I'm a uniter not a divider

There's one food that is loved by many, hated by few.  Every good cook has one star recipe in his or her arsenal, and it warms the soul when eaten.

It comes spicy, or sweet.
It can be full of meat, or vegetarian.
It can have lots of beans, or none at all.
It can simmer for hours, or be thrown together in minutes.
It can be found canned on a shelf, or homemade.

Chili- the great unifier of foods.  It disregards age, color, political view, religion, and any other issue that keeps people apart. Coming together around a pot of chili makes people forget their differences for awhile.

There were many neighbors we'd had yet to meet.  I wanted to change that.  One's neighborhood is a microcosm of the larger world.  If we can't know each other here, how can we expect to know what's taking place out there?  My kids play and run around the block.  It's up to me as a mother to know who is surrounding my children, especially if anything should happen to them.  Plus, it allows me to put my finger on the pulse of the neighborhood and see who might be in need of help, friendship or grace.

Twenty two people showed up.  Only a few gave their regrets, and there were a handful that never responded at all.  The biggest surprise?  To hear some folks talk about how they'd never met neighbors that were present- and they themselves have lived here for over 14 years!   My heart was saddened to hear that we can get so preoccupied with living in our bubble that we don't even reach out to our immediate neighbors- for years.  I get that some people keep to themselves, I really do.  But that's no excuse for not introducing yourself to the folks on the street.  We have a duty to know who lives besides us, and around us.  My expectation is not that we become the best of friends, but that we would greet each other, and know enough about what's going on that we can offer a hand when the time comes.

There's something very personal about letting people into your home.  We're comfortable doing it.  In fact, we love doing it.  Sharing our home, and food with others is central to expressing love for us.  The seller of this house had lived here for over thirty years.  Yet many of my immediate neighbors had never set foot in this house.  WHAT?  Am I the only one that finds that strange?

The chili cook-off was designed to bring us all together to socialize and enjoy the good food.  We had seven chilis and each one was completely different- just like us humans.  It was an easy going evening and all agreed that it was a wonderful idea.  Some even wondered why this hadn't taken place before (the gathering of neighbors).

I have to share with you my favorite part of the evening.  If you could see me writing this you'd see me getting choked up recalling the memory.  Our next door neighbors are an elderly couple with a live- in nurse.  The Mrs. has alzheimers and her husband has dementia.  Their son, who was raised in their house, lives close by and checks on them daily.  He brought his parent to the party,  along with the nurse, saying it would be good for them to get out.  Can I tell you how pleased everyone was to see them?  My heart leapt for joy, knowing this outing was monumental for them.  THAT is exactly why I did this, to make a difference in this place.

"Love your neighbor as yourself"  Matthew 22:39  Let us go forth in love...

The way the cookie crumbles

Am I the only wife that has "adventures" when the hubby travels?
Lay it on me.  I can't be the only one.  In fact, I KNOW I'm not the only one because when it happens I talk to my friends, and they chime in with their "adventures" too.  One just commented that she's dealt with everything short of delivering a child while her hubby traveled.  Yikes.

Tonight I'm in for a furnace repair.  Mild compared to snowstorms, and broken permanent teeth when playing single mom.

Luckily it's not too stressful.

There's never a dull moment, is there?

Rome wasn't built in a day

You're likely familiar with the saying  " Rome wasn't built in a day".  When you live through a renovation, you find that out in spades.  Sheesh.

Day 8 of this project and we're seeing visible results, which makes this homeowner happy.

Want to see what's visible?

                                                         We have a hallway!

                                                    An extra roomy shower in the bathroom.

There's still a long way to go on this project.  Everything hinges on inspections, and each man doing his work in a timely fashion so the next one in line isn't held up.  Can I tell you how impressed I am with the men that have been here thus far?  Every one of them has been courteous, friendly, and trustworthy.  Blessed- so blessed by this.

On a side note, my routine is rocking.  I'm up early every morning, getting my priorities straight before the kids head off to school.  I'm a better mom, wife and friend as a result.

"For God is not the author of confusion but of peace"  1 Cor 14:33.  Amen to that!

We really ARE the house on the rock!

After a full day of digging a hole in our basement, the guys called it quits.

"I hit a boulder" the one man said.  "And it's not a small boulder, it's huge.  There's no way we're getting this finished today."

Nelson could only laugh and say "we really ARE the house on the rock!"

I love God's sense of humor.   He just wanted to show that my blog name was perfect, in more ways than one.  What a God!

 

JJJJJJJJJAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKHHHHAAAAMMMMMEEEERRRRRR

We've had a lot of firsts since moving into this house.  Some I'd like to forget entirely.  Today could be adding to that list.

So two guys show up a the house with a jackhammer.....not the beginning of a bad joke, but how my morning started.

You heard it here first folks (no pun intended).  Lordy, Lordy it's loud.

Friends in high places

My friend Melissa got the short end of the stick.

She had us over for dinner.  She watched my kids when the movers arrived.  Today she spent all morning at the tile store with me, giving me her design expertise.

I'm only just getting around to having her family over for dinner.  Haven't watched her kids in return, and Lord knows I'll never be the one to help her design a room.  I'm beginning to question why she's even friends with me.

Her help today was critical.  It's difficult enough picking out several different sets of tile (floor, shower, shower floor, accents) without losing one's mind.  She kept me focused and listened without losing her patience.  Had the roles been reversed, I would not have been as graceful as she was.  Thank goodness she loves designing, or our friendship might have ended right there in the tile store.

The best part?  She managed to get Nelson on board with our final vision.  Coming from an "expert" she was able to sell him better than his own wife could, in the "pretty please with sugar on top" approach.

The colors all go together famously, and I know it will look smashing once it's completed.  And if it doesn't, well...I get to blame the designer, right?  Ok, maybe not.  Melissa's tireless effort today earns kudos from me along with an IOU for lunch.  It's about time she gets the LONG end of the stick.

Better late than never

Yes, it's been a month since I last posted.  Shame on me.

2012 is starting off with 2011's major renovation.  Go figure, right?  The bathroom addition in the basement (making us a legal operating "hotel" when finished) was supposed to be completed in November.  That didn't pan out so well, seeing as they're BEGINNING that project today.  Lesson #1 in living with renovations- their timeline isn't YOUR timeline.

It being the first day, I'm excited and hopeful that this project will be:
ON TIME
BEAUTIFUL
FUN (did I just say that?)

I'm realistic.  But I better not end up with an overdue, ugly, miserable project.

Here's what it looks like on Day 1:

                                         The guys get their own "space" while working here!