Mrs. Sheila

Too Many Books... help!

I am looking to reduce some of my books that I have in my house.  I have a goal of emptying one bookshelf so that I might put something else on that shelf. 

I am trying to find places online that I can post the books for free.  Currently I use Half.com, Paperback Swap, and Cash4Books.net. 

Does anyone know of other book places?  Can be exchange sites as well as I tend to exchange for books for our church library and donate them.  The basic need is that they are "Free postings!". 

Thanks for any help!

Warmly, ~Melissa

November 30, 2008

Wow. All I have to say is Wow... November 30, already.

We had our Thanksgiving yesterday, and it was ok. Not quite the same Thanksgivings I was used to as a child, but guests that come for 45 minutes (or less), do not speak to you (not kidding here!), and yell at children for no GOOD reason are not coming to any more holidays.

My point being, I have lived with this type of holiday for the past 10 years, and I do not intend to have another one here in this house.

Step children (to me) that I have always said were MY children and treated then as such, are finally grown up and now continue to treat me as if I don't exist, will still be told we are having our holidays, but I am not cooking for ones that pick and peck and say, "I don't like this" or "I don't like that". And belittle children that call me "Grandma", and leave within 45 minutes of arriving.... uhhh.... no.

I am too old to have to dread holidays and I am not going to do it anymore.

Home will be open for them to come and enjoy our company, if they choose, but there will be no more cooking for an Army in these here parts! Only to have our meal pieced and picked over and have a "Let's rush in and rush out attitude".

My table will be set so all can sit around together, we will have peaceful music in the background... it will be a meal of peace and joy.

My holiday meal from now on will consist of parents and children (here at home) and if in laws wish to come, they are more than welcome. We will visit, and eat around the table and pass dishes to one another....

After ward, we will talk and maybe play a game or two.

The day after will be meant for others to show up and get their "I want a present" way of thinking....

Holidays are meant to have a thankful attitude with family and friends, and that is what I intend to do in the future from now on.

Just my thoughts....

Happy and Content...

On Thanksgiving I was blessed not to have to cook.  It was a nice meal that my MIL had prepared.  My husband's nephew and his (nephew's) girlfriend came up to visit from Colorade.  It was really nice to see them.  They are nice kids... can I say that???  LOL... they are younger than me!  LOL. 

Last night I picked up my nephew and he spent the night with us, wanting to share in the Friday morning sales.  This has been a tradition for us, although it is becoming apparent that a NEW tradition may need to be started.  We only needed "two" things this year and so we got up early (3:30 am) and went to get the items.  We had to hit 4 stores to try to get the best price, so we split up... my daughter taking another daughter and I took my nephew and another daughter.  By 9 am we were done shopping... really didn't have anything we wanted... so we went out for breakfast... the funnest part of the tradition, I guess... the kids enjoy getting together and when we eat out, somehow we can eat what we like and my nephew what he likes and everyone is happy.  (and I don't have to do dishes or cook!) 

Since we were done with early bird sales, I went to Menards to get some room paint for my kids' rooms.  After the rebate we'll pay about $3.50 per gallon of paint.  I got 4 gallons of paint and that is enough to do 3 bedrooms!  They needed painting so the paint rebate sale was a blessing for us!  That wasn't an early bird special... just a sale that we happened to want to hit.  I also hit a Friday sale at JoAnn Fabrics.  Our family tradition is to get new pajamas each year.  Looking at the prices, I just sighed... I opted instead to buy some fabric on sale and make our own.  Flannel was on sale for $1.49 a yard and I figured I could make a pair of pajamas for  between $3 and $6 each. 

My girls happened to be tired of shopping and opted to go home while I ran some needed errands.  I stopped by the  bank, filled up the car with gas and that is then when I stopped at the fabric store and enjoyed a peaceful time of looking at material and patterns without a little one trying to steal my attention.  I arrived home to a clean house.. the girls cleaned the house and even mopped the floors. 

I am tired tonight.  From being up so early, I imagine.  That is Okay.  After watching so many people today... I have been pondering much about my interactions, our traditions, etc.  I long for the quiet and some time to think.  After each store we retreated to our car which played softly playing Christmas music.  It was soothing.   Our favorite part of the day was simply just eating and talking together.  My kids have enjoyed this 5AM tradition of shopping (I got up at 3:30 simply because that's when I woke up).  I realized they just enjoy getting together with their cousin and spending time together.  They don't have much in common with him, so the "Shopping" was a way to connect.  But today they found they connected by just eating together and making conversation.   Perhaps God is leading our hearts to change!  Perhaps it is time for traditions to change. I saw my nephew open up today.  My youngest, Paige, cried when I picked her up at 7:45 am so Dad could go to work.  She wanted to be with Daddy.  My nephew quietly watched her cry (and I noticed a sympathetic expression in his manners) ...I simply kissed her and said... I like being with Daddy, too.  It was enough... Enough to have someone understand her little heartache.  That heartache, however is a longing with my nephew that he just doesn't talk about at all to us.  His Dad has never been around for him since birth.  He talked to him a couple times on the phone, but to my knowledge has never met his Dad.  When my sister came to pick him up, they talked a bit and she shared that her other son was visiting his Dad and she was upset that he wasn't a good role model and my nephew just simply said... at least he has a Dad, I'd give anything to spend time with my Dad.  My sister just pushed that aside and changed the conversation.   I just was amazed that my nephew said that outloud.  He has often shut down, cried but would never open up...(not even to his Mom and especially not us) and to have him open up today... was quite amazing.  It had to be God working in his heart!  So tradition is good in the sense that it got us getting my nephew comfortable with going shopping together for 3 -4 years now... and I'm hoping that with him feeling able to open up a bit, that perhaps we can connect on a different level than "shopping".    Much to think about and ponder!

For now, I am content and happy.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

Thanksgiving Day!!!

WE aren't celebrating until Saturday due to work reasons, (I have a 6p-6a today and dh had a drive to Ky last night) but dh and the children are at Mamaw's and Papaw's enjoying dinner today while I get ready to go into work. And that's ok... I don't mind, cause I work with the elderly, so many of which do not have famiy of their own, so I have adopted those that I work with and they have adopted me. :)

Saturday will come soon enough, with time to bake and bake and bake some more! I stil have pies to do, and cookies for my grandchildren that will be here (only 2 of the older grandbabies will be here, and since Grandma doesn't get to see them all that much... heck yea they get cookies! LOL!)

So without further adieu.. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, with full tummies and many blessings!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New news on the homefront is that dh and I are seriously considering sending the children back to school. *GASP!!* What's that I hear? Moaning and groaning? Pleading and begging from those die hard homeschooling fanatics (Of which I used to be one?)

No, seriously....Abby really wants to go back to school and actually wrote a paper as to the reasons why she believed that school in the "outside" realm would be better for her at this time. DH and I discussed it, and we came to the conclusion that IF we allowed our child to go to school, it could not, would not be public schools here in this town, So we found what may be an acceptable alternative. A Christian school right here in our own town. We all perused the website, looked at all the pictures, checked out the calander or events, and the curriculum, and we've decided that we will go and request a tour this coming Monday (or Tuesday- since I work a 12 Sunday night). The school does offer "need based scholarships" and our income is well below the required level.

DH and I believe that this may help Logan to succeed in his schooling too.

We will let you know as time progresses....

Sharing The Gift Of Thanks

It's officially Thanksgiving and I couldn't go without wishing friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving from Doug and I.

As we start our turkeys, prepare the trimmings and open our homes for guests and loved-ones to arrive, lets not forget the things we are thankful for today. We all have SO much to be thankful for. I look at my own menu and as I saw the news today on those who are going without, I am reminded of just how much we actually have. 

Believe it or not, we've actually cut down on some things, yet as we dig in to our apple and pumpkin pies, I am reminded of those who go without, others who haven't any loved ones to celebrate with, those without warm clothes and even those who's family members are away serving our country.

Lets take the time to reach out to someone in our lives, whether it be a neighbor, volunteering at a local shelter, or even donating to charities and fundraiser's this year. You each make the difference and have a special gift.

I have much to be thankful for this year and I am most grateful to God for His unconditional loving-kindness. but also for the protection on family and friends and the blessings He gives us all each day. Life isn't always easy, but it's His kind and gentle hand that reaches out and gives us hope that we may share that hope with others.

May you all be blessed each day, May He continue to love and guide you through the joys and trials, May He work within you to strengthen you, grant you peace, comfort and most importantly may you share all you have with much love and thanksgiving, in Jesus Mighty name.

I leave you with an uplifting scripture during this time of Thanksgiving. May you all know that you are loved deeply!


Serve the Lord with gladness: 
come before His presence with singing. 
Know ye that the Lord He is God:
It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; 
be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting; 
and his truth endures to all generations. ~Psalm 100

Homecleaning for the Holidays!!!

Been busy for a couple of days cleaning. I want my family to enjoy a clean clean clean home for the upcoming holidays... and so do I.

First room was our bedroom. I deep cleaned in here yesterday.

My bed skirt is in the laundry and you can see my water storage under the bed... but oh well! LOL!

The floor looks dirty, but it isn't really. DH and I like our wood floors, but haven't "finished" them, and don't plan to until the Great Dane has gone to heaven. It just wouldn't be a feasible idea right now.... so we sweep them and mop them and are content right now.

Here's the other side of the room. You can see the African Grey's cage toward the left hand side of the pic. He's a pain in my backend. Was bought for dh, but he doesn't even mess with him. I want to sell him, but people keep wanting to trade me dogs, horses and whatnot, or make payments.... Maybe after the holidays....

See me gate at the doorway? We have a ShihTzu that hikes his leg on whatever he feels the need to.... and I just didn't feel the need to have him in my room at this time. (I keep a gate up at my sewing room door too...)

The bedroom furniture belonged to my Momma before she passed, and she smoked, so it has years of yuk buildup on it. So I scrub with soap and water, then dry and polish. Someday, I'll get it all! LOL!

Yesterday, I also tackled the linen closet.

That is awesome compared to what it DID look like! I am taking about 15-20 towels to Goodwill... we just don't need that many. Unless someone can give me an idea on what to use them for....

Today, it's the bathroom's turn. Right now, the shower curtain and liner are in the wash. I've taken everything off the shelves and wiped them down, scoured the tub and pot, wiped down walls and woodwork, and did the floor on my hands and knees, so I could get behind the pot. I'll get a pic of that when it's completely finished.

Amelia is busy hanging Christmas lights outside, and Abby has been helping me in the house. She has washed all the knick-knacks in the kitchen and dining room, and dusted where need be....

Logan is just being Logan. Getting into whatever 11 year old boys get into....

Together, we shall finish and have a wonderfully clean house!

DH may have to drive to Kentucky tonight, we don't know yet, so he's in the bedroom laying down trying to nap.

Well, time to check laundry!

~Blessings~

It's That Time Of Year Again....

Black Friday Deals II

Easy Spirit Coupon

Finish Line

Radio Shack Coupon

Sherwin Williams

I-Party Coupon

Crabtree-Evelyn ((look at the 10.00 off 50.00 purchase at the bottom of the page))

Dress Barn Coupon

Dicks Sporting ((sign up and save 10 0/0))

Bath & Body Works Coupon

Yankee Candle Coupon

The Childrens Place Coupon

Lane Bryant Coupon

Honey Baked Ham Co. Coupon...ends up around 42.00 for a family sized ham

Joann Fabric Black Friday Ad

Enjoy Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!!   Please don't forget to reflect on the blessings you have in your lives each day and remember those who have less than we do.  Donate your time, money and prayers. Help an elderly person, do something nice for a military family, save some leftovers for someone who has no family or better yet, invite them into your homes.  Nothing about this season is about gifting.  While it's a tradition to have Turkey, Ham, Family, Tree Trimmings and gifts, ultimately it's to reflect on what God has given us and what gifts we have to offer others in need. 

Blessed Love To Each Of You,

November 25, 2008

Haven't blogged in quite sometime... lost track of myself, I guess. Things have been getting out of hand at work and here at home (more so at home). Time to settle back in to a Godly way of life... or should I say trying to be more like Him. I've missed church 2 weeks in a row, and I surely can tell the difference in myself and they way I carry things.

Yep, time to straighten up and fly right, as my Momma would say.

Anyhoo~ I've been working on Christmas gifts for the family. Almost complete except for the baking part. That'll come soon enough! I do need to get my dearest son in law his batch of goodies made up so I can get him a box sent off to Iraq. Christmas gifts for him, and lots of goodies for him to have and to share with the others who are there. (Love you Monkey King! LOL!)

Next on the list is for my Colorado crew. Gotta send the girls and my babies some homemade goodies.... I am so glad the two sisters are close enough together to give support to one another. Just wish they were both closer to me. I called the other night and heard one of my grandsons throwing a royal fit, and it just worried me all night long.... Grandmas are allowed to do that, you know... especially ones that live too many miles away to just jump in the car and run over there. (I would never do THAT.... )

I'm trying something new this year! Trying to go as homemade as possible, in all aspects of the holidays. Made some gingerbread ornaments to compliment our tree this year. I think they are adorable! They make me smile whenever I look at them.

I painted on a few of them.... so here they are drying and making my sewing room smell delicious!

I can barely even walk around in my sewing room these days.... guess that's what a person gets when they have as many children as we do and as many grandbabies! LOL!

(And the only thing I would wish different: that a few of my children would grow up and realize that they ARE adults now... please act accordingly.)

(And don't make me have to beg to see my grandchildren... grandparents shouldn't have to beg...)

SO what has everyone else been doing to prepare for the holiday and remembrance of our Christ's birth?

~Blessings~

A restful day...

Well, Dh came up today and said he liked my haircut this way.  This is not like him at all.  He rarely takes notice of any outward appearances of mine, so for him to mention my haircut twice... I'm thinking it must really be something he likes.  I tried blowdrying it one day as it was cold and when I dry it, my curls go to frizz, so I just try to brush it straight, and he didn't like that, said it was still tooo poooofy.  My hair straight is poofy, and I laughed at the sight of it.  My kids thought it was funny that my hair would poof so much... I hadn't blow dried my hair in a long time so they probably don't recall seeing what that does to my hair!   Dh just said, please don't blow dry your hair... I like your curls.  LOL

~~~~~~~~~anyways...

We had a nice potluck after church.  Two soups to choose from.  I choose the vegan creamy tomato soup.  I had that before and I enjoyed it.  I like a bowl of it from time to time.  I made the recipe myself, once, and it is too much for me to eat it all week long.  I was happy it was at potluck so I could enjoy a bowl again.   We had sandwiches to go with and some side dishes as well.  We enjoyed some good conversation.  My daughter's friend from college had come to church to visit.  We enjoyed getting to know her.  She is a nice girl, quiet, much like my daughter. 

This afternoon we taught a couple girls at church "Silent Night" in sign language.  They enjoyed learning and singing.  We took some time for them to also learn singing harmony as a group.  We plan to present this to the adult SS around Christmas time.   The girls are all excited as well. 

I enjoyed a quiet evening tonight at home as well.  My older girls went to vespers with some others from church and then planned to go bowling with a friend from church who's grandchildren were visiting for the weekend.  Because of that, I was able to have a quiet house.  I made fried potatoes (with a few thrown in veggies) for supper for Dh and me.  Not much else to say... I just really enjoy the quiet some days! 

Our sermon today was about faith.  Well sort of.  LOL.  The sermon itself had a different route than where my thoughts were taking me.  I ended up getting the faith message from the texts shared today.  That has been on my heart today as I've enjoyed the quiet.... Faith. 

Warmly, ~Melissa