Church Lady's Blog

Tears & Laughter

TEARS :  Oh, what do you do when your child's heart is broken for the first time?  I wish I had the answer... I felt like I had been turned inside out when I saw the look on her face and the tears on her cheeks yesterday afternoon.... and it really wasn't as bad as it could've been.  They're on a "break".  They're "just friends" now.  Her expectations and hopes were crushed.

LAUGHTER :  But I'm so proud of the way she's handling this.  This is her first real heart break.  Yes, she was broken and sad about it.  But she wasn't sobbing and coming apart at the seams like some girls do.  She was thoughtful and pensive about it - even trying to see the "bright side" of it all.  That's my girl !  When I asked her if she wanted her father to kill him, she shook her head 'no'.   When I asked her if she wanted her father to scare the crap out of him, she laughed and shook her head 'yes'.  I'm so grateful to the Lord for making her first love.... and subsequently her first heart break - with someone so sweet. 

This trip to Europe is exactly what she needs EXACTLY when she needs it.  God's timing is so wonderful - so perfect.  And when I felt my own heart aching alongside hers last night, I was reminded of how much more His heart must be aching for her sadness.  I'm so thankful - so blessed - to know my Savior loves my daughter even more than I do.

Good from the Bad

We have had our mantel mirror for about 8 years now.  It's large - ornate - and it was an expensive purchase.  It's graced our mantel for a long time and Big D and I just assumed it always would.

Our cats changed that.

Normally, none of them get up on the mantel at all.  Well, for some reason, about a week ago, our most innocent and sweet baby kitty - Gus - decided she needed to be on the mantel.  Her growth was stunted from being starved as a kitten (before we found her) and her mental aptitude is quite low from that as well...so it's difficult to be angry at her.  We gently shooed her from the mantel twice.... the third time, the mirror came down with her.

Big D said he was actually sick to his stomach over it.

This summer we had replacement windows installed in our upstairs bedrooms. The windows that were taken out were the original windows to our 100+ year old home.  They are....well, old.... but they have quite a lot of charm and I just couldn't bring myself to throw them out.  I'm glad now that we did keep them.....

Big D bought me this antique iron a couple weeks ago while we were in Bedford, Indiana on a one-day road trip.  I like it paired with his antique railroad lantern.

The tiger chairs are SUPER comfortable, but I'm considering reupholstering them......

So despite losing a favorite item from our home, we're pretty happy with the mantel 2.0 design.  I have a few more touches to add to it this week, but overall, Big D and I are both happy this accident forced our hand.  What do you think ?

Little Things

Even with a large issue playing itself out before my eyes (and my heart), I'm doing my best to appreciate and be thankful for the little things....because there are SO MANY little things to be thankful for every. single. day.

Delicious Hash Brown Casserole

I was recently asked to provide a breakfast for around 45-50 women as they prepare for an upcoming Walk to Emmaus.  I enlisted the help of some friends from church who I knew I could count on for yummy dishes.  All of the dishes were spectacular (mmmm... pineapple upside-down biscuits.....), but all of us LOVED this one.  I even made it yesterday for a youth breakfast at church.  So, thank you Rita, for this wonderful recipe!

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

• 2 bags Ore Ida Peppers & Onions Hash Browns
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 stick margerine (melted)
• Cup and a half of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 10 oz sour cream

Let the hash browns set out about an hour to thaw. Put hash browns in a big bowl. Pour in melted stick of margerine, 1 cup cheese, cream of chicken soup and sour cream. Stir all together. Put in 13x9 glass pan. Bake at 425 degrees for about 40-50 minutes, depending on how hot your oven bakes. About 10 mintues before it's done, sprinkle the remaining half cup cheese over the top.  Cook until it melts and gets all gooey.

Enjoy.

 

12 Things

Total randomness today, folks.....

1. Starting to get a hold on what my new job will be like.  i'm happy so far.  Can't wait to be busier.
2. I love my cat, Milo.  Milo Longtail - I love you.
3. God, I wish Downton Abbey was on every single night instead of just once a week.
4. One word : P I N T R E S T .
5. I have a dear friend who made a comment on FB the other day that upset me greatly.  She mentioned that she needs to work in an office with only people of her same color.  (She's an African American.)  What type of reaction do you think I would've received from the general FB Nation if I had made a comment stating that I need to work in an office with only white people ?  There would've been outrage and cries of racism.  But somehow when it comes in the other direction, no one blinks an eye.  Such a double standard.
6. Facebook is NOT a political platform, people.  So get down off it.  Sooooooooo annoying when people (i.e. one of my family members to be precise) tries to BERATE and NAMECALL anyone who disagrees with his personal point of view.  How uncivil and sometimes just downright cruel.
7. I'm asking for prayers for my son right now.  He is lost on his life's journey and shows no sign of wanting to be found.  He's in some real trouble and shows no signs of remourse for his choices or concern for his future.  I know the Lord has a plan, so I'm confident of the outcome....but geez watching him continuously destroy himself is heartbreaking.
8. I hit the lotto.  No, not the Indiana lotto or the Louisiana lotto..... the Love Lotto.  My husband is the best - and although I know I tell him that frequently, it's still not enough.  He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm so thankful for the blessing of his love.
9. I need a new set of corning ware baking dishes - you know, the ceramic kind.
10. We need a new set of towels.  Ours are scratchy.
11. Why does it always seem you're in the most comfortable position - warmest place on the bed - nothing bunched up under you for the first time all night long - finally dozing off into a deep and quiet dreamland when the freaking alarm goes off ?
12. My boss is insane.  Good-insane, but insane.  I love working for him, but he is, indeed, insane.