We Moved!

Well, we are moving things over to the new house everyday.  I've named our new house Big Yellow Cottage.  Slowly our new cottage is getting filled up with our things.  This Saturday we will be moving all the big pieces of furniture with help from our friends.  I have opened a new blog at Big Yellow Cottage.  Please follow me to my new home. 

We are Homeowners!

Friday morning my husband and I drove to our realtor's office.  In a conference room was our realtor, the realtor for the property we purchased and a woman from our title company.  We signed papers for an hour.  After all the signing was done the realtor for the property we purchased handed us the key.  Property purchases here in Colorado are much different from California.  In California we always have dealt with escrow companies.  We never once dealt with an escrow company here in Colorado.

We left the office, got in our car and drove to the house.  In the refrigerator the previous owners had left us a bottle of champagne to celebrate.  We are so blessed of the Lord.  Everything with the purchase went smoothly and our house payment is going to be less than what we have been paying in rent.  Praise God!!

In the afternoon my men began loading up all their manly tools and whatnot.  While they were doing that a girlfriend of mine called.  She said she was close by and wanted to visit.  She came with her pick-up truck, so we loaded up my patio table and chairs, my potted flowers and various garden items.  We joyfully took them over to the new house and set them in the backyard.  Then I gave her a tour of the house.  I am so blessed that the Lord let me share my joy with her.

Update

This week I took the boys to register for school.  Our summer vacation is nearly gone as the boys will begin school right after we move into the new house (August 22).  I got to thinking how fast summer has gone by.  We did not take a vacation this year.  With Eric working the whole summer, we just stayed home.  His internship in HVAC has been a valuable experience for him.  Also, Eric had to have oral surgery.  He had 5 impacted wisdom teeth.  Yes, five.  I like to say he got blessed with extra wisdom (hehe).  He chose to have all five removed at the same time.  After the surgery he was not sure he should have done it as his mouth swelled up pretty bad as seen in the picture below.  But amazingly after five days the swelling had decreased and he was feeling much better.

Eric all swollen from his oral surgery.

We did have a visitor from California during the summer.  I was so pleased to have the boys' friend, Austin, visit with us for a week.  We had fun showing him around.  He also got to see our new house as we had our home inspection the week that he was visiting.

Both these boys used to be shorter than me!

Summer time view from Lookout Mountain.

Mark and I also took many a summer walk in the evenings.  Lilac season came and went and then other summer flowers made their appearances.  Below are some wildflowers I picked while on a summer walk.

Moving On

This Friday, August 12th, we will be receiving the keys to our new home.  The days of living at House on the Hill are coming to a close.  We have grown fond of House on the Hill.  We have received many blessings through the many trials we have experienced in this part of our journey.  Surely the Lord has been with us in an amazing way.  He has provided for our needs in so many ways that are amazing to both Mark and myself.  We praise Him for all.

We will begin life at our new home on August 20th.  As a result of moving I will be opening a new blog.  I have yet to come up with a name for my new abode.  As I begin spending time there, I am sure it will come to me.  Until then, if you have any ideas, please, by all means, post and let me know.  

God is with me and you too!

I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.  They said I needed to update my vaccines.  They gave me a tetanus shot.  Well, I should have said NO.  After the shot I began to feel quite odd.  Then I began to experience weakness and tingling in my limbs.  At night I felt sick to my stomach.  I went to bed thinking I will feel better in the morning.  Not so.  I still had the weakness and some tingling.  I have been drinking lots of fluids.

I went to my doctor this morning.  His examination of me turned up nothing.  He said he has not had a patient have a bad reaction to the shot, so he seemed baffled as to what to say to me.  He told me if I do not feel better by Friday to come back.  Maybe I am being overly concerned about this, but given my track record with the world of medicine I am extra sensitive.  From this day forward I will refuse vaccines.

Our house deal is going through.  I packed one box on Monday before my physical.   The reality of moving again is bringing up feelings.  So much has happened these past years.  Even though the Lord as been with me every step of the way, I haven't processed it all.  So this move may help me process the past more fully and hopefully bring a greater peace.

Do you ever have those times when you know the Lord is speaking to you?  At those times I just want to grab on to His feet and stay.  On my way to the doctor today, He spoke and let me know that He is with me.  Later, in the afternoon,  He told me that just because there is chaos in my life, it does not mean that I am out of step with Him.  That is something I desperately needed to hear today.  Thank you Lord!

In the process...

This is the house that we are in the process of buying.  This Wednesday is the home inspection.  I feel peace about this house.  Remember Mesa View Manor and how that deal fell through?  I never felt peace about that house.  After we signed the contract I had a terrible feeling that I had done something wrong.  Horrible, but the Lord was there and helped us get back on track.

 This is the view from the backyard.

We have been trying and trying to purchase a house in Golden and the doors were not opening.  One morning in church we spoke to a couple who said that they had also been renting in Golden and wanted to buy.  They said they finally found a house they could afford.  The Lord planted in a home outside Golden.  The next day we had a conversation with our pastor's wife and she also told us that they could not afford Golden.  So Mark and I took these words as the Lord's way of guiding us.  That same week we viewed this house outside Golden.  We made an offer on it after one viewing.  I felt such peace in the house and did not want to leave it. We made our offer.  Another offer was made at the same time.  Amazingly, our offer was accepted.  So far everything is going very well.  The home inspection is this Wednesday, so please pray for us.

Otherwise we are trying to do our best with raising our two challenging boys.  Also, I am still having health issues with dizziness.  I was prescribed a steroid spray.  I was using it, but it was not helping so I have an appointment to see an ENT.  My tummy is still causing me discomfort.  After moving surgery will probably be the next thing we tackle as soon as we get my balance issue cleared up.  Having surgery will require a huge amount of faith.

Prayers for Pam & family

My blog friend Pam is on my heart tonight.  I ask that you please lift Pam and her family in your prayers.  You see, Pam's hubby has been out of a full-time job for quite some time now.  They have been making due as best they can, but now are planning to sell their house.  If you can, please stop by Pam's blog Chaos Cottage and offer some words of encouragement.. Thanks friends!

Blessings Abound

I will continue to blog as I can.  Eric has taken on a summer internship learning HVAC.  The company stations him at various sites around Denver.  It has been a blessing for me as it is causing me to get more familiar with the Denver area.  Since Eric has been earning his own money he has been spoiling me a bit.  He treated me to frozen yogurt one day.  And for the 4th of July he surprised me with flowers.  Oh what a sweetheart he is!  Below are some picture that I have recently taken.  Hope you enjoy them.

  Eric with his floating flag pole he built with his Dad for the 4th of July.

My 4th of July flowers from Eric.

Tomato plant and flower box.  Just had to have some color at the front door.

A reminder that when you can't change where you are at in life...BLOOM.

The cozy lodge look.

While we were on our back deck one evening a male and female deer appeared in the open space across the street to graze.  And also one morning we went out front to see 4 young bucks sprint up the street in front of House on the Hill.  It is so wonderful to be so close to nature.

Blogging Block

Okay, so I haven't felt like blogging.  Sickness has been making the rounds.  Its been one thing after the other.  I've been dealing with a slight sore throat for over a week now, on top of that congestion, headaches and dizziness.  Going to the doctor to see what is going on with my body.  Mark had stomach flu.  Eric has been sick off and on.  He caught strep at summer camp.  Brandon has been the healthiest of us, but he has had bad allergies.

My time alone was great.  I spent time with a few girlfriends.  What a blessing that was.  On Sunday I was grumpy.  I guess I just did not want my carefree days to end.  It was so nice to sleep in, do as a pleased, eat what I want and have control of the TV.  ;-)  Oh, and of course the house was nice and clean.  Now it is filled with dirty camp clothes, camp dishes and all manner of manly things.  Oh, how I miss my neat as a pin house!

This morning I drove all the way out to Denver to take Brandon to a doctor appointment.  But first I had an acute attack of dizziness that gave me dry heaves.  Ugh.  We missed Brandon's previous appointment due to him not feeling well and I just could not miss this one.  Praise the Lord I was able to get myself up and get going despite the set back.

Have not been able to set a date for surgery.  Right now I am doing fairly well.  While out with one of my girlfriends we went out to lunch and afterward my tummy acted up.  We did a wine tasting and in the middle of it I had to stop because the pain was so bad.  I know I need to plow ahead and get my tummy fixed.  We were shooting for August, but it just is not going to work.

Time Alone

Oh, how I have been looking forward to this time alone.  However, when faced with it, I feel a bit lonely at the start.  Really there is no need to feel that way; my best friend is always here with me.  Every year I get time alone with the Lord and I always remember the times as very special.  One year I spent working on a scrapbook for my niece.  I had plenty of time and space to be creative.  That was fun!  Last year I took a trip up to Boulder and had a really good time.  This year there is a downside which is that I am not feeling at my best right now.  I picked up a virus from working in the nursery at church last week.  Okay, the bright side is that I have plenty of time to relax and get well.

My Desire for a Home

 I have been hesitant to share about our continued search for a house (home).  We did go look at the White Cottage again.  After our visit we found out that the owner of the property was waffling again.  We found another property we liked, so we made an offer, but the door closed.  We decided that both properties were just too much money for us.  There is another property that is affordable for us, but it needs work.  We are undecided if it is something we want to take on.  Right now we don't feel any peace about it.  So it is best not to move forward.  All we can do is continue to wait for the Lord.  Below is a little piece from an article I found on-line about waiting on the Lord.  I hope you enjoy it.

Taken from a message called Waiting on God to Act by David Wilkerson

"Every true follower of Christ has said in his or her heart, "I only want to do the Lord's perfect will." Yet here is exactly where so many of us miss it! We start to desire something that looks good, that sounds logical, that seems perfectly in line with what we think God has for us — but it isn't his will for us. This is one of the biggest traps Christians face: a good idea that is not from God's mind.

The most important question we can ask ourselves regarding such things is: "Can my desire survive the cross?" You may pray to see your desire come to pass and even enlist faithful others to intercede for it. Yet are you willing to lay down that desire or plan at the foot of the cross and walk away from it? Can you die to it? When God's plan is revealed, you will have peace. God's ways bring peace and rest.

Let me ask you: Are you willing to say to the Lord, "Maybe it isn't the devil who's stopping me in my pursuit of this. Maybe it's you, Lord. I know that if this is not your will it could hurt me. At the very least, it will derail me from your perfect will and plan for my steps. I desire only your will and your way for my life.""

Flowers from a friend

On Monday I was able to meet with my friend Cindy.  She has a beautiful garden.  We enjoyed a simple lunch of crackers, cheese and fruit outside under a big shade tree.  After lunch Cindy cut some of these roses for me to take home.  I love the color of them and they smell absolutely heavenly.  Thank you dearest Cindy!

Evening Walk in Golden

It has been quite sometime since I last posted.  Life has been very busy, but has slowed down a bit since the boys are on summer vacation.  It has taken me some time unwind and heal from all that I have been through with my youngest son.  He is doing better, but there are still things to wade through on a daily basis.  I am thankful that for now the Lord has blessed us with some calmness.

All the rain that we had brought spring.  It is green!  Mark and I like to take evening walks and I brought my camera one evening and took pictures.  I hope you enjoy the evening stroll through Golden.  Sorry that the pictures are dark, but it was evening.  ;-)

Some pretty purple flowers growing in a neighbor's flowerbed.

Spring lilacs blooming.  They smell so heavenly.

Big red poppies grow wild here in Golden.

I do not know what this flowering bush is called, but it is stunning.

Here is one of my favorite cottages in Golden.  I reminds me of the beach.

Here is a small yellow cottage.  Behind it is open space.  In fact all the cottage back to open space.

At this cottage the owner has beautiful flowers growing in the big glass window.

The owner of this little cottage just planted spring flowers in the newly finished planters.

And this cottage I love for the wonderful patio it has with a water fountain.

Happy Memorial Day!

Eric's Boy Scout skills in action.  His homemade flag pole for Memorial Day.
I love it!

So far our 2nd Memorial Day in Colorado is going much more smoothly than our first.  This morning we kept our tradition of getting donuts without event.

If you will remember last year we were quite homesick on Memorial Day.  We decided to keep our California tradition of getting donuts in the morning, so we loaded up in the car and took off on a long country drive.  While at the donut shop I realized I had left a pot of potatoes on the electric stove.  We rushed home, an agonizing drive along the country highway.  When we pulled up to the house, it looked fine however, when we opened the front door smoke came billowing out.  On the stove was my best pot with a glowing red bottom, water all gone and blackened potatoes.  Our landlord showed right after we arrived home to hook up the swamp cooler.  Needless to say I was thoroughly embarrassed, but thankfully he was very forgiving.

To our amazement the day's troubles did not end there.  Our kind neighbor across the street allowed the boys to have fun with his motorbikes.  The boys had a blast on those bikes, but Brandon crashed and broke his collar bone.  Him and his Dad spent a few hours in the ER that day.  Our Memorial Day 2010 was one of the most eventful days in our family's history, but the memories are proving to give us laughs today.

Interesting Development

Remember the White Cottage?  Well, today our realtor called us and told us that the owner is willing to accept our original offer on his property.  That was exciting, but my husband is not interested anymore.  The reason is because of all the trouble with our youngest son.  And because I decided to go ahead and have surgery.

Right now I am sick with a bacterial infection.  I was in church on Sunday when all the sudden I became very ill.  I had a bad pain in my chest, down my arm and I felt lightheaded and had nausea.  I whispered to Mark that I was going to the car because I felt sick.  We ended up going to the emergency room to get me checked out.  My heart is fine, thank God, but my white blood cell count is up.  So they prescribed antibiotic.  Not feeling as sick as yesterday, so that is good.  Still not feeling my best, so I have been home resting and drinking tea.

Our son, Brandon, continues to be difficult.  He agreed to take medication.  So far he has not experienced any side effects on half the dose, so we are going to start giving him the full dose as prescribed.  We are hoping it will help, but until then we are hanging in there as best we can.

Prayers Needed Again

We are once again having big issues in our family.  Your prayers for healing would be very much appreciated.  Thank you!

This & That

I do not know where to begin.  I have not been feeling in tip-top shape.  Caught a cold-thingy awhile back and I am still struggling to shake it off.  My tummy has been bothering me, so not doing much eating.  That in turn caused a few precious pounds to come off.  I get so hungry, but when I start eating a lot it only causes pain. I am looking forward to surgery in some ways in hopes that I will be able to digest my food without pain.

We continue to look for a house.  Lately, houses have been flying off the market here in the Denver area.  If the house is in good condition it gets snatched up before I can even get a look at it.  We were thinking of putting an offer on a house, but between our agent going on vacation and making up our minds we lost out.  I've been pretty low about that, but when I shared what happened at Bible study someone spoke up and said "God did not want you to have that house."  That helped me relinquish to the Lord.  His plan is best.  I am trying to be content; at times I am, but I do miss my Little Blue Cottage.

Things with my son are still a challenge, but we are marching on.  Yesterday we had some precious family time.  The wind kicked up and caused our power to go out.  Since we live on a hill we get big gusts. Anyway, we were all home so we sat down and played a family game of Zilch.  Then we ordered pizza for dinner.  After that my men went to their scout meeting while I stayed home and did laundry.  I always do my clothes last.  Below is a picture of my clean laundry in a basket I have had for 15 years.  It is a special basket because it came with Brandon when I received him into my home.  Back then it was filled with his clothes and toys.

Here below is a picture of Daisy.  She is 1 year old this month!  I know in the beginning I did not want to keep her.  Thanks to something Kerrie at Sea Cottage said to me in a post I kept Daisy.  I am so blessed that I did because she is a very loving little kitty and a loyal companion.

Happy Birthday Daisy!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 
~FOR TODAY~

Outside My Window...
  a beautiful spring day, sunshine, light wind & blossoming trees

I am thinking...
  Summer vacation will soon be here.
And I am proud of my boys for taking part in
The Order of the Arrow.

I am thankful for...
  The blessings of my mother's day.

Brandon baked me a chocolate cherry cake

and Mark and Eric made dinner for me.

Also was taken out to lunch by a dear sweet friend.

From the kitchen...

BBQed corn on the cob, chicken & steak
  Chocolate Cherry Cake...Yum!!

I am wearing...
  My jammies with Hello Kitty robe and pink slippers.

I am creating...
a clean house

I am going...
 to wash my hair and try to get some shopping in today

I am reading...
The Explosive Child

On my mind...
family, houses, tummy pain, surgery and the Lord

Around the house...
dirty laundry, Easter decorations that need to be put away, playing cats and new pillow shams

One of my favorite things...
Chai tea  

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
view a couple of houses

Small window into my life...

 Parisian Paisley - what my new pillow shams look like

Happy Mother's Day!!

To all my blog friends,

Praying that each of you has a blessed day.

with love,

Becky 

Me & my mom in 1961 

Me and my boys in 2000.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~FOR TODAY~

Outside My Window...
  the night sky with clouds & stars

I am thinking...
  That I have a busy day tomorrow.

I am thankful for...
  My hubby cleaning the garage and my car while I was at the retreat.

From the kitchen...
  Spaghetti with Alfredo sauce & lemon pepper tuna, salad and chocolate dipped strawberries.

I am wearing...
Levis jeans, Calvin Klein long sleeve t-shirt with beading, my diamond cross pendant

I am creating...
clean laundry

I am going...
to be going up to Boulder on the weekend with my hubby

I am reading...
The Explosive Child

On my mind...
family, houses, my upcoming surgery and the Lord

Around the house...
dirty laundry, sleeping boys, cats & hubby

One of my favorite things...
  chocolate dipped strawberries

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
view a couple of houses

Retreat

I stayed at a lodge in the Rocky Mountains.  It began to snow as I arrived.  The next morning it was cold, but the sun was shining and the snow was glistening.  The tall majestic mountains dusted with snow against a clear blue sky was a perfect compliment to the retreat theme:  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory. (Isaiah 6:3).

I arrived a very weary soul and left uplifted.  One of the coolest things we did was spend 2 hours being silent.  It was something the Lord told me ahead of time that I needed...stillness.  For me it was like drinking a cup of cold water on a hot day.  On top of that we had worship, teaching, small groups, encouragement, hugs, laughs and great food.  Spending time with my sisters in Christ was a gift from Him.  At the close, we shared as we felt led.  As this was going on, I was lamenting about leaving the retreat and going back to face life...part of that being surgery.  Doubts crept into my head...No, God did not really say I should do it.  No, I don't need to do it.  Then all of the sudden a woman stood up and talked about how the Lord had asked her to do something that she did not want to do.  She said that she finally gave in and was obedient.  She told us that what God wanted her to do was good and had blessed her so much.  So she encouraged us to be obedient too because He is good.  So again, the Lord met me and let me know He is listening, He knows, and with that He calmed my fears and doubts.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

~FOR TODAY~

Outside My Window...
gray day, hazy sunshine, singing birds

I am thinking...
I think too much ;-)

I am thankful for...
the patient way the Lord deals with me and that my son Brandon is no longer on medication and is going to our counselor to work on his issues.

From the kitchen...
Leftovers from Easter dinner
Homemade coleslaw, carrot raisin salad, mashed potatoes & ham

I am wearing...
jeans, light blue long sleeve v-neck t-shirt with my diamond cross pendant

I am creating...
clean laundry

I am going...
to be leaving for the women's retreat in the Rocky Mountains on Friday

I am reading...
The Explosive Child

On my mind...
packing for the retreat

Around the house...
lazy sleepy cats

One of my favorite things...
phone calls from friends

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
view a couple of houses

Moving Forward

Last week was hard with our son, but the Lord was with us.  This week is going better so far.  My son decided that he does not like the medication.  So we have an appointment with his psychiatrist today.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments, support and prayers.  I am so thankful for each of you!

Now there is another thing to pray about.  A few weeks back my counselor said something to me about getting surgery for my tummy and taking care of myself physically.  To be honest I have been running away from taking care of myself.  I have always had excuses not to obey.  I want to find a house, my son needs me, etc.  One day after being fed up with all the pain, I called to set up a phone appointment with my doctor in California.  I was determined to let him know I want to have surgery.  Well, when the day came I was having second thoughts.

The morning before my phone appointment I was with a girlfriend.  We were busy doing crafts for the women's retreat.  Well, I brought up the subject of having surgery and my second thoughts.  The words that came out of her mouth were straight from the Lord.  Because of what she said I nervously told my doctor that I want to move forward and have surgery. So the wheels are now set in motion.

The next day I visited with my friend.  I told her that I am going to have surgery.  She said that she had to pray about what she said to me.  She said that she does not usually say things of that nature to friends.  I assured her it was the Lord because it was exactly what I needed to hear.  This morning I spoke to my counselor who knows my friend and she even said that she does not usually say such things.  It is so amazing how the Lord can use people in our lives to help us go the right direction.

In a slump...

I've been in a blogging slump friends.  There is plenty going on, but I am unable to blog about it much of it.  Brandon has been prescribed medication which he is taking.  I do not like this route, but it is the route my son wants to take.  So I will walk down this path with him in hopes that it will make a difference.  Ultimately, it is Jesus that can truly make a difference, but my son is not open to that right now.

Please Pray Today

Things have been rough this past week.  I won't go into detail only to say that my heart is heavy with pain.  The situation with our son has not improved.  He is spending more and more time away and continues to have a bad attitude toward us.  One day I was so full of anguish that I found myself crying, it was all I could do.  The Lord in His tender mercy had two girlfriends call me.  Through them He ministered to me and lifted my spirit.  Please pray that our appointment with the psychiatrist will go well.  Thank you.

Home

To my surprise, Brandon called me late Monday morning and told me that he wanted to come home.  I drove out to where he was staying and picked him up.  Things were touchy at first, but the Lord was with us.  All of us are emotionally drained.  I am so thankful to have my son home.  Thank you all so much for your prayers.  (((Hug)))  Please keep praying as next Tuesday is our visit with the psychiatrist.

Family Meeting

This morning I woke to a light dusting of snow and sunshine.  It looks beautiful, but my heart is heavy with grief.  The situation with our family is not good.  Brandon showed up to the meeting with our pastor (who is also chaplain for the police department) and our counselor.  Our next step is to schedule a mental evaluation for Brandon, which he has agreed to.  Brandon will be coming home this week.  I am sure we will all feel tense.  Today I am picking him up from where he is staying to take him to his dental appointment.  Please continue to pray for us.

Prayers Needed Please

We had a wonderful trip to California.  It was spring there.  The air was moist, everything was green and the flowers were blooming.  My body relaxed when I slipped into bed.  In the morning I heard the birds chirping and then the soft sound of rain falling.  Peace flooded my parched soul.  It felt so good to be back.

One evening Mark and I drove down to the beach.  The sight, smell and sound of  my beloved Pacific ocean was heaven.  We sat on a bench overlooking the sand and watched the sun slowly sink down out of sight in a blaze of glory.  Then we drove to my favorite Italian restaurant where I was to receive a free entree for my birthday.  We had a delicious time.  We visited with family and friends.  It was wonderful to touch base with everyone and see God's work in their lives.

Our last day in California we made a point of spending time as a family, just the four of us.  We drove down to the beach.  It was a gorgeous clear day.  We had lunch and walked on the pier.  Everything was happy, but it wasn't for my son Brandon.  He had a gloomy attitude.

Upon our arrival home, problems arose.  Brandon called up his best friend and then left the house.  He came back the next day and was in and out all day.  In the evening we were having dinner together when things went sour.  My son has left home.  He won't speak to us.  Our counselor and pastor are helping us.  Friends are praying.  There will be a family meeting tomorrow with our counselor and pastor.  I ask for your prayers and humbly thank you.  

Taking a Break

Picture from Spring Break 2009

Spring break is here and our family is going on vacation!!  I can hardly believe it because we have not taken a vacation in quite sometime.  Looking forward to seeing the ocean...oh how I miss it.  We will be back next week and I will give you the dish on our trip.

Fire and Wildlife

There is a fire burning in the mountains around Golden.  Its been named the Indian Gulch Fire (see article).  While in church my friend's husband (Fire Chief Miller) got a call that there was an emergency.  My friend needed a ride home so of course it was no problem.  We first stopped by House on the Hill  where we could see the fire.  We stood in the street, held hands and prayed.  Your prayers would be much appreciated.  Here are some pictures of what we saw of the Indian Gulch fire which is still burning.

 

  This is a picture of the fire burning at night.  Click on the picture to get a bigger picture.

This is what we could use right now...SNOW!  This is a picture from our last snow.  The deer came down from the top of the mesa.

We've been putting seed out to attract birds and squirrels for the kitties to watch.  Those squirrels are very entertaining critters.

In other news, Mark got a surprise at work.  It is his 15 year anniversary.  Yeah!  The company was very generous and gave him a $500 gift certificate.  The Lord is so good!!

Tooting my own horn...I'm 50 today!!

The above picture is by Kimberly Shaw.  Click on the picture to see her awesome artwork and order cards from her site Roses & Teacups.

Today I am going to flaunt the fact that I am 50 years old.  I have decided that I need not be ashamed about my age.  I am going to glory in how far the Lord has brought me.  Thank you Lord for all of your wonderful grace, mercy, patience, kindness and love to me throughout these 50 years.

Deal Falling Through

Well, the home inspection was bright and early this morning.  Mark took me out for my favorite pancake breakfast and then we drove over to Mesa View Manor.  Our inspector was there, working away.  He is a very friendly guy, honest and thorough.  When he was done with his inspection he told us what he found.  The house has major foundational and drainage issues that need to be addressed.  To fix them will cost thousands of dollars, which we don't have.  On top of that the furnace and water heater need to be replaced and the sewer line inspected.  This on top of cosmetic changes we want to make is just too much.

When we first viewed Mesa View Manor we asked why the prior deal fell out.  They told us that it was because of a crack in the driveway.  Well, it is more than just a crack in the driveway.  This morning I laid out my fleece to the Lord saying that if He did not want us to buy Mesa View Manor that something would come up in the inspection report.  So we must obey.  We are calling off the deal.  I do not know where we will go from here.

Giveaway!!

My blog friend Rayanne is having a giveaway at her blog "A Lovely Thought".  Please visit her blog to enter.

March 11-25

 I chose a beautiful and lovely necklace from

Denise at  Beaded Embellishments. 

http://beadedembellishments.blogspot.com/

for my give-away.

I hope you win!

Signed the Counter

Today we signed the counter from the owners of the split-level brick ranch I have named Mesa View Manor.  We also took the boys to view the house.  Taking a second look at the property I noticed a number of projects I am going to need to tackle to get the place in order.  Tonight I have been trying to come up with names for our new property.  Eric came up with the name Mesa View Manor (which I think is perfect).  So that will be the name of our new home and a future new blog, but that is if everything goes well with the home inspection on Wednesday.  I will keep you posted on that.

I still lament not being able to snag the White Cottage.  However, our realtor was very happy we chose to buy Mesa View Manor.  The White Cottage is across the street from the high school where there is more traffic.  Although the neighborhood is quaint, it is not always quiet.  Mesa View Manor is tucked up against South Table Mountain Park on a quiet street away from the main drag.  All we have to do is go out the back door and across a little wooden bridge and we can walk in the park.  Our realtor is confident that our property will hold its value and with improvements only increase.  I wonder what the Lord has planned for our future with this house.  Right now I envision having our Bible study group over.

Even with all this blessing, I need prayer.  After viewing Mesa View Manor the first time I encouraged Mark to make an offer.  He did not hesitate as he has in the past.  He really likes the property, but I am having second thoughts.  Same emotions as when I came to Denver to live and then did not want to move into House on the Hill.  I have made House on the Hill a home for all of us and it has been a blessing to live here.  The Lord picked a good home for us with House on the Hill.  I hope that Mesa View Manor will be just as comforting if not more.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God.  I will strengthen you: yes, I will help you." ~Isaiah 41:10

Another House Another Offer

Well, on Friday we went to look at the above house.  The appealing aspect of this house is that it backs up to open space so there are no neighbors on the back side of the house.  Pictured below is the sunroom looking out at the backyard and beyond.

The house is a little bit quirky and does not have the quaint charm of the White Cottage, but it is in a better location.  The views from the house are great.  After looking at it just once we decided to make an offer.  Our realtor is glad we are doing so because he thinks this house is a winner.  We will not hear back from the owners till Sunday or Monday since they are out of town.  We are hopeful these sellers will be more willing to make a deal.

Mixed Emotions - Daisy Came Home!!! But Tsunami - Oh my!!

Thanks to those of you who prayed!!  I was so upset last night.  And was even more upset when the wind began to blow.  Strong gusts whipped around the house and I worried even more knowing she was out there.  I also worried that coyotes or foxes might get her since we live across the street from open land..  Had to take something to help me go to sleep.  In the morning my men woke me with excitement telling me that Daisy was home and they put her on my bed.  Mark said she showed up at the back door in time for her morning meal.  I am so thankful!!

However, it is not good news to hear of the earthquake & tsunami that has hit Japan.  I have a dear Aunt & Uncle that live in Yokohama.  And my blog friend Sue and her husband Tono and their delightful children live in Japan also.  Please visit Sue at her blog Living & Learning to learn more about the big earthquake.

More Sadness - Daisy is lost

Early in the morning I dropped Daisy off at the vet to be spayed.  I picked her up in the evening.  She was awake, but a tad groggy.  She would not be still once home.  She ate some food and then went right to licking her incision.  The vet told me she may need a cone, so I left her with my two sons and went to the pet store to get her one.  When I came home my sons were doing what they do.  I asked where Daisy was and they did not know.  When I went into the kitchen I saw that the back door was cracked and I knew right then and there she had gotten out.

Thankfully, our other kitty Dusty did not follow Daisy.  We found her sleeping under a bed.  We called and searched for Daisy all evening, even talked to neighbors, all to no avail.  It is now 9:30 at night and still no Daisy.  We are beside ourselves with sadness.  Living right across from the open space we know the situation is not good for Daisy.  Coyotes lurk about.  All we can do is hope and pray.

The Lord Shut the Door

This morning I asked the Lord to make my desires line up with His.  Then tonight we finally received the counter on our offer for the White Cottage.  All we can figure from the counter is that the owner is not very motivated in selling his property right now.  So the Lord closed the door.  I was hopeful and had dreams.  I feel some disappointment, but I also feel peace, I am not devastated.  I know the Lord has a plan and I must trust that it is all good.  So our journey in finding a house continues.  Stay tuned. 

Frustrated - But Waiting

Well, our agent presented our offer for the White Cottage.  The owner was not real impressed.  He asked for time to present the contract to his lawyer and he would answer on Monday.  Well, Monday came and he said he would answer on Tuesday.  Well, here it is Tuesday and we still have no counter or answer.  So thinking maybe it is time to move on.  Of course, we can wait too, after all the Lord is in control.

My heart says to be patient, to wait.  I know people are praying for us.  The Lord brought two verses to my attention on Monday.

Greed causes fighting; trusting God leads to prosperity.  Proverbs 28:25

Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust God means safety.  Proverbs 29:25

Dream House - Update

Well, it took us most of the week to get things figured out as far as flood insurance goes.  We did a lot phone calling for information and figures.  Needed to see how much it was going to cost, what our payments would be, etc.  In the process we learned more about the house.  Tomorrow we are going to be writing up an offer and our agent will present it.  I am nervous, but trying to leave it in God's hands.  Stay tuned for the outcome! ;)

P.S.  Please visit my Hopes & Dreams blog for some encouragement.

A Dream House - Prayer

Mark and I have affectionately named this house "The White Cottage" and it is for sale.  When Mark walked into this house he was in love.  This is the first house that he has really liked and wanted since we started looking back in September.  The man that is living in the house is a famous artist of stained glass which gives the house even more character.  This is our dream home.  In the spring and summer it has a beautiful garden with a creek that runs in back of the house.  It is a bit more than we can afford, but we are planning on making an offer (if we can afford the flood insurance that we need to carry as owners of the house which we will get that info on Monday).  Call us crazy, but we are going to take a step out.  Please say a prayer.  Thanks!!

Discouraged

Well, the house I had such high hopes for was a disappointment.  We went as a family to look at the house. It was not quite what we were expecting.  It has some nice features to it, but it needs TLC.  Also, I was told that it was going to list at a certain price and when we arrived for the viewing we were told they are asking $10,000 more.  So we are going to let them list and see what happens.  To be honest, I am feeling discouraged right now.

Thorn in the Flesh

Well, my thorn in the flesh is my tummy pain.  Its been two years since I had my colostomy reversed and that is how long I have been living with this pain.  Right now it is so painful I am going to be skipping meals again.  Since I had a two month period where I was pretty much pain free, I was able to gain about 3 lbs.  Thinking about it, this time last year I weighed 99 lbs.  This year I weigh 102.  It's not a huge gain, but some gain is better than no gain.  Every time this pain rears its ugly head I start thinking of my options which are:  1) live with it OR 2) surgery.  Neither one of them is appealing to me.  Your prayers are much appreciated.

Another House

Okay, my story begins with the ladies Bible study group I go to about every other Saturday.  The group is great, love all the gals.  Well, one of the gals in the group knows that I am on the hunt for a house in the same area as House on the Hill.  So she got me in touch with her daughter, a real estate agent, who is getting ready to list a house in our desired area.  A house that is going to be listed within our price range.  Mark and I are going to be the first buyers to look at the house this Thursday.  My realtor finally called today and gave us the address, so I did a drive by.  I am excited and hopeful.  Stay tuned for more details!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing my dear blog friends

a Valentine's Day filled with love.

In my last post I mentioned that I felt a need to purge some of my belongings.  Sometimes what we think we need to do externally the Lord is intending for internal.  That is what my weekend was about an internal purging.  There is so much that He is teaching me right now, but I need time to walk in it and digest it.

Part of this cleansing involves fears I have held on to for many years.  Fears of being rejected.  Fear of being unloved.  Fear that His grace does not extend to me.  I've been feeling worthless, down in the pits.  Condemnation has been making its presence known.  But yesterday in church I was treated to a Valentine from the Lord.  My men were camping and I went alone to church.  I arrived late, but my pastor greeted me at the door.  He found me a place to sit, right next to my counselor.

We worshiped and I had business to take care of.  Tears streamed down my face at one point.  Toward the end of the service I heard Him speak to me.  You know how He speaks to our hearts?  That still, small voice and it asked me "Why don't you think my grace extends to you?"  When the service ended, my counselor turned to me and hugged me in a very tight squeeze.  It was like the Lord was hugging me and He told me He sees me and He knows who I am and He still loves me.

Recently, I was reading one of Corrie Ten Boom's books and came across something she said that really speaks to me.  I hope it speaks to you as well.

"Happiness is not found in marriage; or work; or ministry; or children.  Happiness is found by being secure in Jesus.  ~Corrie Ten Boom 

Tired and Thoughtful

Life has been so busy and I feel so tired.  Ever since the boys started their new school, our schedule seems to be all over the place.  Also, I still battle with tummy pain.  There are periods where the pain subsides.  I enjoyed a good break that seemed to last about two months.  Mark and I were thinking maybe I had been healed, but then around Christmas the pain came back and continues to nag me.  I am still not ready to submit to surgery and I really would like to have a house of our own before moving forward.

This month I am hostess for our Bible Study group.  Everyone enjoyed the view from House on the Hill.  We had a lovely time of fellowship.  Tomorrow my men leave for a weekend of snow camping with the Boy Scouts.  I will be enjoying some quiet time which I very much need. 

I have been reading a bit about the minimal lifestyle.  Aspects of this lifestyle are appealing and inspire me.  With our move to Colorado we had to pare down our stuff, but recently I have felt a need to pursue that even further.  I started to go through my things this week, but need to dig deeper.  I feel there is something inside that needs to let go and be free.  This weekend alone will give me a chance to work on it.  This scripture verse also inspires me:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4: 11b - 13, NIV

Winter Beauty 101

I have never lived in the kind of weather we have here in Colorado.  At the Little Blue Cottage we lived near the ocean where the air is moist.  Here in Colorado the air is dry.  Add on top of that cold air and heaters you will see the dire need for moisture.  Even in the summer months it is necessary to make sure my skin is moisturized.  Below are pictures of products I am using this winter.

 I like to buy my beauty products on sale or at discount stores if possible.  Sometimes I buy items at full price because I just have to have them.  Like this Sleepy Time lotion by Jason.  It is infused with real tea.  The Pacifica brand of body butter I found on clearance at Ross Dress for Less...a steal at $2.99!  And the Method Cinnamon Bark soap was on clearance at Target (a scent I find heavenly).

Here is my facial line up.  I have combination skin.  Biore blemish fighting ice cleanser works very well.  Clean & Clear acne spot treatment also helps with stubborn blemishes. Cortizone 10 plus works well for spots of eczema that I have been experiencing with this very cold weather.  And Desert Essence Moisturizing Night Cream keeps my skin moist and soft.

Here is my hand and feet line up.  The pumice stone works very well for removing dry skin on the feet.  The emery board (from the Celestial Seasons Tea Shop) works well for not only filing nails, but removing dry skin from my finger tips as well.  Borghese cuticle oil works very well for moisturizing my nails as well as cuticles.  I picked it up for $2.99 at Ross Dress for Less.  A real bargain!  Also pictured are hand creams.  CO Bigelow Chapped Hands Remedy works well when my hands begin to crack.  And J.R. Watkins Vanilla Shea Butter works well for both feet and hands.

Now for the lips.  I don't wear lipstick, there is something in it that irritates my throat.  Even certain lip balms do the same.  However, these products are fine for me.  The lip balms by Celestial Seasons are fun and smell so good.

I love to smell good.  I really love the White Citrus scent by Bath & Body Works.  The other two perfumes are by Love & Toast which are natural scents by Margot Elena found at Whole Foods Market.

Since Valentine's will soon be here, I decided to share with you part of my jewelry collection.  I love hearts!! The bracelet on the far right I made.  Other pieces are from Mark and one piece is from a dear girlfriend.

If you have any winter beauty tips please share them in a comment.  Thanks!