Spring Break...

It's spring break here.  Of course, we still have ickies zooming around.  Today is a busy day for me as I begin spring cleaning.  Enjoy your day!

Welcome Spring!

The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven -

All's right with the world!

~Robert Browning

I Lost The Battle...

This is me.  Sick.  Flu.  Fever.  Aches.  Congested.  Cough.  My wee one Thomas is sick too.  Ugh.

This, That, and Other News

Lots going on around here in my life.  News, news, news.  Okay, where to begin?  

#1 son moved out in February.  He didn't like the rules and didn't want to follow the rules so he chose to move out.  Definitely the toughest thing I've ever done as a mother, but sometimes it's the tough love that will save the child.  I'm still praying for him and about him, but for now that's all I can do.  You know, let go and let God.  

I have to say that the house has been peaceful and calm.  The turmoil that was, no longer is and that is something that I am very thankful for.
I've been reading.  I finished Guernsey and have started reading The Shack.  This book came highly recommended to me by several of my friends so I knew it would be a "must read" for me.  So far it's a good book and I'm not disappointed.    I have LOTS of books on my shelves to be read, so I'm not certain what is up next.  Any recommendations?

The weather here in Chicago has been lovely.  Sunny and breezy and just perfect for springtime.  I love to have the sun shine pouring in through the windows and having the windows opened here and there to let some fresh air come in.  It is especially wonderful after a long snowy winter.  Of course, it also brings about that look of yuck in the yard.  All that grass that hasn't come back to life just yet, the debris that accumulated over the late fall and throughout the winter.  Lots of work to be done.  My main "outdoor" objective this spring is to power-wash the house.  The siding really needs a good cleaning after the winter.

I've been cross-stitching a lot!  I have finished a few projects, but I haven't "finished" them into anything or framed them.  I hope to get photos of all my stitching projects this week so I can share them with you all.  I have found my stitching a great necessity as of lately, it is wonderful for the spirit and calms the nerves.  

We've been painting too.  (yes, again)  With #1 son deciding to move out, Caitlyn decided to move downstairs to the teen sanctuary.  So, we painted her new bedroom (Vic's old room) and she picked some new bedding and accessories.  So grown up!  I will be sharing photos of her new room very soon.  Thomas also decided to switch rooms since he has the entire upstairs to himself now (well, he still has parents and dogs, but no siblings) so we gave his new room a quick painting and he also got a new quilt since his had definitely seen better days.  Photos of his room to come soon as well.  Now we're gearing up to paint the "empty" room.  This is the first time ever that I have had a room that no one is going to occupy.  I'm calling it my grandma room.  I'm going to fix it up just for me, my little sanctuary where I can escape.  

Our anniversary was so wonderful!  We both had wanted to go away for the weekend, but it wasn't in the finances for us this year.  So, we spent the day together doing little things and then

both Caitlyn and Thomas headed out and we had the house to ourselves.  We went to dinner at my very favorite restaurant, Maggiano's.  I had shrimp oreganato (yummy) and for dessert Nonna's Pound Cake.  I enjoyed a watermelon Martini (delish!) too.  

After dinner we headed home to our empty abode and watched Nights in Rodanthe.  A lovely movie except I don't think I like the ending.  I had hopes for a different ending so I'm not sure how I feel about the movie overall.  
More "stuff".  For those of you who have been reading my blog you know that I've had a dilemma about my nephew.  A decision has been made.  After speaking with several social workers we decided not to take on this situation.  There are many factors that led us to make this choice and I have struggled deeply with what to do too.  But, when all the factors are looked at carefully and using logic, this is not a good situation for any of us.  At this point it is best for my nephew to stay where he is since he's been there for quite some time and is adjusted and doing well.  As I continue to pray for him, the situation, and for peace I know that I made the best possible choice I could have made for now.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"May the road rise up to meet you,

may the wind be ever at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face 

and the rain fall softly on your fields. 

And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand." 

Irish Blessing

A Discovery

Today I happened upon a blog through another blog.  She not only has a wonderful blog but she's having a giveaway too.  Pop by and give her a visit, you'll be glad you did.

http://anenchantedcottage.blogspot.com/

Walls for the wind,

And a roof for the rain,

And drinks beside the fire - 

Laughter to cheer you

And those you love near you,

And all that your heart may desire!

My Anniversary...

Today I celebrate the anniversary of my wedding.  17 years of marriage.  As I type those words it almost seems an impossibility that I could be married that many years.  Marriage is not easy, it is not simple nor is it something to be taken lightly.  When I think of all of the rough days, the forgiveness, the things we must overlook, work through, and overcome I am amazed that we are here, today, 17 years later.  

Marriage has shown me that I am not perfect.  In fact I can be annoying and ugly and shameful.  I can be demanding, unfair, and selfish.  I have learned to see myself through someone else's eyes.  I have learned that the day to day events can overshadow a relationship until it no longer exists.

I am learning that as much as I need nurturing, caring, and to feel loved, needed and desired - my husband does as well.  You have to make time for each other because it will not come easily.  

On this day I just want to say that I am blessed to be married to my husband.  He loves me unconditionally and forgives me endlessly.  He is loyal and dependable, annoying and frustrating; but he's mine.  I thank him for these past years and I look forward to the many years that lie ahead.  I love you B.  Thank you for loving me.

There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting. 

John Millington Synge

Always remember to forget

The things that made you sad.

But never forget to remember

The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget

The friends that proved untrue.

But never forget to remember

Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget

The troubles that passed away.

But never forget to remember

The blessings that come each day.

"All the world's a stage 

and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

- Sean O'Casey

A change of work is as good as a rest. 

Irish Proverb

"If you could drink dreams like the Irish streams

Then the world would be high as the mountain of morn

In the Pool they told us the story

How the English divided the land..."

- John Lennon, "The Luck of the Irish" (song)

Book Club...

This was the book that my book club just read for tonight's meeting.  Now, based on the title alone I was skeptical.  In fact, had I seen it sitting on the shelf at the book store, I would have walked right by it.  But, based on the fact that I am trying to be more social and that I love to read and discuss books, I decided what the heck.

My goodness this is a wonderful book!  It is written in the form of letters written between many different people.  To some this would prove to be irritating and a huge turn off.  For me, it doesn't bother me one bit.  I have to say that this book grabbed hold of me from the onset and never let go.  By the middle of the book I found myself lost within the characters and had to remind myself that the story wasn't true, but fictional.  

The story line was wonderful, the characters were divine and full of personality, the writing was just perfect.  The only complaint I have about the entire book was that it ended and I wanted more.  For me, not so much a negative, but a positive.

The story has history, friendship, loyalty, love, and fills you with the joy of hope and wonder.  I highly recommend this book.

Next month's selection?  As many desired further discussion after reading Loving Frank, they chose T.C. Boyle's book The Women.  I did not read Loving Frank, so I think I will need to read both books for next month's discussion.  Obviously this can be done, but will I find the time?  Fingers crossed!

What about you?  Are you a reader?  Do you belong to a book club or do you enjoy discussing books?  Any book recommendations?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of your favorite or least favorite books.

No Luck O' The Irish Here...

So we finally decided to give the kids bedrooms a bit of character.  #1 son has flown the coop so we have an extra bedroom now which makes this task a bit easier.

So, off we go to the Depot to buy paint and check out the price for a few other ideas.

So, there I am minding my own business, jotting down some notes and making calculations when a large bundle of trim slipped through the slats and landed squarely on my pinky finger-nail.  The pain was so intense that I didn't even yell, or cry.  Of course, I saw stars (and not the Brad Pitt kind) and felt a little woozie.  The good news?  It just turned a deep purple color and swelled to twice it's size.  With ice the swelling went down and now it looks normal and only hurts when I laugh (just kidding, but I couldn't pass up that opportunity).

Moving right along to Sunday...

We're heading out the door when hubby decides to make a final run through the lower level to make certain everything is secure when he notices that the bathroom downstairs has water on the floor - the toilet is clogged.  Hey, no big deal, just grab the plunger.  'Cept we're talking about ME here.  The toilet won't unclog and then stuff starts to come out of the shower drain and the sink and by stuff I mean GROSS.  5 hours later we have finally resolved the problem.  Thankfully one of hubby's childhood friends owns a plumbing company and hubby is handy.  We had the blessing of a free phone consultation (ha-ha) and hubby did all the work (and swearing).  

Of course, THIS disaster meant that all those lovely clean towels that I had washed, dried, folded and put in the linen closet were dirty and I had to start all over again.

So, now we're back to work and down to one bathroom.  That's 4 people one toilet for those of you doing the math.  Makes for an exciting life.  So, far no further problems so it looks like we should be back to 2 bathrooms within a couple of days.

Let's hope nothing more exciting happens here.  I don't know how much more "fun" I can take.

"May God grant you always... 

A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you." 

Irish Blessing