December 14, 2009

• A Day of Surprises!

  Whew!  What a day!

  Things took a twist and the day, although delightful, was  nothing like Jesse or I had planned!

  Unable to sleep AGAIN last night until well after midnight, I woke up this morning oddly refreshed!

                                    
                                               I saw this on my ceiling during our Thanksgiving dinner.
                                                               Any ideas of what it could be?

  Everyone scrambled around getting themselves breakfast, then a call came from Jesse.  He was on his way home.  He had lost his job.  It wasn't a big job, but one that brought in a little bit each week through these lean winter months.  I want to interject here, despite our lean months, we have continued to give to our church faithfully and contribute to "people's needs" as God leads our hearts.  I was just praying about our finances Saturday or Sunday, and, I admit, I had a moment of doubt, when Jesse said he was on his way home.

  He arrived, a little down in the dumps (as you can imagine) and I did my best to cheer him up and tell him God would make sure we were alright.  I just *knew* we'd be okay.  Nothing looks okay on paper when you factor in he was given his final check (small, but a check) and there have only been a few jobs, here and there, where he has been asked to clean leaves from flowerbeds, etc.during these colder months. 

                                    
                                                          The shadows from our chandelier!

  Today's "To Do List" included making fudge and cookies.  I took the time to mix up my grandma's recipe for "Butternut" Christmas cookies.  Either my grandma had stronger arm muscles than me; or, her oranges and lemons were easier to grate!  I worked and worked, until my nose ran, trying to get that silly orange to give me 4 tablespoons of orange peel!  The dough needs to be refrigerated, so I cleaned up the KitchenAid mixer, the grater, and other gadgets, and sat down with Jesse to talk.

  I have NO IDEA what made me say, "Do you want to go to the mall?"  I hate the mall, always have, always will, and the only reason I mentioned it was I had a $15 Off coupon for Yankee Candle Co.  I know I said I was done buying candles for the year, but I bought holiday scent candles from Bath & Body Works and was sorely disappointed.  They hardly have any fragrance.  To my surprise (after the surprise I gave myself by asking about the mall), Jesse said yes to the mall and everyone grabbed a bit of lunch and changed clothes.  We were out the door in less than an hour.

      

  I found exactly what I wanted at the Yankee Candle store - Pine and Christmas Tree scents.  But, Jesse surprised me and said I should buy more and we walked out of there with 8 candles for the price of four.  The sales clerk saw my old Yankee Candle magazine, with the dog eared pages and my expired coupon (buy 2 get 2 free), stuck in my purse.  She said she would honor the expired coupon.  It was a better deal than the $15 Off coupon, and we set out smelling all kinds of jars.  My head began to spin, I became nauseated, and I broke out in one of my famous hot flashes.  While Jesse paid for the candles and the girl wrapped the jars, I had to step outside to breathe some fresh air AND try to cool off.

  Another strange thing about our day, I ventured out for the first time with no wig, wearing only my own hair and no headcovering.  A friend told me last week that I looked like Jamie Lee Curtis (the Activa yogurt commercial gal) with my short hair.  It was a huge step for me.  Loosing my hair this year was one of the worst things I experienced!  But, after putting on my wig this morning, I never made it out of the house before a hot flash and nausea crept up on me.  I think if I had worn the wig to the mall, I would have died from being overheated!   As it was, we had to go to the food court and sit for a bit while I drank a Pepsi and "regrouped" my energy!

                                         

  My second reason for going to the mall was to see all the decorations - especially at Macy's.  Guess what?  There was almost nothing to see (and this was the most fancy mall in our city).  I was surprised and wondered if everyone has moved to being "politically correct" and Jesse guessed it was the tough economy.  Macy's was a complete disappointment.  We had to *look* for decorations!  The inside of the mall was just as bad.  I apologized to the girls, because I really thought we'd see some spectacular decorations hung everywhere.

  We walked back to the car through the CRISP(!!!!), cold air and started our trek home.  We stopped at Jesse's mother's to drop off something he had picked up for her at the store and then stopped to mail some bills.  Bills we suddenly had no income to pay. 

                                    
                                           These are for after I burn the pine scented candles.
                                          A friend recently sent me a Lemon Lavender candle
                                                            and I fell in love with it.

  We got home and there was a surprise check in the mail for me.  Almost $1500.00!!!!!  I was stunned!  It took a while for me to realize that God was continuing to be faithful to us.  I'm sure it made Jesse feel much better, since I had told him it wasn't the worst thing in the world if we had to borrow a thousand (or so) dollars from the bank to get us through the next few months.  Praise God!  He is always right on time and has always taken such good care of us.

  Although the cookies will have to wait until tomorrow to be baked and I haven't thought any more about making fudge, it was a blessed day.  Everything was so totally unexpected - both good AND bad appearing.  A day to spend together as a family and a day where God, once more, proved His ability to *more than provide* for all of our needs!

           
                                                            Lovely pine and cedar scents!
                                                  The Mulberry scent has been discontinued
                                                            so I HAD to buy their last one!

  We may drive around some "close by" areas tonight, to look at the light displays.  I have vegetable beef soup simmering on the stove and I'm burning the last of my disappointing candles.  The sooner they are used up, the sooner I can burn my new ones!

  Be Blessed  ~

    
  

  • 7:43 pm
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