If You Know Wayne....

like I know Wayne, then you know that out of all the "honeydoo" items, he really despises anything plumbling related. Before he even starts--when the idea is just a small seed, he begins to mumble, "I don't have any idea what I'm doing."


So, wasn't I surprised last year when he called to tell me someone had dumped a perfectly good cast iron sink in his dumpster at work (yes, we are a dumpster-diving, trash-picking family LOL!). I asked him "are you sure?" I'm thinking, "he knows he's going to have to install this sink--right?"

He says he's sure and brings home the sink. It gets placed in the yard....and sits there....for six long months and more....it sits there. Now it's full of dirt and de-composing leaves. In fact, if he ever does install it, I'm not sure I will be able to get the stains out. :o(

Then, this weekend he does it! He started on Saturday and lost steam mid-day and I thought he wouldn't actually do it. But he did. He started by installing a new facet in the girl's bathroom (it was leaking). Then he got started on the kitchen sink. I think the reason he hates it (other than knowing nothing about plumbing) is that it is never straight forward. So the first roadblock was that the hole in the counter was a little too small. After a trip to the shop to get his router and a stop at the hardware store for a piece we didn't know we needed...and a large sawdust/glue mess all over the kitchen...the hole is now big enough and we hoist and heave it into place.


The next roadblock is the drains now don't match the pipes. He gathers all of his spare parts and tries to get something to work...alas, another trip to the hardware store where we try to find a piece that is 15" long, but all we can find is 14" long. :o) suddenly I see a kit that looks like it will work if we change the connection where the dishwasher comes in. At first he says no, but then his eyes light up and he says yes, you're right. "Yes, You're right!" He said that several times, he was so happy. (I love it when he says that.)

With our purchase in hand, we head back home and he installs it. Then we test it...several leaks and several hours later, the leaks are stopped up and everything is working perfectly! And my new sink is so beautiful! And it is cast iron, so there won't be any holes in it (the last one was fiberglass and had several holes in the sides). And, a little bleach and it's a pretty sparkly white!


So, when you see Wayne, give him a high-five. He gave up a weekend for one of his most-hated jobs, and he did it all because he loves me!

Multitude Monday

Do I get an A for effort? I know I'm not consistent every Monday...but I'm still going :o)

50. My husband who worked all weekend to install a new facet in the girl's bathroom and a new kitchen sink and facet for me in the kitchen
51. My "new to me" kitchen sink and beautiful new facet!
52. Clorox and Future wax -- my used sink looks pretty as new
53. Joeleen
54. Communion
55. 50% off my new George Foreman grill--for a total cost of two dollars and fifty cents
56. Mondays, get to work on my BSF lesson for the kids and clean house
57. My broke down car
58. New Mexico skies, weather, scenery, everything!
59. Amara and Christina are getting a fun vacation and Auntie 'Chelle is getting to treat them
60. Our new camper
61. taxes are done and turned into the accountant
62. warm home and good food
63. my grandparents
64. BSF
65. the Bible
66. Christian brothers and sisters who are awesome writers and write great devotions and encouraging words in books and in blogs and newsletters
67. My brothers James and Jeff who both turned another year older this month.
68. My Aunt Myrna who knows how to see the good in all things and over look the bad
69. Mom
70. Finding Jesus in the book of Isaiah
71. Amara comes home in a few days
72. Peace of God

Special Thursdays...

I usually don't have a whole lot on my calendar on Thursdays. It is a day set aside to pray for my immediate family, my extended family and for my friends with prodigal sons and daughters.

A few years ago my son decided he no longer wanted to be a part of our family. I cried and raged at the unfairness of it all. How could a son, an only son, abandon his mom, his family? As with all trials I tried to figure it out. What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? What was God trying to teach me? Is HE even paying attention to this disaster in my life?

I decided to stop the raging and the questioning and to pray. To pray and to fast for my son every Thursday. It started with just me and a good friend praying for our kids and the kids of our friends, then other prodigal parents joined us. For over 3 years now we have been praying and fasting every Thursday for our prodigal children and our families, our marriages. God has heard us and we have had praise reports of reconciliations and restorations.

I still have not heard from my son. However, God has given me peace and I know that HIS will is perfect and that it will be done (lessons that HE has taught me through this pain). I miss my son....but God knows when the cookies will be done....

Multitude Monday on Thankful Tuesday :o)

30. a warm house on a cold morning
31. all my family still tucked safely in bed
32. a new day ahead of me with adventures and joy to be discovered
33. my Savior Jesus, who is my best friend and constant companion
34. our new camper
35. a whole new batch of cabochons just waiting for the return of a kiln door
36. Skip
37. Sam
38. Deborah
39. brothers
40. the hope of spring
41. a window into the lives of people who make me happy
42. the hope of lost ones returning
43. Wayne's uncrookedness
44. My unstiffness
45. Safe in the shelter of God's hands
46. rice puffs
47. Amara's smile
48. God's goodness
49. Mercy

Multitude Monday

20. the angels of God who surround and protect us.
21. warm socks
22. God's spirit of peace over my family.
23. a day in the studio.
24. vacation in San Diego in the winter time.
25. a warm home with running water.
26. dreams, faith, hope.
27. new mercy from God every morning.
28. the hope of spring, the joy of the first flower.
29. God's favor.

Multitude Monday

Whoops, I missed last week...but that is understandable...last week was jam packed! This week is a little better. :o) Here we go....

14. taught an Etsy class on Saturday and the students loved it!
15. good sales in my Etsy shop.
16. Brittany was released on Thursday and got to go home with her family.
17. I got a new mentee this week, Joeleen.
18. we get to go to San Diego for Valentine's day.
19. God's mercies are new every morning.

have a blessed day...You are loved by an awesome God!

Random Information about my life...

My life is a series of get this done--what's next--check--squeeze this in--rest--now what, etc, etc.

I have regularly scheduled schedules interrupted by my life :o)

Today is Tuesday and I do a Bible study with the girls in detention every Tuesday evening. Tonight we read the book of Jonah and discussed how loving and gracious God was with Jonah and with the people of Nineveh. This volunteer work is coordinated through LifeQuest.

I got to spend an hour in the studio this morning working on some large beads for my friend Kristi in Colorado who wants to make her beautiful lantern necklaces with them. I'm actually listening to the music on her blog site right now. Check it out--both her music tastes and her jewelry.

Then I took my friend Leslie McNertney for a pedicure, lunch and a movie. We saw the remake of True Grit. It was a good movie and our burgers at Johnny Rockets were delicious! It's been too long since we've done that. I will be taking her for a pedicure on the 3rd Tuesday of every month; I look forward to catching up on a regular basis.

Tomorrow is Wednesday and I always have BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) Amara and I both go--get out of the house around 8:30am. BSF keeps me busy most days as there is about an hours worth of homework each day. I know some of you may be cringing now and asking why I would voluntarily subject myself to that much work. All I can say is I want to know God, to truly know him as much as any human can. It's in His Word that I find his character. He is more amazing than I ever thought or than anyone has told me. It's in BSF that I've gained the discipline to really study and dig for the truths found in the Bible. After BSF Amara and I usually grab some lunch and some play time in a city park. Wednesday nights we go to church for mid-week service at my church Amara and her mom, Christina and I.

Thursdays are a special day. I get to fast and pray for my prodigal son and the prodigal children and grandchildren of many special friends and family. I try to keep this day open and will often spend it in my studio alone with my art and my conversations with God--discussing all the people I care so much for.

Nothing scheduled on Fridays usually. It's a good day to work in the studio and catch up on housework. The last Friday of the month we hold a church service for the girls in detention.

Saturdays usually belong to my honey, Wayne. However, this Saturday and next I'm teaching classes for the Bead Society of New Mexico. I usually attend church on Saturday night because...

on Sunday morning I visit Brittany, the girl in detention that I'm mentoring--if you are inclined to pray for her, she has a parole hearing the 27th. She's been locked up for 2 years and is excited to go home to her family. She's changed a lot in those 2 years--I've know her for 1 and have seen her grow in her faith and humility. Please pray that she would do good on the "outs." Sunday afternoons are dinner with the family and hanging out at home.

Mondays are often open and spent in the studio and hanging out with my granddaughter, Amara. Except the 4th Monday of the month, I have the Bead Society monthly meeting. Did I mention that I am the President of the Bead Society this year?

Whew...lots of things going on each day...in between all that I spend time with my sweet husband--Wayne, fit in some time with friends, and create art--hopefully for sale!

There's just a little peek into my hectic life! On another day I'll tell you about all the cool people in my life....ttfn

By doing this rambling list of my schedule. I can see why I'm feeling so busy, but there is nothing I want to cut out! Better time management, that's what I need.