Feeling yucky and sneezy, the weather's gloomy, and so on...

I feel yucky.

I feel sneezy and stuffy.

I feel the need for a nap. (That's probably not going to happen.)

I feel like I don't even want to step one foot outside. It's windy, rainy, gloomy, and a little chilly.

But, life goes on here at Ridgedale Cottage.
(I've decided that's the name for our house. I mean, why can't we have a name for our house like all the other cool people do?) *wink* Such as:

Green Gables from Anne of Green Gables
Pemberly, Rosings Park, and Netherfield from Pride and Predjudice
Gatesehead Hall and Thornfield Hall from Jane Eyre
Tara from Gone With the Wind
Barton Cottage from Sense and Sensiblity
Just to name a few! Need I say more?


(Pop Quiz: Can you think of any more? Because, I can go on and on!)

So, as I was saying, life goes on here at Ridgedale Cottage. Children still need to be educated. Clothes still need to be washed. Meals still need to be cooked. Last night we had a chicken-pot-pie. (Yes, it was probably loaded with fat and calories, but I don't care. It was comfort food.) No, there is no time for mommy to be sick. Thankfully my husband has been a big help. Achoo! Excuse me while I run go get a tissue.


Okay I'm back. (Have I mentioned how much I hate being sick?) I haven't blogged in a few days so I missed my Sunday Character Quality post. Let's catch up real quick.

ALERTNESS vs. Unawareness

- Being aware of that which is taking place around me so that I can have the right responses.

"Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mark 14:38

We have been plodding along lately with schoolwork. Hannah is doing great. She amazes me at how fast she can pick things up. Kayla is learning too. I focus on her a little here and there, but I don't want to push it too early with her. I can tell she'd rather play right now. Which is just fine, she's only 3. She's learning that way as well. I don't want to push schoolwork on her too early and create negative feelings towards learning. So when she wants to be like Hannah and do a little schoolwork, we jump right in. I want to encourage that learning is fun! Yes, there has to be some self-discipline and perseverance involved with education, but there's plenty of time for that.

Luke is now 6 months old. Where did the time go? He's a great eater! Which I love because my girls were and still are finicky eaters. It just doesn't interest them that much. He's so close to sitting up by himself, and is starting to really interact with everyone. I love to see him giggle at his sisters' craziness!

I have also found Pinerest! Oh, how I love it! I could spend hours on that site. There are so many cool ideas that I just don't know where to start first. But, it is soooo fun. (What's all the hype about you ask? Just go check it out... and you'll see.)

This weekend, inspired by Pinterest to see what treasure I could find and redo, I went to a thrift store. While I was there looking around I noticed a woman with her daughter. I just remember thinking to myself, "Oh, I really like her sweater." It was a really cute trendy autumn yellow knit with big wooden buttons. I remember thinking, "I wonder if I could pull off that color?" Anyways, I didn't pay much attention to them. I hadn't found any inspiring craft idea and I was in the book section, looking over a well-worn edition of Little House on The Prairie trying to decide if it was in too bad of condition to buy, when it happened. From behind me I heard the woman ask the girl if she brought something in from the car and the girl said that she had forgot it. The mother, I assume she was her mother but I don't really know, then took the Lord's name in vain and exclaimed, "You're pathetic.... just so pathetic!" And stomped off.

I was stunned. The verbal slap shocked me so much that I almost dropped the book.

I'm sure my jaw had dropped to the floor. It took me a moment to realize that I'd heard correctly. When I turned around, about to say something, they were already gone.

What was I going to say? I don't know. I wasn't really thinking clearly, but wanted to say something. That poor girl! I guess it was sort of good that they were gone, because who knows what would have come flying out of my mouth at that time! Thinking before speaking is always wise.

Now, I know I'm not a perfect mom. I have bad days where I get frustrated with my children. But this was TOTALLY unacceptable!

I was shocked. I know I live a sheltered life in our own little loving house, and don't come across situations like this very often. I know there are people out there who are hateful, even to their own children. But this was happening right there for me to see.

It bothered me for the rest of the day. I was angry and sad. That poor girl... being called pathetic for forgetting something in the car! Later I shed a few tears, because I wished I could have done or said something, instead of just standing there tongue-tied. That little girl didn't deserve to be called pathetic, she deserved to know that she was fearfully and wonderfully made by her Creator! I said a quick prayer that somehow, someway God would tell her that she was His beautiful creation. I prayed that God would use someone to tell her these truths.

Oh, how words can hurt and tear a person down! I pray that I would choose my words carefully with my own children. I might not ever call my girls pathetic, but I know I have said things in frustration. Words that were probably not the best choice.

Please Lord, help me to always use words to build my children up. Words that will encourage and affirm them. And, if they need correction, help me to correct lovingly. It's so hard at times with child training. I make mistakes. Help me to rely on You. I love my babies, and they truly are blessings from You. Help me to communicate to them how much they are loved by You and by their mommy.

I will leave you with a happy note. We went to a birthday party on Friday and the weather was lovely. The girls just love birthday parties. Me too, they're such happy occasions! Happy 1st birthday Tre!

I just love fall. (except when it brings pesky colds) October is my favorite month of the year!

(Disclaimer: Please excuse, and don't judge, any grammar mistakes and typos. See there, that's probably improper use of commas. Foggy brain today. I hope I don't go back and read this later and realize I didn't make sense. Oh well. I really need to brush up on my grammar skills.)

Until next time my friends.

Wordless Wednesday... Luke is 6 months old!

Our Extreme Home Makeover... Bathroom Edition

This is the story of our master bath remodel.

It was the one thing that made me hesitate about buying our house.

The master bath was awful, but I knew it had potential to be great!

I knew it would be hard and we would be screaming in anguish over this remodel. But I didn't know how bad it was going to be. (I mean how hard can it be to gut the whole thing, knock down a couple walls, rebuild them, and start from scratch? Really hard... that is the answer.)

In the end, a year and a half later, it was soooo worth it. All of those weekends spent framing walls, rewiring, hanging drywall, tiling, and painting were a pain. But oh, how I love my bathroom! (I never thought I'd ever have a bathroom this nice. I'm so thankful!)

Before Pic:

Yes, the walls in the master bedroom were a horrible brown. The wall was open to the sink area complete with carpet. You can't see it from here, but the counter was a badly chipped yellow laminate. And yes, the door was hanging off under the sink. Dingy blue walls, TINY door to the shower and toilet.... it was almost enough to say "no" to this house. We knew it would be a lot of work to re-do it.

The dark cave of a shower room with very yucky dirty tile. And, I'll direct your attention to the brown crown molding that went around the ceiling. Ack!!

The first thing we did when we bought this house was gut the whole thing. I mean we ripped everything out! We took it down to the studs in the wall. For a few months we had one bathroom for all of us,  which was the hall bathroom. It wasn't that bad. But after a while I was begging Philip to put the toilet back in our bathroom area. (When there was just one potty, it seemed like everyone always had to go at the same time.)

Then well, we needed walls and a door for our bathroom. Because well, hello, I was tired of shutting my bedroom door so I could have privacy. We put in a cabinet that we got off of craigslist with a double sink. But, of course the plumbing was difficult, so we only had one that was working. So that is how we lived for a VERY long time. Unfinished walls and floor, but at least we had another toilet and sink!

We also found a jetted tub on craigslist. (I have always wanted a jetted tub!) But of course it was a royal PAIN to figure out the plumbing for the drain. But, my genius husband figured it out and we eventually had a bathtub too! But no faucet... because that just has to be difficult too doesn't it!

So here we are. We have walls! We have a toilet! We have one working sink! We have a working tub! We are starting to tile..... But do you think this would stop me, being 6-7 months pregnant at the time, from taking a luxurious bath? Why no, it was wonderful! I think that bathtub was what got me through those last few months of pregnancy.

So now starts the debate. What to do with the walls of the shower? Tile? (Philip was about to die thinking about doing more tile at this point.) Solid surface walls? In the end we went with marble walls. The one thing we splurged on, that we didn't buy second hand, in this bathroom. 

There they are! Sigh, aren't they lovely. And there's my yawing child in the pic too.

I put a shower curtain up, and we lived like this for a LONG time too. I mean, everything worked. But it just wasn't finished. I was about to have a baby. And then we had a newborn, so that was the last thing on our minds. We eventually painted the walls. We stalled for a while again, and then my husband surprised me by finishing the tile/grouting and also painted the vanity cabinet while I was out of town for a family reunion. BLESS HIM!!! I have a wonderful husband!

We put the finishing touches on recently and this is what we have to show for our months of long hard work. (A special thanks to Philip's Dad for helping us out on some long weekends too!)

Oooohh

Ahhhhh

Love, Love, Love

You can't see it from here, but there is another sink on the right. Sigh, I never thought we'd have double sinks one day. 

No, we don't have a custom built vanity, or expensive tile, or granite countertops... but I don't care. We got most everything second hand on craigslist.

It's just glorious to me. 

It's so much more than many people have in this world. I know that to have running water, air conditioning, electricity, and a refrigerator for our food (much less a freezer) makes us fall into the category of living luxuriously. 

I'm so thankful for this blessing. All goods things come from our Father in heaven.

Once again: 

Before

After

After all of this, I think I want to take a bubble bath now. 

I'm so spoiled. 

But that will have to wait until tonight. I'm off to finish up homeschooling for the day.

What's that? 

Well, why yes, we still have to putty and paint the base boards and trim in there... and in my bedroom. 

(Who knows when we'll get to that)

But, I'll just pretend you didn't ask. =)

This week's character quality is...

SELF-CONTROL vs. self-indulgence

- Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God's Spirit

 "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25

Oh, how I need more self-control.
Can I say that usually my first response is instant obedience?
(Hanging head in shame) Sadly, it is not so.
How often do we all just react with our own selfish desires in the forefront of our minds.

Oh Lord, give us self-control that can only come through your power in us. Help us to hear your Spirit clearly and obey. Forgive us when we act on our own selfish desires instead of yielding control of our lives to You. Help us to live by the Spirit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~