Quick Check In

Oh my goodness, well, I am not even going to try and excuse my absence or give you reasons why I said I would post more and then end up not doing it.

Truth????

Never got around to it, had a super crazy emotional week getting Curt ready to leave.

He left Friday morning and all I can tell you is that it was so hard to see him walk out the door, as a military family, saying goodbyes becomes second nature, you're used to seeing him leave for months at a time and you're left behind with the kiddies and trying to take care of everything while he is away.

Once he retired we honestly thought that our days of saying goodbye were over, but you know you can never say NEVER, and God had other plans.  Who am I to question???

So yes, he is now in Oklahoma staying with family, and next week he starts his new job in Texas.  For now he is commuting about 45 minutes each way just until our tax return comes in so that he can get an apartment and be closer to work.

I've set my sights on packing and getting things taken care of, the sooner the better. I refuse to leave everything until the last minute, that's not how I function at all.

If you ask how I am, I can tell you that I'm ok for now, but my focus in on my children who are not taking this separation very well, they were much younger with the previous times so even though they missed dad they didn't quite feel it as they are now.

Jasmine is a daddy's girl and she misses him terribly.  Nick is very close to daddy too, that's his buddy and my boy is not taking it well at all, he cries throughout the day and can't even bear to look at anything related to dad.  I think it will be harder for him, but we'll get through it.

So yes.....that part of our journey is done, the next part involves me finishing the kids school, packing up the whole house and getting it ready to move and finishing things up on this side so that we can join him in May.  I am praying the time flies, truly.

With that aside, I wanted to let you all know that I will be shipping out all the crochet orders next week, thank you again to those that ordered from me..

I also have a full week of reviews coming up, wine, spiral candle, book, disney celebrations etc.  I will also start back on my daily posting as we go through this next adventure together.

Sorry for being the world's worst blogger at the moment and thank you for sticking it out and still coming by, you guys are the best :)

Blessings,
Sandra

Happy Homemaker Monday - 02/09/2015

Good morning everyone.  I hope you've had a great weekend and are ready to tackle this new week ahead.  I am but in a way, I am not, if that makes sense.

My husband leaves for Texas on Friday and then it will be 4 months before we see him again, definitely not something the kids and I are looking forward to.

The weather outside is::::

It's been raining, yet again.  Sometimes I feel like we live in Seattle, with the constant pitter patter outside.  I love rain, but I'm a bit tired of the gloomy weather and ready for summer.  

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

Just the normal cup of coffee, but here in about an hour I will probably have a Breakfast Burrito, or some toast.  Not sure yet because my stomach feels a little off at the moment. 

As I look outside my window:::

Cloudy skies and the roads are all wet from the overnight rain.  I am hoping that the skies open up and we see some sun this afternoon, I'm sure that would lift my spirits.  Right??? 

Right now I am::::

Still in my jammies, actually slept in a little today.  I'm compiling this post and also have a list next to me of things hubby and I need to get done today, we only have a few days left before he leaves and I feel like we have so much to do.

As I look around the house::::

Boxes line the walls.......it's become such a normal sight for us that it doesn't affect me anymore.  LOL  I've been packing up, hubby has been packing up things to take and the house is starting to look a little empty.  That's fine, because I've decided that I am doing a major purge on this move and a lot of things are not going to make it to Texas. 

On today's to do list::::

Laundry....Have two loads to iron and put away.    
Cleaning....Usual housework

Currently reading::::

Book for review, it will be up next week.

On the TV today::::

The new Walking Dead from last night.  Not sure what else we will have time to watch. 

On the menu this week::::

Need to get some groceries today so don't have a menu yet....have yet to write it up

Monday -
Tuesday - 
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday -

What I am creating at the moment::::

Nothing, just boxes like last week lol 

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::

Nothing new, just very simple meals we've been having lately.  With hubby being gone, the kids and I will also be having easier, kid pleasing meals, so I don't foresee major kitchen cooking for me the next few months.

Favorite photo from the camera::::

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them."
John 17:13

PLEASE, don't add links to this list that are not part of the Happy Homemaker Monday. I've asked numerous times, and I'm frankly quite tired of having to remove links to other posts that shouldn't be in this list. Please be respectful of my request!

Crochet Items for Sale

This is so weird to me, I have never sold any of my crochet items nor did I ever think I needed to or should.

Maybe it's the fact that I always thought that no one but me would be interested in buying any of my creations, but you have all been so kind and have shown interest quite often.

I think now is the time for me to part with some of my crochet goodies, and I also find that it will give me something else to work on, recreating all these goodies for myself because I have been in a bit of a crochet funk, so to speak.

Know that a lot of time and love were put into each of these and I just hope that you will love them as much as I do.  And keep in mind that these are homemade, they are not professional so there may be some flaws here or there, I would never presume to sell something under the assumption that is absolutely perfect.  :)

Blankets

Corner to Corner blanket in red and tan - $25 plus shipping (SOLD)

Made with worsted weight yarn.  Measures 38x38.
Perfect lap blanket or baby blanket.

Corner to Corner Granny Blanket - $45 plus shipping (SOLD)

Made with worsted weight.  White and multi colored stripes, with an edging in yellow.
Measures 43x43.

Crochet Mood Blanket - $65 plus shipping (SOLD)

This was one of my favorites to make, it was so much fun and I'm looking forward to making another.  Multi colored blocks with a white edging, it is pretty heavy and so warm.

Made with worsted weight.  Measures 39x57.

Dishcloths

$5 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton dishcloth in yellow and blue.  Measures 6.5x6.5

$10 plus shipping (SOLD)

Cotton dishcloth set.  Bigger one measures 7x7 and the smaller one is 6x6.

$6 plus shipping (SOLD)

Cotton dishcloth set, small.  Bigger one is 4.5x4.5 and smaller is 4x4.

$4 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton wiggly dishcloth.  Measures 4.5x4.5

$4 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton wiggly dishcloth.  Measures 5x5

$4 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton flower dishcloth.  Measures 5x5

Doilies/Mandalas

$6 plus shipping (SOLD)
African Flower Doily.  Measures 7.5x7.5

$15 plus shipping
Cotton Mandala.  Measures 12.5x12.5

$8 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton Mandala.  Measures 7.5x7.5

$8 plus shipping (SOLD)
Cotton Mandala.  Measures 7.5x7.5


Those are the ones I have available right now, I do plan on going through my yarn stash and if I have time, making a few more items to sell.  For now though, these are what is available, please understand that I don't do custom orders, what I post is what I have :)

I can only ship to the States at the moment. 

If you see an item that you wish to buy, please email me at bourlandcs@msn.com. 

The big fight.....

Hello everyone, I know you're probably a little shocked to see me here, or maybe even happy to finally see a post from me, after it seemed that I just disappeared into thin air.

The truth?

It's been.....well.....I want to say weird, because I don't really have another word to describe what my life has been like the past few weeks since finding out we're moving to Texas.

If I were to tell you that it seems like every single negative thing that is out there was thrown our way, it would be a bit of an understatement.  It really has been like that, and it's quite hard to stay positive and on track when you feel like you can't even breathe.

I have often gone through difficult moments in my life, knowing that it was a test, or a spiritual battle and right now we are smack dab in the middle of another one.

Let me start by saying that this move to Texas and my husband's new job, are life changing for us, in many ways and I think that is the catalyst for the fight we're up against.  As a Christian I know that anything that is good will be met with resistance by that which is bad, it just is the way things work.

So we're fighting and we are determined to get to Texas and to take this on.  It's not easy, I've had some breakdowns, my husband is starting to feel the stress and has at times questioned the whole move and job, but you know that is exactly what the enemy wants and I refuse to allow it.

The rainy days???

Haven't exactly helped my mood, even though I have always loved rain, but yes, at this moment it is just exacerbating an already grey mood.

Yesterday was it, the defining moment where I finally faced this head on and said "Enough is Enough".  I am tired of being a punching bag to selfish rude self-centered people, I am tired of being pushed around and helping only to have it thrown back in my face.

There really is only so much a person can take before they put their foot down and I'm putting it down.

We WILL make this work, we WILL get my husband to Texas, we WILL get everything done here, we WILL be fine financially and we WILL win this battle.

We will, we will, and we will.

So, one of the things I need to do right now is to list all my crochet items that I am wanting to sell, and for the most part I already have pictures, but I am going to get everything together and put the post up this afternoon.  There will be dishcloths and blankets and some mandalas too.

Something else we're working on is getting the kid's school finished before the end of May because I don't want to have to transfer them to Texas right at the end of the school year, would rather start the new year fresh.

In the next two weeks, we have quite a few things to get done.....

• Fix the brakes on my husband's truck because he needs to drive it to Texas
• Probably replace a tire on my car, yesterday it went flat
• Sell one of our sets of washer/dryer
• Sell my crochet items
• Pack husband's belongings and other items for him to take
• Remove everything from storage

The rest will be up to me, and let me tell you moving companies are ridiculously priced.  I have been getting quotes of anything from $6800 to $10,000.   Goodness gracious, there is NO way that we can afford that.

This month we have no school money because hubby has to take the semester off from school to get settled into the new job and to move down to Texas.  It has hit us hard, very hard and it's been a juggling game of what bills to pay when and how much and if you pay one then you don't have groceries, and if you get groceries then you don't pay this bill.

I'm so ready to get to Texas, put my feet up and say "we're here and we're done".

But guess what?

We're still here, we're alive, we're healthy and we are ready to take on this challenge.  Prayers would be appreciated though, very much so.

Yeah, that is what has been going on here and the reason why I've also been quite distant from my blog, it's been hard to really sit down and compile any kind of coherent post when my thoughts have been so muddled. 

I will be back to regular blogging, or rather I should say that I am back to regular blogging, because I've realized that I need this space to jot down my life, to keep track of my ideas and to help me make this move and this transition easier.  I've always done it with previous moves so I don't know why this time it would be any different.

Right, I need to get laundry started and I need to get my crochet items together.  I'll be back later with the Crochet post.

Again, thank you all for being so understanding and for continuing to comment and leave me such wonderful support even when I've been less than stellar at blogging or visiting you all.  It means the world, truly.

Blessings,
Sandra

Happy Homemaker Monday - 02/02/2015

Good morning everyone.

Well, here we are, February.  Is that even possible when it feels like just a few days ago we were celebrating Christmas?

So yeah, the month of January for me has been a bit of a blur, it's sped by and I have found myself not really knowing what to do with my blog, hence the lack of actual posts.  But, starting today, that is changing, I am back to blogging daily, and continuing to journal everything about this crazy journey that we are about to embark on, again.

Right, so let's get on with it.....

The weather outside is::::

We've had foggy mornings, and last night we got some light rain, but for the most part it's been clear and sunny and I like it that way. 

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

Cup of coffee with Butter Toffee Creamer (one of my faves).  I don't know if I'm actually going to have any breakfast this morning, I used to love breakfast but have found that lately I just don't eat it and sometimes only really eat something mid afternoon.  Totally bad, and I need to fix that. 

As I look outside my window:::

It's been getting brighter earlier and I am very happy about that.  It's quite pretty outside this morning, the sun is starting to rise, there are a few clouds in the sky but it makes for quite a lovely sight over the mountains. 

Right now I am::::

On the couch with my Lola snoring next to me.  I'm typing up this post and I'm trying to think of what all I have to do today, which I know will include laundry at some point in time, doesn't it always???

As I look around the house::::

Guess what is in the corner of the living room???  Boxes.  AGAIN!   Lord give me strength, I am so tired of moving my belongings around, so I hope this is the last time for a long while. 

On today's to do list::::

Laundry....Thought I was done and now I have another two loads ready to go in.  Why, oh why can't we be nudists?  
Cleaning....Usual housework
Cooking.....Pizza for lunch, Stuffed Green Peppers for dinner. 

Currently reading::::

My book for review finally came in, so I'm starting on that one today.  

On the TV today::::

Have a few series I want to catch up on.

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Stuffed Green Peppers
Tuesday - Loaded Potato Soup, Olive Garden Breadsticks
Wednesday - Oven Chili Dogs
Thursday - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Friday - Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Bacon Spaghetti
Sunday - Sausage Gravy Biscuit Bake

What I am creating at the moment::::

Boxes of things......yes, that is the extent of my creativity at the moment.

I will be taking photos of my crochet projects today, and tomorrow I will have a post up with what I'm selling, so if you're interested in any of my goodies, keep an eye out for that post.

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::

Didn't try anything new last week, but don't let that stop you from checking out my food blog.  You can look back through the archives and I'm sure you will find something yummy to try, maybe even a little Portuguese cooking?  Or, if you are in the middle of menu planning, my menus might give you some idea :)

Favorite photo from the camera::::

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10

PLEASE, don't add links to this list that are not part of the Happy Homemaker Monday. I've asked numerous times, and I'm frankly quite tired of having to remove links to other posts that shouldn't be in this list. Please be respectful of my request!