The little irritations of life.

Wow, two posts in one day! Just felt called to write this post on my lunch break.

2015 Goal No. One:

To not be easily offended and maintain a positive, patient attitude.

Well, I am already an easy going type person, or so I thought.  Here's the day's minor irritations that "almost" offended me. (so far) Ha!

1.  We order supplies at my office from an office supply company, who has a delivery man to deliver the supplies.  Recently, one of our orders was doubled accidentally by who ever packed it up.  When I realized this, I went through and got out only the part we were billed for and called the office supply company to let them know that they should pick up the products that we weren't supposed to get.

Well, that's being an honest and nice person in my opinion.  But, the delivery man was highly irritated to have to come pick it up because, he felt sure I'd be ordering more of the same products and then he'd just be bringing them back.  Well yes, I'm sure I would, but I didn't need them at that time and it wouldn't be that easy to get the paperwork straightened out.  

Sure enough, today I ordered a couple of the items that he had picked up 2 weeks ago, and he was making little comments to me and others in the office that he "knew" this would happen.    WELL, pardon me for being honest.

2.  Did you know that people driving in parking lots will run right into you if you don't watch them?  NUF SAID!

3.  I went through the drive through at a fast food restaurant.  The line moved fast and I got the right food..... but now I know why the line moved so fast.  No straw in the bag and a knife instead of a spoon.  You ever tried to eat chili with a knife?

4.  Did you know that in rural North Carolina, tractors drive on the highway even when its January and its below freezing weather.  And they don't pull off the highway, even when they could just keep going down the side of the road, even when there is a LOONG line of traffic behind them trying to get to work on time?  NUF SAID!

5.  Our power was off for 1/2 hour this morning at the office.  This didn't bother me too much, but thought it was worth mentioning. I think the person who hit the pole that caused it was having a much worse day!

To put these minor things into perspective, I am so thankful to have a job, a car and food!  Sometimes not being easily offended is just a matter of having patience with other people.  I sure do need their patience with me on a regular basis!  If I was driving a tractor, I would get out of people's way, but if I was working at that drive through, I am sure I'd leave out stuff and put in knives instead of spoons, when under pressure.

So to quote a title of a book published a few years ago, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, and Its all Small Stuff".

I need to ALWAYS remember that every person I come into contact with has a story and I never know what they are dealing with.   

The positives that I experience every day far outweigh the little irritations that come my way.  How about you?  What irritates you?

Bloom Where You Are Planted

I snapped this picture on the way out the back door of my office this week.



I am always amazed when I see a plant growing in the most adverse of places! Why is it that its so hard to grow flowers and vegetables due to lack of rain, too much wind or other conditions, but a weed can grow in a place like this?

This reminded me of a post I did a year and a half ago and thought was worth reading again:

Plants are like people. Sometimes they grow and thrive even though they are planted in unlikely places. I know, like me, you've seen beautiful flowers growing in the summer time in the tiny amount of soil in the crack of a sidewalk. This is really one of God's little surprises for us which we can often find if we'll just keep our eyes and hearts open.

So what are some ways to bloom where you are planted? Here are a few I can recall just from yesterday:

1. Dealing with grouchy people on the telephone? Be sweet. You might be the only person they have talked to lately who isn't a grouch back! Honestly, at my office people will call us to ask for the phone number of our competitors! I will usually look the number up for them and give it to them. You never know what's behind this. Maybe they can't read well enough to find the number or don't have a phonebook. I want everyone to be kind to my family members in situations like that, so I try to be nice to people, who don't always deserve it.

Remember this scripture: Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

2. Exasperated by the long line at the grocery store or post office? It will NOT do you one bit of good to let it make you mad! Life will go on.... even if it is delayed a few minutes while waiting in a line! And that little old lady clerk at the counter... could use a few kind words.

And who knows what disaster you may have missed by being delayed a few minutes. Many people were saved from the 911 disaster because they missed the train, stopped to buy something at the drugstore or were sick. We will NEVER know, in this life, the ways God has protected us. I'd rather be waiting in line at the Post Office that involved in a car wreck!

3. Family members didn't wipe their feet and there is a lot of dirt on your floors? :o) Might as well sweep it up and get over it! The day may come when you would love to have that dirt as a reminder of their presence, but they won't be there because of what ever life sends your way.

I realize that these are just day to day inconveniences. I am blessed that I live in America, have a good job, a comfortable home, plenty of food, and loved ones who love me. So many people in the world are REALLY planted in places and circumstances that are very hard for blooming!

So did God plant you in your current situation, like he does the beautiful wildflowers growing under adverse conditions? Its something to think about. If He planted you there, he can also move you to a better situation just as easily.

Have a great Thursday!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Is it possible that its only been a week since I was posting all my "Snow Day Sewing" pictures? I glimpsed this little daffodil over the weekend during our local travels.

Plants are like people. Sometimes they grow and thrive even though they are planted in unlikely places. I know, like me, you've seen beautiful flowers growing in the summer time in the tiny amount of soil in the crack of a sidewalk. This is really one of God's little surprises for us which we can often find if we'll just keep our eyes and hearts open.

So what are some ways to bloom where you are planted? Here are a few I can recall just from yesterday:

1. Dealing with grouchy people on the telephone? Be sweet. You might be the only person they have talked to lately who isn't a grouch back! Honestly, at my office people will call us to ask for the phone number of our competitors! I will usually look the number up for them and give it to them. You never know what's behind this. Maybe they can't read well enough to find the number or don't have a phonebook. I want everyone to be kind to my family members in situations like that, so I try to be nice to people, who don't always deserve it.

Remember this scripture: Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

2. Exasperated by the long line at the grocery store or post office? It will NOT do you one bit of good to let it make you mad! Life will go on.... even if it is delayed a few minutes while waiting in a line! And that little old lady clerk at the counter... could use a few kind words.

And who knows what disaster you may have missed by being delayed a few minutes. Many people were saved from the 911 disaster because they missed the train, stopped to buy something at the drugstore or were sick. We will NEVER know, in this life, the ways God has protected us. I'd rather be waiting in line at the Post Office that involved in a car wreck!

3. Family members didn't wipe their feet and there is a lot of dirt on your floors? :o) Might as well sweep it up and get over it! The day may come when you would love to have that dirt as a reminder of their presence, but they won't be there because of what ever life sends your way.

I realize that these are just day to day inconveniences. I am blessed that I live in America, have a good job, a comfortable home, plenty of food, and loved ones who love me. So many people in the world are REALLY planted in places and circumstances that are very hard for blooming!

So did God plant you in your current situation, like he does the beautiful wildflowers growing under adverse conditions? Its something to think about. If He planted you there, he can also move you to a better situation just as easily.

Have a great Tuesday!

Does everyone have on their "POSITIVE THINKING" hats?

Just for today: Make the best of your situation. Like the guy above with the cat on his head.:o) And like the saying goes, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade".

My Bible reading today was from Acts: 27 13-26. It seems that Northeasters were bad even in Biblical times. But, in the midst of the storm Paul was not afraid. I love this part: "For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship and he said, "do not be afraid, Paul".

So for today, whether you are going about your mundane activities, trying to survive the aftermath of an earthquake, or facing whatever giants you have in your life, remember to think positive, for God is there with you.

Joy in the Every Dayness of Life

When I was thinking about what I would write in this post about my weekend, I realized that I do much the same thing every weekend. Then it occurred to me that it is in the every dayness of life that we find joy. There might not be huge excitement all that often, but when we look back at our lives, its the things we do everyday that made a difference in our lives and those we love. Sewing, cooking, cleaning, gardening, going to church.... all these things make up the fiber of my life.

So here's what I did this weekend!

Saturday I did laundry and cleaned the bathrooms extra well. Exciting, huh?

In between doing those things I sewed and cooked.

My sewing produced another John Deere Pocketbook, more grocery bags and a clothes pin bag for my shop. Here are some pictures:




Saturday was a rainy day and I loved it! It literally poured all day and I was able to stay home all day. I put on my inspirational piano music cds and just enjoyed being home. This is a picture of rain pouring off the roof on to some blooming azaleas.



Today we went to church and had a very nice service. Our Gospel reading was about the Road to Emmaus. An interesting thought, the unnamed disciple could have been a woman! Who else would have rushed back and talked about all the details!

We celebrated my son's 21st birthday some more!


My grandbaby is growing!



Hope your weekend was a joy, even if it was an every day weekend!

Thoughts for Thursday........

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF! (And a lot of it is small stuff!)

Please excuse me for using the name of a popular book as the title for this post! I don't claim to have come up with that saying.

However, its a good thing to think about. Its so easy to get caught up in the moment and feel as if whatever is going on right this minute or during this day are way more worrisome than they actually are.

I challenge you to put it into this perspective: One year from now will what is happening today make any difference? If it will, then do something about it. If not, DON'T SWEAT IT!

Some things we worry about are just little inconveniences. Like having to wait in line too long at the grocery store, or having someone cut you off in traffic, or someone saying something to you that was inconsiderate.

Even if you are going through something that will affect your life even one year from now, remember it is only a season and this too shall pass.

Waiting in line at the grocery store can help you cultivate patience! Being cut off in traffic can help you cultivate forgiveness! Having someone say something to you that is inconsiderate will help you develop tolerance!

One thing that I think we all need to work on is to not take offense easily. Most of the time people don't even realize that they have offended us and are off on their merry way oblivious to our feelings. Why should we be upset then? It would be better for us to let the every day run of the mill stuff that people say and do just roll off our shoulders and just say, "Oh well".

One way to have more joy is "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff".

I hope you are all having a nice Holy Week and will have a good upcoming Easter weekend.

DON'T LET GRASS GROW AROUND YOUR DREAMS

On the door of the tiny employees' bathroom located in the back of the file room of my office is a poster. The poster has a captive audience if you know what I mean! LOL. The poster has all kinds of little quotes. Its been there for years and I've about got them all memorized. This week this one jumped out at me: "DON'T LET GRASS GROW AROUND YOUR DREAMS".

I've been dwelling on this quote all week. As you know from the name of my blog, I have homemaking dreams. I really struggle with this because I have so many ideas for being a great homemaker. Things like sewing,cooking,decorating the house, yard work, gardening, cleaning, laundry, etc., get my leftover time.

How do I keep the grass from growing around my dreams? NEVER GIVE UP!

I want you to know that I have fallen short of my goals or failed completely so many times. But, I am determined to get back up and try again and again.

Examples:

This week I have listed on my side bar all the things I want to get done in the kitchen zone this week. I planned to do a little each day and finish up Saturday. I HAVEN'T DONE ONE SINGLE THING ON THE LIST! But I am still determined to work on this list. I won't give up!

Yesterday before work and after work I started on a special order pocketbook. The outside panels were to be quilted. I finished the quilting part last night, but there are so many puckers there's no way I can sell a bag made from them. I have to start all over. I lay awake last night thinking of how I could start over and avoid those puckers. I won't give up!

I have had some recent success however! I made fabric grocery bags for the Etsy shop which sold very quickly and I received great feedback from the buyer. I made more and have great ideas for more items to sell! I found instructions online this morning to make clothes pins bags and have my own design in my head as we speak!

I need to relax and keep on going. I can only do so much, the rest is in God's hands! I trust HIM with my dreams. Meanwhile, I'll keep working at these things and keep going!

Weekend Update

Good Morning! Its nearly 6:00 A.M. on the first Sunday of March. March came in like a lamb, so look out on March 31st!

My plans for today are to attend Church, cook a family dinner, spend time with family and do some planning for the week. I'd also like to sew a little. :o)

During this week I realized that I am very disorganized. Examples:

1. On February 29th I found my reminder card to have my driver's license renewed by February 22nd! AARGH In my office this is known as NOL (No Operator's License) LOL. AND my nephew is a Sheriff's Deputy who is known to check driver's licenses at the end of the road I live on because its a blind intersection and people can't turn off and run until its too late! Anyway I went after work on Friday to get this done which is the worst time to do so. There were so many people at DMV I couldn't even find a seat! The good news is I passed the vision and sign test and got the *&%^$ thing.

2. I only owed $34.00 on a credit card, but forgot to pay it on time and I'm sure they'll charge me $40.00 late fee. This makes me want to cry!!!

3. I forgot to make sure there was enough money in a bank account that has a draft coming out on the 27th. The bank transferred money to cover it, but charged me $10.00to do so.

4. My meal planning last week was pitiful, but we didn't starve!

I am determined to get back into the habit of being organized. I am going to write down the things I might forget in my organizer and CHECK this daily!

This afternoon I plan to make some foods for the week ahead.

I'm also going to start keeping up with the CVS and Walgreens deals again. But, I only plan to take advantage of the very best deals on the things we use the most. I love being stocked up on toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, soap, laundry detergent, etc.

Friday was a crazy leap day for me! Not only was it extremely busy at work and I had to get my driver's license renewed, but I also took Dave, our 15 year old dog, to the veterinarian to get him checked out. He has been having accidents in the house, among other things. The diagnosis: He is old and senile. There is medication for senile dogs that might help. But, for the time being the Veterinarian suggested giving him Flintstones vitamins. I would never have thought about doing this. I'm supposed to put 1/2 a Flintstones Complete Vitamin in his canned food a few minutes before he eats it so it can dissolve. This regimen is supposed to make him feel better. He moves around really slow and sometimes I have to carry him up and down the steps. After one vitamin I thought he was more energetic, but maybe this is just my imagination. Maybe I should take some of those Flintstones vitamins!!!

Saturday was a nice day. It wasn't too cold, but was windy. I wanted to hang out our sheets, but the wind was whipping the sheets so bad I couldn't get them on the line. I just took them back inside and dried them in the dryer.

I went to my favorite thrift store and one yard sale and bought nothing. I didn't get to the yard sale early and they were down to the leftovers. The thrift store had the same things they had the last time I was there.

I spent the afternoon sewing and finished a pocketbook that I like very much! I'll post a picture later this week.

Well, I'm off to read the Sunday Bible readings for today and start dinner.

Have a great Sunday!

Contentment and Positive Thinking

We had a great little get away this weekend. I'm tired, but glad to be back home. I love going away, but love home too!! The weather was awesome. For July in North Carolina, it was a taste of heaven!

I am really working on being content. I made a post last week on being thankful, and I've really been thinking that I have a tendency not to be content. Its so easy to fall into the habit of negative thinking and complaining.

I'm trying to be a positive person. It would probably be good to re-read The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. His books always inspire me.

Every one has a different perspective on life. A person who has had a lot of tough breaks or live in a poor country would REALLY appreciate the things we take for granted as just being "o.k.".

I had to get up and go to work, its Monday, and I'm really not too energetic, BUT Its a beautiful day, I have a great husband and children, I have my health, My family are all safe after being on the road all weekend, I have a good job that I like, the bills are paid, I have a good home in a great state, and God loves me! ..... and the list of good things could go on and on!!!!

In Proverbs its says its better to live on the corner of the roof than to live in a house with a contentious woman! See these verses for information on the contentious woman. (Proverbs 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15 (NASB) ) Did you know that one of the things that will make our husbands the happiest ever is for us to be happy. If you thank him for even the smallest thing or comment on how beautiful the day is, he will be so happy. Men are made so that they feel responsible for our happiness and if we're not happy they try to fix it. I don't want to be so negative that he just can't fix me!!! I want to be totally fixable! That means being content.

So I'd like to encourage others to think positively and ask for your encouragement to me in that area.

Mission for today: Turn every negative thought into a positive thought!