Thursday, July 21, 2011

discomfort and delayed gratification

Here we go! We are embarking on repainting our first floor. Our landlord doesn't have the time, nor the inclination to paint while tenants are residing here, but he did provide most of the paint and materials. I was able to prevail upon him for a hint of color (pale trim) for our all stark white walls. We have been here six years and it just was getting dirty and beat up looking. We will also be refinishing the wood floors. So--pray for us! It is fun, mostly, except when it isn't. And it is hard having everything out of place and moving things around. Especially when there are many people--but yes, I am putting them to work whenever possible! Our living and dining rooms are old fashioned plaster, which means spackling and sanding, which also means having to wait a day for all that to dry...sigh.




                     
  Here is the before. 











     
  





  yes, that is a child sleeping on the couch.








 I finally admitted to myself that we will not be able to go anywhere this summer. It was hard because I really feel we should try to get to my brother's in North Carolina as much as we can. We had a wonderful time last year! Ah well, but it doesn't seem to be within our power this year. We'll see if God decides differently, but for now I am trying to accept it. Maybe in the Spring.


Here are a few random family shots I like. No special reason.








Rachael. Turning 18 in a few days. Where did the time go?









                     my grandson--growing up....sigh. :)






Well, I just trust God that any difficulties, large or small, in time, untangle and get worked out, our life being right now much like the Drawer of Cords.  Like you, our family is in need of prayer for many individual and woven together needs. 


All the many cares of life that seem a bit insurmountable--I cast them on the Lord, because He cares for us. With the help of the saints and angels, and the special care of the Holy Spirit, we go forward!





I have been praying this prayer each morning--since reading the wonderful book, In The School of the Holy Spirit, by none other than, Jacques Phillipe.


Cardinal Mercier's
Prayer To The Holy Spirit


I am going to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness.
For five minutes every day quiet your imagination, close your eyes to everything visible and your ears to all external sounds and withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. There, speak to the Holy Spirit and say:


"O Holy Spirit
soul of my soul
I adore you.
Enlighten
guide,
strengthen and console me.
Tell me what I ought to do
and command me to do it.
I promise to submit to everything
that you ask of me
and to accept all
that you allow to happen to me.
Just show me what is your will."


If you do this, your life will be happy and serene. Even in the midst of troubles you will experience great consolation, for grace will be given to strengthen and help you to cope with every difficulty. 

 

 



I'll let you know what the results are! I fully trust there will be some.

Now I have to get to my exercising and painting.






Peace, 

 Kelly


+JMJ+

4 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you won't be visiting your brother, though in this heat, I don't know how pleasant traveling can be. I suppose it wouldn't be the same having him visit you? I remember the photos from your trip last year being very beautiful. I have a ton of stuff I should be doing in this house, but it's just too hot. I am kind of adamant that we only run the one AC unit during the day ( as if my small contribution will prevent the PECO energy grid from bottoming out) and the heat on the third floor is almost unimaginable. So these projects are going to wait. Good luck with yours.

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  2. Joyce--Thanks! We are making progress, the living room walls and little powder room are done.
    My brother is not well enough to do much traveling, :(. And yes it is kind of counter intuitive in terms of place, lol.
    With me starting school,(barring any lightening bolts from God to the contrary) I kind of wanted to get as much done as possible before September. We are hoping that my daughter and fam in Michigan will be able to spend Christmas with us!! I would like the place to be fixed up by then...
    yes the heat is in the Crazy Zone!
    Take are and keep cool, as much as possible!
    Love, Kelly

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  3. I have been painting as well. My summer project is getting our steel deck back in order. I had not treated it in any way in over ten, maybe fifteen years. It had gotten rusty and I was afraid it was now a danger structurally. So all summer when i get the chance, I've been scraping with a drill and sanding thingy and then I put down a primer coat, and now I'm finally painting. It's been over a hundred degrees out there but i've gotten a good amount done. One more day to go and this summer albatross will finally be off my neck! And then in the fall I have the living room and dining room to paint as well. Good luck with your painting. It can be fun if it doesn't go on forever.

    Sorry to hear about your vacation plans. I had to break the news to my wife too. We spent about two months in kazakhstan last year adopting Matthew. We needed a break from traveling for several reasons. Oh, but I still have to break the news to her that i have not one, not two, but three business trips I have to take in August. That is not going to be a comfortable discussion...lol. She's not going to like that.

    Great pictures of your little ones.

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  4. Wow it must be the Summer of Painting! lol Today we tackle the kitchen. Because it's the room with the best a/c. The day we did the living room, with four and five people in there moving around, it got too heated up! But it does provide an instant lift, I already am happier each day when I come down the stairs and see my living room all brightened and with no marks on the walls. :) The deck sounds like a beast of a project! Today I hope to not go out at all! I was wiped out last night after being out all day, even with a/c in the car!
    I agree, it is hard to disappoint our loved ones...I am hoping God opens a window somewhere..:)

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