

Have a great week! 

Mandy

Happy Father's Day

Today marked my husband's 13th Father's Day and my daddy's 34th!  

This year, I slacked a bit and was the last one of my parent's four daughter's to call...I won't tell anyone, but I was just giving the others a chance to beat me at least once in their lifetime!!  I have an incredible daddy, and I thank God frequently that He chose this man and my mother to be my parents.  Growing up, he taught me many important things...how to make a number of great animal calls (monkey calls being the best), how to drive cautiously, yet at the same time quite agressive (I learned to back up in the front portion of a cemetary andy my mother hated it when he'd let me drive us all to church). Also on driving, when he says floor it...he means step on it! On the day pictured below, he accused me of going soft when I didn't get up in speed fast enough (he topped closed to 100 mph that day) on our "country tour".  I learned a love of plants and the joy of watching your hard work bloom and grow.  Most importantly, my daddy lived out, and still does, the example of how my Heavenly Father loves us...unconditionally, without any strings and just as you are! That didn't mean that he never disciplined us, but we always knew that regardless of what we did or didn't do, he loved us no less.  I've always been proud to be his Daughter #1...birth order, of course!  

My husband did what he loves to do in the summer, fish at the coast.  He was in a bay tournament with friends yesterday, and then this morning went out with his hobby buddy.  They didn't catch a thing, very few did this weekend, but he did have a great time relaxing in the heat on the water!  The girl's sent him their text messages this morning and had his cards ready when we got home.  Steaks and baked pototes were my gift...if you knew the way they used to come out and the way they'd do now, you'd understand why a non-charred steak is a great treat around here!  Now, he's trying to convice the oldest to get him some ice cream!!

Isn't he handsome!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day!

Mandy