The Next Thing

When Life Takes You in a Different Direction

tina — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:52:38 +0000

Life seemed to be going great. A few snags here and there but that’s always to be expected. J was laid off every other week through December and January but the company had been bought by a much bigger company so we thought things would look up. Until Monday that is. The girls and I pulled into the driveway Monday afternoon wondering why J was home so early. He greeted us at the door, which he tends to do when he’s home. Then he called us all to the kitchen, sat us dow and started reading. It was a hard letter to listen to as his voice choked through it. The gist of it was this – the company is closing the plant in our state and as of the end of March J will no longer have a job. But he could have the rest of the day off with pay and come back tomorrow to “work as usual”. Hard to do for these guys. J has only been there about 4 years but some of these guys have been there over 20!! My heart breaks for them all.

Where we’ve gotten to in the past few days is anticipation of the worst and praying for the best. Last night we decided to get the house ready and put it on the market as soon as possible, regardless of whether we stay in the area or not. We love the house, the greenhouse, land, etc. but it has been a financial burden for some time and the wisest thing would be letting it go and clearing our debts. It saddens me a bit but in the end I know it’s the wisest decision.

I dont’ know what God has planned for our family but He does and that’s what counts. I’m going to trust Him on this. He has never let us down before. God never promised us an easy path but He did promise that He’d walk with us through everything. Prayers for our family would be so appreciated as we transition into a new season.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

It’s that time again

tina — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:22:13 +0000

Well, it’s still Monday and I’m actually getting to my post! I think that’s pretty good for me!

It’s that time of year again. Yeah, that’s right, it’s time to get the gardening going. My goal this week is to get soil blocks made and seeds started. I kept my seed ordering down this year trying to use what I already have before the seeds go bad. I am planning on trying my hand at seed saving this year. Although, I’ve really liked the lasagna gardening it’s now January and I still haven’t gotten all the beds “lasagna-ed” so I’m going to try the biointensive garden method and see how that does for us. It’s a double digging method. I have checked out the few books I could find through the library on building up healthier soil and this method seems like it might work the best for me. Time will tell but I’m excited to see how it works out.

I have to tell this story because it’s been on my mind. Last week we went to the local home improvement store to just browse which we do often. Anyway, there were all these paints sitting there at the paint counter with free taped on them. Well, I couldn’t believe no one had snagged them up so I did. They were the smaller sample sized paints. We started looking around and J found a nice faux finish on clearance for 1/4 of the regular price. So of course we started trying to figure out what to have it tinted and what room to use it in. Well, J left to get a cart and as I was looking I made a comment to the lady at the paint counter that I took all her free paint. She said she was happy to get rid of it and she was always trying to clean out under the counters. I then told her that I was starting some craft parties with the teenage girls. Upon hearing this she got under the counter and pulled out some nice sparkley paints and said teenage girls love this stuff! I had to share this because there are times when we feel like there really aren’t nice people walking around but things like this really make you realize that there are a lot of really nice people still left out there. It really left quite an impression on me that she was so thoughtful and kind. It just goes to show that there are always ways God is blessing us through others!

314 – 321

laughing so hard your stomach hurts

crafting it up around the house

seeds waiting to be dropped into the dirt

paint techniques that work the first time

good advice

people who take the time to help those we love

a new season

a hot cup of decaf once in a while

tina — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:13:58 +0000

This past week felt like a wind just circling around me as I stood in the middle of it all and watched. It was a good week though and I enjoyed it.

I am starting a monthly craft get together for my girls & some of their friends so the oldest and I made up a few of the pendants to see how they’d turn out. We both really like them and we’ve been wearing ours ever since they dried. We’re still searching around for a good craft idea for next month so if anyone has any ideas pass them our way!

In a week full of rushing there is still much to slow down and be thankful for.

# 302 – 313

for friends with grain mills who let you come over with yoru bag of wheat berries

the paint lady at the local home improvement store that happily pulls out old paints to pass along for free

gardening books

chit chatting with friends while the kids play loudly in the next room

a “new to us” sewing machine passed along by a friend

chocolate mint lotion bars that my daughter made and gladly gave me one to try out

cleaning up the kitchen with the whole family as the music plays loudly

thunder and lightning

a little girl with a video camera

earring swapping sisters

learning about chickens and dreaming about spring

hot tea on cold nights

Remembering to Give Thanks

tina — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:59:24 +0000

I know I’m a day behind on this post but my morning yesterday was spent at the hemotologist’s office. It’s always kind of depressing going to the pediatric hemotologist because you see so many children who have cancer and have lost their hair, etc. We also had to listen to an infant’s screams as my daughter was getting her blood drawn. Apparently the baby didn’t enjoy having blood drawn either! Being there, however, is a bit of a grounding experience. It shows me how truly thankful I should be for all that I have. I may not have wealth in the secular way of thinking but I certainly am rich by God’s standards!

# 289 – 301

a good report at the hemotologist

these creative juices flowing through our house recently

a greenhouse growing

smiles in the morning

pajamas and unkempt hair walking around meowing back at the cat

honesty

girls dreaming of the earrings they will wear once the 6 weeks are up

warm winter days

much needed rain

invites

a group there to offer advice when asked but that does not judge

drawings almost there

checking off those to-do’s

First Post of the New Year

tina — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:46:13 +0000

This is my first post since we rang in the new year. I have a few goals in mind for the blog this year but I’ll keep them to myself. For some reason when I tell my goals, I have a harder time accomplishing them! Somehow it feels refreshing to be starting another year.

Ponce de Leon lighthouse

My seeds are ordered and I’m looking forward to another year of gardening. Am starting to read up on how to improve my soil and J is planning on getting shade cloth for the greenhouse. With the heat of our summers there are just things that won’t grow here in the summer but they would make great additions to salsa, etc. J also helped me build a neat two bin compost system using pallets and an old sliding glass door. I like the idea of keeping it a bit more contained. It’s not beautiful to look at but it’ll get the job done!

I have been getting that crafty bug again and have so many projects I’d like to make that I feel like I won’t have time! I made my first thing over the weekend. It’s a magazine rack that I made from the leftover pallets we used for our compost bin. I’m posting a picture but it doesn’t show the copper glaze that I applied over it very well. I also decided having a few craft get togethers would be fun so I’m working on planning that too. I’ll post pictures of some of the finished projects.

We also took the past few days and rearranged some furniture. We seem to always be doing this around here and most people who stop by on a somewhat regular basis cannot believe how much we change things around.

In November we went on a little organizing streak and closed up the windows of the sunroom and made it into a nice sized pantry. J also redid the girls’ closet as well as ours. It has made a huge difference! I wish we would’ve taken pictures to show before and after. Our closet seemed packed full before but after we can’t even fill it up!

inside lighthouse

The last week of December we took a trip to Daytona. It was really nice. Our first time in Florida. The water was a bit chilly for my taste but everyone else got in and I enjoyed sitting on the beach taking it all in.

Daytona Beach

Have a nice weekend and I’ll be writing more soon! ~Tina

Bloggy Break

tina — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:11:22 +0000

I am taking a break (if you didn’t already realize this) until after the new year. A lot has been going on and I’ll have a lot to update and tell you about then. Have a Blessed Christmas and a great New Year!!

Give Praise

tina — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:11:09 +0000

It’s that time again-to count our blessings. I feel so blessed as of recently with trips to the hospital and doctors with my oldest that I really just want to give praise right now.

# 271-288

For doctors who care enough to not let one test go undone

For friends who are there when we need them

For all the prayers that went up on our daughter’s behalf

Packages that come when you least expect it

Sewing machines singing throughout the house

First birthday parties with friends

A couple of girls who now wear earrings proudly

My husband’s vacation falling when we most needed him

Rain falling

A greenhouse growing (even when I feel a bit disappointed with how much I have actually sown)

This husband of mine and all he does – building and loving and just being there

Christmas decorations – how lucky I am to have three girls that take care of doing thst so I don’t need to

Taking photos of friends and being able to use them on my website
Sisterly love

A house that’s on it’s way to being organized

Kindness of strangers

Being able to buy an already made cake when I just can’t

Having enough tomatoes at this time of year to make 24 jars of salsa, 4 quarts of pasta sauce and enough still waiting to be made into more pasta sauce

Blessings

tina — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:44:54 +0000

It’s been so long since I counted my blessings on paper, or here, but I think it’s something I should make a point of doing more often. I feel better when I don’t slack on these posts in particular. Lately, I’ve been trying to curb time on the computer. It has worked in some ways but not in others. I guess I could say I’ve been more productive with my time on the computer as of late though so that’s a start.

# 262 – 270

watching my husband and girls create whether it’s with wood, cloth, lye, paper, etc. It gives me the sense some days that we’re all artists in our own rite.

still having red tomatoes on my counters

friends who are there

time together with the ones that truly count

warm weather

being able to handle situations/people that I couldn’t before – that is quite a blessing and has taken me the better part of a year to accomplish! I still have my days but I’m getting there

a sister’s urgings

peace in the house

having J home from work from tomorrow through next week

tina — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:54:58 +0000

Again I’m a day late and short on words. But I’m here and have lots to praise God for!

# 252 – 261

my oldest daughter’s help me putting my website together. it’s amazing to see what your kids can do sometimes! we still need to get artwork scanned & uploaded and put up an about page but you can check out what we have up so far here

the weather has been so nice and warm that we’re still getting tons of tomatoes in the greenhouse

for God’s provisions – they always seem to come when you really need them

a husband that creates through wood

friends that work it out

honesty, even when it’s hard and you don’t want to

organizing and cleaning out

those Bible characters that you can so relate to

understanding

Bible time with my girls

tina — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:25:13 +0000

Every time we give up a part of our faith to try to fit into the ways of the world, we lose it forever. We lose a precious part of God’s promise, sacrificed to the world – and the world will never give it back.

And someday when the world tells us we can no longer have our religion, except where they say, and God is driven from our schools and our government and our homes, then God’s people can look back and know that our religion was not taken from us. It was given up, handed over, bit by bit until there was nothing left. ~from Sheffey the movie

# 246 – 251

cuddling up watching a movie with my girls on a cold morning

getting the solar cover on the greenhouse

that creative flow

visiting a Nature Center on a beautiful fall day

learning about others that have followed the Lord so completely, while still being human – what an inspiration that is!

others willing to teach what they know, not for gain but to pass on a knowledge