Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas!
I hope this finds you all doing ok.
It's amazing what one sees during this most celebrated season.
The other day when I was doing some Christmas shopping, there was two women filled with joy as each tried entering the same parking space and decided to instead of spreading good cheer had decided to have a delightful stare down and entertain the gathering crowd wondering who would give up first. I had thought to pay the one lady to follow me to my parking space that would soon be free. It was close to the entrance but I decided at last to let them enjoy their state down and wish then both well and drove away in hopes that their true joy would soon return.
There were the usual crying kids, the frustrated shoppers, I wished them all a happy finding the perfect gift with of course the sale they were wishing for. While at the mall, I love to get a cup of expensive coffee, and sit down next to an elderly person and engage them in conversation and hear of the tales of their family memories of Christmases past. Some good stories I've heard and it puts a smile on my face.
It is also amazing to me that just as the most crucial time of the season, that events happen to just make me change the whole "perfect plan" of Christmas that was pictured in my head. I had just returned home happy with the finds that were now in the back of my Honda Element. I had backed up a bit close to the Lilac bush and so I opened the top half to retrieve the packages from the back. After getting them all out I moved my head out of the way to close the 'trunk' and gave it a good push down to close it. The only problem was that I wasn't quite out of the way and well, long story short, ended up with 6 staples in my head. Oh that did hurt. Those interruptions to our perfect plans!
Well, I've learned that when good plans get messed up that what we do with those make or brakes the 'goodness' of the holiday, so I'm deciding to get happy and continue on with focusing on the real meaning of the season.
Today, Naomi and I will make a Gingerbread house and play Christmas carols. I will not be going to church tonight as my hear looks horrid as I can't wash my hair where the staples are at, right in front where everyone can see them. They will be coming out two days after Christmas. Thankfully we are going to stay home this Christmas and enjoy each other.
Brian will serve at one of three places that our church is feeding the homeless and people who are needing some joy. Though I won't be attending, I will be cooking.
I hope that you all find ways to celebrate and spread some joy to others.

Merry Christmas!

Mercy, It's almost here!

Oh, I am shuddering in my boots. I have so many things to finish, to do, and decorate yet. It is just starting to dawn on me how close Christmas is and how far away I am in being ready. Well, one really wonderful thing is, is that we finaly have a real tree. It is the first one I've had in over...... well... many years. The first one since we've been married, (16 yrs now) and the very first real one for our daughter. The smell of pine just makes me feel calm and cozy. I love it.

I've just started doing my Christmas cards. Three or so done and about 30 more to go. Every year I think I am going to write a fantastic, interesting and not a bragging kind of Christmas letter, but here we are, just days away from that great Christmas day and not a moment to even think further about it. This year, as far as gifts are concerned, I'm keeping things very simple. Some will be home made, some will be ....... well.... ... I'm not going to tell. lol.. I Know, you thought I'd be dropping hints. No Way!

This Christmas we are going to help serve and cook as our church is serving several hundred Christmas dinners at three different locations to people who are homeless or really need help.

I hope that this Christmas you feel the presence of God as you are loved so much by him.



God bless you all!

What I want for Christmas

Hi to all,
Well, it is now December. We've finally had our first snow storm, there is ice in the driveway and on the sidewalk, so yes, winter is here.
We've been starting to get ready for Christmas. I made a garland for the mantel and it turned out very pretty if I must say so myself.
Brian, put lights on a little tree and put it in the window as well as candle lights in each of the windows.
I'm hoping to be able to get a real tree this year. The realization came to me that I am really missing the ol' "Woodhull" kind of Christmas. You know, when you don't have to dress up fit to kill, sit and appear all proper and hooty-snooty, talk about stocks and other meaningless stuff. I am so wanting a dress comfy, enjoy the parades on TV. open gifts, have Christmas music playing, have simple food, and most importantly focus on Jesus; the reason for the season. That's the description of what I want my Christmas to be.
As Christmas draws close, please take the time to keep it simple, meaningful, and real.

Merry Christmas Season everyone!

Oh, Things are a'buzzing!

Well, it's been a good while now that I haven't written. The last post as you know was about the decluttering. Y'all know, now, that the homestead isn't the only thing that can be cluttered. There are plenty other things that can get a con fuddled up as well, like the mind, the body, the way things run in our homes, and the list could go on and on. Well, like the good homemaker that I am becoming there are times that I have to rise up, and take the bees by the stinger and just make decisions, though painful for some to accept, but they must be done for the health and well being of the whole. Thus, I, the home maker of this Trimble household has risen up and took hold of the stinger and wage on to declutter several areas at one time. Hubby has received a Thank You card for spurring me on to make HUGE changes in our home and our family. Though I can not say at this moment what those changes are, (just in case he actually reads this some how, he and you all will know what it is in just a few weeks.) Here is one thing that I have put up that I intend to follow through on, seeings how I now rise up to be the "Home Manager".

Home Rules

1. I will treat you with respect so that you will treat me with the same respect.

2. Feel free to do anything that doesn't cause a problem for anyone else.

3. If you cause a problem I will ask you to solve it.

4. If you can't solve it, or refuse to solve it, I will do something.

5. What I do will depend on the special person and the special situation.

6. If you feel it is not fair whisper, "It's not fair" and we will talk.

7. I argue between the times of your free time and before bed. Make an appointment.


The Home Manager,
Mom

Revised from class room rules to home rules from Love and Logic. I so am delighted at the changes that will soon be coming and that are now here in this wonderful loving family.

Y'all have a great day now,

Sheila

Help for the side tracked person.... (me)

OK, I'm very much of a side tracked person, a very easily side tracked person. I go to clean in one spot, see an out of place magazine, and just have to look through it before sending it to 'magazine heaven'. You know how it goes, one little side track to another. Oh, what an awful disease. Yes, just doing this is a side track. I am starting decluttering and doing a re-design in the school/study/formal dinning room, when I passed by the computer, so that lead me to quickly check my email, which then led me to a daily e-letter from Fly Lady which then reminded me that I wanted to print out her 'house zones' that she works through. I then turned the printer on, and printed them out. Ok, so now I have to get a note book to put the pages in. and then I have to put a strip of paper with the title 'Fly Lady Zones' so I can put that down the spine of the notebook. OH, hey, why not put this on my blog so I can share this most wonderful sight with .... um... well others who may just possibly have the same disease as me. Then they can go there to and we can get 'well' together. So here I am. There you are reading this. I love Fly Lady, she is such a most wonderful help to me.
I am determined , just after I finish this blog, to go back to the reason why I even entered this room, and declutter, remake and redesign this room.
Oh yes, here is her sight. If I don't tell you it would be like telling you about he greatest doctor with out giving you the phone number so you can make an appointment. What kind of help would that be. You know, easily side tracked people are the sweetest people, but we just have so many desires to help and change our situations, we have so many wonderful ideas, and yes, we know the steps we have to take to get there, it's just that we notice lots of so many other opportunities along the way. OH, do have patience with us. we're getting there, really we are.

http://www.flylady.com

Have a great day,
Sheila

Bees!

It was a very wonderful sunny, the right kind of cool breeze and a perfect day for being outside. Bruno knew it to. We went out for our usual walk around the house. The yard was freshly cut and smelled refreshingly delightful. Bruno, our dog, was happy to take another stroll around. After all, there were so many scents not yet experienced. We had almost finished our second stroll when we had come upon a small patch of tall grass that had not been cut by our patio. I'm sure that in his mind, he just knew that a small critter just had to live in that patch of uncut, tall grass. So, bravely and with out hesitation in he went to explore a possibility of a 'snack'. He parted the graces with his knows and actually tunneled his way into the depths of green. I was standing a bit back to watch his adventure as I held the leash that I was, no, he was attached to. All of a sudden I saw him beginning to take little jumps this way and that. " Oh, he must be onto his prey", I thought. The next thing I observed was enough to make my heart pound in me. Yellow Jackets... many Yellow Jackets. I yelled for Bruno to come to me quickly only to discover that he had become entangled int he grass and couldn't find his way though the 'tunnel' that he had made to enter the jungle. I pulled him trough the grass with yellow jackets in pursuit. I began to brush the bees off of him then I to received a sting. I had a skirt on and with more of a fear that those yellow beasts would be up my skirt than for my precious dog, I ran to the house and Bruno ran ahead of me. I ran through the garage and closed the door. Into the house we came. I brushed of the handful of the yellow jackets off of Bruno, and cared for my sting. Bruno was so in shock by the stings and the ordeal he ran upstairs. I called the vet and was advised to bring him in. Where was he? He didn't answer me and was no where to be seen. With a pounding heart for fear that he had had a terrible reaction to the stings not knowing how many he had gotten, I ran up stairs to continue my search. What a relief to find him huddling in my closet. He never goes there, but to him, I'm sure that it was a place of safety away from those pain giving flying things.

Even with a bribery of ice scream, his favorite treat, I had to carry him down, and finally was able to make our way to the vet. He was given a shot of benadryl and something for pain. For most of the rest of the day he just slept and stayed on the couch and didn't even bark or want to play until Brian came home from work later on in the evening.

My one sting still stings me, so I really feel bad for what Bruno must have felt like.

So, that was our adventure with a walk with the bees.

The Continuation of Decluttering

Hi, and a great day to you all.
I have some good praise and worship music on and with garbage bags in hand I started to declutter. While making a quick straitening up of the cookbooks, something fell off and is now broken. Oh boy am I upset and fear that I'm going to be in trouble. It's my daughter's ceramic 'Hot Dog In Taco Shell' that she had made last year. So now I get the super glue and am going to put it all back together as best I can and continue the decluttering. What an adventure this is becoming. I love the fact that I can look at something and think, I don't have to keep this. I can choose to be free from it. (That's not what I thought about the 'Hot Dog In A Taco Shell) That is something that should be kept for a very long time.
Oh, I have a great web site for you to go to. I love this site and it's helped me lots.
http://www.flylady.com You will find there the 'how to declutter' help I am using to get this house on the way to become 'in order'.

Happy with the garbage bag,
Sheila_T

School's Starting! What Ever Shall I Do?

Today was a very nice day. Pastor preached a very powerful sermon. If you would like to hear it you can go to http://www.getvictory.net and listen to it on line.

Labor Day is the last official day of summer. School starts on Tuesday. I am so ready. It's been a great summer and I am so looking forward for the offspring to go back to school. What ever shall I do? I shall continue to declutter, to get rid of things that are no longer needed or wanted, to begin a doing Body Flex, and spend more time in God's presence.

Have a great rest of your day,

Sheila

What Teens Want

Hi,
I'm so blessed to have a teen daughter. Just like any other teen gal, she is on the phone like stamp on a letter, there is a continual running list of things that she 'just has to have'. This summer has been full of places to go, things to do, and friends to spend time with. It's been so fun and thoroughly exhausting. lol. When does school start?
I've been hearing a lot on the news about what teens really want. They want time with their parents. I love a homemaking site that I was visiting this morning and came across this article that is just on this very subject. I have been wondering if I should cut and past it here or just post the site. OK, cut and paste and hopefully it isn't way to long.

13 Ways to Spend Time with Your Teenage Daughter
by Rachel Paxton The older my daughter gets, the more it's sinking in that I don't have much time left to spend with her! She's turning 16 in a couple of months, and I know I won't be seeing her much after she gets her driver's license.It's hard to find things to do with your teenage daughter. You might be busy, they might have better things to do...I encourage you not to let this time slip away from you. Our interests may be very different from theirs, but there's always things you can do to bridge the gap.If you have more than one daughter, then make sure they each get their special time alone with you. I have found that these activities are also great for bonding with teens you want to reach out to and build relationships with, like a step-daughter.I've done all of the following activities with my daughter and/or step-daughter and haven't regretted a moment. Someday I will be able to look back and appreciate the moments we shared, and I hope they will too.1. Take your dog(s) on a walk together.2. Cook dinner together, letting her choose the menu and help shop for the ingredients.3. Pick her up from school and take her out to lunch, even if she misses part of a class.4. Drive to the closest big city for the night, stay in a hotel, and spend all the next day shopping and sightseeing, taking time to stop for lunch at an outdoor cafe.5. Read the same book together and talk about it when you're done reading it.6. Do a scriptural book study together.7. Get up early on a Saturday morning, go get coffee, and spend the morning going to yard sales or looking through thrift shops or dollar stores.8. Make cookies together to give to a friend.9. Make holiday gifts together to give to friends and family.Visit http://www.crafty-moms.com for easy craft ideas.10. Go with your daughter to the concert of her choice.11. Buy her the materials to start a high school scrapbook. Work on your scrapbooks while she works on hers.12. Join a local fitness club and work out together. My daughter and I joined a local women's gym that is very inexpensive ($40/month for both of us). We get up at 5:00 a.m. three days a week to go exercise before she goes to school and I go to work.13. Go to the local video store and rent a couple of "chick flicks" to enjoy together in the comfort of your home. Kick the men out of the house and lounge around in your pajamas.
About the author
Copyright 2003. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family web sites. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.

I hope this is helpful to moms of teens.

Have a blessed day,
Sheila

A Great Day Today

Today has started out to be a great day. I took my daughter out to breakfast and had a wonderful time just chatting. It's great having a 13 year old who is so wonderful! I feel so very blessed!


One of my goals lately is decluttering! Thanks to Flylady, I'm doing a pretty decent job of it. Today I'm starting in the family room. I have told my family that we are going to pretend that we are moving and that we must get rid of anything and everything that we no longer need or use. OK, so here are the rules: 1) if you use it all the time, put it where it belongs. 2) if you use it occasionally, pack it up and put it out of the way. 3) If you haven't used it, worn it, read it, etc. in 2 years or more. out it goes. Oh, and if I don't get the help from my family I will hire help to help me get it done. (shall I let you know that eyes got big as saucers?) I had to smile, inside of course, couldn't let them see that I was giggling over 'saucer eyes'.

Hubby has been helping more. Thanks, hubby! Daughter is coming along, that is if i can surgically remove the phone from her ear. lol.

Today, I am also going to put on some praise music and delight in the blessings that Jesus has blessed me with. God has been so good to me, how can I but praise Him as I get to clutter the abundance of accumulation that now needs to find it's way to the trash, the Good will, or to others. I am so thankful to have this wonderful home and so I look forward to making it really a home of peace and joy.

I love Psalm 103:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:" I love the whole chapter because the rest of it tells what His benefits are. There are a lot! so go and look up Psalm 103 and find out what benefits there are that Jesus has for us when we live for him. If that doesn't make me want to declutter and do it with praise in my heart, I don't know what can.

I am having a great day!