Listen, My Children

Someone pinned a Pinterest funny to me. My friend and I know a person we'd like to go "all Jesus" over and yes, this made me smile.

After that initial chuckle and thinking of our mutual friend this would apply to, I stopped.  It really isn't so funny after all.  Not meaning to be preachy, but probably was received that way, I wrote "Yeah, that's the easy part.  It's the forgiveness part that's hard."  And that, my friends, is the truth.


Yesterday, Hubby hit his sermon out of the park (imho).  Some received his message with gladness; some did not; and some stop listening after he mentioned the Republican Party and others after he mentioned the Democratic Party.

We are a divided people.  Judging is easy.  The Republicans are bad/ the Democrats are bad/ beware of the socialists/ the independents are clueless.  We judge. We call names.  We divide.

But the message of truth is God's got the evil taken care of.  Our job is to love, to forgive, and to treat each other as we want to be treated.  It's not really hard...or at least it shouldn't be.

I like cardmaking.  I started a blog called The Eclectic Scrapper and I've let other things get in the way of my ministry and I do want it to be a ministry.  Long years ago I wanted to start a postcard ministry- fun, right?  Well today is the day.

The person I want to go "all Jesus" on is getting a postcard!

Eldest Son Moving On

I'm happy for him. I really am. But I'm also keenly aware like the sands in an hourglass....so goes the days of our lives.  I never watched that soap opera but I do remember the commercials or the start of the show.  It usually signaled for me to get up and change the channel!

At present, I'm in Dennison and enjoying a night of rest and relaxation....and a little work on the computer...before I take off back to Cucaracha-ville tomorrow.  I've loved spending time with Working Boy.  He is loving his job and for that I am thankful.

Hubby called today and said "I guess you've spent the morning in the craft store."  I could honestly say "no!"  

I know!!!!  My big adventure here is a trip to Joanne's Fabric and Craft store.  We have one now in our neck of the woods so the urge to splurge has diminished.  I am also practicing the Marie Kondo stockpile all your crap in one heap so you can see how much you have.  I've been doing that with my crapt-ing stuff.  All craft crap (crapt) is in one room.  I am amazed at how much I have and I haven't even finished going through the house and piling it in that one room.

My living room was filled with a majority of son's junk....er, precious stuff and now that is gone.  Unfortunately the room is still piled with my junk, er, precious things.  My goal is to reclaim the living room.  I'm counting on all my babies coming home for Christmas and I need that room cleaned out!  ;)

For now, enjoy my picture of working boy and I.

my eye is doing something crazy there!

 Anywho.....Enjoy your Friday night.  Strawberry

Anybody out there?

Hello, my name is Strawberry and I am a hoarder.

Identifying the problem is the first step, right?

I've shared over and over my Dad's philosophy of "if one is good; two's better."  My Mom taught me to buy that extra pair of shoes when I found one I really liked.  My grandmother saved everything AND she was a collector (I'm changing that word to "hoarder").

Career Girl and I have been going through my Mom's house. It is daunting.  At first you want to save everything (it's in my DNA-- that's my story and I'm sticking to it).  Then you want to throw or give everything away (but you secretly keep it-- I've found my mom's secret stash of my grandmother's stuff who had a secret stash of her parents and grandparents and great- grandparents.....).

I don't know when I became a "depression baby" but I've got it bad, man!

Sale?  Stock up.

Remember Y2K? Make sure you have gas/ food/ money/ in case the computers crash and you are left in dire straights.

Save those Whipped Cream containers, turn the front hallway closet into a second pantry with peanut butter and toilet paper from the warehouse box store!

Create a blog. (it's good)

Create another blog. (it's even better)

Create a third blog (okay, now you've just got a problem!)

and don't write on any of them because you have overwhelmed yourself. 


So here I am, Grainiacs.  Ready to change.

The first part is identifying the problem: I am a hoarder whether it is stuff, head stuff, blogs, dogs, cats, crafts, shoes, vitamins! yes, you read right. I'm looking at a buttload of vitamins on my kitchen counter.

The second part is gaining strength to solve the problem.  (Dang, I'm tired after writing this down)

This pertains to weight, to hoarding, to procrastination.

It is said "the first step is always the hardest."

My first step is a healthy glass of smoothie- I need the energy. I just tired myself out.

Gotta get these two cuties in the picture.

Blog- check
Smoothie- check

I've made that first step. See you tomorrow! I'm back to blogging.

Going Against the Grain

It has been awhile since I gave up grains.  I know some grains are considered healthy and some are not.  But my body seems to process granola and sugared donuts the same and it lands directly in and on my gut.

I've been sluggish even with all the activities and commitments I have and do.  I'm absolutely wiped out.

Take today for instance.  I have been to the store. I've cleaned out several cabinets. I've cleaned dishes. And it is 4:09 p.m. and I need a nap.  The last time I felt like this the doctor put me on thyroid meds and the endocrinologist said she would NOT have put me on thyroid meds.

So what's a strawberry to do?

I say "take the nap!"

I think our bodies know what we need.

And I'm wondering if my body is telling me to get off the grains again.

In the meantime, I'll share with you my cleaned up cabinets.

sorta kinda "before"

do not pay attention to the floor...that has been cleaned up

 I don't feel like getting up and retaking the picture.  You'll have to believe me when I say the floor area is now cleaned up.

Boy's Stuff is up high...except for the water bottles. They are for me too!

neighboring cabinet

I have lots of weight watcher goodies so my no consuming grains will have to wait.  I mean I don't want to waste good money, right?

Happy Tuesday, Grainiacs!

Normal?

I am sitting here in OK giving thanks that Career Girl's foot surgery was successful and that she has not experienced too much pain.  Praise God!

On Friday she underwent a bunionectomy and a few bones had to be rearranged.  She expects to be off her foot for 3 months.  In the meantime we are watching loads of TV, I'm helping her organize her dresser drawers and closet....hey, no laughing!  Why is it easier to help someone else clean up their house than it is for one to clean one's own house?  Such a mystery.

Her post-op doctor's appointment was on Monday.  She got an A+ from the doctor.  Whoo hoo...such an overachiever!

After her appointment, we celebrated at WalMart.

How can anyone look that beautiful after major surgery???  We bought a few necessities and non-necessities. Next we went to get a handicap sticker, stop by the apartment office and then went to Sonic. Can we say I overdid it?

 And then we came home and I did laundry. #yeehaw

As I returned back with arms loaded with clean clothes, there was a notice on the door.  Who knew growing up in the 70's gave you a certain smell???

The only smells emanating from this place is fresh laundry, a burning buttered rum candle, Dominoes Pizza, and cat pee! Yum.

Career Girl has 2 indoor cats and all neighborhood cats like to mark the front door. So yeah, it stinks, but illegal substances??? Come on.  But never fear, she called the office and was told the claims are unsubstantiated.

Can we say fun time in OKC?

Hope you are having a wonderful day, Grainiacs.

Poor in Spirit

The first of the Beatitudes are "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."

When I think of "kingdom," I envision English castles and fancy wardrobes and parties and dancing and wealth. I admit I watch way too much PBS; thank you Downton Abbey.  

So blessed are the poor in spirit is an oxymoron to the vision implanted in my head with "kingdom."  How could you be poor in spirit if you are in the midst of a kingdom....unless you are one of the servants.  I shudder to think of Henry VIII's reign.  He might have been the one to coin the phrase "I'd just as soon shoot you than look at you!"  Ain't no one wants to get on his bad side.

Of course in this instance Jesus is teaching His disciples about God's kingdom.  The kingdom of heaven looks drastically different than the kingdoms here on earth.  In God's kingdom blessed are the poor, the grieved, the meek, the hungry and thirsty,...

This is a kingdom where the last become first and the first become last.  It is a topsy turvy world.  Jesus came not to make the great feel greater, but the lost and alone to feel loved.

What might our community look like if we treated EVERYONE with respect and love?  How does this translate to the person on the street?

Right now we are in a volatile time.  People on both sides of the aisle are spouting hatred and anger and no one wants to listen.

I am here to say we cannot let our elected leaders define who WE will be.  If you don't like who is in political power, don't be like them.  If you feel they are bigoted and divisive and evil, counter it by being accepting of all, a unify-er in your home and community, and for the love of God be loving.  Get out there and be the next Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King.

But please do not use our elected leaders as an excuse to do nothing.

And now I'm off my soapbox.

Have a great day, Grainiacs.

Kinky Boots

I am now able to wear boots-- not kinky boots, but none-the-less honest to Pete boots!!

I bought them before my no-spend January.    Hubby was with me. All my kids were with me. It was a family affair.  They are hubby and kiddo-sanctioned.

I love them.  I love them so much I wear them almost every day.  Since I wear them almost every day I left them out of the box because I was wearing them almost every day.  Did I mention I love them?

Ollie the blonde cat loves them too.  He loves them so much he thought they would be a great place to throw up on!

Kinky!

Please tell me you understand!

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the junk in my email inbox.  I mean I get A LOT of JUNK!  I spend a good part of my morning deleting all the ads and buy this and don't eat that, but do eat this.  I'm sick of it.  I keep thinking I'll delete this email account and open a new one.  Or keep this old email but open a new one.  Or open a new one and keep using the old one.

But then.....

I get this horrible feeling that if I delete that spam account, I won't get any mail at all! 

What would I do every morning?  How would I feel opening up a totally empty email mailbox?

For starters, I could spend more time actually writing to friends and family.  I think I have let FaceBook change my correspondence with people to a "thumbs up" like symbol or short little snippet posts like "you look so pretty," or "I'll be praying for you."  I think I've mentioned experiencing writer's block and I think I've found the culprit: ME!!!

It's time to take time. To smell the roses. To call up a friend or better yet to write.  I have made excuses about how busy I am, but truth-be-told I can always find time to start a new Netflix binge.

No more excuses, Grainiacs.  You'll be hearing from me soon!  After I set up my new account!

staying alive

I'm channeling my inner Bee Gees... ah, ha, ha, ha stayin' alive.

Last week that was my prayer for my Mom.  Yes, it has almost been six months since she was in the hospital, but ya know, she just likes it there!

Unfortunately my eldest son witnessed a very scary episode and I'm not sure I'll ever get him back to visit his grandmother! 

What's Going On???

okay, this picture is just wrong, but that's what happens when you google search "crazy eyes!"

I am happy to report that all is well and we still don't have answers.  The final diagnoses are "syncope" with no reason as to why she is passing out.  I have my own diagnosis: she doesn't like her kitchen table!  These episodes keep happening in the kitchen and as a women's libber, I think she is just rebelling. But that's just my humble opinion.

Well, Happy Friday the 13th, Grainiacs.  Don't let this day scare you.  Go out and live!  

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive

Read more: Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Now That's What I'm Talking About

Inner demons

Self-Talk in the Negative Fashion

I am more aware of negative talk in myself and others now that I'm changing myself from the inside out.  I do not mean disrespect but my negativity radar is in hyper-drive right now.

I have experienced 2 days of extreme compliments -- for me...I'm sure others get this on a daily basis but I do not so please let me continue to revel in it in this blog.  No worries; this Strawberry is not getting a big head. Believe me, there are too many "pins" around to pop my swelled head...as in last night!

He didn't mean to do it.  He wasn't trying to pop my bubble, in fact, it is an inside joke.  But the fact remains it was out there.  That bit of negativity and EUREKA, I had an epiphany of how these "stinkin' thinkin'"s get out in our heads.

Think about it: you are telling someone what a great day you had filled with ups and one remark can shoot you down.

Case in point: I was excited about the compliments I received the past 2 days about my appearance.  No one said "Wow, you are losing weight."  Instead they were about how great I'm looking.  Of course!  I'm feeling better so I'm taking more time on my appearance.  My shirts aren't tight on the bod, etc etc. I'm able to wear boots.

These boots are made for walkin'

 

  We know someone who will turn compliments around to insults. So when you give this person a compliment such as "your hair looks beautiful,"  they hear "yeah, not the usual tangled mess." I had mentioned once if I won a beauty make-over, they could be my plus one...thinking WHAT women on God's green planet wouldn't LOVE a make-over?  Instead I had to reassure her that no, she was very beautiful and her make-up is perfect and no, I'm not saying she should change.  Her inner talk is so far off the charts, I don't think NASA could find it.

So after detailing my 2 days of compliments, Hubby made the inside joke, "As opposed to the frumpy way you usually dress."  He was not saying it to bring me down; I know that.....and if he was "screw him!"  LOL  But those little jokes and tear downs even meaning them about someone else are still put-downs and put negative thoughts in our head, right?

Now don't get worried that you'll have to walk around on eggshells around me.  I'm made of tough stuff and Kaaaaa (my scale) reveals it each week; darn him! Nothing gets past Kaaa...including that bag of Chex Mix.  burp

So I'm wondering:  Am I able to change decades of negative inner talk to something more upbeat and positive?  2017 might be the year of Strawberry Enlightenment.

But Moana (that inner child of mine) wants to know if we can still be snarky?  ;)

Have a great weekend, Grainiacs.  Tomorrow I get on Kaaaaa- I do believe it will be a positive and enlightening experience!

Working from the inside out: finance

I have several members of my family who are fabulous shoppers.  They say "I need a new pair of shoes," go to the store and they pick up a pair and not only are they on sale but an extra 90% has been knocked off the price.  I pick up an eyeliner and it costs more than the Manolo shoes!

January has been deemed my "no shopping" month.  I hate to admit but my spending is getting close to the national debt.  I know it is a symptom of my problem so I'm getting it in check and not with the checkbook!

Since declaring January a no spending month, I am sickly aware of how many emails I get every hour announcing they have the best sale on the planet.  I am a marketing major and know all the tricks and I fall for them every time! I am my own worst enemy when it comes to shopping.

I just want to say, Grainiacs, it is going very well with this no spending in January....yes, I am keenly aware it is only January 3rd.  Party Poopers!

What self-best resolutions have you made?  I'd love to hear about it.

Happy New Year!!

and that's all I have to say!