Sunday, June 27, 2010

Recipe for a Yard Sale

Here's all you need for a successful yard sale...

A clean garage,




Good helpers who will get up early just to scrub the trashcan you want to sell,



Lots of treasures waiting to be discovered,



Coffee and grace to keep you going,



And a good friend to laugh with.



(If you really want info on how to host a successful yard sale, check out this posting over at The Nesting Place.)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sick of Playing Games

I've started playing the game again.
The one where I tell the world how great you are,
and then try to do it all on my own.
The one where I profess how much I love you with my words,
but hurt you with my actions.
The one where I claim you as my best friend,
but neglect to spend any time with you.
The one where I try to act like I have it all together
when it's really all falling apart.

It's way to easy to start this game and so hard to stop.
And I never win.

I end up a cheater, a liar, full of pride, and far from you.

Thank you for the mercy that draws me near again.
Thank you for the freedom that is offered in your victory over my silly games, my sin.
Thank you for opening my eyes to the lies. Keep them fixed on you instead.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Time for Rest?

Having a garage sale is hard work! I'm wiped out, but I made a serious contribution to my new camera fund. Hubby actually bought me my new Nikon D5000 as an early birthday present this week. He wanted me to have the camera to be able to document the birthday festivities that are coming up this next weekend.

I'll put up some garage sale pictures later this week after I catch up on some sleep and housework. Hubby's throwing me a birthday party this Friday so there's lots of cleaning to do, I'm throwing a bridal shower on Saturday so there's lots of cooking to do, we're driving down to the airport to pick up the college mission team that's returning from Bangladesh, I have plans with some of the other pastors' wives this week, the list goes on and on. There's a Barenaked Ladies song called Who Needs Sleep? that keeps popping into my head lately, when I'm trying to do too much and cutting sleep short as a result.

Who needs sleep?
Well you're never gonna get it.
Who needs sleep?
Tell me what's that for.
Who needs sleep?
Be happy with what you're getting.
There's a guy who's been awake since the second World War.

I need to add time for quiet and rest to the list of things to do or I'll just never get to it.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Who vacuums their garage?

My mom does. And now I do too apparently. Do you ever have moments where you know you are your mother's daughter? I had one of those yesterday while helping my bridesmaid (or bff if you prefer, hubby and I were in her wedding and vice versa) clean out her garage.

Bridesmaid and I are partnering together to participate in her neighborhood's annual yard sale which is coming up in 10 days. She's moving out of a four bedroom house into a two bedroom apartment and needs to downsize. I started on this because I felt we had too much stuff and needed to simplify. In the meantime, my parents have put their house on the market, so I now have all their old junk, excuse me, treasures to sell.

I think prior to last night's cleaning we both felt a bit overwhelmed with what we've gotten ourselves into. But there's something about seeing tangible progress, as leaves and dirt are swept away, that makes a task seem more manageable. Bridesmaid and I both work in the human services, so often the work we do in people's lives isn't tangible for a long time, and quite often we don't get to see it for ourselves. So it's nice to take on something where we can see progress and results.

I'm trying to not have overly high expectations that will leave me disappointed, but my hope is that from this yard sale and my birthday that's coming up, I'll be able to purchase a digital SLR camera. I'd love to have some pretty pictures for my blog and to be able to take pictures of family, friends, and our students. I'm still trying to decide between Nikon or Canon and whether or not the video feature is really necessary. But I'm also holding my plans loosely and trying to pay attention should the Lord show me that he has another desire for that money.

On a totally separate note, I harvested the first salad from our garden tonight. We had lettuce with fresh basil and green onions chopped up in it. With a little dressing, croutons, and cheese, it was fabulous. I can't wait to add tomatoes and cucumbers to the mix as the summer goes on.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

There are no weeds...

just plants in the wrong place. That's what my landscape architect friend says anyway. So yesterday, in the rain, I dug up some daisies that were in the wrong place and brought them home with me. My parents' neighbors probably thought I was crazy out there in the empty lot, in my raincoat and flip flops, digging up the "weeds" and putting them in plastic grocery bags. I'm finding lots of joy in gardening this year, especially when the plants are free. I'm finding that I connect with my creator when I'm tending his creation.

On another note, hubby and I made some new friends tonight with our neighbors across the street. We've been very blessed with friendly and kind neighbors and have been wanting to use our home more often to serve others with hospitality. We had this couple and their daughter over for a nice relaxing dinner and really enjoyed getting to know them. I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do with this new relationship.


tuesdays unwrapped at cats