Join me for my morning ritual....

Good morning! Time to start the day! My new "domestic" morning ritual is my morning walk around the yard and gardens, coffee in hand, to check out the progress, pull a few weeds here and there, and water as needed. It is a wonderful way to start the day. I'd love to have you come along!

It all starts with a good cup of joe. My joe of choice for the last few years is a blend of coffee and chicory. Having found it in New Orleans on our first trip, I was instantly hooked. Much stronger flavor, a slight bitterness, it's actually hard for me to drink regular coffee now. So first thing, I brew my pot of chicory and grab a mug. This is my favorite mug, a gift from a dear friend, it reminds me of a beautiful paper crafting design. I don't always use creamer, but it is a treat once in awhile. So grab a fresh cup, it's time to get started!

Let's head out the front door, where most of my containers are that need watering. I love having time to watch each of the plants progress through the spring. I've been taking a ton of pictures, so that I can see the garden at all stages, and determine this fall what to add. This is the front as it is right now, the end of May, 2012. This brick/pea gravel border is only a couple of years old, and the plants are just starting to really become substantial.

I fill my gardens and borders with things that I love. Many received from friends, some from thrift sales, and others just junk I've gotten here and there, but I love it all. When something turns into something I don't love, it gets removed. My favorite thing to do - in my garden as in my house - is fill it with things (in this case plants) that remind me of my childhood. Plants from either my mother's home, or my grandmother's. I don't spend a lot of money on my gardens, but have through the years found so many of them! I hope that you enjoy the tour as much as I do.....

the Clematis, a gift for mother's day years ago...

the double planter, the last birthday gift from my mother

found this adorable cement feeder at a thrift sale.. don't use it as a feeder

 (too low, dangerous for the birds), but LOVE what it adds to the steps.

my newest addition, a columbine, a gift from a dear friend

she had no idea that my grandmother had columbine by HER door

so now I have it by mine

this pink lupine was a gift from another friend

it has since reseeded several times, and I now enjoy them in multiple borders

my mother had lots of peonies in front of our home, so they are very dear to me

this particular peony was a gift from a dear dear friend, and the first to open this year

isn't it beautiful?

Well, these are just a few of my favorites, but I hope you enjoyed the walk. Too many to put all of my beautiful things on here. But maybe we'll take another walk, on another day. Thanks for coming along! Go grab another cup of coffee!  

We salute you...

Today is one of those days set aside for all of our veterans, both past and present. I sincerely hope that most people don't only remember them on those few days a year set aside specifically for them. Because without them, we would not be the country we are today. And those of us who haven't served cannot fully understand what that means.

The sacrifice. The calling. The devotion. The unselfishness.

The men and women who have and do serve this country give us so many freedoms and choices, in the process giving up some of their own. They live their lives to protect the innocent.

I am so honored to have many veterans both past and present in my life.

• My father
• Several uncles
• Two brothers-in-law
• One nephew
• Several good friends
• One friend's son

And there are many, many veterans that I don't know by name that give up their free time now at the VA home in King, where my dad now resides, and they continue to give back to other veterans as they are able. The unselfishness never ends.

As important are all of the families standing behind these soldiers. They sacrifice so much as well.

I have been Blessed to see the various war memorials in Washington D.C. Moved by the number of people that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Even closer to home, we have the Highground Memorial  with tributes to all of the various conflicts. There are opportunities to experience what the veterans have given for our freedoms. It is SO important not to forget...

So today, but not only today, thank the veterans. Thank them when you see them. You don't have to know them. It only takes a "thanks" to let them know that we HAVEN'T forgotten.

God Bless to all of the veterans, and all of the families!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Cheers!

CHEERS!

This was the last word of today's sermon.

Gotcha, didn't I?

But it was.

Today's sermon was awesome. Actually, all of our Pastor's are, but today's was just AWESOME.
The drink...is on Jesus! The drink, being the living water. The water that begins to flow in our lives at our baptism, fills our lives so that we never thirst, and never ends.

These words this morning were so......

healing

filling

joyful

I've blogged about being filled with the light. And people noticing the light coming from me. And here is another beautiful way to understand what happens when a person is filled with Faith, filled with living water, that comes from Christ Jesus.

When we are thirsty, all we need to do is drink! He will never leave us. He is always there, offering us a drink of that life-giving water.

https://www.facebook.com/verseinspire

So drink up!

CHEERS!

I want to give full credit to Pastor Tom Hahn, whom I admire very much. We are Blessed to have him leading our congregation, and I thank him for inspiring me every week with his amazing words.

stage four

Those two words evoke so many emotions. And I'm sure that everyone reading this right now understands. Either through their own personal journey, or family, or a friend.

Someone loosely in my life, a shirt tail relation, heard those two words this week. Just wasn't feeling well, went to the doctor, and was told just that. Stage Four. Hodgkins Lymphoma.

I cannot even imagine how someone's life changes after hearing those words. All of a sudden your life is full of appointments, chemotherapy, side-effects, and percentages. In one doctor's conversation, your entire life changes. And there is no going back.

I am not close enough to this person to be affected directly, but my family is. And I will worry about them, as they begin to deal with what their brother and uncle is going through. I will pray for them all. That they all learn to adjust to this new reality that has changed their lives.

Percentages are still on his side. a 60% chance of recovery by some reports, which is amazing for any cancer in stage four. But the fight will be hard, and long. I pray for his strength, and for the strength of his family.

Gardening update 5/24/14

I have been feverishly planting garden these last two days - fitting in laundry on the line too! I absolutely love the weather. Windy, warm, sunny. God is shining down on us!

Today I've been planting seeds. Snap peas, lettuce, chard, kohlrabi (plants), mini pumpkin, summer squash, and zucchini all in, and before 10:30 am! Still need to plant beans, radishes, and some misc flower planters. But should be done by noon. VERY excited. Loving the time to do the garden well, fitting as much in my limited space as possible.

The plants we planted last weekend are doing SO well. Most of the peppers and tomatoes made it into a plot that was plowed, tilled for the very first time, and they are LOVING it. Cannot believe the growth already. I'm on the hunt for the easiest way to keep them all upright, rather than having to cage each individual plant....

The cucumber trellis is in and planted! The plants I had started inside did not fare that well. I think two of the four will be ok, but I replanted seed hills anyway. It's definitely not too late by any means, and they will be great. I'm also thinking I have room in the front of the boxes to add more lettuces. YEAH.

I will post some pix, once the storms come. Stormy weather is good for computer work and paperwork. Right now, I just need to get back outside and enjoy this sunshine!

the answer

How many times in a day I am looking for an answer. So many questions... so many answers. Sometimes the answer you are looking for, sometimes the answer you actually need, but don't realize.

I am still sick. Still coughing, though not as bad, but still sick. I ask God every day why this happened to me. Why I lost these two months. Why I had the accident. I haven't received the answer, and most likely never will know what it is.

But the answer, you see, doesn't matter. It's not important. What IS important is knowing that He is in control, and that everything happens for a reason. The answer, you see, is

FAITH.

People often say things about my attitude. I'm "too optimistic". I'm "happy all the time". I think sometimes that people perceive it as fake. An act.

What people need to know is that I am this way because I know that my God is in control. That He loves me, and protects me, and is guiding my life as He needs. Because we live for Him. We live BECAUSE of Him.  I've had some pretty big bumps in my life. Some disfunction in my childhood. Lost my mom at age 36. But I know that those bumps are there, to slow me down, to put me where I need to be at the right time, to teach me, to help me grow.

I realized it this morning during church. I radiate a positive light. People tell me that I inspire them. It isn't ME that inspires, or radiates. It is my Faith in Jesus Christ that is shining through, that is inspiring.


I am humbled to think that I've made an impact on other people's lives. I am humbled to be used by God to do great things on this earth. I am humbled to be a witness to what living with Faith is like. Living with Faith means, when something bad happens, we know that He is still there with us. We are never alone. Living with Faith means that we don't ever give up hope. Living with Faith means  eternal life.

So to all those pessimists who think my attitude is an act, I hope this helps you understand me better. And to all of you out there living in Faith, you get it. You understand. Life IS good. Love IS good. God IS good. No, God is GREAT. And that's what I hope my light and life represent to people.

Gardening update!

I am so torn with this blog. Should I break off my gardening to a gardening blog? And other on cooking? And another on being green? But then I realized that this is titled Missy's Journey for a reason - it's about my journey through this thing called life, and ALL of those fit into that journey. For now, I am keeping everything here. But I'd love to hear your input!

So I tried to start plants from seed this year. I've tried it before, but more aggressively this year, as I have more time. Here is how that little experiment went:

• Planted 24 impatiens seeds, only got 5 plants. Not sure if it was the seed quality, or how I handled them. So today I planted those five little plants in a container. Next year, I will try more. The ones that took root actually grew very well inside.
• Planted a dozen sweet pea (confused at what the plant was) to find that it's a climbing plant. Not the best kind to start inside. They were long, crawling vines. Today I planted them in a planter with a metal rack behind to climb on. Hoping they will start to grab hold.
• Started lots of marigolds to put in my garden, as I've been told they will keep the bunnies out. Last year was the first year I had any problems with bunnies, but there are a few running around in the yard now and then. The marigolds seem quite easy to grow, but I should have started them a little early. They're kind of small yet, but healthy. Will definitely do them again.
• Started four pots of cucumbers and they grew VERY well. So much, that if my husband doesn't get the climbing structure built soon, I will be harvesting cucumbers in the house... Could have started them a little later... but they are very healthy plants.
• Started eggplant inside, could have started them earlier, they're a little small, but went outside today.
• Started kholrabi, not sure how they are going to work out. Still too small to tell.
• For fun, I planted some flowering kale (decorative) to add to my perennial border, to add some interest. I've not added annuals to my borders in the past, and they get a little blah during the summer months.
• I didn't plant nearly enough flowers for my containers, as I'd hoped. I wanted to save money on flowers (hard to justify), but I was way off. I will have to plan better next year!
• Need to figure out why some of my plants are so spindly.. RESEARCH!

The garden is changed up this year too. We added a big "country" garden this year, in addition to my round decorative garden.

• Planted two long rows of red potatoes (new to me), a gift from a friend.
• 30 tomatoes - 12 plants for eating (two varieties - have to go ck the names), and 18 roma for sauces and salsas.
• 24 peppers - 6 jalapeno, 6 red bell, and 12 mixed green bell

The round decorative garden, planted in honor of my mother, surrounds a flowering crab, and includes four peonies, and spring tulips and Sweet Williams. The rest is filled with vegetables.

• 6 cauliflower
• 6 broccoli
• 8 eggplant
• one row of onion sets
• Still to plant: kohlrabi, peas, beans, lettuce, chard, and spinach
• I'm hoping to have one quadrant left that will house a zucchini and a summer squash.

We don't have enough space for "crawlers" as I like to call them - i.e. pumpkins, cucumbers, etc. So this year my husband is building me an A-frame trellis to grow cucumbers on for pickles. I am VERY excited to be growing cukes and making pickles! I wish, wish, wish I had space for multiple squash - I love spaghetti squash, acorn, and buttercup, but I have to have SOMETHING to buy from the farmer's market, right?

I am looking at this garden as my "job" for the summer. My pay being a freezer and pantry full going into fall. I am hoping to be on top of it all summer - weeding, harvesting, etc. We will see. There will be ups and downs. I am such a gardening novice. But I am young. There is time to learn.

my baby...

Today my youngest turned 15. He is an amazing young man, who astounds me every day. His ability to speak with people, of all ages. His willingness to lend a hand to anyone needing it - volunteering at the food pantry, at church, or with children. He has a heart that doesn't stop caring. Feels horrible when he does something that inadvertently hurts someone.

I love the comfort he has in his own skin. He is so at ease.

I love that he takes charge at church, filling in to usher as needed, or on the radio. I love the relationship he has with our Pastor and various elders and families there. I love that he loves our church as much as I.

He makes me very proud. In participating as a team player in various sports. In volunteering. In his Faith. In his giving spirit.

He is such a GOOD PERSON. For any faults he has, he is a good person. To me, it is the highest compliment to know that you are raising a good human. Someone who will give back, take care of people, and make people happy.

He does that. He is awesome.

Making a difference

So the food stamp question I posted on facebook today REALLY took off. Dozens of comments, all wonderful, educated points of view from different parts of the world. Just a fantastic forum, and discussion, which ended with another passionate friend and I deciding we need to do something. Something along the lines of educating our little town about ways to provide for our families - storing food, saving money, all kinds of things.

I'm very excited. I never expected my original question to lead to doing good. How awesome is that? I am definitely finding in this discussion a challenge. A challenge to find recipes for families - NORMAL recipes - that are low cost, high benefit. And I'll post them. To help share, and teach.

So thank you to social media - for providing a venue for our little forum on social assistance. Maybe great things will come of this day!

living on a weekly grocery budget...

So watching a morning show today, they were discussing how a family of four on food stamps ONLY gets 124$/week for food. I have to say, that I am a little shocked that they feel that is not adequate for a family that size.

When I was working, I probably spent upwards of 80-90$ a week, because I was buying a few more convenience foods, and I think we wasted more because I wasn't as organized. And that was with two teenagers at home.

Now that I am a stay-at-home mother, and only have the teenage son at home, I spend anywhere from 40-50$ per week. And we eat WELL. I am a foodie, so we are eating full meals at night, which also provide leftovers for lunches. I am cooking from scratch, which makes a huge difference, something I can do because I am at home.

I shop carefully. I plan menus based on weekly specials. I buy what is on sale, and that determines my meals. When staples are on sale, I stock up, so I don't have to pay full price when I need them. I cook enough at meals to pack lunches the next day, saving us additional money. I clip coupons for our basics.

I couldn't imagine what amount of groceries 124$ would buy for a week. This week I did major stock up shopping, and only spent 140$. And that included two large bags of frozen chicken breasts, 4 bottles of salad dressing, etc., the staples that were on sale. It also included food for my son's birthday party (an 8$ industrial can of nacho cheese, 6$ industrial salsa, five bags of chips, two packages of oreos, and three 12 packs of soda.) Next week's shopping will consist of milk, eggs, and produce, maybe 15 or 20$. And probably the week after as well, with all that I purchased this week.

So I am going to spend close attention to what I spend. Make sure I'm not completely off base.
Weekly, we go through:
Milk - 3 gallons - 12$ (we don't got through quite 3... more like 2.5..)
Eggs - 1 dozen - $1.49
I will start to track costs per meal, etc., just to see. I'm really curious.

Tonight's dinner is 1.51 per person - so a family of four - would be about 6$ - for an amazing meal of meatball sub bake and salad. :-)

dirty hands....

Oh, HOW I LOVE GETTING MY HANDS DIRTY.

...And today was one of those days!

Still healing the broken rib, I can't do too much. But I have lots of flower beds, herb gardens, and borders that need initial weeding. So I pulled out my gloves and knee pad, and picked a bed. And then...

I GOT DIRTY.

Oh, how I love digging in the dirt, pulling weeds, taming perennials. With most of the spring flowers done (only paperwhites remain), and the early summer (Iris, peony) starting to show, and some bloom, it is a good time to dig in. We've had rain for the last three days, so the weeds came out easy, no straining needed.

I think I spent over an hour out there weeding, which is nothing compared to my normal, but a GREAT start getting back to life. I can feel the muscles in my chest a bit more, but nothing I can't tolerate, and I'm narcotic-free, so that is a good sign!

Just heard the forecast for tomorrow - another gorgeous day - so I'm hoping to finish that particular flower bed (my largest). Started with the hardest part today, so it's definitely a possibility!

 Another one of my Blessings of my new life - I've got time to do a little gardening every day, enjoying every moment, instead of trying to fit it in after a ten hour day at work, angry that I have too much to do.

man i love getting dirty......

A letter to a most amazing woman

Six years ago tomorrow, you left this world, to begin your next life... your suffering ended, your pain subsided, and you found peace.

Know how much I still miss you mom, wish you were here to share my days. So much has happened since you've been gone, some good, some so hard. Many so amazing.

I think about you every day. I cry for you so often. Not because I'm sad, because I know that you are in a better place. But because I miss you. I only had you for 36 years. So much of my life I don't get to share with you. And for that, I cry. Selfish tears, I guess, but true.

I love you. I miss you. I always will. I look to the day when I get to see you again.

Love, your daughter

A lesson on humility

I am not good at being "needy". I don't like having to ask for favors. I don't like being dependent on others. So being sick for 6 weeks, then having the car accident, has been a trial. One I am sure God has intended for me for a long time.

Today I had to find a ride for my son and I to our dentist appointment. I had lined up a couple of options without specific times, and when the times came up, it just didn't work. So I sucked it up, and put out an SOS - asking for a chauffeur. I instantly had three options. Just like that, three friends offering up their services to take my son and I. Without question.

When talking with the first responder, setting up times, I mentioned that asking for help is hard for me, and she simply answered, "It's hard to ask, but it shouldn't be."

What a perfect way to put it. We are all so willing to help others, and scoff at thank-you's. It's what we do. We take care of each other. So why is it so hard to be on the OTHER side of the questioning? Why does it feel awkward to ask for help back?

I know my friends. I know they would do anything for me, and I for them. And yet I feel strange asking. She said it perfectly. "It's hard to ask, but it shouldn't be."

We all need to learn that it's OK to lean on each other. We are meant to give AND take. That's how it works. That's how we roll.

So I learned a great lesson today, from an amazing lady, who tomorrow, will be my chauffeur. Can't wait to spend the time with her. Don't forget people.

"It's hard to ask, but it shouldn't be!"

Woman (+God) vs. Tree

Tuesday was one of those days when you KNOW that God has His hand on your shoulder, guiding you...

Driving home from a day of errands, I ended up behind someone driving OH SO SLOW. So I decided to take a completely out of the way detour, a road that has always been one of my favorites - over the bluff. A beautiful drive.

Just about to the bluff, I started to cough. I've been sick for about 6 weeks with this cough, and have had many episodes where the coughing causes me to pass out. Feeling this, I immediately started to slow.

The next thing I knew, I was staring at trees. It took me a few seconds to get my bearing, to understand what had happened. I was sitting in the middle of some trees, having gone off the road. I immediately began to cry.. I still really didn't understand the scope of what had happened. But I knew enough to find my cell phone and call for help.

Being in the middle of nowhere, my call woudln't go through. So I texted a friend, explaining that i needed help, and that I couldn't get through to 911. No sooner had I done that, when the emergency dispatch called me. I tried to explain what had happened, and she sent help.

I found my glasses, only to realize I was trapped in the front - trees blocking both doors. I put the seat back, climbed over, and got out the back door. As soon as I was out, a man driving by stopped to help. He waited with me for a bit - but I was actually ok - and I sent him on his way.

911 then called back. They couldn't find me. Was I really far off the road? No - they just need to keep going south. In the meantime, many others stopped to help me, but we waived them on. Help was on the way.

Once the EMTs got there, they stablized my neck and started asking tons of questions. Have to say - every one of the EMTs, the State trooper, and all of the ER staff were really amazing. I get why people put those letters of thanks in the paper. After a few hours in the ER, a CT scan, xrays, and lots of poking and prodding, the prognosis was ridiculously good. One broken rib, a contusionon my sternum, and lots of bruises and abrasions. That is it. I was so lucky.

After getting my meds, and cleaning out the car, my hubby and I drove past the accident scene. Seeing how small a space my car went through, missing the two larger trees, scared me. But also reassured me. There is no way that without God's hand on the steering wheel I could have come out so unharmed. The bark of the tree on the right side was ripped off. The tree on the left ripped off the mirror. I did hit both trees - the front right of the car was demolished - and the left side is smashed in, along with the driver's window. But I didn't hit head on. I basically slid in between the two.

Why did I leave the busy highway - and take the back road. (Think of crossing in front of traffic.... would have been devastating). And how did my car nestle itself in between the big trees? Only the hand of God. He must have greater things for me to do here on earth. He's not ready for me yet. And I am so thankful.

God is great.

"tech baby"

I've had a few topics I want to write about floating in my head, and now I'll have a little more time to write, so I'm digging in! Today - we will discuss my re-birth as a "tech baby".

Working in corporate America for 19 years, I came to adore my IT department. I was what they called a "high end" user - meaning they could typically talk me through any issues. But they were THERE to talk me through them. They were only four digits away. A simple call. And voila - they would fix my problems!

I AM the IT department now. And I am not a good IT department. This week I have been tested more than once, and it gave me a great reason to laugh at myself. Maybe it will give you a giggle too! So grab a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine if you choose, and sit back to enjoy my humility at trying to weave my way through technology!

One of the jobs that I now have is as a consultant, which includes writing procedures and training manuals. Something I adore. I had been using a free trial of the Microsoft Office suite for the last two months, and this week it was time to purchase and download my copy. Easy, right?

Day one of the challenge. Tried to order. Screwed up. Tried a second time and it added a second copy. Tried and third time which ended up putting a fraud block on my credit card that took two phone calls to fix. breathe.

Day two of the challenge. Able to purchase the product - victory #1~ - and download. 1 hr. and 29 minutes to download. After it's complete, I open up word, and it tells me my trial has ended. Would you like to purchase? REALLY? Ugh. That first time I'd chosen to "save" the program, so I figured I should have chosen "run". Take two - 1 hr. 29 minutes to download. No problem. Download is finished, open up work and it tells me "your trial has ended, would you like to purchase?" WHAT?????? So the third option of course is to "run and save". Third time is the charm, right. 1 hr. 29 minutes to download. Go to open word and it says, YOU GUESSED IT, "your trial has ended, would you like to purchase?". AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH.

At this point, I was spent. I looked all over my files to find the "new" copy. Finally I opened the help menu (always a last effort for me - find it more confusing than helpful), where I find that when it asks me if I'd like to purchase, if I say yes, it will open a menu allowing me to enter my product key and configure my new program. ONE CLICK. I was ONE CLICK away. But the happy thing is - I have successfully downloaded and used my program. And I only wasted 4 1/2 hours doing it. oye.

But my tech week doesn't end there! My DD (a sophomore in college) has been encouraging me to join Twitter. For whatever reason, I decided this was the week. Set up my account, followed a couple of friends I found, even set them up so I could get mobile alerts to their tweets. NO SWEAT. Decided to check out who my friend was following, as she is much more "wired" than I, and from her site was able to follow some too - some TV shows, famous people, etc. Cool. Wasn't sure why I was doing this - but hey, it's Twitter. Everyone is doing it.

Saw the Weather Channel on there. COOL. Automatic weather alerts. I'm a storm freak - this would be right up my alley! So I turned on the mobile alerts - and headed into town. And then my phone started going off. About all kinds of things - someone's 30 year anniversary on TWC? And then people were tweeting on that tweet. All these congratulations tweets. Not a single one about the weather! And I wasn't at home - so I couldn't get them to stop! It was hours before I was home and could log on and turn OFF the mobile alerts. After DOZENS of messages. ugh.

Last night I was in the ER after an accident, and had my phone off. WOW. Filled up my inbox the minute I turned it on - with all of the non-essesntial tweet notifications. So I need to figure out what is important. What I care about.

Had a fun conversation with a friend last night - asking me if I was tweeting "daily words of wisdom" or if she would need to be on twitter to stay up with my life. I simply answered "I have no idea what to tweet".

I have to decide what my Twitter account will become. But I don't have time for it right now. To be honest, I'm kind of exhausted by the whole tech thing. I need a nap!