New Year's Resolutions

I was thinking about New Year's resolutions earlier last week, and came to some conclusions about myself.

Making these resolutions, i.e., "resolving that I will do this or that," isn't going to do me much good. I can have all the resolve and good intentions possible and still walk wholeheartedly down the wrong path.

Instead, I decided to make some commitments. Or rather, just one commitment.

And that commitment is to pray for self-control.

When I really thought about it, the things I need to do are lose weight, spend less money, exercise more.

The reason I don't do these things is that I have very bad self-control. Little to none. I am one of those immediate gratification people -- I want it, and I want it now. NOW.

So I have committed to pray for self-control in my life. I am seriously committing to asking God (believing) for self-control in every area of my life.

It's like one-stop shopping. I cover all the bases with one fell swoop.

So far I'm doing great with the spending money but not so great with the diet and exercise. But this is a process, and His mercies are new every morning. Everytime I fall down, I get up and pray that prayer again -- "Lord, please provide me with self-control. I know You can."

Yesterday was a bit sunnier, and I was grateful for that. I got a haircut and fresh nails; I'm back to having bangs again, as I've had most of my life. I feel like myself again. I drove kids and kids' friends home from their swim meet last night and felt great about being a mom.

And God, in His great and infinite wisdom, did not see fit to blow one of the 28 pine trees in my yard into my kitchen. Dang. And this although nearly half of central NC blew away last night with the wind. The swim meet was cancelled when the lights all went out.

Today I'm going to try and get control of my domain -- and that means clean house! I am a terrible housekeeper in that I often keep it picked up but seldom clean. I depend on my kids for that. But two days ago I cleaned out the pantry completely and today I need to work on the laundry room and my sewing closet. Just the thought of it makes me sigh, and yet IT MUST BE DONE!

So here's to 2009: I lift my cup of hazelnut coffee in praise of the God who is faithful and who will keep me on track!

xoxox

Hey, Looky What I Made, Ma!

I did these for the girls for Christmas. JB helped me. I wanted some kind of an elf with me that would verify to me that these were either 1-a really bad idea, or 2-a really good one. Turns out they were a really good one -- the girls loved them!

I found the hoodies at Big Lots for $5 each. Then I got cans of a fabric paint called "Simply Spray" at Michael's for another $5 each. I followed a tutorial -- sort of -- that I found, and attempted to make Rose's (the first one) in school colors. After that, I just played with all sorts of colors.

The names I made using a stencil I found on clearance at Lowe's.

Cool, huh?

Merry Christmas

Behold, I bring you good news of great joy

which will be for all the people;

for today in the city of David

there has been born to you a Saviour

who is Christ the Lord . . .

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth, peace to men,

with whom He is pleased.

Merry Christmas from Jen's House

All Is Well

Man. What a December.

First it was Babydoll and me in the play, Peter Pan. Tons of fun, and we're going to do Cinderella in February. We're all (as in all 6 of us, excluding Hunk O Man only), are in the chorus and I'm going to help with costumes.




Then Christmas hit. As in, hit me upside the head! I've done virtually all of my shopping online and had it shipped up to my Mom's house (where I currently am until Friday, the 26th). I'm still short one Santa gift, but doing pretty well on the rest. I was able to save quite a bit this year by utilising my Visa card reward points. I'm telling you what, it's not a bad deal and you can spend it like free money.

Then I got on Ebay and found a couple of things, and made sure I went through Upromise and SwapBucks, etc for other stuff. So the money savings has been good this year.

We had a trip to Monticello last week -- just Babydoll and two of her friends, EB and CG. We played CatchPhrase virtually all the 2 1/2 hours there -- and I got them all headbands with springy disco ball thingys on them, so it was me and the three also-homeschooled aliens. The weather was terrible, but we had a good time anyway. That place is amazing -- Thomas Jefferson is amazing! We'll definitely be going back in the spring. I am determined that my kids are going to see some of the history that surrounds us within a 3-hour drive of the NC/VA border where we live.

We also had a look at downtown Charlottesville, which was your typical college town -- wonderful in its history and creativity. I recommend a visit if you get the chance.

I make Christmas dresses every year -- except not this year. It just didn't happen. Sometimes we must let things go. Instead, I'm doing a little gift project for the girls for everyday. I think it will all turn out fine in the end.

We did get our Christmas tree, finally. Hunk O Man ended up going over to the tree farm, and the guy was the former art teacher's husband, and the art teacher loves Bug, and they got to talking -- in the end the guy gave him the tree for free. So there you go. I married an amazing man who is not only stingy and frugal, but is able to make the most beautiful Christmas tree materialize out of thin air. Waiting a little longer just makes it prettier -- and I am determined to leave it up until mid-January and thoroughly enjoy it!

Merry Christmas!

Bah Humbug.

I am married to Ebeneazer Scrooge. The one at the beginning of the story.

Although only Babydoll and I were involved in the Peter Pan play, apparently Hunk O Man, Rose, Bug, Barbie, and JB were unable to get their behinds out the door and over to Lowe's to pick out a tree. Their excuse? "You couldn't come with us."

So here is my living room:

God forbid I ever die. Because if I did, the girls would be dressed in WalMart overalls, own no makeup, never have any clean laundry, live in small house with white walls and no curtains, share the same bedroom, have a freezer full of Banquet Fried Chicken in boxes, and NEVER HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE.

Bah Humbug.

: (

Amazing Things Happening All the Time.

Last week, I dropped in to our local library to return and renew some books. I've been reading the Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker -- which is an excellent blend of sci-fi and romance. And the love of God, foremost. I'd read "Blink," which is also very good. The books are titled "Red," "Black," and "White."

So because I was there, I looked through some books that the library was offering for sale. They were having a 2 for 1 sale -- hardbacks 50 cents, and paperbacks 25 cents. Not a bad deal.

I found a paperback I need for homeschool, and one of those little magazine cookbooks you find on the checkout aisle. I happened to pick up a hardback with no dust cover, just so I could read the title and see what it is. I love old books -- I tend to collect them.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I opened the cover and there in ink was an autograph by Jacqueline Kennedy.

In ink. Like, pressed into the page with an ink pen. As in signed, not stamped.

Holy cow!

The book was titled "A Day in the Life of President Kennedy" by Jim Bishop.

Then I noticed that I'd seen several books about President Kennedy. So I pulled out a couple more.

ALL AUTOGRAPHED PERSONALLY BY JACKIE KENNEDY.

Whoa.

So I bought them. I spent $1.50 on everything.

I've been doing a little research on their value, but haven't really found much. I may keep them, or maybe give them back to the library.

Or if they're really valuable, it would be great if they'd contribute to the upcoming college education of my two 17-year old daughters this coming fall!

Wow. Stuff like this never happens to me. It's a grand occasion to thank God, the Giver of all good things, the Lover of our souls, our Maker and Saviour.

Whose birthday is in just 3 weeks. I think He tends to be one of those people who gives gifts to others on His own birthday, you know?

xox

Peter Pan is Consuming My Life

"Greetings Boys! I'm back!" (Peter Pan to the Lost Boys, when he comes home from the Darling house to Neverland.)

"I wish I weren't going out to dinner tonight." (Mrs. Darling, worrying about the safety of her children). Yeah, right! I'd love to stay home and cook some more! No, it really has been a wonderful ten days or so. Making aprons. Doing alterations. Cleaning the house. Painting my bathroom and helping JB install new faucets. Making my bedroom the ultimate retreat for my parents while they were here. Staying up late and cooking. Feeling as if I'm going to fall down because I'm so tired. Running to Super WalMart for more eggs.

"Conceited? Not me! I gotta crow! I'm just the cleverest fellow 'twas ever my fortune to
know . . . " (Peter Pan, upon having his shadow reattached). Once in awhile I have a brilliant decorating idea THAT WORKS! I have been trying to work with the late 70's-early 80's dark oak wood that was in my bedroom. I gave up in the bedroom and painted it all white. But in the bathroom, I used the "oil-rubbed bronze" look to try and harmonize it all.
Well, last week I gave up trying to harmonize the dated wood. I tried something new and it is just two words: GORE-GEOUS!
I already had new lights and mirrors; I got new faucets and JB installed those for me. I painted all the trim white, like the bedroom. But what to do with the dark oak vanity?
I painted the darkest color of espresso I could find. It is SO pretty! I am very pleased. I'd take a photo but I haven't gotten the cabinet doors back on yet.

"Back, you puling spawn!" (Captain Hook) Puling means whining. I looked it up.
Six aprons and four to go before December 1. NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. Dang. Yet another goal dashed. However, I have virtually all of the Christmas shopping done! We visited the Raleigh Flea Market on Friday after the holiday, and then shopped our way back home. We found just about everything, my mother and I and Barbie, and had a wonderful time. Barbie even said Mom and I were "Hello, ADD, table for two."

"Wendy Lady, will you be our Mother?" (The Lost Boys). I am more a lost boy than a Mrs. Darling. If only I were shorter. One Winter Dance dress to alter, which according to Ms. CDO (which is OCD but the letter are in the proper alphabetical order, as they should be), ROSE, it should have been done two weeks ago. Bug was MUCH easier. We found hers at the craft fair at the Raleigh Flea Market. It's a genuine Vietnamese gown and pants, in black and gold. Very different, and very Bug. And I have to say, that was the pushiest Vietnamese saleswoman with the most perfect teeth that I have ever encountered. No wonder she sells so much!

"What are you doing in my old hat?" (Mrs. Darling to Wendy, who is playing dress-up).
One Mrs. Darling costume over which to obsess. This is a relatively minor character in the play. And yet I'm looking up drawings of Edwardian women and worrying that I need a hat in the first scene. OK, I may not have a big part, but Mr. and Mrs. Darling are the only two people in the entire play who have costume changes. A little obsessing is not altogether undue. I'm thinking of ordering one of those body shaper thingys where they send you the top and the bottom and in black and white and so on. It certainly couldn't hurt.

"Ub-bble, wub-ble, when we get in trouble, ugh-a-woo, there's just one thing to do: I'll just send for Tiger Lily!" (Peter Pan singing the Ugh-A-Wug song)
Well, the conversation went something like this:
JB: "Grandma wants to know if you want them to stop at the grocery to get anything on their way here."
Me: "Nope, I think we've got it all."

And later, during the actual cooking:
My Mom: "Ok, do you have enough eggs?"
Me: "I dunno."
My Mom: "What about potatoes?"
Me: "I have potatoes."
My Mom: "We'll need onions and celery for the turkey."
Me: "Let me check here. Oops, no onions!"
My Mom: "What about eggs? I need at least four for the noodles. OK, Rose, make a list. See, now that's why I asked if you needed anything we could have gotten on our way down here."
Me: "Well, you asked if I had everything. I have turkey. What about this being my first time to host Thanksgiving have you forgotten?"

My family thinks I'm a great cook until my mother arrives. Then I am a sorry excuse for a cook, which suits me fine, because I have always contended that I am far better at cleaning it all up than I am at cooking it.

"Oh, mother, it was such a wonderful dinner. Strawberry shortcake, vanilla ice cream, chocolate pudding, lemon meringue pie, and fudge for dessert." (Tootles, a Lost Boy, to Wendy).

But I did make a second batch of noodles, and all the piecrust, and the entire pecan pie. And I did have the forethought to get two cans of whipped cream. Plus a couple of tubs of whipped topping. And cinnamon rolls.

"By-carbonate of soda, no!" (Captain Hook).
I forgot to add the yeast to the roll dough. So much for homemade rolls. They were rocks. Oh well!

Mom and Dad went back home on Sunday. Terrible weather, but they were driving the rocket ship with the invisible phone, and Mom's mission on the trip was to scour the owner's manual until she found the way to get the weather. Sirius Satellite radio and GPS and talking climate control and rear seat warmers and all that.

I prayed for them to be safe and they got home just fine. Church and laundry and many hours of Peter Pan rehearsal later . . . "just think of lovely things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever."

Happy Thanksgiving
xox