Busy Week

It has been a busy week or so around here.

 

I have had some construction/handyman work done that might surprise you.  Maybe you didn’t even know I was thinking of doing this…   There is still work that needs done, but we got several things started and/or crossed off my list.  🙂

 

Last week we got these few things started/done.

Some of the 1/4 round and trim done on the floor at my mother’s.

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Then we had to remove the door frame to the office/junk room/bedroom.  And replace it with a new one.

 

We had to take off the pieces that had all the growth marks.  I’m not sure what I’m doing with them yet, but they are saved.

The new door has fresh trim all around it.

 

This week we worked on my KITCHEN!  You didn’t know I was going to do that did you?

 

Well…. my kitchen has always seemed unfinished.  In fact, we heard that the guy that built/remodeled this house, kind of gave up when he got to the kitchen.  That is pretty evident.  It has always seemed that the cabinets/counter should have extended another 4 feet, so that it ended where the island ended.  Fortunately for us, we have a Hoosier cabinet and put it there to use for storage, but not really usable counter top since it is low.

This week, we finally started finishing the kitchen.   The cabinets that we could find in stock (at a reasonable price) do not exactly match the existing ones.  However, as my daughter pointed out… we are sporting the ombre affect in kitchen cabinets.  It will be all the rage soon!!

While I wait on the granite remnant piece of countertop I ordered to come in, we will use the Hoosier top.  If I didn’t need that for the Hoosier, I would leave it.  I like it.  The granite piece is pretty amazing though.  🙂

 

 

The next thing will be to figure out the backsplash.  I have an idea… stay tuned for that.

 

Meanwhile… back at my mom’s we got a garbage disposal installed!  She had never had one because they were on septic.  Since, the house has been on  city sewer for years now, we figured that would be a nice thing to have, especially when we sell it.

 

Also, at my mom’s she has had a corner cupboard with a broken “rounder” for a decade (or more).

 

When I took my old cabinets to Habitat this morning, they actually finally had a corner cabinet the right size that we could replace the “guts.”

Once the doors get painted, they will be installed.

 

This week we have encountered many things that made us scratch our head in confusion.   The way previous builders/owners fixed … or didn’t fix… things.  Someday, someone will probably do the same about us.   Progress is being made.   My kitchen feels finished now.

 

I leave tomorrow to take the GS camping for the weekend (sorry about the weather) and when I get home, I’ll get the Hoosier in its new location and finish up some other details for you to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

More than I am asked?

 

The question, I was asked today is:  Am I trying to do more than God has asked me to?

 

Is that why some days, I’m exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally?

 

That is a really good question.

 

The blah, blah, blah about “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”   Is just that blah, blah, blah.  That is NOT what they Bible says.  It say:

 

“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted , He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

So, yes, you might be “given” more than you can handle, but God will help you/provide you a way to survive it.

Still doesn’t address my initial question, am I deliberately doing more than God has asked me to?  Is it my own pride that takes on things because it is the “right thing to do?”

 

For example, my mother…. did God actually want me to take on that task?  Or did I do it because it was expected and the right thing to do?    Some days, she is definitely “more than I can handle.”

Regardless of why I have that task, I do.   There are days where I feel like I am alone and have no help.   Am I learning something from this challenge in my life?  I probably am.  I am learning that I’m even less patient that I already knew I was.   I am reinforcing the knowledge that I’m great at physical care of human beings, but suck at mental/emotional care.   I am hoping and praying, that when I am in this situation, my children do better than I at caring for me.   Because some days, I feel like I am totally failing at caring for my mother.

 

In reality, I do not think that I am currently taking on more than God is asking me to.   I used to have wonderful roles in the church – leading children’s musicals and children’s church.   I used to be active in the church choir and other things.  At this point in my life, I am not doing any of that.   I am sitting back and letting others do those things.  Do I feel discouraged by this?  Yes, I do.  I loved doing those things.   The people leading those things do a good enough job… I know I could do better, but I’m keeping my mouth shut and letting others minister that way now.

 

I am still leading a Girl Scout troop… I only have 1 now.  Remember the time I had 4 different troops??  GOOD TIMES!!!  So, I don’t think that is an overwhelming task.

 

Back to the question:  Am I doing more than God has asked me to do?     If we say that God has asked me to care for my mother, then no, I don’t think so.   The days that I feel overwhelmed with life, are the days that my mother is in her full “Belligerent Bessie” and “Anxiety Jane” modes.

 

I still have a lot on my plate… like:

finishing the updating and clearing of mom’s house to get it on the market

finishing the final touches of my own remodel

cleaning /sorting and clearing the garage and storage unit

keeping track of all of my mother’s meds, appointments, schedule

keeping track of Esther’s appointments, schedules, and getting her through High School

keeping tabs on the other 3 kids… as much as I need to… not too much for them, these days

 

The yarn projects I take on, are a creative outlet for me.   I need that.  I need the ability to be creative.  Someday, my kids will look at the stack of afghans and question why I kept making them.   Just like I look at the stack of quilts of my mother’s.   It is because we had/have a need to be creative!  AND we are (were) good at it!!

 

Do you think you are taking on more than God is asking?  Only you can know the answer to that question?   Think about it.   Step back, if need be.    If you have time for taking on more things… I have a garage that needs sorted!  Come be my motivation and helper!  🙂