I often wish I was non-emotional and just plain numb. Those wishes have not come true as of late. Without being able to discuss publicly what my family has experienced during the past six months, I have been advised that I have now approached the "anger" stage in my grieving process. I have wholeheartedly embraced each stage thus far so as to work through things.
1. SHOCK & DENIAL- check
2. PAIN & GUILT- check
3. "DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS- check
4. ANGER & BARGAINING - present
Forthcoming . . .
5. THE UPWARD TURN
6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH
7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE
When I look at the 7 steps of grieving I see bargaining right next to anger. I have to say that today, there is no bargaining. I want to kick someone in the head, knock them to the floor, and hang them by their toes above a pool of blood-sucking leeches. I am pissed off and I have no way of expressing that anger other than to blog, cry, pray, read the Bible and do that all over again.
My anger and frustration have captured my every thought today. They have consumed my inner-most being. Beyond words, beyond my own comprehension . . . my thoughts have strayed. Never before have I imagined what went through my head today.
Let me just say this, there is no bargaining, no negotiating, no acceptance of your actions you filthy, disgusting, scum of the earth, sleaze bag, douche sucking, freak. Though I may not get to see your sentence fulfilled the way I feel it should be here on earth, but I am guaranteed you will burn in hell for eternity for your actions.
I thought maybe expressing it in writing might help release some of my frustration; needless to say, I am still in Stage 4.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
P E R S P E C T I V E
This morning I was thinking about the word “P E R S P E C T I V E”. There are sooooo many things in life we cannot control or change no matter how hard we try. Who our children are, what our work demands from us, how our bodies are made, what the weather will be like . . . Our P E R S P E C T I V E is one of those few things which we CAN control, change and determine. Webster lists several definitions of this word but my favorite is “the proper or accurate point of view”. I laughed when I read this definition as who is to determine what is proper or accurate? Only the beholder of that particular perspective right?
My challenge to you today is to grasp the most positive P E R S P E C T I V E on every situation you can. When your kids defy you, be grateful they are exploring their independence while you still have the opportunity to nurture them and guide them in the right direction. When your work demands more than you have to offer, be excited that you will be back tomorrow earning wages to support your family in the best way you can. When you feel a bit under the weather, look forward to days of health ahead . . . you will feel better sooner. When the weather turns bleak, be glad that Ace Hardware has sleds on sale, JCP sells umbrellas year-round, and I have a bikini you can borrow if it gets too hot outside!
Keep your P E R S P E C T I V E bright . . . positive . . . and always looking to good things ahead. Just think of the most precious of stones . . . the diamond. A diamond is formed at high temperatures, pressures and depths over a VERY long period of time. Without the right combination, a diamond is not formed. Be a diamond today. Don’t let situations destroy you, let them determine what a gem you are. Be distinguished from those around you because you are SPECIAL, UNIQUE, and incredibly STRONG.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving Day OUR Way
To my precious kiddos:
Mom (smooch)
Instructions for Thanksgiving appetizers:
Shrimp Dip
Drain can of shrimp in sink, rinse shrimp and drain again
Place block of cream cheese in middle of plate, pour cocktail sauce over top, then shrimp on top of that. Put crackers in bowl and set out to enjoy.
Deviled Eggs
Peel eggs, rinse to remove any shell tidbits and lay on paper towel to drain. Slice eggs in half, remove yellow and put into bowl. Place hallowed eggs onto serving tray. Mix egg yellows with enough miracle whip to make creamy, add a few squirts of mustard, a pinch of salt, pepper and paprika. Spoon filling into eggs and sprinkle with a bit of paprika.
Vegetable Tray
Place cut vegetables and pickles on tray with ranch dressing.
Meat and Cheese Tray
Place cuts of meat and cheese on platter along with favorite crackers. A great side for this is a spicy mustard.
Nuts, Candies, and Small Cookies
Place nuts, candies and cookies in small bowls for a little something sweet to enjoy with all the savory foods.
Keep Thanksgiving appetizers simple as you don’t want people to fill up too quickly and not truly enjoy the dinner. Set these out early, this will not only keep people out of your hair, but will keep the “I’m hungry” comments to a minimum.
Remember, the most important part of the day is spending time with your family and friends. All the food is a bonus. If ever you don’t have the money for all of the appetizers, stick with carrot and celery sticks with ranch dressing. These are inexpensive and will keep people munching.
Love you love you love you love you love you!!!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Mother-In-Law
I often feel like there are just some things that need to be said out loud . . . shouted from the mountain tops, or maybe just written for the world to see. These words about my mother-in-law should be written for everyone to see!
I often hear friends and co-workers talk about their mother-in-law in such a negative way, but I can honestly say I have never had that experience.
Darlene, if I could just tell you how I feel, this is what I would say.
You have been a friend, no matter the circumstance. A friend who says it like it is and who does not judge me. You have cried with me when I was heart broken and scared. You have laughed with me till we both were in the floor rolling. You have never hesitated to ask me questions, no matter how uncomfortable I was to answer. I have always tried to be as truthful to you as you have been with me.
You have been one of my biggest cheerleaders, even in those times when I felt that you should have turned your back on me.You have encouraged me to make good and then better decisions. You have always been my sounding board.
You welcomed me into your family with loving arms. Not just that, you accepted my beautiful daughter into your family. You took the time to get to know me, when many would have refused.
I have enjoyed our countless conversations about friends, family and life in general. I appreciate that you pick-up the phone when I call. You have never missed my birthday or anniversary or any major holiday without sending a card or giving me a call.
You have given me the best gift a woman could ever have asked for. You gave me my husband. You created a caring, loving, strong-minded, yet willing to bend man that I have come to know as my best friend. You created the man who is able to forgive and love more ferociously than anyone I have ever known. He gets this from you. You have been the best mom a person could have asked for and an even better mother-in-law.
I know I do not speak for just myself when I say all of these words. Thank you for being who you are. God answered my prayers when He blessed me with you, the best friend and mother-in-law.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I Release You to Things Unknown
As a parent, I find it VERY hard to release my children to "things unknown". You know what I am talking about . . . teenager to the movies, 3rd grader going to the lake with a friend, and kindergarten girl playing in the fort across the creek. You never know what can happen. What if there is a perve at the movies or my son's friends parents get in a car accident or don't watch them carefully enough while they are swimming or what if there's a snake slithering near the creek and she doesn't have her boots on. So many "things unknown".
When I wake in the mornings, I walk through the day step-by-step in preparation for all the things which are known and how I can better prepare my kiddos for each day. Clean blue jeans and boots, no excuses to not wear them when running in the fields. Clean floors, no slipping. Alarm set, no strangers can enter. Fire plan in place, safety first. We put our daily plans on paper; who you will be with, how to get in contact with you in case of emergency, how you can seek help if needed, and we PRAY.
I wish I could hold my kids hands across every street they cross, through every trial they must endure and through every decision they make. The reality is, I can't, I shouldn't and I won't be able to protect them from all the "things unknown". I am so glad that I have a Savior who can do all of those things. The Christ that I have come to know will hold their hand and can guide them through every change, every decision, every heartache and every joy.
Thank you Lord for giving me three precious gifts to love and care for each day. Lord, I place my children, my family, my home, my life into your care and under your provision. I know that when I do not understand, you answer. I know that when I fail, you succeed. I know that when I cannot be there, you will. Alexandria, Adam, and Agnes . . . as hard as this is for me to say, I release you to "things unknown". I say this because there is one thing that is known, we serve a God that is the same yesterday, today and forevermore and He will be there to protect you when you allow this protection. He will be there to comfort you when you allow His comforting hand. He will be there to guide you when you ask for His guidance. He will be there always as you discover the "things unknown".
I love you.
When I wake in the mornings, I walk through the day step-by-step in preparation for all the things which are known and how I can better prepare my kiddos for each day. Clean blue jeans and boots, no excuses to not wear them when running in the fields. Clean floors, no slipping. Alarm set, no strangers can enter. Fire plan in place, safety first. We put our daily plans on paper; who you will be with, how to get in contact with you in case of emergency, how you can seek help if needed, and we PRAY.
I wish I could hold my kids hands across every street they cross, through every trial they must endure and through every decision they make. The reality is, I can't, I shouldn't and I won't be able to protect them from all the "things unknown". I am so glad that I have a Savior who can do all of those things. The Christ that I have come to know will hold their hand and can guide them through every change, every decision, every heartache and every joy.
Thank you Lord for giving me three precious gifts to love and care for each day. Lord, I place my children, my family, my home, my life into your care and under your provision. I know that when I do not understand, you answer. I know that when I fail, you succeed. I know that when I cannot be there, you will. Alexandria, Adam, and Agnes . . . as hard as this is for me to say, I release you to "things unknown". I say this because there is one thing that is known, we serve a God that is the same yesterday, today and forevermore and He will be there to protect you when you allow this protection. He will be there to comfort you when you allow His comforting hand. He will be there to guide you when you ask for His guidance. He will be there always as you discover the "things unknown".
I love you.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
A Peak in the Pantry
Strange as this posting may be for some, for others it is a rare view into the life of our little family of five. Recently during a shopping trip to Wal-Mart, I was making bulk purchases on back-to-school type items . . . crayons, paper, pens, glue, lunchbox snacks, and yes, I have to admit, I even had 10 boxes of lean pockets in my cart. That's right, TEN boxes of lean pockets. I didn't think much of these purchases as I only make bulk purchases about once a month or when I see a really stellar stock-up price. I most certainly didn't think much of the lean pockets purchase as this is rare that I purchase these, but my kiddos love these little pockets of oooeeeyyy goooey yumminess as an afternoon snack.
As I stood in line waiting to put my items on the conveyor, I noticed the man behind me surveying my cart curiously. I proceeded to methodically load my groceries onto the conveyor, making sure I had like items together and my little ad match stickers on each item. I carefully double-checked all my coupons and made sure all was in order for my turn with the cashier. The man behind me started tapping his foot and puffing a little bit. Please note that it wasn't my turn yet, I was also waiting on the person ahead of me to finish their purchases. As always, I turned to the person behind me, which happened to be Mr. Foot Tapper and let him know that my transaction might take a few minutes as I was going to be ad-matching my products followed by coupon scans. He smiled and said, "No problem, I am curious to see what your grand total is." I assumed he must have extra time on his hands as there were other available cashiers.
My cashier that day was really nice and pretty quick too. She didn't have to ask any questions, as I had everything clearly labeled and organized. It took her about 20 minutes to hand ring everything, bag it up, and she was even kind enough to help me load my two carts full of groceries and school supplies. I noticed the man behind me kind of smirking (foot tapping still), but didn't say anything. The cashier then began ringing up my coupons. I like to hand these to the cashier in groups of like coupons so I can make sure each one is counted and rings up properly. I swear that with each scan of a coupon, the man behind me began huffing and puffing even louder, it was almost like heavy breathing by this point. I was afraid he was having an anxiety attack, so I asked him if he was alright. I am not sure I was surprised by his next words, but thought them to be odd "I just want to see your total!".
The cashier continued to scan each coupon, Mr. Foot Tapper continued to breathe hard, and then came the total . . .. can't quite remember the exact amount, but it was under $50 for my weekly groceries, tons of stock-up items and back-to-school supplies. I wasn't feeling overly-accomplished, but felt good that I was able to keep the total under $50. Total time of checkout was around 25 minutes. I glanced at the man behind me who now appeared to be severely agitated, face turning red and looking almost angry. I thanked him for his patience in waiting and gathered my purse to leave. All of a sudden I hear the man spit out "People like that shouldn't be allowed to shop." Of course I could have let it slide and walk away, but the next comment he threw out kind of ticked me off a bit. "I bet all she feeds her kids is crap, she probably has a whole pantry full of crap. I've watched that show about coupon hoarding fools and it looks like she is one of them. Her family probably lives off of soda, an overstock of deodorant and hot pockets."
At this moment it was like an old western movie . . . I slowly turned on my heel, drew out my pen with paper, wrote down my facebook address and handed it to the man. He kind of flinched a bit when I handed him my information, but he took it like a man. The cashier stood there with her jaw dropped a bit, as she knows me and my regular purchases. I simply stated to the man, "I appreciate your comments, but they aren't true, and you shouldn't talk unless you know what you are talking about. Watch for my posting and make sure to become a member of my page. I think you will like what you see." I then promised him I would post pictures of my pantry and freezers so he could see "the crap" I feed my family on a regular basis.
So, here it is. The good, the bad, the ugly.
This first photo is of my pantry. The top shelf which is cut off in the picture contains crackers, croutons, popcorn and lunchbox snacks and is referred to as the "no-no" shelf as the kids don't remove any item from that shelf without permission. The next shelf contains items used for my baked goods. Third shelf down - rice, whole grain pastas, tomato sauces and potato side fixings. Fourth shelf down - cereal, muffins, sauces, dressings, marinades. Fifth shelf down - spices, seasonings, canned fruit, peanut butter, kool-aid mix, canned veggies. Bottom shelf - chips for lunch boxes, canned soup, canning supplies. Yes, there are plenty of home canned products such as cucumber relish, pickles, salsa, jams, jellies, etc. And of course on the left hand side we have body wash, shampoo, conditioner, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, storage containers and bags, plastic cups, plates, etc. and give-a-way items.
Our refrigerator contains the basic items we use on an everyday basis. Juice, milk, soy milk, creamer, butter, cheese, (leftovers), eggs, hummus & french onion dip, yogurt, fruit, veggies, sandwich meat, bread, condiments. The freezer to the left which didn't end up in the picture contains some quick fix items like prepared meatballs, chicken wings, small selection of pizza & pockets, shredded cheese, ice cream, pepperoni, Kraft fresh takes, frozen potatoes, french bread and extra bread.
We have two freezers, not because we just have soooo much food, but because I like to keep things really organized, easy to find and easy to rotate. In our upright, that's where I store veggies, fruit, extra juice, prepared dinners, baking items, spices, butter, margarine, etc. In our deep freeze we store deer sausage, roasts, ground meat, chicken, pork, fish, bacon.
So Mr. Tap Foot, here is what you asked for and here is what you get . . . an insight into our home and all "the crap" we feed our kids every day. "Crap" like homegrown veggies frozen at peak, seasonal fruit, whole grain pastas & cereal, dairy products, lean meats and yes, on Friday Night Family Night I do let my kids pick from our little stash of "no no" foods. So Mr. Tap Foot, hope you enjoyed a little Peak in the Pantry :-)
As I stood in line waiting to put my items on the conveyor, I noticed the man behind me surveying my cart curiously. I proceeded to methodically load my groceries onto the conveyor, making sure I had like items together and my little ad match stickers on each item. I carefully double-checked all my coupons and made sure all was in order for my turn with the cashier. The man behind me started tapping his foot and puffing a little bit. Please note that it wasn't my turn yet, I was also waiting on the person ahead of me to finish their purchases. As always, I turned to the person behind me, which happened to be Mr. Foot Tapper and let him know that my transaction might take a few minutes as I was going to be ad-matching my products followed by coupon scans. He smiled and said, "No problem, I am curious to see what your grand total is." I assumed he must have extra time on his hands as there were other available cashiers.
My cashier that day was really nice and pretty quick too. She didn't have to ask any questions, as I had everything clearly labeled and organized. It took her about 20 minutes to hand ring everything, bag it up, and she was even kind enough to help me load my two carts full of groceries and school supplies. I noticed the man behind me kind of smirking (foot tapping still), but didn't say anything. The cashier then began ringing up my coupons. I like to hand these to the cashier in groups of like coupons so I can make sure each one is counted and rings up properly. I swear that with each scan of a coupon, the man behind me began huffing and puffing even louder, it was almost like heavy breathing by this point. I was afraid he was having an anxiety attack, so I asked him if he was alright. I am not sure I was surprised by his next words, but thought them to be odd "I just want to see your total!".
The cashier continued to scan each coupon, Mr. Foot Tapper continued to breathe hard, and then came the total . . .. can't quite remember the exact amount, but it was under $50 for my weekly groceries, tons of stock-up items and back-to-school supplies. I wasn't feeling overly-accomplished, but felt good that I was able to keep the total under $50. Total time of checkout was around 25 minutes. I glanced at the man behind me who now appeared to be severely agitated, face turning red and looking almost angry. I thanked him for his patience in waiting and gathered my purse to leave. All of a sudden I hear the man spit out "People like that shouldn't be allowed to shop." Of course I could have let it slide and walk away, but the next comment he threw out kind of ticked me off a bit. "I bet all she feeds her kids is crap, she probably has a whole pantry full of crap. I've watched that show about coupon hoarding fools and it looks like she is one of them. Her family probably lives off of soda, an overstock of deodorant and hot pockets."
At this moment it was like an old western movie . . . I slowly turned on my heel, drew out my pen with paper, wrote down my facebook address and handed it to the man. He kind of flinched a bit when I handed him my information, but he took it like a man. The cashier stood there with her jaw dropped a bit, as she knows me and my regular purchases. I simply stated to the man, "I appreciate your comments, but they aren't true, and you shouldn't talk unless you know what you are talking about. Watch for my posting and make sure to become a member of my page. I think you will like what you see." I then promised him I would post pictures of my pantry and freezers so he could see "the crap" I feed my family on a regular basis.
So, here it is. The good, the bad, the ugly.
This first photo is of my pantry. The top shelf which is cut off in the picture contains crackers, croutons, popcorn and lunchbox snacks and is referred to as the "no-no" shelf as the kids don't remove any item from that shelf without permission. The next shelf contains items used for my baked goods. Third shelf down - rice, whole grain pastas, tomato sauces and potato side fixings. Fourth shelf down - cereal, muffins, sauces, dressings, marinades. Fifth shelf down - spices, seasonings, canned fruit, peanut butter, kool-aid mix, canned veggies. Bottom shelf - chips for lunch boxes, canned soup, canning supplies. Yes, there are plenty of home canned products such as cucumber relish, pickles, salsa, jams, jellies, etc. And of course on the left hand side we have body wash, shampoo, conditioner, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, storage containers and bags, plastic cups, plates, etc. and give-a-way items.
We have two freezers, not because we just have soooo much food, but because I like to keep things really organized, easy to find and easy to rotate. In our upright, that's where I store veggies, fruit, extra juice, prepared dinners, baking items, spices, butter, margarine, etc. In our deep freeze we store deer sausage, roasts, ground meat, chicken, pork, fish, bacon.
So Mr. Tap Foot, here is what you asked for and here is what you get . . . an insight into our home and all "the crap" we feed our kids every day. "Crap" like homegrown veggies frozen at peak, seasonal fruit, whole grain pastas & cereal, dairy products, lean meats and yes, on Friday Night Family Night I do let my kids pick from our little stash of "no no" foods. So Mr. Tap Foot, hope you enjoyed a little Peak in the Pantry :-)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Remodeling is NOT for Sissies
I have to say, my husband Ladd and I have tackled many little home improvement projects since the purchase of our first, then second home. . . changing a light fixture, painting a room, even repairing some minor plumbing issues. These little projects left us feeling empowered, in control of our home and honestly . . . accomplished. I think these feelings may have seeped into our brains and made us a little dillusional when it came time for our biggest project yet . . . our third and final home.
We purchased an old farmstead, which hadn't been properly maintained for 10-15 years. Don't get me wrong, the "bones" of the home are in good condition, but WOW is all I have to say about the rest. Ladd and I knew when we took on this project that it would be labor intensive, especially since we are on a limited budget. Little did we know what was in store for our little family of five.
Ladd and I sat down with pen and paper after doing a thorough walk-through, taking measurements, creating a necessary supplies listing and the projects were listed one-by-one in the order which they needed to be completed . . . electrical, plumbing, gutting, restoring, etc. We put numbers to each of the projects and prayed that we had calculated every project correctly. We were ready, or so we thought.
We dedicated every Friday night to family night, making sure to set aside all other cares or thoughts and just focus on our kiddos. Each Saturday morning we would rise before the sun, pump ourselves full of coffee, kiss our little ones see-ya-later, leave a household Saturday chore list for the kiddos and head to "The Farm". At first Ladd and I thought we needed to work on projects together, but soon discovered this was not an ideal match as we have two separate work styles and almost killed each other on day one. We worked from before sun-up till sun-down, then drove home, crawled through the door (literally) and started our night with our kiddos.
Now please note that when I mentioned crawling through the door, it was literal. Our bodies were sore and tired after standing on a ladder for 6 hours, ripping out walls, painting for 10 hours straight or holding hands over our heads installing walls or lighting for hours on end. Many Saturday nights were spent with long, hot baths to remove paint, caulking, glue, spackling and various other construction materials. Since our kiddos missed us and we missed them, you would often find me in the tub soaking with the shower curtains drawn while the girls chattered away telling me about their day and asking about what had been accomplished during our day of work.
Though we tried to stay consistent with our church attendance on Sundays, we often found ourselves doing a repeat of Saturday as we neared the end of our remodeling project. We took turns going to "The Farm" throughout the week to finish miscellaneous projects and prepare for the following Saturday so we could tackle another big project. We made sure to always have one of us home in the evenings to help the kiddos with homework, prepare a hot, nutritious dinner and follow bedtime routines. Exhausted is what we felt, completely exhausted. We started getting short with each other, even resorting to grunting what might be name calling when we were too exhausted to formulate coherent sentences. I am not even sure we could fight properly as we were too exhausted.
At some point in this process we conceded to agree not to agree on all things and to listen to each other. I mean really listen to each other, not the "oh I heard you, now I am going to do my own thing" kind of listening. We would sit down and talk things through, sometimes having to draw pictures, ask questions which seemed strange to one another and wait while the other one spoke. We learned to love each other's opinions, even if they differed from ours. We had to be creative during this process of remodeling when we discovered there was no way we could accomplish a project within a budget because of a "surprise". We learned to stop and hug each other and say "I love you" more often than before as we both needed to hear it. We learned to thank our children for the sacrifices they made to manage our household duties on Saturday's while we were away.
We learned that remodeling is NOT for Sissies, but for those who are willing to accept the challenge of not just tearing down and reconstructing walls, but to really work at the true foundation of a home . . . love.
We purchased an old farmstead, which hadn't been properly maintained for 10-15 years. Don't get me wrong, the "bones" of the home are in good condition, but WOW is all I have to say about the rest. Ladd and I knew when we took on this project that it would be labor intensive, especially since we are on a limited budget. Little did we know what was in store for our little family of five.
Ladd and I sat down with pen and paper after doing a thorough walk-through, taking measurements, creating a necessary supplies listing and the projects were listed one-by-one in the order which they needed to be completed . . . electrical, plumbing, gutting, restoring, etc. We put numbers to each of the projects and prayed that we had calculated every project correctly. We were ready, or so we thought.
We dedicated every Friday night to family night, making sure to set aside all other cares or thoughts and just focus on our kiddos. Each Saturday morning we would rise before the sun, pump ourselves full of coffee, kiss our little ones see-ya-later, leave a household Saturday chore list for the kiddos and head to "The Farm". At first Ladd and I thought we needed to work on projects together, but soon discovered this was not an ideal match as we have two separate work styles and almost killed each other on day one. We worked from before sun-up till sun-down, then drove home, crawled through the door (literally) and started our night with our kiddos.
Now please note that when I mentioned crawling through the door, it was literal. Our bodies were sore and tired after standing on a ladder for 6 hours, ripping out walls, painting for 10 hours straight or holding hands over our heads installing walls or lighting for hours on end. Many Saturday nights were spent with long, hot baths to remove paint, caulking, glue, spackling and various other construction materials. Since our kiddos missed us and we missed them, you would often find me in the tub soaking with the shower curtains drawn while the girls chattered away telling me about their day and asking about what had been accomplished during our day of work.
Though we tried to stay consistent with our church attendance on Sundays, we often found ourselves doing a repeat of Saturday as we neared the end of our remodeling project. We took turns going to "The Farm" throughout the week to finish miscellaneous projects and prepare for the following Saturday so we could tackle another big project. We made sure to always have one of us home in the evenings to help the kiddos with homework, prepare a hot, nutritious dinner and follow bedtime routines. Exhausted is what we felt, completely exhausted. We started getting short with each other, even resorting to grunting what might be name calling when we were too exhausted to formulate coherent sentences. I am not even sure we could fight properly as we were too exhausted.
At some point in this process we conceded to agree not to agree on all things and to listen to each other. I mean really listen to each other, not the "oh I heard you, now I am going to do my own thing" kind of listening. We would sit down and talk things through, sometimes having to draw pictures, ask questions which seemed strange to one another and wait while the other one spoke. We learned to love each other's opinions, even if they differed from ours. We had to be creative during this process of remodeling when we discovered there was no way we could accomplish a project within a budget because of a "surprise". We learned to stop and hug each other and say "I love you" more often than before as we both needed to hear it. We learned to thank our children for the sacrifices they made to manage our household duties on Saturday's while we were away.
We learned that remodeling is NOT for Sissies, but for those who are willing to accept the challenge of not just tearing down and reconstructing walls, but to really work at the true foundation of a home . . . love.
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