Beauty

You can find the most beautiful flowers in the scraggiest places. Kinda reminds me that God is everywhere.

Trip to Grammy's

I have to say it has been most eventful. From the closeness of my fellow passengers, who got to watch Resident Evil with me on my PSP, heading to Cleveland, OH. To the ear popping flight into Portland, ME in the Express Jet offered by Continental. I have to say, coming into this part of the country is beautiful.

I love coming here at the end of summer. The weather is wonderful, of course. I'm grateful for any reduction in the temperature I can get. Glenn Cove Inn & Suites has done more than take care of us. Bailey greets us at breakfast every morning, the rooms are cleaned and towels replaced by the time we crawl in bed at night. Free continental breakfast is comparable to the Holiday Inns, but the atmosphere is wonderful.



Grammy and Grandpa haven't changed, still plugging along. I pray they continue for a while. The kids are trying to convince me that buying a house would be cheaper than paying for a motel. LOL! It's wonderful seeing family, it's where you can go when you need to get away from the real world.

Now to prepare for Shannan's 10th birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, sweetie. Life has been sweeter with you in it.

Celebrating Birthdays

It's not the same. Brett turned 14 on Thursday, yeah, he misses his dad. So we had bad spaghetti and wonderful chocolate cake. No one really feels like celebrating. Still he's enjoying the P90 Airsoft Gun that he received and the money he's saving for our trip to Grammy's.

Life is hung in limbo as we wait on our house to be completed. Plumbing, A/C, and electric should be connected to the house tomorrow. Furniture starts to be delivered on Aug 19. Is it really only a week and a half away?

Another Beginning

A new home and a new car, I still feel like calling Richard to tell him what's going on. This IS part of his legacy, but I miss him so much at times. Last Saturday I was berating him for not turning off the alarm clock. This was in that stage between sleep and wakefulness. Then the real world crashed in. Oh well, life does go on.

I have started a healthier lifestyle in order to be around longer. I also have appointments to visit Grammy, get my mouth healthy, and lasik surgery. College funds have been set up for the kids. No cool cars, kiddoes. Education is more important, yeah I can hear it now.

Mind Wanderings

I mean this in the literal sense.

In the past week I have left my van running in the parking lot while I'm running errands. Keys in the ignition. It's not been stolen.

God is good to me and has taken care of me.

I was getting 3 to 5 hours of sleep at night. While that may be normal for some, it is not for me. I was this ( ) close to going street~rat crazy. LOL Anyhow, I caved and went to Dr Ari. She told me that what I am going through is normal, duh! That I have situational anxiety, ya think? So, she prescribed paxil, and after reading numerous complaints and praises, I'm taking it. Anything that can make me think straight is a help right now. Besides I get my 8 hours of much needed beauty sleep.

I have started sewing again, almost ready to send out sets that were sold last Thursday. A big thank you to my understanding customers, you are the greatest.

My kids are plugging along. They all have their moments, but they understand that it's ok to cry, to be sad, to be mad. Well, if I'm feeling that way, how can I not expect it out of them. I'm praying for them all the time, that this doesn't make them bitter.

Our faith has been made stronger through all of this. We see daily answers to prayers, and it eases the pain a little. Great is Thy faithfulness!

Beginnings

A new life as a widow really has it's ups and downs. You can cry at the drop of the hat, and please do so, it helps clear the clutter on the brain.
Ok, so everything has been put on hold. Must receive Certified Death Certificates before anything can be done.
I have been sitting, and waiting, in rooms for the past week and I have concluded that some people don't bathe. That is my biggest concern. I have one more place to go tomorrow and I just cringe. How people, in this day and age, forgoe a bath is beyond me.
The other is the way that veterans are treated. I've been to the VAMC here in Houston and it's one of the better, but not by much. I know the government alots so much money in their budget for the caring of vets, but it's not enough.

When your loved one dies, here's a checklist:
1. Find the will, if there is one. If you don't have one, make one. Even handwritten is better than nothing.

2. Find all insurance policies, 401K papers. If your spouse was in the military, find DD 214. These benefits don't kick in til at least 4~6 weeks from signing the papers through HR at the VAMC.

3. I emptied my hubby's checking, bills were paid from this account.

4. If you have children, sign up for Survivors Benefits through the Social Security. (This you have to do in person.)

5. Now will be an emotional time for you, but don't jump the gun and pre-purchase your funeral. Put that money somewhere s it will grow, therefore your suvivors get much more for them, than just you getting a funeral. Believe me, it will be needed. I particularly want to be shot into space, but that's just me.

This is it for today.

Checklist for me:

1. Open IRA account.
2. Open my own checking account.
3. Interveiw several financial advisors.
4. Find a good realtor.
5. Buy home for cash.
6. Buy new car for cash.
and most importantly,
Follow Dave Ramsey's advice and live debt free!!!

He Is My Rock

Psalm 146
Friday, May 15, I woke up to this chapter in my Bible reading. It relieved my heart of a burden that was caused by my husband's unexpected death. It showed me that I will be taken care of. I will continue to have joy, in spite of adversity. I will go on, and be stronger for it.

I love you, sweetie. I miss you.

Sad

My dear husband passed away on May 14, 2009, from a massive heart attack. He was 49 years old. I'm certain I'll be too busy to post for a few weeks. Like that's any different, right.

Playing and Crafting

My apologies for being an awful blogger, life just jumps in takes over my schedule. Anyhow, six more weeks of school are left and I'm free. My schedule will consist of playing in the park, going to the pool, sewing when I want to.

Last week we headed over to the park. Unbeknownst to me, there were evils lurking in the woods. Mainly in the form of moldy oak leaves, pine needles, and standing water from the previous week's rain. Needless to say, my allergies are alive and well.

They wanted to go swimming. See the pleading faces? C and S see water, and it must be conquered.

This area is supposed to have a nice sandy beach. Where's the beach?

Of course, someone has to fall in the water that we are wading through. Though she may have been laughing too hard for it to have been an accident.

ON TO THE CRAFTING

This week I've finished the Spring Swap that I signed up for. Here are the colors that are in my swap piece.

This is a close~up of the piece finished.

I think I'm going to make some of these fabric pics for my upstairs hallway. This was really easy and fun.

Playing With Singer Futura

I LOVE this machine.

This is the vine stitch on my Singer. Totally changes the look of the entire dress.

Dressed up these pockets on my new Easter set.

Both of these will be listed Thursday on ebay.

Happy Texas Independence Day

Freebies and Coupons

Check out BWILD's blog.
http://boutique-wild-child-bwild.blogspot.com/

Lots of stuff happening.
Coupon codes:
* for fabric from Sandy

* and boutique sets from Jennifer

Freebie Digiframes from Stacy

Follow the blog to win more free stuff!!!

New Listings Tuesday

Here's mine for the SEBD Euro Easter Launch.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=370151294657

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=370151302706

Here's my contribution to BWILD's Spring Fling.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=370151079407

Menu Planning Monday

Grocery shopping used to be such a chore until I figured out that making a weekly menu would:

~1. Cut down on the asking of "What's for dinner?" It's on the refridgerator.

~2. Cut down on unneccessary spending. If it's not on the list, I don't get it.

~3. Adds in for freezer meals in case of sickness (me). They can pull it out and cook it, with minimal supervision.



So, in my hunt on the internet, I found Menus4Moms and found a great blessing. Not all of the dinners suit us, we aren't picky and we try anything once. It is so easy to replace a meal with a favorite, like homemade pizza or hamburgers and sweet potato fries.



*Monday~Chicken and Dumplings~Peas and Carrots~Sliced Pears or Pearsauce for dessert.

*Tuesday~Pork Tenderloin~Baked Asparagus~Brown Rice~Apple Turnovers

*Wednesday~Stir Fry~Rice(Calrose)~Egg Drop Soup

*Thursday~Pancakes~Sausage~Eggs~Cantaloupe Slices

*Friday~Crockpot White Chicken Chili~Cornbread with Honey Butter~Chocolate Pudding

*Saturday~(Brett Cooks) This week is Tacos~Mexicorn~Refried Beans~Fried Ice Cream

Homemade Tortillas and Grades

Ok, so some days are better than others. Today was fabulous!! Shannan made a 100 on her Spelling Test, Patrick made a 90, Caity an 85 on their Math Quizzes. Brett wrote a wonderful piece on what we went through in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike (I didn't pay attention to the spelling).

When it came time for lunch no one had a clue to what they wanted. Sandwiches get kinda boring, yeah I know. Anyhoo, I remembered we had taco meat in the freezer and ran to the computer for a tortilla recipe.

I also finished some sets for launches coming up. Here are some more sneak peeks. I'm also making things for mommas this time around. Hope you're pleased with the outcome.

This is from a pair of old navy and limited too! jeans. Taken apart and put back together to make a usable and comfortable skirt.

Loved making these ruffles.

Learned how to quilt silk flowers onto material and cover with silk organza. I just love how this turned out.

I took these today with my new Nikon camera, I am in love....these are totally untouched. Why I waited so long to get a real adult camera, I just don't know.

Change is Coming

Well, today, we have a new president. I'm hopefully optimistic, but I also live in the real world and it does affect me. I am proud of the fact that former President Bush commuted the sentences of the Border Patrol Agents that had been incarcerated for doing their job. I personally think they should've been pardoned. Way to go!!!


I, on the other hand, have been busy with school and sewing. With the new law going into effect Feb 10, I am trying to get rid of most of my kiddy fabric stash and head toward an older crowd. Who knows. They may ammend their screw up before then, but I doubt it. Very few people in Washington like to admit they made a mistake.

Been Working

I know, I'm the world's worst at communicating. I've been busy, the kids, with homeschooling, cleaning my machines, and keeping the house. Sounds kinda boring, huh? If you only knew. Here are a few sneak peeks of a few items I will list in two weeks. I have more, but just wanted to give ya'll a taste.

~January 26-? is SEBD Euro Easter Launch.~

~February 2-6 is Piper Alley Guest Launch which is Upcycling Ebay.~

~BWILD is having its Spring Launch soon.~