Tag Archive | Family

Discovering Joyful Living: A Personal Reflection

You know, it’s so easy to say, “I want to be joyful” but what exactly does that mean?

I remember speaking on the topic of “Joy” at a women’s retreat. One of the sessions was titled “Joy in the Journey”. Now, anyone who knows me is aware it’s not the journey that does it for me…

It’s THE RESULTS!!!

I am definitely a results oriented person. I find great pleasure in immediate gratification. The journey is equivalent to waiting and waiting is not one of my strong suits! With that said, I was given the word “Joyful” for 2025. I definitely better figure this out before the year is up…My days are fleeting! Heck 2024 came and went before I realized it!

So with that said, I guess a good place to start is with the definition of Joyful.

JOYFUL: experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight

Hmmm…based on that definition, I would say I’m pretty joyful. Well, most of the time. Uh, well, I guess it would depend on the circumstances. Heck, who knows…some days it’s like a roller coaster. One minute I’m up and experiencing pleasure, feel satisfied or am delighted. the next, I’m serious, hyper focused, or distracted. I’m pretty sure my word for 2025 should have been “Complex”!!! Oh wait, where’s the growth in that…I’m already “Complex”. I’m pretty sure God wants me to focus on being JOYFUL and that means…I GOT WORK TO DO!!!

So, Welcome to My Journey to Discovering Joyful Living!

Now, hear me…I am not saying I am not joyful. I do have episodes of joyfulness just not consistently. I’m also not saying you don’t have a joyful life but what I am saying is… we all go through seasons. So, if you are going though a dry season please join me on my journey.

Come on…Let’s get started!

Now this is where I get stuck! Only on the 1st paragraph of the “journey” and I’ve already hit a major pothole. It’s at this point I could go in so many different directions!!!

So, usually when I’m looking for answers I go to Google and search for scriptures. Yep, while I take into account what other people say, I want to know what God’s word says. So, like a good soldier I typed in “Scriptures on Joyful”. Several verses came up. Many had the word joy but one particular scripture had the word “Joyful” and really resonated with me. It’s probably because I was recently diagnosed with Spondylosis.

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” .

Wow…Spondylosis is a chronic condition that refers to the gradual wearing down of the spine’s cartilage and bones. A supple and strong bone is much more difficult to wear down or break. Yep, over the course of my life, my spirit has been crushed.

I know I’m not the only one! Gosh look at those effected by Hurricane Helene or the wildfires in California. Bless their hearts, those people literally lost everything!!! So, please hear me, in no way am I making light of their pain and suffering. But, we too are on a journey and our pain and heaviness is very real as well. Things like…

Loss of a child, spouse, parent, grandparent, friend: Gosh, I’ve experienced the loss of each and the pain never leaves. I will say, that over time, the wound is no longer as fresh. None the less, the loss does leave scars for life.
Catastrophic losses like storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and fires: I can say, I’ve had my fair share of hurricanes and flooding. I’ve been effected by 2 floods in my life. Both were hard but the flood when I was 12 years old was the worst. I lost my sense of security and safe place. It was the structure not people that made me feel secure growing up. I guess that’s why home is so important to me even today.
Loss of relationships: It’s painful loosing a relationship with a loved one or a friend. Sometimes the loss isn’t always a falling out but instead a drifting away. Either way, there is a loss or disconnect and it can weigh you down. Now, I would like to say that sometimes this isn’t a bad thing. It just may be God’s protection on your life or emotional well-being.
Hurt Feelings: Oh my, I could go on forever on this one!!! I am here to tell you, my feelings have been hurt more times than I can count. For me the hurt is typically caused by setting my expectations too high. Or, because I make it all about me. Or, I just don’t consider the source and where they’ve been or what they’ve been through. And, then sometimes…People are just mean!!! Emotions are a bugger!!!

This list could go on for days but I think I’m unstuck. I finally know the direction I need to go!

I need to remember those things that bring me pleasure, what gives me satisfaction and who or what delights me. Then for 2025, I need to expand my list!!!

So, here’s my current list of things which lend to my joyful life:

Excursions with Richard
- Taking a drive
- Having lunch
- Running errands
- Stopping in at a winery
Time with Family
Time Alone with God
Relaxing at Home
Baking
Working in our Yard
Working in the Garden
Sitting out by the fire pit
Coffee on the porches
Walks on the property
Driving around the property in the side by side
Painting furniture and decor
Floral design
Writing

Yes, I know that is a pretty long list. Just so you know, I could go on and on but for the sake of time…I’ll stop!

I have been so incredibly blessed by reflecting on this list. In fact, my mind was completely redirected from those things that I’ve been though (both shared and not shared).

I Think I’m Having an “Ah Ha” Moment!!!

By changing my focus from trials to triumphs, my tests to testimonies, and suffering to healing it will yield a joyful life

Now for the hard part… I must remember to say “Ah Ha!!!” during my meltdown. I should also try to do this in a crisis or when dealing with that person who has hurt me.

My prayer for you is God will restore you to a joyful state and continue to pour out His Blessings on Your Life ❤

2024 Year in Review: A Journey of Gratitude

Dec29

Each year I ask God to give to me a word for the year. In 2024 that word was GRATITUDE. This entire year I’ve had so much gratitude for all of the beautiful blessings gifted to us. We love living near Brandi and Robi, and having Cheyenne and David close by. We have such a peaceful home with scenic views and surrounded by nature. We’ve also had a few adventures along the way. We have been blessed with so much but it feels like the year flown by. Yet it blows our minds when we think about all we’ve done in such a short time.

We moved to Roan Mountain last December. The interior of the house was completed just in time for us to move in and get settled before Christmas. It was wonderful but to say the exterior was a hot mess was an understatement! We had a makeshift driveway and there were mounds of dirt everywhere. The yard looked like a construction dump sight. Then to make matters worse there were natural springs running out of the mountain creating a muddy mess. So, in January the focus was for the contractors to construct the retaining wall.

Meanwhile, we were trying to get acclimated to the ICE & SNOW!!!

As for my Mom…She Absolutely Loves Watching it Snow!!!

In February the Work on the Retaining Wall Continued

The footer was formed, concrete poured, and the blocks were laid despite the rain and active springs!

February was also a time of celebration. We got to celebrate our granddaughter, Cheyenne’s 24th Birthday in our new home.

Now That Was a Great Memory!!!

Then during March and April, the construction of the wall continued until completion. Also, Brandi and Richard started work on the garden. Oh man, what an undertaking that was!!!

Progress on The Wall

Prep Work on The Garden

Then towards the middle of April we noticed things were really greening up. It was so beautiful. But, we had a lot of cleanup to do before the crew arrived to do our dirt work.

Also during April, I started learning a lot about foraging. Cheyenne and David took us out and taught us how to forage for morel mushrooms.

OH MY…Talk About Yummy!!!

Oh, and we did a little hiking in with Brandi.

We LOVE Her Sense of Adventure!

In May, we began to hear the rumble of motorcycles heading up the mountain to Carver’s Gap. As the weather got warmer, the motorcycles got louder and yep, you guessed it!

Richard Bought a Trike!!!

May was also the month the dirt work was done. The yard was hydroseeded and a proper driveway was put in…Finally, it was time to start work on walkways and flower beds!!!

June and July was spent outdoors working in the yard and garden. It was glorious!!! We laid five pallets of flagstone. Then, created flower beds. We then set up the fire pit area. It was nice working outside while being surrounded by the splendid beauty of God’s creation!!!

June was also when our grandson Brandon, Sarah, Payton, and Skylar flew in for a visit. Family hikes and sitting out by the fire pit made for some great memories!

Then towards the end of June and into July harvest season was upon us. Not only did we have to gather the produce but also preserve it all. So, I canned, dehydrated, froze, and baked A LOT!!! It was definitely a learning curve for me and I had to be quick study…The produce was not gonna wait!!!

Then in July everything came to an immediate halt!!! Now, July thru August was not a good memory. It was a memory that made an impact on our lives nonetheless. One day after some strenuous work in the yard, I noticed my back was sore. So, I took some Aleve and applied ice. After about a week it started feeling a little better so I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies. I pulled the cookie sheet from the oven. As I turned to put them on the island, I went down in excruciating pain. This pain was like none I had ever experienced before!!! Richard had gone to get the mail. Mom was still in bed asleep. I tried to call Richard, Brandi, and Robi…No answer! Then I remember making my way to the couch while sending a 911 text to everyone. Brandi called me back instantly and before I knew it they were all three standing in our living room. To sum it up, an ambulance took me to the trauma center in Johnson City. There, they discovered I had severe stenosis on the left at L5-S1 foramina and spinal canal. They also found a cyst on my spine. Also, my vertebra at L4 had slipped forwards over the S1 vertebra. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and scheduled for surgery a month out. During that time, the doctor’s office worked to get a pre authorization for the surgery. The procedure was going to be over $200,000.00!!!

At this point, I would like to interject that I can’t say enough good about my coverage!!! We were extremely nervous because it was not conventional coverage but a Christian Program called WeShare. They are amazing, kind, and they really care!!! At first, we were told my surgery would not be covered. Many phone calls were made. Due to the work of an amazing employee at WeShare, my final out of pocket ended up being $5,000! Folks…THAT WAS GOD!!!

Also during this time, I was told I could not lift, bend, or twist. It was impossible for me to care for my Mom. Bless her heart, she was so understanding and agreed to stay at our local nursing facility as a respite patient. Aug 22nd I had my surgery and after a couple days in the hospital, I was sent home to recuperate. I was to wear a brace for 8 weeks, no lifting, bending, or twisting.

Meantime, Mom was still in the nursing facility. She was struggling to adapt to having a room mate. The sleep wake cycles did not match hers. She was having difficulty with the food, and being away from us. So, we made the decision to bring her home two weeks after my surgery. Now let me be clear… There was no way Mom would come home but for Richard’s willingness to help with her care. Mom also has a care giver that comes in 10 hours a week…She is AMAZING and Mom loves her dearly. So, between the three of us we have worked out a routine. This has allowed Mom to be back with us. For that… I am eternally grateful!!!

Mom Says, “There’s No Place Like Home!!!“

Then just as we thought things were about back to “Normal”, Hurricane Helene hit! Now, I have lived on the Gulf Coast most all my life. I have never experienced the effects of a hurricane on the coast like we did here in Tennessee with Helene. The aftermath was and continues to be devastating for so many in this area. The Doe River runs through our daughter and son-in-law’s property. Though it’s a small river, it is a force to be reckoned with when it floods!!!

Screenshot
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Though we were surrounded by devastation, we realized how incredibly blessed we were…All our family and their animals were not harmed!!!

After hurricane Helene, September, October, and November were dedicated to cleanup and continued healing. At my 8 week doctor’s visit I was released from the back brace. Then on the next visit I was released to ride on the motorcycle again.

Praise God…Just in time for Fall Foliage!!!

Then in Late November We Also Got Our 1st Snow!!!

The holidays were quiet for us. Brandi and Robi spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas with family in Texas. We definitely miss them when they’re away. Nevertheless, we do get to spend a lot of quality time with our Tennessee family and grand critters year round. WE LOVE THAT!!!

Well, that’s a wrap! 2024 is coming to a close and 2025 will be here in a couple of days. I guess the old saying stands true… “TIME FLIES WHEN YOUR HAVING FUN“

WE’VE HAD A BLAST IN 2024

and

FOR THAT WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE!!!

Wishing Each and Everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

My Word For The Year 2024

Jan5

Each year I wait patiently for God to give me a “Word For The Year”. I usually know what the word is by January 1st but this year that didn’t happen. Perhaps it was because I have been a little distracted during the year 2023.

2023 WAS A WHIRLWIND

2023 was one crazy hard year for me…I am chronicling it primarily for my benefit. I never want to forget what God carried us through nor do I want to ever fail to give Him the Glory for staying right by our side while going through it. Not all I went through is share worthy but I will just reiterate 2023 was one of the most difficult years of my life!!!

On January 1, 2023 our daughter and son-in-law left Texas and moved to Tennessee. Talk about hard…The longest I have ever been separated from Brandi were the times she would go on vacation and I knew she would return home and we would pick up where we left off. This experience was totally different; it was permanent!!! Although we knew she would come to visit and we would go there, it was an emotional rollercoaster for me. No more pop-in visits, no phone calls asking me to run errands, and it would no longer be a 15 minute drive to her house.

In February Brandi and Robi proposed the idea of us joining them in Tennessee. After a lot of discussion and planning, Robi chose a beautiful spot on the side of the mountain and Brandi designed a house for us.

In March we went on a family cruise. It was our 1st cruise and I was a nervous wreck on many levels…”What do I wear, how will I manage being away from mom that long, and most importantly; how the heck am I going to deal with not being able to see land?”!!! Well, let me just say, it was an AMAZING trip!!! All my anxieties left once I was surrounded by my kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. In addition, Richard and I were able to relax and enjoy some much needed alone time which is so important to us and our relationship.

Upon our return from the cruise we knew we had just under 9 months before we would move. Richard’s last day of work would be December 1, 2023 which was a Friday and we scheduled 2 full size Penske trucks and a team of movers for December 4th the following Monday. Then it was on to the daunting task of trying to determine what to take with us and what to get rid of. In addition to our household items, I had a shed full of projects I was actively working on or had completed to sell and oh my gosh was that hard!!! It wasn’t cleaning out the shed that was difficult but having to do it in temperatures that were in the triple digits. Now that almost killed me!!!

Meanwhile, while trying to downsize and pack, I was also caring for my mother, taking her to medical appointments, consolidating 2 households, and coordinating the sell of her home. Let me just say, none of which were easy!!! My heart was heavy for my Mom, she had lost her husband, her mobility, her independence, and now she was having to deal with the rollercoaster of emotions associated with settling her estate. Let me take this opportunity to advise (free of charge of course) those couples with blended families to run not walk to an attorney’s office and draw up a will. This is to protect the surviving spouse both financially and emotionally. Very long story short, it took over a year working with a lawyer and a lot of prayer to get Mom’s estate settled.

Now, selling our home was nowhere near as complicated!!! On a Sunday afternoon early August, Richard purchased a “For Sale By Owner” sign and stuck it in the front yard. On Monday morning he got a call and set up an appointment for a couple to come by and look at the house. When they arrived on Monday we were very transparent and let them know we would not be moving until December. By Thursday of that same week we had an executed contract, they agreed to allow us to remain in the house until December, and closed on August 25th. People…THAT WAS GOD!!!

Labor Day week we flew to Tennessee and witness first hand some of the construction on our house. We were able to see color choices, cabinetry, tile, granite, and flooring. We were blown away by all the work Brandi had done!!! She really could have her own show on HGTV…She is just that good at home design!

On October 13th we left West Columbia pulling Richard’s utility trailer loaded down with the fire pit, BBQ pit/smoker, and zero radius mower. We were taking a load of outdoor things to Tennessee as we knew those were the things that would not fit on the Penske trucks. We really enjoyed our visit in Tennessee but were anxious to return to Texas as we had sooo much to do to get ready for the move.

Once we returned home it was on like Donkey Kong…Packing was our focus! Thank goodness the temperatures were cooler and Mom was able to sit outside and talk with me while I worked. She even was able to pitch in and help wrap dishes and perform other tasks that were not too strenuous for her.

December 1st was finally here…Richard’s last day at work!!! I was so excited for him…He would experience a kind of freedom he had not known since before we were married. Sounds good but remember, the Penske trucks and movers would arrive on Monday. So now, Richard was working harder than ever and he was also experiencing the stress of the actual move…Loading the trucks, would it all fit, the drive, the stress of knowing Mom and I would be driving up separately. The greatest stress however was not knowing if the house would be completed by the time we arrived in Tennessee. So, without knowing for sure he scheduled the movers to unload us on December the 8th.

December 4th, mom and I set out together our brand new all wheel drive Honda Passport headed to Tennessee. We wanted to leave before Richard and Robi (who graciously flew down to drive one of the Penske trucks back for us) so we could stay ahead of them. Then if we ran into any issues they would be headed our way and not have to double back for us. We were so excited…We were headed out for the trip of a lifetime. Mom couldn’t wait to see the mountains!!! We made it to Baytown traveling on I-10 when a huge piece of sheet metal flew under the car. Yep, you guessed it…We were literally dragging metal down the road. I pulled over at a sand pit, went up to one of those huge dump trucks, and asked the driver to help me figure out what to do. He was so kind and advised me to put the car in reverse and he guided me until the metal dislodged. I thanked him and we were off again…That is until I reached 35mph and the worst grinding noise was heard coming out from under the car. Well, my God is sooo good…I looked up and at the next exit would you believe there was a Honda dealership!!! It took them about 1.5hrs to make the needed repair and then we were back on the road again. I told Mom, I had to believe it was God’s hand of protection that prevented us from being involved in a catastrophic event further down the road.

Just outside of Chattanooga TN the guys met up with us and we all caravanned the remaining stretch of the trip. We arrived the evening of the December 5th and woke to snow the morning of December 6th. It was absolutely stunning to see everything covered in white and the peace I had craved the entire year of 2023 fell over me. That’s when I knew I was home and the struggles I had endured in 2023 were so worth the reward.

December 8th we received the certificate of occupancy from the inspector that morning and the movers arrived soon after to move us up the mountain. Whew…what a day!!! Boxes and furniture were flying off the trucks faster than I could tell them where to put them. By the end of the day the beds were set up, couches in place, and we were surrounded by wall to wall boxes.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! How do you unpack a house? One box at a time! So, for 12hrs a day 7 days straight, I unpacked, hung pictures, hung curtains, arranged furniture and move each box at least 4-5 times. Richard helped as he could but had his own list of things that had to be done such as returning the moving trucks, buying groceries, going to the post office, and running errands for me as I needed things. It was a mad rush to get things settle as our grandsons and their families were coming for Christmas on the 16th.

Christmas with our family was amazing. It definitely goes down as a Christmas I will never forget!!! Mom was in heaven! She was surrounded by little ones…She loves babies!!!

Though the house is finished on the inside the exterior work was far from done. It was really important to have a retaining wall errected to prevent a landslide and wiping us off the mountain all together. So, it has been a constant beeping of the Excavator and Bobcat backing up, vehicles moving up and down the mountain, hammering, and having a driveway that’s been inaccessible but so worth it for our safety and peace of mind.

Now, all that to explain what I meant by the comment, “I’ve been a little distracted”. This week I have finally been able to find some time to be alone and focus on the journey over the past year and process some of the emotions that have bombarded my nervous system. I have had time to read my Bible, journal, and pray. I have had time to express my gratitude to God for all He has done for me and my family. Wait…There it is!!! My word for 2024

Gratitude: When you feel thankful for the good things in your life. This could be stuff people often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, and family. Gratitude is taking a moment to reflect on how lucky you are when something good happens, whether it’s small or big.

I have so much to be thankful for…I could not even begin to list them all. Every morning I open my eyes my first thoughts are those of gratitude. I have also learned if I remain in a state of gratitude it is impossible to turn my thoughts to the negativity that constantly tries to worm into my life.

Give it a try…Stay in a state of gratitude for a few minutes, then a few hours, and finally all day…Every Day!

Happy 2024 Everyone!!!

Love,

Lee

Do You Feel Lonely or Forgotten

Feb7

Most of My Entire Married Life, I Have Been…ALONE and At Times Felt LONELY

Being Alone is not an easy place to be for many. In-fact the divorce rate jumps from an average of 11% to 57% among shift workers because the shift workers spouses are so lonely.

As the spouse of a shift worker, I often find myself “alone”. Though I have a fabulous marriage and adore Richard with every fiber of my being and I know he adores me…I am often alone and at times find myself lonely (There is a difference in being alone and being lonely). In our earlier years it was less obvious because we had children and they filled my void. As I have gotten older and our children have left the nest…I have filled my lonely days with Work, Projects, Facebook, Blogging, and of course…Retail Therapy.

However, as I have gotten older, I have also come to realize there is something far worse than being lonely…

Being Forgotten!

In my current role as Director of Nursing in a Skilled Nursing Facility I have become keenly aware that being forgotten is far worse than being lonely. Loneliness can be remedied through touch, conversation, laughter, and activities. There is however only one remedy for Forgotten and it is being Remembered by those the love!!!

Forgotten Can be a Subtle Transition or Blatant and Purposeful

Forgotten can gradually evolve when your children learn a new level of independence…When they learn to toilet alone, dress themselves, cut up their own meat, cook their own meals, drive themselves, leave home, get married, have children and develop adult friendships and hobbies. While this is a natural and essential process of maturing…One feels Forgotten!

Forgotten can occur when a friend moves away or you able to witness them develop and nurture new friendships via social media and all the while calls and contacts are farther and fewer between…One Feels Forgotten!

Forgotten can also occur when families grow apart or together without you…One Feels Forgotten!

Here are Some ways I have found to cope with being Lonely or Forgotten…

Be realistic: Everyone gets left out
Look honestly at the situation: Seek like-minded people
Make a choice to be better not bitter: Don’t wallow in self-pity
Smile: Makes people wonder what you’re up to
Try not to read too much into being left out: Look for the simplest explanation first
Find something to do: This will distract you
Talk to your spouse or a trusted friend about your feelings: It helps to have someone to keep you grounded
Listen openly to their responses: Feedback provides an opportunity for growth
Be proactive: Take the initiative to reach out to those who want to be a part of your life
Heed the message: Remove yourself from those who drag you down and make you feel alone and forgotten

Always Remember…

A Season of Loneliness and Isolation is When the Caterpillar Gets its Wings

Seasons Greetings

Dec28

Seasons Greetings from Our Home to Yours

We have all heard the saying “The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men”…Well, it was my plan to get this greeting out before Christmas but time just got away from me.

It has been a fast and furious year for Richard and me. Richard continues to work at BASF as a Process Technician working long hours a lots of over time. I started a new job about a year ago at Woodlake Nursing Center as the Director of Nursing. I too put in a lot of hours and am on call 24/7. While it is a demanding job, it is by far the most favorite position I’ve held. Not a day goes by without a hug from a Resident, Family Member, or a Co-Worker. Hugs by the way are my Love Language! So, while we are very grateful to have jobs we are more thankful for any time we are able to spend together.

When we do have time together, we try to connect with our Children and Grandchildren. Brandon and Sarah have blessed us with the most beautiful great granddaughter, Payton. Mike is a Senior in High School, and Cheyenne enjoying her first year in High School which has afforded us lots of family time. We have attended Marching Contests, Band Concerts, and lots of Football Games. It has been such a joy to watching Cheyenne celebrate her passion…Music! I am especially proud of Brandi and Robi for allowing her to pursue her passion!!!

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Our girls are doing very well. Tori continues to live in Austin and comes home to visit as her schedule allows. We were able to spend a whole week with her just before Christmas which was especially nice since it was the week of Richard and my Wedding Anniversary. Tori said it best…”It is Our Anniversary” meaning we all celebrate the Love Richard and I share. Brandi stays busy being a Band Mom, volunteering at the Wildlife Refuge, and working with the Children’s Choir at church. Both Brandi and Robi are so enjoying grand-parenting!

In addition to our children, we have been blessed with a couple of extra fur babies. Last Spring a Tuxedo Kitten emerged from the woods and adopted us. Chey named him Tucker and he instantly was home! Then in October, we were blessed with a little girl Lemon Beagle pup. Chey named her Remi. She is a working pup…Everyday she goes to work with me and rounds on the Residents. While this increases my work load, I realize the worth when a Resident I had not heard speak for a good while stopped me to say, “Hey, that’s a pretty little puppy” and then smiled or Remi comes up missing and I find her cuddled in bed with one of the Residents sleeping. She is definitely a blessing to many!

We are thankful for all God has allowed us to do over the past year and look forward to the New Year. Though Richard and I have little time together, we make the moments memorable…We truly Live, Laugh, and Love!!!

As the New Year begins, we pray it will be a Year of New Peace, New Joy, and an Abundance of New Friends…

May God Pour Out His Blessings On You in 2015

Happy New Year!!!

Love Richard & Lee Ann

Get Rid Of The Life Suckers

Jan22

How many times have you walked by or into a closet and thought to yourself, “Oh My Gosh…this clutter is killing me” or opened a drawer and said, “I am going to clean this out one of these days”. I call the areas of my home which evoke frustration, dread, or irritation “LIFE SUCKERS”. I am sure you know what I mean…those areas that literally suck the life our of you when near them.

Well, lately I have been checking my pulse to see if I am even alive!!!

Last May we bought our dream home; a home we have admired for over 25 years. With the help of family and friends we moved into the place like a whirlwind…That should say it all. “Essentials” were unpacked and the rest left in boxes and placed in closets, drawers, and cabinets. Needless to say, almost a year later I am still going thru boxes… “Life Sucker”

Each day I pull into the garage of our wonderful home, I am greeted by dark cedar walls, a work bench full of clutter, yard tools scattered throughout the garage. Welcome home… Wow, I am being greeted by a… “Life Sucker”

Then as I exit the car and walk through the breeze-way to the back door, yet another “Life Sucker” tries to grab me…the dark brown paint on the walls doors, and ceiling of the breeze-way and entrance.

As if that were not enough…As I enter the back door, the kitchen with its dark worn cabinetry sucks me in…“Life Sucker”

My list could go on and on to the point I have no pulse so I recently decided to tackle the major “Life Suckers” in my life.

So, during the time period in which I made no entries to my blog…I was very busy trying to take my life back.

First, we started with our cabana out by the pool…It was dark, heavy and uninviting so we lightened it up with a lot of paint!

BEFORE

AFTER

Next, I moved to the kitchen…Also dark, drab and worn thus MORE paint!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

While these were a couple of my big “Life Suckers” I have also manged several small ones as well…

I made a table-cloth to put on my glass top table so I no longer saw finger prints and smears on the glass
Removed heavy curtains in one of the guest rooms and replaced them with light and airy sheers
Cleaned out the closet under the stairs
Unpacked more boxes stored in an upstairs closet
Organized a “Christmas Closet” which holds all the Christmas decorations

No, I haven’t tackled the garage but…that is coming up next!!!

So, if you find the life being sucked out of you by your surroundings…TAKE CHARGE!

Get Rid Of The Life Suckers!!!

Love Lee ♥

Treat Them Like Royalty

Jul27

Oh my, company is coming!!!

So the ritual begins…

You clean the house…Fresh towels in the bathroom, clean linens on the bed, scrub the commodes, spray a few squirts of room freshener and light a candle.
Then you begin meal preparation…Plan the menu, buy the food, bake a dessert, and pull out your best dishes…

Whoah…Wait!!!

While you want your company to feel at home, comfortable, and be impressed, I ask what about the ones you love and live with; those who are your world? Routinely we should do the very things for our family we typically do for company because after all aren’t they the most important people in your world and don’t you want them to know it?

Here are a few ideas to make your family feel special:

Put out fresh towels in the bathroom for your children
Routinely change their linens
Place a vase of fresh-cut flowers next to their bed with a love note on their pillow
Burn a candle
Turn off the TV and turn on some music
Served a sit down meal on your best dishes
Bake some cookies
Put a roast, chicken, or ham in the oven so the house if filled with the aroma of a home cooked meal

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1Peter 4:10

Do for your family what you would do for company…

Treat Them Like Royalty!!!

Love Lee ♥

Let There Be Light

Jun5

For all who have visited our home in Jones Creek know all too well the importance of light in my life. In-fact, anyone who passed our home could see the lights from the street as the electric candles burned in every window to illuminate our home.

These electric candles burn 24/7 as a symbol of life to all who pass by. Life, love, and hope that filles our home served as a beacon for all to join us in our celebration. In-fact, prior to moving, I received a card from a neighbor thanking me for keeping the candles burning throughout the night. She suffered from a chronic illness and spent many sleepless nights gazing out her window across the street at our lights stating they served as a symbol of hope for her. One of the saddest moments I experienced when we moved was unplugging my lights and packing them away.

As I unpacked boxes in our new home, I came across the lights. I debated about putting them in the windows but got side tracked and put the box aside and totally forgot about them. After dinner last night, Richard said, “Hey Babe, can you come here for a minute?”. I followed him outside to the front of the house and Oh My Gosh…The entire front of the house was glowing! He had unpacked my lights…

Let There Be Light…We are Home Now!

Love Lee ♥

You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29

Being Normal

Jun4

Wow, it seems like forever since my life has felt “NORMAL”

When I sit back and reflect on the past seven months no evidence of normality could be found.

Since October:

We sold our home, moved all our belongings into storage
We moved into our motor home
Richard’s mother passed away
My dad passed away
My job description was redefined
I was hospitalized for a severe infection
I had a root canal
We purchased a home in May and set-up house in 4 weeks
Spent 3 weeks out-of-town on work related trips while trying to move
Hosted the 6th Annual Smith Family Reunion

While things have been hectic we have made many great memories together!!!

Now, I am working my way back to the art of “Being Normal”

Tonight “Normal” included coming home from work to prepare dinner…Richard was elated to eat with a fork!!!

Love Lee ♥

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE RANCH…2011

Dec24

Greetings Our Precious Family and Friends!!!

Wow, this year has flown by and while so much has changed in our lives since 2010, we remain very much the same. This year Richard and I spent time celebrating life events with our family which included birthdays, weddings, graduations, Tae Kwon Do, and basketball. In May family and friends joined us for the 5^th Annual Smith Family Reunion which was filled with lots of food, fun, laughter, and lots of MEMORIES!!! Our lives are so enriched by the moments we have with those we love.

Then in October, heaven gained an Angel and we lost our Nana (Richard’s mother). This Christmas will be especially hard for us as Christmas was Nana’s favorite holiday and Christmas Eve will not be the same without her.

It was also in October we moved to the “Ranch”. We sold our home and moved into our 38 foot motorhome…Talk about a huge task!!! All our belongings which were in our 3,100 SF home are now housed in 3 different storage buildings and have no clue where to find anything!!!

I am sure about now you are probably thinking we have lost our minds…I assure you we have not!!! We will be building a home on our daughter and son-in-law’s ranch right across from our precious granddaughter!!! Wooohooo…talk about making some incredible memories…In-fact we have already started!!! A huge thanks to our son-in-law, Robi for getting a place for the RV set-up while we were busy moving…We would not have made it without his help!!!

Since moving into the RV, we’ve added a deck, put up a fence, made time for play breaks, and even taken a trip to New Mexico for Thanksgiving where we spent quality time with Brandi and Robi in Taos before driving to Albuquerque for time with Uncle Russell, Aunt Karen, and Richard’s cousins…Making Those Memories!!!

Richard continues to work for BASF as a process technician and for Alston Group LLC as a technical writer. Lee Ann celebrated her 10th Anniversary at Angleton Danbury Medical Center and continues to focus on the Revenue Cycle and Case Management. We both are keenly aware of how blessed we are to have such wonderful employers and incredible co-workers.

While life is very simple now…It is a great life!!!

We pray during this Holiday Season God will surround you with His peace and you will take time to bask in His presence throughout the entire year…

Merry Christmas and Lots of Love