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I know that you are anxious for me to show some pictures of the house... I'm anxious to also! BUT... you all knOw what a perfectionist I am and I still have some projects I need to work on for some of the living spaces .... AND I'm still painting! As long as I'm still painting there is misplaced CLUTTER from one space to another! Alas, none of my rooms are feeling UP to being photographed just yet! I'm sorry... patience, dear friends! (perhaps I shall finish up my "projects" before I finish up my walls... maybe...)

On top of that, I am NOT painting today! I have not seen my darling granddaughter in more days than I care to count and that is utterly ridiculous given that she lives 40 minutes from my house! So today I am going to go visit and play! Mom is with Vada and I will have FUN!

So... tomorrow I'll be back in the paint bucket! (trust me... at the end of the day I look like I climbed out of a paint bucket!)

I did it, I did it, I DID it!!! I finished painting those way high walls! I'm not done with the entire hallway yet -- but I got the HARD part done! Whoooooooo hooooooo! I am sO excited I can't stand it! It isn't the BEST paint job I've ever done -- but as Dennis said - it looks about a 1000 times better than it DID! And that's a fact! This house is shapin' up!

Today was the first day of Lent. Service tonight was exceptional! It was a bit more somber than most of our services, reminding us that we are in a state of penitence. Pastor's sermon was everything it should be... he spoke of our sin, and he spoke of our sorrow... he spoke of using this season to draw closer to Jesus. Of making mOre time for prayer, more personal time alone with God... to talk to Him... and to listen to Him.

You know... Listening is my favorite part of prayer. And it's sO important! Yes, it's important to praise God, and to confess your sins, and to ask for forgiveness... and it's important to pray for others too. But if you're always speaking and never listening, you MISS so much! Most of the answers that I get to my personal questions of God, come NOT from other people that he has used, but directly from Him. He puts thoughts in my head that I could have never come up with by myself! But I have to take the time to LISTEN. I don't always get the chance to stop and listen when I'm done "asking"... but I make a point of listening at LEAST once each day. Sometimes at the end of the day, if I've done a lot of "asking" during the day... when I lay down to go to sleep at night I just say "Okay God... I'm here. Tell me what you want me to know." It's amazing how often He does! He does speak to me through many other sources too --- He uses many of you! But sometimes He just wants one on one time and for you to stop and listen. Just do it. I bet that Jesus spent as much of that 40 days in the wilderness listening to His Father as He did speaking to Him.

Today was a great day! I tried all day long to get my Bible study done for my class tonight... first Krysti wanted my attention... Then Derek wanted my attention... And then MATHEW came by! Well, of course I stopped and gave him my attention too! I don't get to see that boy nearly often enough anymore! He got a new job - back in furniture sales - very HIGH END furniture! Oh my! I can't afford to even LOOK in his store! LOL! But he is verrrrry happy. He really does LOVE furniture sales -- and he's GOOD at it! So I'm thrilled! We were both so sad when his other store closed down.... but now life is picking up! He's on his way back UP the mountain! *smile*

By the time he left, I needed to go out and pick up treats for Cordelle's birthday - we were celebrating at study tonight and I was in charge of food! (which is better for me than being in charge of writing the prayer!) But sometimes I wonder about that! Anyway, when I got home, Dennis and I were both pulling into the driveway at the same time. We exchanged our days and then he took Mom and let me get my study done! So I had time with 3 of my kids today and finally got my study done despite them! And then -- our study was INTENSE tonight! Oh man! It was soooooooo good! We're in the Ruth part of Ruth & Esther -- and it is such a wee little book - only 4 chapters ... but there is so much to learn there! I have to laugh because none of the men voted to study these WOMEN of The Bible -- but because there are more women in our study we out-voted them! But they are enjoying it! We are having some LIVELY conversation and it is very good! Guys! Don't disregard the women in The Bible!

Not much going on in our world right now. We did no painting yesterday and I don't know if we will today or not. I dO think Krysti wants to be IN on doing this hallway - though for the life of me I cannot figure out WHY?! (Good photo op maybe??? -- oh NO! That would be MY reason for wanting someone else around! LOL!) Anyway... yesterday we just did a little shopping and "got our nails did". Mine are white this time! (Actually, I believe the color was named Kiss The Bride) Figured I should get to wear that once in my life! I do know I have GOT to go to the grocery store today.... forgot to pick up one of Mom's perscriptions yesterday and it will be UGLY if I don't get it today. That, and the fact that we have no food in the house. Hmmm.... maybe I should keep it that way! Easy to diet when there's nothing to eat! By the way, did I mention that my church's Losing To Live program got cancelled? UGH! Not enough people signed up this time... only 6 of us. Not even enough for two teams. Sheeeeeesh! They're going to try again after Easter. BUT... I am starting anyway! For LENT! PERFECT timing! I've decided to give up sweets - as I did last year - hard, but doable -- and in addition, I'm promising to pedal - EVERY day! Once I promise God, I know it's a done deal! So this will definitely get me jump started!!! And once I'm pedaling on a regular basis, the desire to watch what I eat comes naturally -- because I HATE to waste all that pedal power by eating too much!

Okay! I'm off to get into a day! Hope y'all have a good one too!

I finished the living room project that Krysti and I were working on Monday, and I'm finally in the process of getting the living room and family room back in order. I HAVE decided to re-paint one wall in the living room though -- so I will do that today and then I should be able to get the stuff back up on the walls and make it look like home again! When I started all this I was just going to paint paint paint until there was nothing left to paint! But I found out that I would never be able to do that and LIVE with it -- I had to get the downstairs back in order before I felt comfortable to move UP the stairs. So the hallway still sits... spackled and one side is cut in at the steps - but not at the ceiling... my nightmare! The hallway going up the steps is really two full stories high - less two steps. I tried to take a picture to show you - but it just doesn't... it's too many angles and two hard to tell whats going on. It's a painters nightmare! At least for me! I don't have scaffolding -- I'm not sure HOW I'm going to accomplish this feat! But I'm going to give it my BEST - and if that's not good enough -- I'll call somebody! I really think when I get to that point though, God will give me a brainstorm idea that will blow me away! That's what I'm countin' on anyway! And... Krysti comes back home tonight (Thursday) for the weekend again. She's my pusher! I'm not sure I LIKE that side of her!!! LOL! You may have guessed, but I really don't LIKE to hurry through a job! I would be MISERABLE on Trading Spaces! I like to take my time, do it right. When I start rushing I make all kinds of mistakes and I hate that! Soooo.... that's what I'm STILL up to!

Monday was just a bizzy fun day! I got up and TRIED to get some blogging donein the morning ... but Mom and Krysti were having NONE of it! Krysti wanted me to start painting. I really didn't want to because I knew Luz & Amanda were coming... but she just stood over my shoulder and wasn't going to let me blog... so I figured I might as well paint! Of course when Luz got here, she wanted to paint too! So we got out some crafts and she painted a bit. I had given her her Valentines when she first got here -- and included a gift card to Walmart. She LOVES a gift card more than anything! So we went to Walmart and she got to shop! She was so CUTE - and really a GOOD shopper. She would pick things and put them in her cart - and then when she found something else, she would make a decision between things... what to keep and what to put back. She had $20 on her gift card and she finally ended up choosing a play telephone, a bell for her bicycle, and a plain $6 Barbie -- in just a bathing suit! I thought they were excellent choices. I was amazed at some of the things she put back though! But I'll tell ya -- she really WANTED that bell for her bike! If it had cost $20 all by itself, that's what she would have chosen!!! When we came back, she really really wanted to help us paint, so I gave her a brush and some magic clear paint (water) and she painted with us! Krysti and I had been working on a special project for the living room! That's what Luz was helping with! (not the walls) When Dennis got home, he put up the new blinds in the family room. THEY look really nice! I'm sO happy with them! We can't hang things in the living room yet - I'm not sure where the furniture is going to end up... so we have to wait a bit! Still might make some changes to the foyer too... not entirely decided yet.

Mom has another dentist appointment this morning -- this time to replace a filling. Krysti is leaving this morning to go back to school -- BUT... she'll be back again next weekend! LOL! Her car needs brakes, so Dennis is going to arrange to have it done next weekend. They'll be okay until then.

I'm trying to get around as much as time allows to visit you all... I'm sorry I don't make it every day. Eventually life will get back to normal -- but not for awhile yet! LOL!

It was a great weekend! Friday Krysti and I started painting the family room. We got two walls and the hallway cut in, and the two walls painted -- two coats. Plus part of the hallway. Then we called it quits to go over to Amanda's and we watched The Secret Life of Bees! Both girls agreed it was a good movie. I was happy because it stuck sO closely to the book. I only noticed one little thing that was changed - and it wasn't really important. That's pretty good! Of course, it has been a good 5 years I bet since I read the book! But a story like that sticks with ya. Great movie -- you know if I recommend it, it's gotta be good!

On Saturday, I had to run out and get MORE PAINT, and do a little grocery shopping. Krysti stayed home and started painting again while I was gone. When I got back she had the other two walls cut in -- but forgot the one wall needed to be cut in with BROWN paint! (she had cut it in with the sandy color...) She was working on rolling the other light wall so I started cutting in the brown and we finished up the room in time to have a nice Valentine's Day dinner. Dennis cooked steaks on the grill, and I cooked steamed shrimp. Derek's girlfriend, Jen, came over and so we had a full table and some lively dinner conversation. The FUNNIEST conversation though came AFTER dinner! And I GUARANTEE you, Dennis did NOT mean it the way it sounded... but this is what happened. Mom & the kids were still sittin' at the table. I had gotten up to start doing the dishes or something... Anyway, Dennis got up and came and gave me a hug, and we were just standing there huggin' in the kitchen and I asked him if he wanted to watch a movie. He said yea, and I said he should put Mom to bed a little early. I said "then we can watch the movie, and maybe halfway through have some cake.... and then go to bed a little early" ... and then HE SAID "or we could just stand here bumpin' bellies..." Now... I knew the kids didn't hear the "or we could just stand here" part... and I knew they HAD heard me say "go to bed a little early". How did I know? BECAUSE... the minute he said it, Krysti's head popped up and SHE said "WHAT did he say???" And Derek went "He DIDN'T just say that!" And Jen just sat and blushed... and Mom was laughin' her butt off! And I was laughin' so hard I about pee'd my pants!!! And then it hit HIM the way it had sounded, and you can just imagine! He was beet red! We were both laughin' so hard we were fallin' all over each other! I just looked at him all insulted and all and said "IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN???" Oh, it was just hilarious! That was one of the hardest laughs I've had in a long long time! The kind that actually makes your belly hurt - but ya just can't stop! Mmm...

This morning I went to church. The music was great and the sermon was better. We had 3 children baptised -- all from one family! 3 little boys -- I'm guessing their ages -- I would say about 2.5, 5 and 7. Darling! The littlest one was being held by his mom and was bent over the baptismal font. Pastor dipped his hand in to bring the water up to his forehead and the little turkey tried to DRINK the water!!! We all laughed! Then we had 5 new members welcomed into the congregation. The boys Mom, a senior saint, and another woman with her daughter and granddaughter -- all came to us from another parish. It was just a great service! Then ... I had a "pay it forward" paid on ME! I do this to others all the time with lunches and toll booths and stuff -- but it's the first time it's happened TO me! Pastor had announced that the new Lent Devotionals were going to be ordered, and Dawn would be taking orders after the service. So I went up with my $2.00 and she said "somebody already bought your book for you Melli!" I went HUH? And she said someone had paid for two and said one was for the next person to come along! YAY! It was me! I thought that was really cool!

Then in the afternoon Krysti and I went up to Bed, Bath & Beyond. They had a picture I wanted to get for over the couch in the living room. I ended up getting that, plus two more, plus 2 new throw blankets, new sheets for our bed, two tableclothes for the kitchen I had been looking EVERYWHERE for, and new blinds for the family room. I spent a chunk of change - but it was worth it! I can't wait for Dennis to hang the blinds -- they can't hang the way they're meant to -- we have verrrrrry odd sized windows! So he has to get some special hardware to make them work! And some special things to hang the picture over the couch too.

Amanda & Luz are coming Monday to play and visit a bit... so I don't know if I'll continue painting. I'll probably wait until Tuesday... besides... I'm SORE! LOL! I needed today off!

MORNING (nearly afternoon) Update:

No... I am NOT a superstitious person! But it IS ironic that I woke up about 2 hours late this morning! (9:53 to be exact!) As I stepped out of bed I noticed Vada's car coming down the driveway, and by the time I reached my bedroom door she was coming IN the front door - and her mouth was already in motion and at full speed! (i do not listen fast first thing...) I quickly got she and Mom upstairs to do Mom's shower and came down to make coffee. I had just poured my first cup when I saw Merry Maids in the driveway! UGH! I was NOT ready for THEM yet either! I put down my coffee and went to clean the litter box. (before my coffee???) And then to empty the dishwasher and get the few things in the sink out of the sink so they could clean the kitchen! The good news is they are almost done and I will begin painting the family room within the hour. However... my darling daughter who promised to help is in the shower getting ready to go meet a friend for lunch! LOL! That's okay... I've made do without her thus far... I will soldier on! And tonight we are going to Amanda's to watch The Secret Life of Bees on video! YAY!!!

But I took a paintbrush, and I swabbed a bit on the front door, and a bit on the white primed wall beside the front door, and DAMN if that paint didn't look the EXACT same color as the color already ON the front door! (ivory) So I hemmed and I hawed and I almost cried, and then I called Dennis (why? I dunno...) and then I decided to cap it back up and LUG that 5 pound bucket back to the store and see if they could darken it up for me. But by the time I'd decided that, the swatches had dried and low and behold I thought well, maybe they DID look sandy enough. And besides... I'm gonna need TWO 5 gallon buckets and trying to match a 2nd one up to something that had already been tampered with -- ummmmm no! I did not want a repeat of the kitchen fiasco! I re-decided to go ahead with plan "A". And so I painted.