Journal Entry #7

weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)

I woke up this morning with those words in my mind. Last night was horrible. I felt utterly defeated. Another showing, another "no, thanks." More snow. More cold. Can't find a 5 bedroom house to rent in the area in Arizona where we plan to live. Tired. I miss Mr. Bee - he's been so busy we haven't had much time to talk. And no matter how well-behaved my kids are, it is nice to have two parents in the house.

But! I woke up feeling refreshed and renewed and ready. Much more energy. Things have looked brighter all day.

The temps got into the 20s - felt like spring!

Found a house for rent that I like and it is not far from where we want to live.

Had another showing tonight.

So.....maybe tomorrow will be better still.

Journal Entry #6

Moving: I did the math and our house has been on the market for 133 days. Ugh. My sister suggests burying a statue of St. Joseph in the backyard. She did and the 13th person to look at her house bought it. I'm not ready to resort to idolatry, but seriously thinking about it. Another showing tomorrow. Found yet another house we like in Arizona - probably will be sold before we can make an offer.

Weighty Matters: Only 18.8 pounds to go to be back to wedding day weight.

Prayers: Thankful for a warm home, even though I want to sell it. Thankful for plenty of food, even though I need to watch what I eat. Thankful for healthy kids. Thankful for a hard-working husband. Thankful for reliable cars. Thankful for my understanding boss. Thankful for our patient realtor.

Scripture Verse: We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4

Thankful to God for the sacrament of baptism. Read a blog post today by an evangelical mother regarding how to keep children from going to hell. Nowhere does she mention baptism. Sad.

Journal Entry #5

Out My Window: Cold & snow. Unrelenting winter. Minnesota has cold, snowy winters, but this winter is well below normal cold and above normal snowy. Makes me wish the move to Arizona would come faster.

Feeding: Chili dogs & Olympics watching for dinner. :)

Moving: 4 couples looked at our house yesterday. Still no feedback, still no offer. Maybe a little hope on the horizon. Mr. Bee's new employer has suggested renting a house for us! We will know more this week.

On My Mind: Dieting as a sin. I saw this verse in an blog talking about gluttony and it got me thinking about legalism.

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. -Philippians 3:18-19

I wish my study Bible wasn't already packed.

Journal Entry #4

Out My Window: Still very cold. Only got to 4 degrees today. We have about 2 feet of snow in the front yard. Feeling as if I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. Very tired all the time.

Pins & Needles: Finished my first sock, will cast on the second one this weekend. They are soft & warm but a little too loose.

Reading: I added two reading lists to my side bar. First is what I am reading at leisure (still Tess of the d'Urbervilles) and what I am reading in the Bible. I decided to read and sort of study the books of the Apocrypha this year. I have already finished Tobit & Judith. I really enjoyed Tobit (I've read it before). Judith has a great message but is too gory. Working my way through Greek Esther, which isn't much different from "regular" Esther.

Weighty Matters: I'm plumping up. I am now about 20 pounds heavier than when I got married. Not happy about it. My metabolism is not what it use to be. I need to start taking better care of myself. Cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis all run in my family. Really must make time to exercise and eat right all day.

Moving: No one has looked at the house since last Thursday. Open House again this Saturday.

In the Kitchen: Tonight we had veggie pizza.

Journal Entry #3

Today: -7 this morning when I drove Mr. Bee to the airport. Warmed up to -3 by the time we got out of church. Bright sun.

Super Bowl was today. Seahawks 43 Broncos 8. Watched it with the kids.

Used my weekend to climb Mt. Washmore. Got fairly caught up.

No open house or showings.

Journal Entry #2

Out my window: Six inches of fresh snow yesterday, bright sun and back to cold today. -10 when I left for work this morning.

On my mind: We had a showing last night, and again no offer. Their feedback was a 3/5. :( We all worked really hard to get the house clean & tidy and thought it looked great when we left, so optimistic! Then so disappointed!

I know that God hears my prayers and knows we want/need our house to sell. And somewhere out there someone is praying about a move to our area and is looking for a house like ours - and God will answer their prayers. And someone in Arizona is praying someone will buy their house - and God will send us to answer their prayers. So many prayers need to be answered.  Somehow it will all work out in His time.

In my prayers: Thanksgiving that my sister and her husband have accepted an offer on their house. They both retired and want to move to Florida to be near his parents. His mother is blind and his father has cancer. Very happy for them! And thankful too that we all got to and from our destinations yesterday in the snow, even though both Mr. Bee & I got stuck for a time in separate cars in separate places. But we got out and got going again and safely arrived at our destinations.

In my kitchen: Rigatoni & meat sauce. Garlic bread. Salad.

Verse in my heart: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! - Psalm 27:14

Journal Entry #1

2014 has the promise of being a very eventful year in my life and I decided to journal about it. But here it is, end of January and I haven't started writing yet. So here goes...

Out my Window: Warmer today - mid-20s. Nice after 3 days below 0. Kids back in school after 2 days off because of the wind chill.

In the Kitchen: Made White Bean Chicken Chili in the slow cooker. Menu has been heavy on soups and casseroles lately.

Reading: Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Hardy). Read it way back in high school and really didn't enjoy or understand it then and when I started to re-read it I couldn't remember what happens in the novel, but it has come back to me as I've gotten further along. Such a sad story.

Pins & Needles: I'm knitting socks for me. First time sock knitter! It's been a long time since I've made anything for me. Looking forward to wearing them. Almost done with the first one.

Thought/Verse of the day:  For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.    He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)