It appears that our dog is more anxious than we are to get started on the demolition in the basement.  Now, in case you think he was just tearing it up for the sake of destruction, he was on a mission.  I've chosen to spare you the photo of the deceased mouse he retrieved from inside the insulation.

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 on Monday....I actually got up at 7:30.

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 this morning....sigh, reality was 6:15 (although I'm not sure I was fully awake until 8).

I "planned" to hang some mirrors the other day....but I was out of drywall anchors because I messed up the last four I had while trying to hang up a quilt (they should tell you where metal is located in your walls)...finally got some more anchors but ended up needing to paint walls/ceiling/trim/doors instead because the delivery company called saying the girls' beds were coming earlier than scheduled....which is why, after two solid days of painting...

I "planned" to have the girls' beds completely set up last night....BUT the second set of bunks* were lost in shipping (that's what the manufacturer is claiming anyway).  So we decide to put together the set we did get at least....but they only sent one set of slats!   If this isn't frustration enough, the bedding company (PBteen) sent a set of pillow cases instead of DD#3's gingham sheets.... while I wait for all of that to get ironed out...

I "planned" to see AF on Thursday....but I'm sure you've guessed it, yep she's already here of course.

Now, I was "planning" to do a ton of laundry on Friday should our washer/dryer set show up on Thursday as scheduled but I'm starting to wonder if I should do any more planning right now.

No, I haven't even seen a glimpse of the “normal routine“ I was hoping to get back to this week.  Yes, I am tired and still feeling MILES from being done "setting up house" (recent move).

Hmm, probably ought to forget my plans and go talk to God about all of this...

Update: The afore mentioned furniture company is claiming that they sent us enough slats - they claim there were two sets of slats in the box we found ONE set in. The box itself isn't even big enough to hold two sets of slats.....wishing I had a padded room to go scream and flail around in for a few minutes. Speaking of screaming and tantrums, my three-year-old has specialized in both since Friday.  She's taking the “Theatrical Threes” to a whole new level of excitement.  We're supposed to see the “Fantasic Fours” next month but I don't think she's gotten the memo.

Yeah, I need some more one on one with God for sure!  Help me, Jesus, I need You to change my day...or at least my attitude about it!

*it was cheaper to order two sets of bunks rather than one set and a separate bed.  And yes, we're really second guessing going “cheaper” lol.

I really miss writing for this blog....actually, I've missed writing in general!  As I mentioned before, we moved, yet again.  This time though, we are hopeful it will be permanent.  We're still surrounded by boxes and hundreds of stray items looking for a home in our new home.  Despite this, my plan is to resume a more “normal” routine beginning Monday morning (Oh Lord please help me with this!).  I do know that when I return, my online time will be limited to email, this blog and a couple of forums. 

Speaking of forums, I haven't formally introduced one of my favorite projects to date.  If you are a woman struggling with body image and weightloss, you might consider checking out GAINChange.  Feel free to use my contact form or email me at j.blair.lane@gmail.com express interest in joining us.  We do have some restrictions on who may join so be sure to check out the site.

Well, I'd better return to the land of cardboard chaos!  Looking forward to being back in the swing of things next week!

First of all...Merry Christmas Eve!

Second, this will likely be my last post from Maryland (and probably last post of the year).  We plan to head out on Saturday morning.  The kids and I will hang out in Texas for a bit before moving on to Colorado!!  We're all very excited about this next chapter in our lives.

In 2008, my husband and I hope to post a joint blog series on our “debt reduction” journey.  Having made our final unsecured debt payment on Friday, we have a lot to share from the last almost two years.

Also, I will be talking some more about my “no more dieting” point of view and how incredibly freeing it has been for me.

If I have time, I may post my 2008 goals, but for now, I'm in packing mode.

Recently Erik was invited to join a group of bloggers at From Saul to Paul - A Complete 180.  I'll admit to having heard about the blog from Erik but I've never read it personally.  Now though, with my absolutely adorable hubby as a contributor, I may just have to check it out.

In true, “Erik-fashion”, he has already put his silly mark on the blog with his intro post, “Hello Everybody?  I should say it?”  Erik has a knack for remembering zaney quotes from various movies and tv shows.  This quality of his seems to have rubbed off on me a bit as well.  While he was researching this quote, we discovered some interesting information about the actress who “said it” in the movie, Christmas Vacation.  She was about 80 in that movie but in her younger days, Mae Questel, was the voice of Olive Oyl and Betty Boop!  Her last role before her death was the very funny, Aunt Bethany, in Christmas Vacation.

I would like to wish Erik a long and successful run at A Complete 180.  I hope the guys there know what they are getting themselves into - tee hee.  So, in the words of the late Aunt Bethany....”Don't throw me down, Clark.”

I just wanted to send out a hearty WELCOME to my darling cousin, Robin!  She's new on the scene and I just cannot wait for everyone to get to know her sweet spirit!

Robin - may the Lord bless your words and those who read them!!

Comfort of the Sun

I posted about Erik's contract ending early (talk about a gut check).  Well, after much interviewing and a bit of nail biting and a whole lot of prayer....he started a new contract last week.  The last quarter of this year is going to be interesting I think.  Future Erik and Julie have some decisions to make.

Anyway, I wanted to say “thank you” to everyone who prayed for us over the last weeks.  We greatly appreciate it.

Last Friday I set up five e-cards to auto send to my husband (one for each day this week).  Obviously by my last post we've had some stuff on our minds lately and so I completely forgot what card I'd set up for today.  Erik comes down stairs to leave for work, gives me a hug and comments on the e-card he found in his inbox this morning.  I could tell he was bothered despite his attempt to smile at me. I think he said something about being surprised by such a "prank" right now coming from me.  Then it was as though he wasn't sure it was a prank.  Finally I asked him what card it was and when he told me I burst out laughing (which didn't help lol).

This is the card I sent to him.

Um, not a very funny practical joke under the current circumstances but when I scheduled it we weren't facing job loss. He's always pulling jokes on me and so when I saw this card I thought it would be hilarious to get him back. I feel kind of bad about it now since he's obviously under a lot of stress at the moment. It's a wonder he didn't have a heart attack when he opened it. I told him that I bet it would have been hilarious to see his face and he said, "more like hell-arious". He chuckled and so I knew he wasn't angry with me. He did say, "next time I pull something on you, you can't say that you never do that to me." His smirk made me wonder what he might come up with to get me back. I told him I was just trying to "be like him...is that so wrong" (innocent batting of the eyelashes).

Despite the “shock“ such news would bring, I know that if that was the Lord's will for us, we'd adjust and be just fine with it.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalms 127:3 (NASB)“

...we start looking for that window.

Erik got the news that his current contract is ending much earlier than we expected.  He's handling it better than I think I would be in his shoes.  We knew this was a risk with contracting but I'm not sure that knowledge really makes it easier to take.  The upside though, they didn't have to give us notice at all so we're thankful for the three weeks we have.

When something like this happens, it's easy to get angry or to wonder what on earth God is doing.  We could easily be like the ancient Israelites right now screaming, “why did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us die in the desert!“  It would be easy to forget the wonders we've witnessed on this journey already and only concentrate on the negative of the situation.  Instead, we keep going back to the fact that we know the Lord led us to this contract and therefore has a purpose in this also.  Of course, I'm a “planner” and well, it kind of messes with my plans.  I'm being reminded that my plans are not always the same as God's plans.  (just like the Israelite's plans were not God's)  The Bible does tell us though:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

As humans we can't possibly see how a contract ending early could “prosper” us but we know that God has our best interest at heart.  If He can bring beauty from ashes, He can certainly bring good from this.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6

If nothing else, this situation can be used to increase our faith in our Lord.  We are finding that we must “trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.”  If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our paths.  That's what we want, God's will and not our own.  If God's will for us right now is to go through some “trouble“, will we not also thank Him in that as we thank Him for the “blessings“?  Ever since we began this contracting journey we've asked the Lord to open the right doors and close the wrong ones.  This one is now closing and so....we're looking for the new door that's opening.

If the Lord prompts you to pray for us, please do - we need peace, wisdom and direction....and of course, an open door.

If you haven't read Max Lucado's, “Every Day Deserves a Chance”, grab a copy the next time you're out.  I promise it will brighten your day.  I think my favorite part was the comparison of a Dog's journal and a Cat's.  The Dog began every entry with “Oh Boy” and puctuated every entry with, “My favorite!”  The Cat couldn't seem to see anything but the negative and as hilarious as the mock journal was, it was very eye openning.  How do I view my day?  Do I see it in a negative light or a positive one?

In the last week though, I've begun to apply this to people around me.  How do I view others?  Do I focus on the good things about them...or do I zero in on their faults instead?  I'm asking...no, I'm begging God to help me with this.  I want to view people as God does.  I want to love them unconditionally but also be able to discern what is a healthy relationship for me.  Relationships can be so complicated and unfortunately, sometimes even harmful.  I am faced lately with some decisions about relationships that I am finding difficult at best.  Is this someone I can trust?  Is this someone who will uplift or tear down?  Also, if it is determined that a relationship with someone isn't in my (or my family's) best interest, does this mean that I don't love said person?  I don't believe it has to.  I think we can love someone and yet also know that it is harmful to associate with them.  Our pastor did a series on the people we associate with (it's one of my husband's favorites) and in one of the talks he causes us to question who we allow into our “inner circle”.  Our inner circle are the people who will influence us the most and guarding who comes into that relationship with you is huge.

“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Proverbs 12:26(NIV)

This very topic came up recently when we noticed our son exhibit some behavior of another child he's been hanging out with...and not positive behavior either.  It reminded me that my own Dad used to say, “you can't stick your hand into a can of red paint without getting red paint on your hand”.  Our friends, those we allow close, will rub off on us in some way.  While we talked with our son about the influences of others, it became painfully aware that we had some tough decisions to make ourselves.  We've been in turmoil over a particular relationship for years - recetnly we've been trying to carve out a friendship where we are uncertain if that is possible right now, let alone wise.  So far it's served to cause higher tensions in our own home and certainly hasn't brought out the best in us.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”  Proverbs 13:20(NIV)

So where does this leave us?  Only God knows and so we [Erik & I] are diligently seeking His wisdom and not our own.  I'm sure I'll have more to write on this in the future but for now I'm just trying to turn this particularly stressful Monday into my favorite day of the week.

“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”   Psalms 118:24 (NASB)

Erik also posted on “The Sway of They”