Happy Homemaker Monday - 6/29/20

Good morning and happy Monday!!!!  Joining Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday again.  Here we go ...

♥♥The Weather♥♥
Hello summer!  I'll add the temps here but the forecast keeps changing day to day

Monday - Sunny, 90
Tuesday - Sunny, 88
Wednesday - Showers, 86
Thursday - Showers, 90
Friday - Showers, 92
Saturday -  Showers, 86
Sunday - Partly Cloudy, 84


♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥
I'm okay, the dermatologist gave me a cream for my face and I've been breaking out like crazy.  Ugh!    


♥♥On my mind♥♥
I'm feeling bummed that my dad canceled coming over for a 4th of July bbq.  We haven't seen my parents since March.  Because of my mom's health my dad has been wanting to keep her home so she doesn't get exposed to the virus.  If she gets the virus it can kill her.  I understand that but it's sad.  He keeps planning to see us "next month" and then changes it.  I don't feel that this virus will ever go away and now he's thinking about waiting until there's a vaccine, and who knows when that will be, and I am not confident in trusting the vaccine.  I've already decided I will not be getting it.  I'm sure my dad will require me to in order to see my mom, but I will most likely not and that puts me in a tough position.  I've definitely come to change my mind on how I had felt about all of this virus stuff.  I now see how important it really was to close school and businesses.  I wear my face mask when I go out and attempt to keep myself distant from people.  It frustrates me when I hear people talk about what an "inconvenience" it is that they have to give up their rights to help save others.  Very sad.  I've also been trying to figure out what to do with my kids come fall.  The school is planning on giving parents the choice of going in person or online learning.  I just don't know what to do.

In regards to what's been going on in the nation, I realize too, just how important all of it is but I'm so mentally exhausted from it all and decided I needed a break.  A break from social media, from the news, and from thinking about it.  There are things going on in my personal life that are exhausting me too … so I've been pouring my extra time into reading and writing.

In the words of Sebastian from The Little Mermaid "The human world, it's a mess!"  

♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥
A bowl of honeynut cheerios and a cup of coffee.  I'm actually on my second cup now.    


♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury 



♥♥On my tv♥♥
Last night I was browsing channels and came across some old episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  I used to love watching that show with my husband and my kids were getting into it too.  
Right now my son is playing a video game with his friend Lucas (and Lucas is at his house), thankful for technology that allows my kids to still play with their friends when they can't be with them.  Lucas moved across the state last month.         


♥♥On the menu this week♥♥
Pasta for tonight.  Quick and easy meal because we have to eat fast and then run to my son's baseball game.  My husband is working so as soon as he gets home there isn't much time to sit.  

I need to run to the grocery store today so I can plan the rest of the week.  *I don't know why the font keeps changing and no matter what I do it doesn't fix.  


♥♥From the camera♥♥
Yesterday our church held a retirement parade for our pastor.  He's served at the church for 31 years.  I came to this church over 18 years ago and I can say it's the best church I've ever been too and this pastor has truly inspired me and touched me with all of his messages I have heard.  He started with the church of about 65 people and it's now over 1,000.

  

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥
It's a mess, so don't come over.  The kids have their stuff everywhere, the floors can used a sweeping and I have piles of laundry on the floor ready to take their turn in the washer.  


♥♥Chore I'm not looking forward to today, or this week♥♥
Lawn mowing in the HEAT!!!  


♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥
Read my book and write.  I've been writing a book and I'm happy with how it's going.  As a busy mom it's been a slow moving process but it's getting done.                           

♥♥On my prayer list♥♥
Our nation
This virus
Personal issues with myself, my family, and friends
The President/The governor of my state

Play Ball

 As soon as it was announced our county was moving to the "green" phase we received an email that baseball was starting.   I'm slightly bummed that this is occurring during the summer but I'm happy my son is given a season at all.  We've had to adjust to many changes this year but it's so nice seeing him on the field again doing what he loves the most.

Last Saturday was his first game and they won 22-2.  Matthew made 3 of those runs and an awesome play on second base.  Is it annoying when a mother brags about her child?  Well, who cares, I'm proud!

His sister, as you can see, is thrilled with the sport.  Oh well, she starts her dance camp next month.

Yay for normalcy!  Sort of.

Happy Father's Day!

Embracing The Uncertainty

The smiles on these faces say it all.  As soon as we got the green light in our county we've been taking full advantage of visiting the reopened playgrounds, restaurants, stores, and seeing friends.  It feels so good to feel like we're living again.  I think the hardest part of these last three months was the uncertainties of not knowing when it was going to end but it's been nice to be able to take a pause and focus on what's truly important in life and what we've taken for granted.  There's a chance that another lock down can occur so in case that happens we are out living to the fullest and we are thankful to God in the good times as well as the bad.

That lock down taught me just how easily things can change, even the things we look forward to and expect will happen.  It was often frustrating and stressful and some moments I felt like I was losing my mind but it also gave me an opportunity to grow and learn.  So far this year, even before the pandemic, I had been struggling with a lot of things.  Most people know that in 2019 I had to undergo three different surgeries to remove basal cell skin cancer.  As more spots popped up it was concerning for my doctor.  I went for genetics testing and found out I have a rare genetic disorder called Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome.  Skin cancer may not be as severe as most cancers are, but it was still very frustrating knowing that I was going to live with this for the rest of my life.  My face is already scarred and different than it used to be and imagining what it would be like if I had to keep having surgeries left me feeling sad and scared.  I'm someone who likes to be in control over the situation so not being in control of this was hard for me, the same as what the future will be like after all this virus stuff happened.  It was a different experience for all of us and it's something I needed to learn to accept and understand that I don't have to be in control of everything.  I recently went back to the dermatologist for another check up in which he thinks he might have found a spot of melanoma.  He shaved it and sent it for biopsy.  As I waited for the results I felt a sense of peace and good spirits, knowing that no matter the results I was going to get through it.

In the last few months I felt my depression kicking in again as there was a lot more situations going on in my life, so much that I haven't told anyone.  It wasn't just me.  It seems as if everyone I know is going through something major.  Cancer and chemotherapy, sickness, broken relationships, death of loved ones, job loss, etc.  I realize that my personal situations aren't as bad as what most are going through but I hurt so much for them.  When a family member or friend is going through a hard time I feel myself suffering along with them.  I'm usually someone who is always there for others, with an upbeat attitude and a sense of humor to help give them a reason to laugh.  I just couldn't be that person for awhile and it was because I allowed the enemy to take over my thoughts.  It just seemed to be so much and it became too overwhelming.  I noticed I was complaining more and focusing on nothing but the negative around me.  That is certainly not how I want to be.  I'm the one people go to when they need someone to lean on and talk to.  Depending on the situation I either offer my shoulder for them to cry on or try my best to make them laugh.  We are in such tough times right now,  ALL of us, and so I refuse to be selfish and I needed to pull myself out of this funk.  My days have now been filled with a lot of prayer, scripture reading, and moving my thoughts away from all the negative around me.

I'm also a big believer that no matter what happens to us we have a God that is bigger and better and will get us through.  Whether it's sitting at home waiting for a pandemic to pass, or anything else we may be going through God is the ultimate Healer and He will bring peace and restoration in His time.  I also love knowing that even though there may be suffering here on earth there is a beautiful, wonderful, perfect life in Heaven waiting for me.  We are not meant to stay in this world forever and the things we struggle with along the way give us purpose, growth, and understanding.  For awhile I was telling people how 2020 seems to be the year of disappointments, but the truth is 2020 is the year of stillness, learning, and growing.  I'm ready and willing to embrace whatever the reason is for these challenging times and continue to believe that God has a purpose. In the beginning of the year I kept hearing the words "Be still" over and over.  I believe that God has called us all to be still.  I also believe that even in these challenging times filled with heartache, grief, and uncertainty we still have so many blessings and opportunities to be thankful for.  I'm choosing to focus on the positive and only the positive here on out.  We are in tough times but I'm handing it all over to God and trusting in Him.  No matter what we are faced with He is bigger and stronger than any of it!

And the results came back NEGATIVE for melanoma, which was a huge sigh of relief, but it is another basal cell.  Today I went in just for a scrape and burn procedure.  This is what my life will be like from now on but I'm just thankful that it isn't anything much worse.  I don't know how many more spots will pop up and how many more surgeries I will have but it all rests in the hands of God, and I'm still so very thankful.

Happy HomeMaker Monday - 6/8/20

It's time to join in with Sandra at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday!!!

The Weather
Monday - 79 sunny
Tuesday - 89  sunny
Wednesday - 89 rainy
Thursday - 84 rainy
Friday - 84 partly sunny
Saturday - 80 partly sunny
Sunday - 75 rainy

How I am Feeling This Morning
I'm feeling well rested and fine.  Looking forward to a new week.

On My Mind
This Friday my county goes GREEN.  Finally!  Green doesn't mean it's a 100% go and we aren't out of the clear yet, but it's something.  I'm thankful to finally be able to go places and see people.  Over the weekend the kids and I went to Hobby Lobby to get some craft supplies.  Last week a friend came to visit.  I couldn't have been happier to see her.  She was the one who sat next to me when I received my diagnosis in January and even cried for me when I didn't have the strength to, and has been a huge source of light for me and a big encourager.  Today the kids and I will be meeting friends at the park.  I'm so happy to see other humans again but what I'd really, really love is some kid-free time with ADULT conversations.  I love my kids so much but I could really use a woman to woman chat without the distractions.  My dad is planning to take the kids for a sleepover in the next week or two and I'm so READY for the break and they are ready to see their grandparents and swim in their pool.

On the bright side of it all baseball season is going to start next week.  It will be a summer season instead of a spring season but I'm glad they are willing to do something.  Yay!  My daughter's dance company is holding some summer classes as well and I'm hoping I can get her signed up.  We're approaching some normalcy again.  The kids need it because these last three months of nothing is really starting to take a huge toll on them.  They are ready to get back to life.

On The Breakfast Plate
A cup of coffee and a bowl of Special K cereal

On My Reading Pile
Not reading anything at the moment, just writing.

On My TV
I just finished the final episodes of Fuller House on Netflix.  As a kid I loved watching Full House and was excited when they brought it back.
The kids and I are watching the latest season of The Little Couple shown on Hulu.  I don't know why but that show is interesting to me and the kids love seeing their kids.

On The Menu
Meatloaf and some sides

From The Camera
On Sunday, after pulling some weeds in the back yard I decided to grab my laptop and sit under the shade of the pine trees on our picnic table and write my book.  With music playing from the mp3 player and a thermos of lemon water, while the kids ran through the sprinkler was the most relaxing part of my day.  

Looking Around The House
Kids are reading books, dog is still sleeping, husband is away at an event with some buddies, I'm getting ready to head out with the kids to a park to meet friends.  The house is as clean as it's been for a while.   A few piles of stuff here and there that needs organized and put away.

Chore I'm Not Looking Forward To Today Or This Week
Keeping up with the same chores (laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, dishes) over and over again.

To Relax This Week I Will
Listen to music, put some essential oils in my defuser and write.  I've been doing so well with writing my book in the last week.  I have a goal of getting it done by a certain date and I intend to stick to it.  Writing has always been therapeutic.

On My Prayer List
President Trump, and all of our nation's leaders.
All first responders who work hard to keep us safe, especially in this time they are trying to control all of these riots.
Personal issues with family and friends.

Devotional/Bible Verse
This is something our pastor was speaking about during Sunday's online service but it's something I've been feeling for a very long time.  There are things currently going on in our nation right now that leave my heart feeling so heavy.  We are a country so divided and until we learn to love one another this hate is only going to continue.  

Loving your neighbor means loving every person you come in contact with.  No matter what color skin they have, what they believe in, who they vote for, etc., we are to love others.  We are all God's people and God loves ALL people, and as Christians we need to love ALL people too!  

DIY Air Freshener

My goal for a very long time was to find different ways to keep myself and my family healthy.  I was doing so well for a while after my daughter was born but then fell into laziness.  I'm determined to get back.   Not only with healthy eating and exercise, but also with eliminating as many toxic chemicals as possible.   There are a ton of household items filled with unnecessary toxic chemicals that we breathe or touch.  A lot of these chemicals have been linked to the cause of Alzheimers. 

I added a section on my Instagram stories where I can share some of my finds.  I'll also add it here too.  

Today I made my own air freshener.   I love essential oils and have been using them for a long time.   When I saw this recipe on Pinterest I had to try it.  Smells great and works well.  The lavender smell overpowers the lemon smell.  

Writing, Reading, and Reflecting

Since we started the lock down in March I began the process of writing a book and I can't say that's been going well.  I could have had the first draft completed by now if more free time allowed, also finding the exact words to put down.  It was also frustrating that once I started one idea another idea would pop up.  I have a few different manuscripts started but I finally figured out which one I'm going to stick with.  I was also having trouble finding the right technique in order to get it done.  I took some time to step away from Word to just give myself a chance to reflect on it, pray over it, and do some research.  I seeked advice from published authors on how to work through the first draft.  I realized I really needed to change how I went about things and also needed to set some goals.  So, now I'm back at it and finally found my groove.  This morning I took my son to a nearby park so I could walk the track  while he ran it.  His new plan is to try out for the middle school track team next spring so he's been working hard on getting himself ready for it.  Then we went home and both kids read their books and then I allowed them to have some video game time.  While they were playing games I decided to get typing away.  I managed to get over 1,000 words typed and, man, that felt good!

Even though some things have been very different lately, the library is still holding their summer reading club.  The goal is to get to 800 minutes by the end of summer.  My requirement is that they both read at least 20 minutes each day.  Sometimes they want to stop right at 20 and other days they'll surpass it.  It's a great way to keep their brains from turning into mush over the summertime.  I'm also deciding on what educational things to implement during these next few months until school starts again.  I've been allowing extra screen time than normal but we will be getting away from that soon.

A friend of mine had this quote posted on her Instagram today and I just love, love, love it so much.  I know in these last six months I've talked a lot about how frustrating 2020 has been.  It's definitely been filled with a lot of tests.  Regardless, I know that my personal situations could be so much worse and I'm thankful it isn't.  I've also been feeling pretty heartbroken over the things that family members and friends are going through.  My heart has a tendency to hurt for others more than for myself.  It's also tough to see what we are currently being faced with as a world and also as a nation.  It seems to be too difficult to understand but I do believe that these situations have a purpose and are going to bring something bigger and hopefully better.  Anyway, I don't need to say anything further.  These words explain it all.   I can't tell you how many times I've wished that 2020 could somehow magically be cancelled.