Hurricanes of Life!

Above mess caused by a hole in the roof and ceiling (see picture below).

Day 1 apres Hurricane Ike

I like change.  I really do.  LOVE construction, rearranging furniture (often).  I really should have gone into design work because it floats my boat.  As the illustrious Stephen Drucker (ex-editor of House Beautiful) said:  "I can't help myself."  However, IKE rather forced us to redo.

 So that was 2.5 years ago:  big, BAD storm!

2006 - 2008

We may have been living with "builder's beige and cruddy carpet" BUT...

this was a calm season in life...lovely memories.)

September 13, 2008

 #2 (Stormy) Son and I enjoying a stunning sunset.  9 days without electricity!

And so we had a mess after the hurricane and "got" to recarpet and paint.  Our home ended up prettier, thanks to Ike! I'd call it a silver lining.

We turned to Sherwin Williams Restrained Gold and wiped out that "builder's beige."  Also bit the bullet for an upgraded carpet..gold with a cream trellis.  I {{{LOVED}}} it. 

If we didn't have enough going on, we adopted Duke.  He was rescued from the storm down in Galveston that was really slammed by Ike. 

Our first meeting....love at first sight.

We were in the middle of the remodel and BEFORE that good carpet was laid, my boy Duke, ummmm.....ruined the (entire) dining room carpet.  If you catch my drift.  A storm within a storm.  A traumatized dog adjusting to a new home going through a mess of construction.  L-O-V-E-L-Y.

We actually got through the redo quickly and without (a lot) of pain.  Thank goodness for St. Steve who had an "in" with the contractors.  That guy, Steve! 

Two and a half years later, we are ripping OUT the carpet downstairs. I told you I like change.  My dogs (note:  'my.'  My Guy doesn't claim them at times) have ruined it!  Stains yes...but also their claws tore the carpet up, literally.   Thanks to a baby gate, Duke & Stella are not allowed up stairs; so pretty carpet remains there.

And today:

A mess. 

A BIG mess.  We're even ripping out the hardwood in the foyer.  The 18" square tile that's in our kitchen is being laid as I speak.  This particular tile would not be my first choice had we built the home.  BUT already I can tell it's what we need.  No more patchwork (i.e., hardwood, carpet, tile).  One smooth floor...a constant throughout.  Plus - it's dog friendly!

In the middle of this mess; a BIGGER mess interrupted.  Yes, it has to do with (Stormy) #2 Son.  I'm just glad I get to rearrange my home over the long weekend.  It'll take my mind off a storm brewing...too close to heart and home.

I hope that your life is calm,

 no storms on the horizons.

Or if you need a distraction; just rearrange some furniture!

Pick a Poppy!

There's a GREAT give-away at Short Southern Momma and it involves something in the picture above!  If you haven't visited Emersonmade, go.  You will then HAVE to pick a flower.  :)

Pinning my red poppy on ANYTHING brings a smile to my face and most always gets a comment.

Go.

What Path are You Taking?

The path of least resistance.  That's all I knew...until "googling" to find out more.  Per H.G. Wells:  "The path of least resistance is the path of the loser."  I certainly don't want to be one of those!  And that path would have consisted of wallowing in a pity party.

One of my go-to books is "Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.  Mr. Chambers often nails me it! 

We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said

we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won’t. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual pluck.

I've mentioned before how helpful it's been for me to praise even at times when it's nearly impossible.  Strong Christian friends, friends of The Most Positive Aura spout "eyes up" - rewallpaper your mind, ya da ya da ya da.

Well, Mr. Chambers is telling me the very same.  I took heed this morning and got outside, which got ME outside myself.  No pity party today!

It's really crazy how singing loudly, reading an uplifting page or two, a bit of exercise transforms me.  What is the Rx for your soul?

Why Indeed?

A week ago my heart & soul were ripped open once again.  I buried myself under the covers and let it out.  And had to ask "W-H-Y"? 
On a good day if you were to meet #2 Son, you might think him handsome and somewhat charming.  He certainly can be.  But underneath that almost-20-year-old skin bubbles pain, such pain.  And he finds it frustrating.  This life of his. 

If he'd own his diagnosis, take meds, seek counseling he'd be able to cope.  Instead he barrels through his day making unwise choices. 

It's sad to think about my baby...out on the streets, sleeping in some dude's car.  My imagination takes me to dark places sometimes; and I have to force myself to stop.  And pray.  All I can do is pray for him.  For years, I've prayed a radical prayer for both sons:  "Lord, do whatever it takes to get them on their knees."  Well the WHATEVER is pretty scary.  It seems clear to me.  Stop doing what you're doing.  Get a plan. 

And then I recall it's been this way for years.  It's not that he's JUST a rebellious teen, or JUST a party animal, or JUST a boy with tons of anger, or JUST a guy with learning disabilities.  He is all of this.  And more.  He's tasted walking with God.  He's a sensitive soul.  He's hysterical.  He's loving.  That's my boy. 

I have certain pictures of #2 Son that I cling to.  I've seen him at his best.  My prayer is that he makes it back there - to his best.  

Yet I'm not alone (at all) in the heartache department.  Early morning, while sipping on my French roast I visit Denton Sanatorium. My heart nearly explodes. The blogging world connects hearts in the most amazing way. Please visit Jen, read her story and pray for her...and her beautiful family.)

And, so...like Jen, I ask why? Why indeed?

Urban Market Recap

    My purchases:  an English coffee canister & 2 tiny books!

It was SUCH fun!!!!  Even if in the middle of a mud field-swamp-land!  It gave me an excuse to dress down: ha!  I mean really----the women who DRESSED must have lost their minds.  My friend and I saw a young lady exit her car in the cutest sundress with silver sandals.  BIG mistake.

This is how one should dress for Urban Market.  Not caring (at all) about making any Best Dressed List.  Most wore rubber boots: polka dot, floral, animal print, Wellies.  It was a wild-attire day.

The "flying saucer" on my head was a purchase to ward off the sun.  It was scorching hot.  Here we were.  In a field.  And shopowners had gor-jus vignettes wooing us into their tents.

After I cool off, I'm running outdoors to pick up sticks...then stick 'em in my glass of shells.  Cool, don't ya think?

On our way out, picked up lunch-to-go, "Best Pimiento Sandwich" in Houston.  I'd have to agree!  Mmm, mmm good.

It was a FUN day and most definitely will be an

annual outing.

XOXO

Day Dreaming...

    (Off with the candles, top with boxwoods...)

I'm chomping at the bit...to go to the local garden center to personalize my yard.  Don't know about you...but HERE in The Land of Subdivisions, homes look very much alike or at least like distant cousins.  I can't stand it.  Yet it's not in our budget to go off, buy acreage, build my dream home. 

Therefore, I feel the urge to do my "thang."  I've discovered THE most fabulous blog, Tara Dillard, that is chock full of info on gardening, landscaping, and how to make the most of what we've got!! I've been (stuck) lost in her blog all morning.  Her writing is delicious as well...better than any gardening book.  Other than hers, of course (and I'm on the search for a few of those!).  Thank goodness My Guy left the house for a bit; otherwise, he would've pulled the plug on me.

Saturdays usually bring some yard work; but it's drizzling away...so back to daydreaming about what the future may hold.

Sweet Saturday to you all...

XOXO

Resources for Panicky Parents of Prodigals

This post is a serious post.  If you're not a parent of a prodigal, ADD, ADHD, Bipolar, mentally challenged, addiction-prone, angry, lost, young person, feel free to move on.  Perhaps my next post will be lighthearted...

In two days, two strangers called me.  They'd heard I might empathize.  And yes I can.  They are not the only Moms that I've been in touch with.  Some families try to cover up.  Not me - I'm an open book and believe God wants me to share in the peaks AND valleys!  It might be handy for some to see a list of resources that I know is reliable:

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - contact them for a local peer group.  For you OR your kid.  It covers the gamut:  Bipolar, Autism, Suicide, Schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders and more.

Cornerstone Recovery:  a unique teen-based, 12-step recovery program, based on positive peer pressure and a drug and alcohol free environment. (This is a Houston organization; but they will have recommendations for out of towners).

And just today, a friend emailed me a link for reading on prodigal sons.  Looks great - check it out!

Sundown Ranch:  a treatment facility designed to meet the needs of individuals suffering from chemical dependency and related co-occurring psychiatric disorders. (Yup, #2 Son was a resident here...for 45 days). 

Russell Kelfer's Website: his sermons/books are free & you can download many. In Everything Give Thanks pretty much changed my life!


And the #1 source of comfort, respite, peace is my faith.  God sees me through it all.  I tell everyone that without Him, I'd be in a loony bin, an alcoholic or on the side of the road - blubbering.  I kid you not.

...and there are a group of women - who have been together over 10 years almost every Tuesday night.  Have we shared!  Cried!  Laughed!  And prayed.  Moms need girlfriends.  And those that pray (without judgement) have to be THE BEST! 

xoxo