Renovations...

     Back in April, we purchased an older home that needed some TLC for a steal.  It is not a grand home, or even the home of my dreams, except that it will allow us to financially breathe.  We were blessed to be able to pay cash.  No mortgage means we will be able to do the many things we need to do in the future without being strapped and stressed and in a dither over where the money will come from, such as sending our beloved daughter to college without the debt.  We don't want our daughter to have to start out life under the heavy burden of college loans, nor do we desire to burden ourselves and enslave ourselves to a lender.  So in essence, it is the home of our dreams because it will allow us to fulfill many of our other dreams other than simply owning a home. 
     We needed to do quite a bit of remodeling before moving in as it is an older home.  My goal was to be in it by June 1st.  Well...June 1st has come and gone, and we are still not in our new home (new to us you understand), and we are still remodeling.  My husband being the frugal minded man that he is, which don't get me wrong greatly balances out the relationship as I am a very free spender, convinced me that we could do this work ourselves.  And technically speaking, we can.  There is nothing very difficult about what needs doing; it is simply laborious and time-consuming.
     Oh btw, did I mention that I work a full-time job that takes me away from home (including travel time) 11 hours a day?  And, my husband suffers from a severe degenerative spinal injury? We also have a 15 year old daughter and two dogs.  LOL!  I hear the excuses forming in my head even before they are typed, so I must be honest and say we are not one of those families that are rushing to and fro from event to event.  We do have surpluses of time, even considering the above mentioned things.
     The bottom line is, I simply have not managed my time well.  And thus, we are still not in our new home.  This is turning into a confession of sorts...
     I'm not sure why I am blogging about this... Perhaps to strive for some accountability.  If I put this in writing, and log every day what we have accomplished maybe just maybe this will spur me on to completion.
     One thing I am seeing, or rather God is showing me and I've not been daft enough to miss the connections, are the similarities of the renovation of this new home and the renovations that need to take place in my heart.  I will be 36 in a couple of weeks, and, like this old home, there are areas of my heart and mind that need some definite renovating.  Ideas that need molding and shaping and carrying out.  Old wounds that need to be scraped and cleansed so that new skin can grow and bring a final healing.  This old heart of mine resembles on of those cracked glass vases - only I"m not so sure it is as pretty as the ones I've seen.  That is where I need to take stock.  How have the things in my life shaped who I am, and have the shaped me for better or worse??? 
     So today is another day of stepping into the attic and taking a scary peak around, both literally and alegorically... Seeing what needs sweeping out and replacing, and seeing if there is anything worth keeping.  so...ttfn, i'll let you know what i find...

Fourth of July Weekend 2010

   This Fourth of July weekend started off in the duldroms.  Hurricane Alex hit the Mexico coastline, and Southern Texas reeped the delightful benefits of being on the dirty side of the storm.  Dark gray thunderheads, torrential rain, flooding, road closures... That is how the weekend started off, with forecasts calling for rain through the following weekend.  Bleak outlook to say the least.
     My father lives on the San Bernard River where they had major flooding.  The boat parade scheduled for Saturday was cancelled.  Peoples' boats were floating unmanned down the river at the mercy of the strong current ripping through the river.  Thankfully, the flooding stopped just short of entering peoples' homes.  Dad almost suffered the tragic loss his 7 1/2 foot pink flamingo, but, thankfully, he had the foresight to tie it off.  (Pics of the flamingo must come later).
     Friday was spent trapped indoors.  We were foolish enough to venture out at one point, and we returned to the house looking like drenched rats.  Movie rentals were the order of the day. 
     By the time Saturday arrived, the natives were becoming restless...  Thankfully, we walked outside, and we were greeted with fleeting glimpses of blue skies.  The dark gray thunderheads had disipated a bit, and the sky was now filled with my favorite puffy, billowy, white and gray clouds.  So of course we had to venture out.  We did hit some rain as we left, but only briefly. 

And the closer we came to town (we live 30 minutes from the nearest city of any real size, and it only has a population of 22,000 plus people), the more the sky cleared.  Here are some pics we snapped of our beautiful Texas skies...

I have lived in Texas since I was 6 years old, and I still have not adjusted to the hot, humid weather the summer brings.  But, with it come these beautiful Texas skies, and I must say with them I am simply in love.  They are beautiful and majestic, so deep and layered and intense. 

   Thankfully, the weekend began looking up.  We went and saw "The Last Airbender," which I liked but my daughter said was just ok.  Then, we went shopping for fireworks.  This is one of our family's favorite times of year.  A pyromaniac's dream!!  And we have a little of the pyro bug in us. 
     The Fourth of July is a proud moment in American History.  I love the display of the American Flag everywhere you go.  Communities gather together in huge celebrations of American Freedom.  You see everything American from hot dogs to apple pie, to the American soldier.  Red, white, and blue is EVERYWHERE!  People are genuinely happy!  It just seems as if we are all taken back to a simpler time where family, community, and the celebration of the simple things in life are the order of the day.  I am truly proud to be an American.
     This year, we chose to go it simple with a family bar-b-que at my mom's, and fireworks to follow.  My daughter is the grandmaster of our firework show, and I simply love to see her beautiful face light up with child-like glee as she lights the fireworks in giddy anticipation of the glittery, colorful display to come.  I love watching my mom, who enjoys the show as much as Danie.  You can see the child from long ago emerge in her smile and childlike laughter as she throws the "Snappers" and writes her name in the night sky with a glowing red-hot sparkler.  These moments are indelibly etched into my heart and mind forever. 
     This weekend did not begin with much promise, but it did close with a huge bang!  I am so grateful to live in this beautiful country we call America.  God has truly blessed us!  And I reminded that freedom is never free.  Many millions of Americans have paid with their lives so we can enjoy our freedom today.  My thanks go out to their families and loved ones who have paid the price as well.  May God hold you close to his heart and turn you ashes into beauty.

May God Bless America!!!