The Morning Routine

Morning routine.....

The melodious tunes of Mozart fill the early morning air. Yes, my contemptuous alarm clock on my phone is going off. Time to arise and shine. As I hit the snooze button to give me just ten more minutes in heaven, Fox (my cat) starts to swarm my body back and forth like a vulture preying upon his freshly hit road kill snack. Get up he squalls, feed my belly! Ok Ok, I'm up I'm up, I mumble. Feet hitting the floor my brain starts to imagine never having to work again and how nice it would be to just fall back into my dream cloud. The cold fist of reality smacks me in the face. I know the bills need to be paid, gas for the car, food in the fridge.... Every morning the same. Bathroom light blinds me. Time to wash the raccoon nest out of my hair and then cold water splashes on my face to get off all the Sandman's hard work. Then off to slunk over to the kitchen, still groggy to make the husbands coffee and to put the kettle on for me. For of course, I take tea. The whole time being leached upon by Fox who is howling for breakfast. Follows me everywhere like my shadow, rubs the back of my legs pleading, and then standing like a Meerkat in the wild to reach his din din bowl. Fine I say, here you go my poor starving baby. My other cat Hope awaits patiently sitting on the sofa like a little lady waiting for her breakfast. If only Fox could be as genteel. The daily news flashes across the screen and with a few sips of tea I've summed up enough courage to throw some paint onto this tired barn. Yes, makeup must be applied! No need to scare young children or to have others flee the scene in horror. Cover up the spots, camouflage those dark circles, and make those eyes pop for a touch of fabulousness. My husband awakes to his alarm clock, The Today Show theme song starts to play on the TV. Its 7:00 am! I wish I could sleep until seven, but all men need is a clean pair of clothes and their out the door. Ugh!!! As I scramble to throw everything I need except the kitchen sink into my bag for work, my husband starts our morning prayers before we head out into the wilderness of life. I must say that is best part of my morning besides the music jam sessions I will have in my car on my way to work. Yes, I love to sing and I love to get my music going. Helps get me into the right direction and into the right mind set for the days challenges ahead. Ok Ok Ok Ok, I am off to work...

Tillandsia how may I count the ways

Tillandsia are also know as air plants. These little gems come in many colors and sizes. They are so much fun to do interesting decor and craft projects with. If your like me who tends to kill anything except for cactus or succulents, these are the plants for you. They only need little upkeep and they do not require soil to survive. Making planting virtually endless. They need air and you mist them about two to three times a week. I've been wanting to get back on the crafting train and I wanted to give my little casa a snazzy decor touch. There are countless ways to play with these plants.

Need some light... transform some light bulbs into tiny habitats.

How about a quirky addition to set of glasses...

All bottled up, great idea for those extra collected jars and bottles...

Recycle old toys to make crazy planters...

Don't be shellfish, make your own art for your walls..

Turn your finds from the beach into living creatures from the deep...

Nothing like a jazzed up carcus for the neighbors to get jealous...

Add new angles to your wall space...

Diamonds are forever and a girls best friend, naaa give the gift of Tillandsia...

Today I was in my car pondering wanting more or being content with what I have. Many of you know that I drive a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang type of car, Which is to say its what it sounds like when its running. At least its not as bad as the Uncle Buck car that loudly back fires. Well its old as dirt and has no AC/heat. Which means its bad in hot and cold weather. When I drive it now due to super cold weather, I bundle as much of me as I can. I was stopped at a red light complaining about being cold and needing a new car when I saw a homeless man across the way. He had all of his belongings carried with him. He had a huge bed sheet which he made into a full body scarf wrapped completely around him to stay warm. I sat there totally ashamed and completely convicted. I am so blessed for what I have even though it isn't the greatest. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, money in my pockets, friends & family to help me out in times of need. What else do I need so badly. All the times I spend foolishly on stuff I swear I need, even though I probably have multiples just like it at home. If I were to be stripped down to just having Jesus to rely on and only the bare essentials would I be content or would I need more... I feel like in our world that's were we are constantly surrounded by. Magazines, TV, and radio is submerged by the key phrase you are not happy, you need more. I can't be truly happy unless I have the latest technology, millions in my bank account, hottest fashion trends. I feel the phrase I am content and I have enough is lost in translation. If anything we need to downsize our way of thinking, living, and spending. Have any of you purchased something only to have feelings of spending regret the whole car ride back home. Do I really need another pair of shoes, do my clothes need to cost more than a rent check, do I need to show off and get the latest and greatest. What do all these things say about us. Will we remembered by all that we owned or for what we gave. None of these things we can take with us. Like us they will fade and be only dust in the wind. Today friends at work were telling me I need a new car because I walked in looking like a scientist from the North Pole. Yes, I do need a new car, but I am grateful for God putting that man on my heart. What a picture of being satisfied in God's care and such a picture of where these wants really come from. I need to recheck my focus, that when I swear I will just die unless I have it, I will remember a man fighting to survive on what he's carrying. God is so good in using something or someone to change your heart. Please don't misunderstand my post. I am not saying that having these things are bad. If God has blessed you greatly then that's awesome. Or if you are struggling to make do, you are still blessed more than many others out there with nothing. We need to focus on sharing or giving blessings then needing to receive them. When it gets warmer I need to clean out my house to give away much of what I definitely don't need. My spending will be cut back to being content or to giving back. The homeless man may never know how much of a lesson he bestowed upon me just by standing across the street from my car. I will surely not forget him. I have enough, I am grateful for what I have, I am content in Jesus, I need to share my blessings. God is good.

2013 wrap up

2013 what a year. Its been a whirlwind and it seemed like it went by in a blink of an eye. Ups and downs, highs and lows. Filled with lots of changes. God has been present during the whole rollercoaster ride. We are blessed by Shad's continuing good health. This year has been rough for me in the health department. I was diagnosed with seasonal asthma and with MS. MS was the scariest thing for sure, especially the process to get better and functional. Its been a year living with it and I am happy to say I am doing so much better. A year ago you wouldn't have recognized me from how I am today. It also was sad to say goodbye to my sweet friend and kitty Grayson. He has been having health issues for awhile, but its never easy to make the tough decision in letting him go. We welcomed a new kitten into our lives named Fox. He is such a firecracker, but he's really brought healing and laughter back into our hearts. This year I also married the love of my life. What a day. No matter how much you prepare its a day filled with craziness. Blessed to have many family and friends there to celebrate with us. Our awesome pastor and dear friend married us two and day went so well. We got a lot of compliments on his ceremony he did for us. A big help was my coworker who did my makeup and help set my special day out on the right footing. Another friend did my hair and made me look awesome with my veil. Thanks to my maid of honor and my sister Holly for being there to help me and keeping me calm and sane. Last thing I remember is my gal pal Sunny telling me to breathe, she surely saved the day in many aspects. What a great friend she is to rely on, always there to lend a hand or help. Our friend Rob sang for us and what a great job he did. We had so many people to thank, many helped us out that day before and after. Blessed by so many caring people. My husband, which is funny to say, is enjoying being a worker bee. Working for his dad, teaching at college, and helping his friend with his taco buisness. I worked really hard and was able to lose 20 some pounds for my big day and due to the holidays it might have relocated back on me, ha ha. This new year we as a couple are determined to grow as much as we can closer to our heavenly Father. As for me back to living healthy, eating cleaner, and getting active. Yes, to loose some pounds, but mostly to get a long and awesome life. I'm still volunteering for World Vision as much as I can and we are still sponsoring a little boy from Africa who has really blessed us more than he'll ever now. We feel like he is our son. Its amazing to be apart of his life and giving him the life every child deserves. I also got to be apart of a womens retreat for our church. What an amazing time to get away and reconnect with God with some awesome sisters in Christ. I also through Gods help tried out for the worship team. It was scary, but in the end everything worked out and I did my first singing right before I left for vacation. Wow I think thats about it, ha ha. The phrase I could use is God is good.